‘Black Mirror’ has quietly become one of the most prestigious and respected series around, with six Emmy wins under its belt, for ‘San Junipero’ and ‘USS Callister’ as well as nominations for ‘Black Museum’ and ‘Nosedive’. Now, just in time for the New Year, Netflix is rolling out a “Black Mirror Event,” ‘Bandersnatch’. Not much is known about the episode itself, but some are speculating that this is the much buzzed-about “choose your own adventure” format episode. After all, why else separate it from the rest of the new season, and present it as a stand-alone “event?”
A new trailer for the episode has been released, with the phrases “change your mind” and “change your life” flickering onscreen. At the end, a character states, “Your fate has been dictated.” That seems to support the idea that the viewer will somehow be able to manipulate the outcome of the story.
The term ‘Bandersnatch’ is taken from a character from Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass’, a savage beast that eats its prey. In the ‘Black Mirror’ special, it is the name of an 8-bit video game based on a novel by the fictitious writer Jerome F. Davies, who, as the clip implies, may have cut off his wife’s head. And yes, that is another Carroll reference. In fact, the entire story seems to have been inspired by ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass’ and its predecessor ‘Alice in Wonderland’, as the characters are shown downing pills to help elevate their minds, in true “Eat me,” “Drink me” fashion.
Watch the trailer for yourself below:
Don't do it. pic.twitter.com/dZUeyxW50x
— Black Mirror (@blackmirror) December 27, 2018
Fionn Whitehead (‘Dunkirk’) leads the cast, which also includes Will Poulter, Asim Chaudhry, and Alice Lowe. David Slade, who helmed the previous episode ‘Metalhead’, directed ‘Bandersnatch’. He has also crafted episodes of ‘American Gods’ and ‘Hannibal’.
Will this be the “choose your own adventure” episode? To find out turn to Netflix tomorrow, Friday, December 28.
