Is Netflix ahead of its time?

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Black Mirror is a science-fiction / horror show that creates a new, alternate universe to show viewers terrifying outcomes of changing technology and the new world. On December 28th, 2018 Black Mirror released a brand new interactive show where viewers decide the characters fate, named Bandersnatch. Bandersnatch is about a boy named Stefan in 1984 creating an interactive “choose your own adventure” game from a story by his favorite author. The viewers had many different paths they could take Stefan on throughout the episode and they all ventured into the idea of free will.



Netflix created very specific excitement around this special episode as the company released the trailer for the show 24 hours before the release date. This choice of marketing is unusual to Netflix’s brand as the company constantly releases trailers two weeks to a month in advance to releases. Twitter blew up with questions and ideas about the new Black Mirror show and all of the ways it could be new and interesting. Once the show was actually released the internet was freaking out over the different decision viewers are forced to make and how each choice has a 10-second timer on it. Choices ranged from what cereal Stefan ate in the morning to if he should kill his dad or not.


Shortly after the excitement wore down on the show and viewers truly believed they had seen all the alternate endings, social media slowed down and quickly changed over to a new topic. That was until Netflix tweeted something that would excite everyone all over again.
This caused a new flow of tweets regarding Bandersnatch and how difficult it is to find this ending. Netflix is constantly changing the game when it comes to how we interact with media. The company is constantly throwing curve balls at its followers and making them continuously go back to the browser. I think Netflix will keep using tactics like the one they used for Bandersnatch to keep bringing curious minded viewers back to old shows. Netflix is ahead of their time for sure, they even got me to watch Bandersnatch over six times after the explosion on social media.
I give the show 4 out of 5 stars and recommend everyone to try and find all the pathways.

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