Warning! Spoiler for Black Mirror season 7, episode 3!
Black Mirrorstar Issa Rae revealed her take on the ending of “Hotel Reverie.” The episode continues the series' focus on the dark side of developing technology, starring Rae as Brandy, an actor who stars in a remake of the titularHotel Reverie. With the help of a program called “Re:Dream,” Brandy is inserted directly into the original film to replace one of its actors. A technological mishap leaves Brandy stuck in the film, in which she develops a relationship with another star, Clara (Emma Corin). However, thisBlack Mirrorseason 7episode has a tragic ending.
In a roundtable interview attended byScreenRant, Rae divulges her thoughts on the ending of “Hotel Reverie,” which sees Brandy return to the real world, leaving her on-screen lover behind inHotel Reverie. Rae was asked if theBlack Mirrorseason 7episode’s ending could be considered happy, butshe rejects this interpretation, stating, “it’s not a happy ending.”
To me, personally, no. It’s not a happy ending. It’s sad; it’s bittersweet. Yes, you get this connection, but for me, so much of falling in love with someone is sharing those memories together; being able to recall when it happened for me and when it happened for you.
It was such a special time, but even if they do reconnect, it’s still so isolating for Brandy because you can’t tell your friends without sounding bats–t crazy. “You guys will never believe what happened. Yeah, that’s my girl.” That’s really sad to me, in a way. But I do think the beauty of it is Brandy understanding that the love that she felt was real and the experience she had was real, and understanding that she has a template or a mold for the connection that she can try to find in the real world.
I guess a piece of her is all her own, or this connection still is all her own. So, I’m mixed about it. I would have to watch it again, and maybe I might have a different perspective, but it felt happy-sad. Bittersweet.
What This Means For The Ending Of Hotel Reverie
Brandy & Clara’s Ending Is Bittersweet
Brandy and Clara’s relationship, though short-lived, is passionate. When Brandy and Clara are the only sentient beings in theHotel Reverieremake, the two quickly develop a romance that bleeds into Brandy’s real world. “Hotel Reverie” ends withBrandy, who has been safely removed from the movie, using a special phone to call Clarafrom the outside world. When Clara picks up the phone, she questions who is on the other side of the line, but then offers Brandy “all the time in the world” to explain who she is, remarking that she has a “kind voice.”
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As Rae describes it, the ending ofBlack Mirror’s “Hotel Reverie” is “bittersweet' as it teases that Brandy and Clara’s story may continue, but it will never be the same.Brandy exists in the real world, but Clara is trapped inHotel Reverie, creating a sharp division between the two, even if they are able to speak on the phone. While Brandy remembers each moment of their time together, Clara’s memory has been entirely wiped, which, as Rae explained, isolates Brandy. She is left only with the memories of her time, as it’s unlikely that she will re-enterHotel Reverie.
Our Take On Hotel Reverie’s Ending
The Episode’s Ending Is Heartwrenching
Though Brandy and Clara are able to digitally reunite through a phone call, their dynamic can never be the same as it was in the world ofHotel Reverie. They are now separated by screens, adding to the growing list ofBlack Mirrorcouples who experience a beautiful romanceonly to have technology impact it. This ending has less of a “twist” compared to otherBlack Mirrorepisodes, but is nonetheless devastating.
While the love story in “Hotel Reverie” calls to mind other romance-focused episodes like “San Junipero,” Brandy and Clara do not end up together, which makes the episode impactful. “Hotel Reverie” asks the audience to consider the immense power of a short-lived romance and the heartwrenching, “bittersweet” feelings when that love comes to an end.
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Black Mirror is a dystopian anthology series that explores the unsettling and profound impact of modern technology on society. Premiering in 2011, it examines various scenarios where technological advancements intersect with human nature, creating thought-provoking narratives about contemporary and future issues.
