Black Mirror: Demon 79 ending explained - what happened to Nida?

However, a couple of the new episodes deviate from this formula, including Mazey Day and Demon 79, the last two episodes of the season, which take things in a supernatural, horror-tinged direction.

Demon 79 stars stars Anjana Vasan as Nida, a mild mannered shop assistant in 1979, whose world is turned upside down when she comes across a talisman, and Paapa Essiedu as demon 'Gaap'.

It is the only episode this season for which Charlie Brooker has a co-writer, sharing duties with Loki and Ms Marvel scribe Bisha K Ali (who also executive produced on Joan Is Awful).

Despite all these points of differentiation, the story is still deliciously twisted in a way that can only be found in a Black Mirror episode. But how does it all play out and how does it come to a close?

Read on for everything you need to know about the ending of Demon 79.

Demon 79 ending explained

Initially, we see Nida suffering in an environment of stirred up racial hatred and micro-aggressions from colleagues.

Her mother has died, leaving her living alone in a small flat. Throughout her days, as she suffers from prejudice and sexual harassment, and she imagines murdering those around her in brutal ways.

Then, one day at work she finds, alongside a group of newspaper clippings describing a spate of murders in advance of May Day, a talisman with the classic White Bear symbol on it (one Black Mirror has returned to time and again).

She gets some of her own blood on the talisman, marking it and thus releasing a demon called Gaap. Gaap takes on the form of Bobby Farrell from punk/disco group Boney M, as it's an appearance Nida finds appealing.

Gaap tells Nida that she must now kill three people within the next three days, or else the world will end through nuclear war.

Nida therefore reluctantly sets about on a killing spree, hoping to save the world from impending doom, but choosing her victims carefully, so as only to kill those who themselves have done wrong.

Is Gaap real?

It certainly seems so, but there is still a question throughout as to whether Gaap is real or just a figment of Nida's imagination and a sign of her deteriorating mental health.

At the end of the episode the talisman appears to become a domino, with the suggestion being that it was always so, and the whole thing had been in Nida's head.

However, the conclusion of the episode appears to make things certain once and for all, that Gaap truly is a demon and, without Nida's help, the apocalypse is nigh.

What happens to Nida at the end of Demon 79?

Near to the end of the episode, Nida is trying to decide her next victim when she starts thinking about Michael Smart, a Conservative parliamentary candidate in the area, as a potential contender.

She asks Gaap to show her Smart's future, which he reluctantly does - Smart will go on to be removed from the Conservative party for being too hard-line, set up his own party, and eventually become a fascistic Prime Minister of the UK (including, it would appear, introducing the Metalhead robot dogs into society).

Gaap says that those in Hell are fans of Smart's "work" and won't be happy with him as Nida's choice. However, he does still fit within the rule, so Nida decides to go for it. Nida and Gaap have a falling out, prompting Gaap to leave.

However, a police officer is hot on her tail. Nida knocks Smart off the road in her car, but he survives. As she approaches him with her hammer, ready to kill, the police officer stops her and arrests her.

In her interrogation, a devastated Nida tells the police everything as she nervously watches the clock, waiting for the impending apocalypse. At first, after midnight, it seems as though nothing has happened and the whole experience was in her mind. Then, the nuclear bombs start to fall.

Just before she implodes, Gaap returns, telling Nida he is being banished to a realm of eternal nothingness for his failure in his first ever mission. He asks her to join him, an offer Nida accepts, and the pair walk hand in hand to their own damnation, as the world ceases to exist.

Caught up on Black Mirror season 6? Read our episode breakdowns below:

• Joan Is Awful - episode 1 ending explained
• Loch Henry - episode 2 ending explained
• Beyond the Sea - episode 3 ending explained
• Mazey Day - episode 4 ending explained

Read our interview with Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker, as well as season 6 stars Salma Hayek, Aaron Paul and Rob Delaney, in the latest issue of Radio Times magazine – out now.

Black Mirror season 6 is streaming now on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.

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