‘Black Mirror': Kate Mara and Josh Hartnett Break Down That Shocking ‘Beyond the Sea’ Twist

thewrap.com:

Note: The following Kate Mara and Josh Hartnett interview discusses major spoilers for “Black Mirror” Season 6, Episode 3: “Beyond the Sea.”Season 6 of “Black Mirror” introduces an alternative 1969 in “Beyond the Sea,” in which two astronauts, Cliff (Aaron Paul) and David (Josh Hartnett), quite literally experience the best of both worlds by spending time with their families on Earth in a replica of their likeness while their bodies remain aboard a multi-year space mission.Although both men spend limited time together on the mission, when a cult leader kills David’s family and burns his replica, David has no choice but to spend all his time alone on the spacecraft.

After Cliff begins to worry that David might not survive in his isolation, Cliff’s wife Lana (Kate Mara) suggests that David could use Cliff’s replica for a break appear in Cliff’s likeness to visit their picturesque home and the forest surrounding it.“It’s exploring how isolation affects us on such a deep level, and how human connection is vital to our existence, happiness and health,” Mara told TheWrap. “That’s really what a lot of this episode is about… That’s why I wanted to be a part of it.”All is well with David’s trips down to Earth as he works on a painting of Cliff and Lana’s home, though things begin to take a turn when David (in Cliff’s replica) begins hitting on Lana.

In space, Cliff becomes suspicious of David’s intentions and forbids David from using his replica again — leading David to return to Earth in Cliff’s replica once more to commit a violent act against Lana and Cliff’s son to level the playing field.“David has gone through an extraordinary trauma: he’s isolated as can be, literally in space, without anyone to speak to, except for a guy.