Right, here’s the bleak ending of Black Mirror episode Beyond the Sea fully explained

Black Mirror is back! And of course, the episodes are scary, creepily realistic and leaving us all feeling some sort of way and questioning everything. One episode which has left a lot of people feeling as though they might need the ending explained is Black Mirror season six episode three, Beyond the Sea.

The episode is possibly the darkest of all the new ones – set in an alternative 1969, the year of the first ever moon landings. It follows two astronauts as they embark on a space mission whilst grappling with the fallout of a disaster back on earth.

The two men are part of a six-year programme which means they can project their consciousness into a realistic robotic version of themselves on earth, sort of giving Behind Her Eyes vibes. It’s DARK.

via Netflix

Right, here’s the ending of Black Mirror episode Beyond the Sea fully explained

During the expedition, intruders break into David’s home and murder his whole family, destroying the robot version of him whilst doing so. David is forced to stay on the spacecraft after the death of his family and his cloned body, whilst he’s dealing with the grief. He’s spent a long time onboard, and his mental health is fast deteriorating.

To help, Cliff’s wife Lana suggests he gives David his link back to earth, and out of kindness, Cliff does so – allowing David some time back on earth to paint and recuperate.

Most Read

On and off: The relationship status of each MAFS UK 2024 cast member and who’s dating now

Kieran and Kristina reveal whether they went to that festival together after MAFS UK reunion

The heartbreaking reason behind Tulisa’s transformation and why she looks so different now

David begins to develop feelings for Lana, paints her nude and tries to seduce her. Lana and David get close, but she rejects him. Cliff finds David’s paintings of Lana and brings him back to the spacecraft early to confront him over them and there, David says he’s jealous of what Cliff has, considering he’s lost everything important in his life.

Cliff then returns home to his wife, and questions her about posing for David’s paintings. Lana admits she’s been feeling lonely, and “wishes David did” touch her. Cliff heads back to the spaceship, and then David apologises for over stepping the mark – but Cliff says the reason nothing happened was only because Lana doesn’t care for him.

Cliff throws a bunch of insults at David, including saying Lana thinks the thought of him returning to apologise “makes her vomit”. It’s agreed David will never return home.

Right at the end of the episode, David secretly heads back home as Cliff’s replica, and it is strongly implied he kills Lana, and Cliff’s son, Henry.

A lot of people have been questioning why David didn’t kill Cliff and take control of his link – but the spacecraft needs two people to pilot it, so if he wants any chance of retuning, he needs Cliff alive. No matter what they’re feeling, both men mutually need the other alive.

via Netflix

What will happen now and can Cliff and David return to earth?

Well, the murder of Cliff’s family was all committed through Cliff’s clone, so it’s safe to say the police will assume Cliff did the crime. Spacecrafts don’t exactly have the best ways to prove David had taken over Cliff’s body, so unless he straight up admits it, Cliff will most likely end up in prison.

Both men are now probably doomed, and have no choice but deal with their mutual grief together stuck in space for eternity. Very gloomy.

Season six of Black Mirror is available on Netflix now. For all the latest Netflix news, drops, quizzes and memes like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook. 

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• What happened to Pia? The ending of Black Mirror: Loch Henry fully explained

• The ultimate ranking of every Black Mirror episode

• Quiz: Did this happen in real life or is it a Black Mirror storyline?