This might be the wildest theory yet, but bear with me

Internet sleuths on Reddit have pointed out that Black Mirror season seven is hiding at least six references to Juniper, and while its creator Charlie Brooker is yet to comment on the recurring theme, people have a pretty good theory behind the constant references.

Somehow, despite seven seasons across 13 years, Black Mirror still manages to surprise us with each new instalment and season seven has been no different. People have noticed countless easter eggs across the eight episodes, from the parallel between Black Mirror’s USS Callister and the sequel to the hidden references to episodes since past in Common People.

Though we’ve come to expect some hijinx from Charlie Brooker, this new theory from Reddit suggests he’s been linking to prior episodes in cryptic ways since at least 2016.

Where are the Juniper references in Black Mirror season seven?

Throughout season seven, people have noticed references to Juniper at least six times. In Common People, married couple Mike and Amanda go on their yearly vacation to Juniper Lodge, where they eat the Juniper burger, and that trend continues throughout the rest of the season. In episode three, a devastating queer love journey called Hotel Reverie, Emma Corrin’s character Dorothy appears in a film called St Juniper, and Issa Rae’s character Brandy Friday lives on Junipero Drive!

In the final episode, a sequel to the beloved USS Callister from season five, Nanette Cole is taken to St. Juniper’s Hospital when she’s involved in a car accident. Some have even suggested it’s a callback to season four’s Black Museum.

Yes, these moments could just be a nod to San Junipero, arguably the best episode of ALL TIME, but this is Charlie Brooker we’re talking about – the man’s got plans, and I hope a whiteboard with connecting lines of thread.

Black Mirror

Okay, so what does that mean?

Juniper is technically a species of tree that encapsulates between 50 and 67 different plants, with each of them producing juniper berries that are actually safe for consumption. On an etymology level, the word itself is drawn from the “Latin common name for the cedar, from junio, young, and parere, to produce, hence youth producing, or evergreen.”

This could explain why San Junipero was given that name because the inhabitants of the town remain eternally youthful when they are inside.

On a deeper level, people on Reddit have questioned whether the Juniper references are a nod to the character’s place of “eternal bliss” or “solice.” In witchcraft, Juniper is seen as a protective plant so that would also add some weight to this theory.

“The juniper /junipero Easter egg in both episodes relates to ‘the place’ where the characters found eternal bliss -much like the San Junipero episode,” one person wrote.

 

In the same thread, other people referred to a medieval Franciscan friar from the 1200s named Brother Juniper.

They explained: “Saint Juniper was one of Francis Of Assisi’s posse and his most notable deed was the Legend of the Pig’s Feet.

“Essentially, Juniper got talking to this dying dude who’s last wish was to have some pig’s feet. Juniper goes off and maims a pig for its trotters, giving it to the ailing peon. The farmer was understandably p****d off, but Juniper just didn’t understand why. He’d done a nice thing, so why was the farmer angry?

“Juniper was like this, he’d give away the group’s possessions to poor people all the time to the point his pals had to hide their s*** from him so he wouldn’t donate it. My point is that this is reminiscent of the way a robot works. You program it to get pig’s feet, it takes pig’s feet. Unless you specifically tell it otherwise, it would never occur to it not to steal the feet.”

Please, Charlie Brooker, reveal why you keep name-dropping Juniper. My sanity needs it.