With the question of what does NF mean Black Mirror fans have been grappling with since the highly anticipated return of Black Mirror has captivated audiences once again with its latest season, offering a collection of chilling narratives that push the boundaries of our technological fears.
Among the thought-provoking episodes, Demon 79 stands out as a remarkable installment, often referred to as a ‘Red Mirror’ episode due to its departure from the show’s traditional tech-focused stories. Instead, it delves into the supernatural realm, weaving together a tale that intertwines with the political climate of 1979 and sheds light on an enigmatic symbol: the NF.
The story revolves around Nida, a mild-mannered shop assistant, who finds herself compelled to embark on a murderous rampage in order to avert a cataclysmic disaster. Throughout Demon 79, Nida confronts racial prejudice on a constant basis, encountering micro-aggressions from her colleagues and discovering abusive graffiti on her own front door in the form of the NF symbol. This symbol, whose significance has left viewers intrigued, is pivotal to understanding the episode’s story and its connection to the political climate of 1979.
So what does NF mean Black Mirror fans wonder
In the context of the episode, the answer to the question of what does NF mean Black Mirror sprayed on Nida’s door stands for the National Front, a far-right political group that existed in the United Kingdom. The National Front, founded in 1967, staunchly opposed immigration and has been described by political scientists as a fascist organization, although the group denies this characterization. At its peak in the mid-1970s, the National Front was the fourth-largest party in terms of vote share but never secured a seat in Parliament. In Black Mirror, the real-life National Front logo is depicted as a fusion of the letters N and F, forming a distinctive symbol.
Demon 79 is set in 1979, the final year of James Callaghan’s Labour premiership, just before he was succeeded by Margaret Thatcher as the UK prime minister. Against this political backdrop, the episode introduces a fictional Conservative candidate named Michael Smart, who capitalizes on anti-immigration sentiments to gain support. Soon after, Nida’s door is vandalized, and she faces further discrimination, such as being relegated to eating her lunch in the basement while her colleagues enjoy the comfort of the storeroom.
As the narrative unfolds, Nida discovers that she must take the lives of three individuals to prevent the impending apocalypse. In a haunting vision of the future, she glimpses Michael Smart’s destiny: founding his own political party, Britannia, and becoming a fascistic prime minister who introduces the menacing, dog-like killer robots previously featured in the season 4 episode, Metalhead.
The ending of the episode
The ending of Black Mirror: Demon 79 offers a gripping climax that tests the boundaries of Nida’s resolve. Despite a warning from Gaap, the mysterious demon who bestowed her with the murderous mission upon discovering a peculiar talisman, Nida remains determined to carry out her plan to assassinate Michael Smart.
However, her killing spree attracts the attention of the police, who pursue her in a dramatic car chase. Though Nida manages to force Michael’s car off the road, the crash fails to kill him. Before she can finish the job with a hammer, Inspector Len Fisher intervenes, preventing her from fulfilling her mission, despite Nida’s adamant warnings of an impending world-ending catastrophe.
When the midnight deadline finally arrives, there appears to be no immediate consequence. Yet, after a few moments, nuclear missiles rain down outside the police station, fulfilling Gaap’s earlier prophecy and confirming the magnitude of the threat. Gaap, having failed to avert the cataclysm, is subsequently rejected by his fellow spirits. In a moment of desperation, he offers Nida the chance to join him in eternal oblivion, and she accepts, as they embrace the destruction of the world around them.
Black Mirror’s Demon 79 serves as a gripping exploration of the supernatural intertwining with political undercurrents. By incorporating the NF symbol, associated with the real-life National Front, and confusing viewers with the question of what does NF mean Black Mirror sheds light on the far-right sentiments and anti-immigration discourse prevalent during the 1979 political landscape. It serves as a chilling reminder of how politics and societal prejudices can shape and influence even the most otherworldly narratives, reflecting the power and impact of political ideologies on our lives.
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Featured Image: Screenshot from Black Mirror/Netflix
