In 2018, Charlie Brooker released the Netflix produced choose your own adventure film, the first choice between “Sugar Puffs” or “Frosties”.
The film follows Stefan as he creates Will Poulter), Stefan’s perception of reality begins to deteriorate. He starts to become aware that someone is controlling him, but he has no idea who or why. Ultimately, Stefan is living inside of the same structure he is creating in his video game. If the viewer gets the “right” ending, he reveals the only way to successfully create a choose your own adventure story as well as what Bandersnatch is secretly doing.
Regardless of which ending the viewer gets, Stefan’s video game is always released regardless of how complete or creative it is. Furthermore, the film will reset to an earlier option in order to offer the audience the opportunity to get the “right” or “better” ending. This is a method deployed by the creators of Bandersnatch in order to make the viewer believe they have choice when, in reality, they do not.
Why The Audience Never Had A Choice In Bandersnatch
When Bandersnatch initially released, fans took to social media to discuss their endings based on the choices that were made. There was an abundance of differences between each viewer’s experience, but the ending results all resembled each other. For instance, one ending in particular finds Stefan having high reviews on his video game but in prison for killing his father while a different ending with the same murder results in a mediocre rating. Furthermore, each ending results in his suffering, whether that means his game fails or he is imprisoned. By this logic, the only true choice the audience has revolves around what actions will lead to the inevitable end.
If Stefan successfully completes his game and ends up in his psychiatrist’s office explaining how he was able to do so, he reveals the secret behind the film and video game. He reveals that he stripped the potential player of choice and that he has chosen what ending they will get. The player only has the illusion of choice because options are given to them. Just as Stefan’s Bandersnatch guides the participant to a controlled ending, as does the film. No matter how much the audience may want to save or help Stefan, Charlie Brooker and the Black Mirror team chose his destiny before the viewer ever had a chance.
The concept behind the illusion of control given to the viewer adds an even deeper layer to the series’ examination of technology. When the audience becomes aware that Stefan is destined to reach a negative end, they become complicit in the demise of him and other characters. Furthermore, Stefan becomes aware of his own lack of freewill and ability to strip it from the video game’s audience. Bandersnatch is one of Black Mirror’s most successful and thought-provoking contributions to the dystopian sci-fi genre with an eerie underlying concept.