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5 Shocking Ways Pom Klementieff's 'Black Mirror' Role As Roxette Redefined Digital Sexuality In 'Striking Vipers'

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Pom Klementieff’s appearance in the Black Mirror universe remains one of the anthology series’ most visually striking and thematically controversial performances. Released in June 2019, the episode “Striking Vipers” (Season 5, Episode 1) used Klementieff’s fierce physicality and unique screen presence to explore a complex web of virtual reality, sexual identity, and marital boundaries that continues to spark debate to this day. This article, updated for the current date of December 19, 2025, dives deep into her role as the avatar Roxette and the profound questions the episode raised about what constitutes infidelity in the digital age.

The episode, which co-starred MCU heavyweights Anthony Mackie and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, leveraged Klementieff’s growing global fame—primarily from her role as Mantis in the Marvel Cinematic Universe—to give the virtual character Roxette a recognizable and powerful presence. Her performance was central to the story’s success, acting as the physical manifestation of a deeply intimate, yet non-physical, relationship that challenges traditional notions of love, friendship, and fidelity.

The Complete Profile: Pom Klementieff Biography & Major Roles

Pom Alexandra Klementieff is a French actress known for bringing a distinct, often intense, energy to her roles across global cinema. Her background is as diverse as her roles, contributing to her unique persona on screen. She has quickly become a standout figure in major Hollywood franchises, transitioning seamlessly between quirky comedy and high-stakes action.

  • Full Name: Pom Alexandra Klementieff
  • Date of Birth: May 3, 1986
  • Place of Birth: Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
  • Nationality: French
  • Heritage: Mixed French, Russian, and Korean descent.
  • Early Life: Due to her father's diplomatic work, she lived in various countries, including Japan and the Ivory Coast, before settling in France. Her name "Pom" comes from the Korean words for "spring" (봄, bom) and "tiger" (범, beom).
  • Training: Studied acting at the prestigious Cours Florent drama school in Paris.
  • Major Film Roles:
    • Mantis: Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, starting with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017).
    • Paris: The formidable villain/henchwoman in the Mission: Impossible franchise, beginning with Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023).
    • Haeng-bok: The American remake of the Korean film Oldboy (2013), which was her first major American film role.
  • Television Notables: Roxette in Black Mirror: "Striking Vipers" (2019).

The Virtual Affair: Roxette’s Explosive Role in ‘Striking Vipers’

“Striking Vipers,” written by series creator Charlie Brooker, is a masterclass in modern technological anxiety, but its core controversy revolves entirely around the virtual relationship facilitated by Pom Klementieff’s character, Roxette. The episode centers on two heterosexual male friends, Danny (Anthony Mackie) and Karl (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), who reconnect over a hyper-realistic virtual reality fighting game, also called Striking Vipers.

Karl, who is single, chooses the female avatar Roxette (Klementieff), while Danny, who is married to Theo (Nicole Beharie), selects the male avatar Lance (Ludi Lin).

1. The Catalyst for Digital Intimacy

The initial interaction between Roxette and Lance is a brutal fighting match, typical of the game’s genre. However, the hyper-realistic immersion of the VR technology leads to a spontaneous sexual encounter between the avatars. This single, shocking moment transforms the episode from a sci-fi action story into a profound meditation on digital intimacy.

2. The Complex Question of Fluid Sexuality

The most debated aspect of “Striking Vipers” is the nature of the relationship between Danny and Karl. Are they gay or bisexual? The episode deliberately avoids a clear label. The intimacy occurs between the male and female avatars, Roxette and Lance, yet the *consciousness* experiencing the intimacy belongs to two ostensibly straight men, Karl and Danny.

Pom Klementieff’s Roxette serves as the perfect vehicle for this exploration. As a physically powerful, hyper-sexualized female avatar, she allows Karl (the player) to explore a sexual connection with his male friend (Danny, the player of Lance) without challenging his real-world identity as a straight man. This scenario poses a question: is the attraction to the avatar, the player, or the experience itself?

Why Roxette’s Performance is Essential to the Episode’s Meaning

The success of the episode hinges on the believability of the virtual world and the magnetic attraction between the two avatars. Pom Klementieff’s portrayal of Roxette is not merely a skin for Karl; she embodies the character with a distinct personality, making the attraction feel real and intense for the players involved.

3. Roxette as the Ultimate Digital Escape

The episode highlights a common *Black Mirror* theme: technology providing an escape from mundane reality. Danny is in a loving but routine marriage, and Karl is struggling with commitment. Roxette and Lance represent the ultimate fantasy—a passionate, consequence-free sexual connection that satisfies a deep, unacknowledged need in both men. The intensity of Klementieff’s performance as Roxette is what makes the virtual experience more compelling to Danny than his real-life marriage.

4. The ‘No Homo’ Dilemma and Identity Crisis

The dynamic between Karl and Danny is often described as the "no homo" dilemma turned on its head. They are two long-time friends who can only express a profound, sexual, and emotional connection through the shield of their avatars. Klementieff’s Roxette is the necessary layer of separation—the 'female' body—that allows the two men to cross a boundary they would never consider in the physical world. This complex layer of virtual identity is what makes the episode one of the most introspective in the entire series.

5. The Controversial Resolution and Topical Authority

The episode concludes with a controversial, yet pragmatic, resolution: Danny and his wife, Theo, agree to an annual "hall pass." Theo gets a night out with a stranger, while Danny gets his annual virtual reunion with Roxette. This ending cemented the episode's topical authority, forcing viewers to question what truly constitutes infidelity. Is it the act of physical betrayal, or the emotional connection and digital intimacy that Danny shares with Roxette?

The Roxette character, despite being a virtual avatar, becomes the central pivot point for the entire marriage's survival. Pom Klementieff’s ability to sell the character's intense passion and physicality—from the fighting moves to the emotional vulnerability—is what made the ultimate compromise feel earned, if unsettling. The episode is now frequently cited in discussions about the future of relationships, virtual reality, and evolving sexual identities in a digitally connected world.

pom klementieff black mirror
pom klementieff black mirror

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