*Warning - This article contains spoilers for Black Mirror episode Bete Noire.*

The much-anticipated return of Netflix's has set social media alight with chatter about the second episode of season 7, aptly named Bete Noire.

The latest instalment has left fans of the dystopian series utterly gobsmacked, thanks to a jaw-dropping twist and some seriously creepy performances by Rosy McEwen as the eerie Verity and Siena Kelly in the role of main character Maria.

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's own description of the Charlie Brooker-penned Bete Noire teases: "Confectionary whizz kid Maria is unnerved when her former schoolmate Verity joins the company she works at - because there's something altogether odd about Verity, something only Maria seems to notice..."

Well, if you look it up in the dictionary, you'll find that a bete noire is someone or something that really gets under your skin.

In the context of , Verity starts off as Maria's personal 'bete noire' but as the story unfolds, Maria ends up becoming the office pariah.

This French phrase, which popped up around 1844, literally means 'black beast', reports .

The feedback has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic, with heaps of praise for its mind-bending finale.

Over on X, the platform that's taken over from , viewers have been voicing their opinions, with one fan exclaiming: "Bete Noire was 10/10.

"THATSSSS what i'm talking about! ! ! ! ! ! 100% black mirror weirdness, revenge, plot twist, evil high tech use," another fan chimed in with excitement. "Overall really liked the plot but it's not my all time favourite so a 9 seems fair.

"Bete Noire! ! ! ! ! 10/10 the ending was CRAAAZY! ! !" a third viewer wrote, while another added: "Was not expecting Bete Noire to be that good. One episode in and it's already better than 5 and 6 lol."

However, one viewer wasn't impressed, stating: "BETE NOIRE MIGHT BE THE WORST EPISODE OF BLACK MIRROR I THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN LOL."

Another fan had mixed feelings about the ending but enjoyed the episode overall, reflecting: "It gets silly but this surreal and twisted anti-bullying campaign is so fun to watch."

As the episode unfolds, it becomes apparent that Verity isn't as she appears and is using some form of to undermine Maria at work.

When Maria finally loses her patience and follows Verity home, we discover she lives in an incredibly lavish house, complete with a ground floor room filled with computer servers.

While Verity is showering, Maria swipes her necklace, convinced it's the device altering reality, and confronts her former school friend.

We then learn that Maria was the instigator of the 'Milk Maid' rumours at school, and now Verity is exacting her revenge.

She wasn't fazed by Maria snatching the necklace, casually stating: "It's just a remote. It connects to the quantum compiler downstairs. That's what changes reality."

Realising she's completely outgunned and with Verity's quantum compiler bestowing seemingly limitless power, Maria does what seems the only logical step to prevent her life from unravelling: she shoots Verity and then uses her fingerprints on the remote to seize control of the quantum compiler.

With the power at her fingertips, she quickly dominates the cops who were once there to haul her away and proclaims herself 'Empress of the Universe'.

We last see her elevated on a pedestal while her new throng chants "Hail, Maria!"

The ending throws a curveball that's much lighter in tone than many might have predicted, but can it really be considered a cheerful one?

Ultimately, despite achieving great power, Verity couldn't escape the torment of her schooldays bullying, and Maria, the classic top dog, manages to climb back up the ranks. What's more, the very power that tainted Verity seems to have ensnared Maria as well, hinting she might not wield the quantum compiler for noble causes.

Given that the necklace warps reality itself, the authenticity of Maria's life up till now remains questionable... Yet, for a simpler sense of closure, perhaps it's best to accept the finale at face value.

Black Mirror season 7 is available to stream on Netflix now.