Free will is the central theme of “Black Mirror’s” “Bandersnatch.” Making decisions, having the right to say “yes” or “no” is its beauty. So we were curious: what happens if you watch the Netflix show without making any choices? What if you let it play it out without pressing anything on the screen?
This article is loaded with spoilers. Continue reading?
“Bandersnatch” is about aspiring game creator Stefan Butler (Fionn Whitehead). He demos “Bandersnatch,” a video game he’s been working on in hopes that gaming company Tuckersoft would pick it up and release it. At Tuckersoft, he meets his idol and the creator of numerous successful video games Colin Ritman (played by the amazing Will Poulter).
(READ: ‘Black Mirror: Bandersnatch’ puts you in charge of the story)
The interactive Netflix show allows you to make decisions on behalf of Stefan. Some decisions are big like career choices, some are small as the music he listens to.
The first choice the show makes for you is that Stefan chooses Sugar Puffs over Frosties. This decision will reflect on the commercial that plays in the Betamax tape handed to Stefan from Colin later. Then it chooses the Thompson Twins’ song “Hold me Now.”
The first time Tuckersoft’s Mohan Thakur asks Stefan if he wants to work in Tuckersoft and have his own desk at the office, Stefan will choose “Accept”. This will eventually lead to Bandersnatch’s failure. But Stefan will get another shot at creating the game.
You’re back at Tuckersoft but things are slightly different. Stefan, Colin and Thakur finishes one another’s sentences this time. He gets asked again if he wants to work in the office or not. This time, Stefan (or Netflix, since Netflix is making the choices and not you) says no.
We then see Stefan talking to his shrink, Dr. R. Haynes. The doctor seem to know his history well and will ask if he wants to talk about his mother. He will say “Yes” and now we see the reason he acts that way around his father.
There’s a flashback. We see Stefan’s mother. She has a train to catch but Stefan’s search for his stuffed rabbit is causing a delay. There’s a choice to be made here but not really—Stefan could forget his rabbit and go with his mom but the only option presented is “No,” which leads us to her tragic death.
Dr. Haynes talks about how the past is immutable. In some ways, this is true. Saving Stefan’s mother is not an option in this interactive film.
In the next scene, audiences are asked to choose what vinyl record our SIM, we mean Stefan, purchases from the store. Will it be Phaedra or The Bermuda Triangle? Our finger stays off the mouse and Stefan ends up picking Phaedra.
We see him slaving over the Bandersnatch game for days on end. His father grows concerned and we see them start an argument. Would he “Throw Tea Over the Computer” or “Shout at Dad”? He chooses the destructive path and throws the drink his father handed to him over the keyboard. This will promptly end the show and you will be asked to go back.
(READ: ‘Bandersnatch’: A slightly dissenting opinion)
You go back to the scene in Stefan’s bedroom. This time, Stefan shouts at his dad and, under the guise of going to the pub for lunch, Stefan’s father takes him to his shrink. But wait, Stefan spots Colin walking just several feet away. There’s another choice to be made—should Stefan visit Dr. Haynes or should he follow Colin? He decides to go to his doctor.
In this session, Stefan talks about the weird things that have been happening to him. It’s like he has no control over things, he tells Dr. Haynes. And as if to illustrate Stefan’s lack of control, we get asked: should he “Bite nails” or “Pull earlobe?” Nail biting is the chosen nervous tick but Stefan, in a surprising show of will, stops the urge. No nail-biting will occur.
The doctor will prescribe meds. Stefan ponders if he should “Take Them” or “Flush Them Away.” He chooses to take them.
It’s four months later, it’s Christmas time and Stefan’s video game “Bandersnatch” will be given a scathing review. It’s like the creator gave up halfway through, said the critic, giving it a sad rating of two-and-a-half stars. The host hints that he wishes the creator would choose a different path should he be given a second chance.
We go back in time again. Should Stefan “Follow Colin” or “Go Back”? The film chooses to “Go Back” and this time, Stefan flushes the pills instead of taking them. This decision will take him to Tuckersoft on Sept. 12, Delivery Day, the day of his deadline. There he meets with Thakur and Colin.
Colin hands him the Betamax tape about Jerome F. Davies, the writer of the book “Bandersnatch” on which his game is based. He watches the show and is then given the option to “Destroy computer” or “Hit desk”. Stefan destroys the computer. He breaks down and audience gets to choose to “Follow Colin” or “Go Back.” Once again, we don’t make a choice. And once again, the film goes back in time.
This time, Stefan will hit the computer. The next choice: “Pick up Family Photo” or “Pick up Book” about Davies. The photo wins. Stefan goes through a mirror and becomes his younger self. He sees his mother reaching her hand out to him.
You are again presented with the choice to either “Follow Colin” or “Go Back.” Again the film will go back. Stefan is in his room, still slaving over “Bandersnatch” but also really weirded out by being forced to do things he doesn’t want to do. “Who’s there?” he asks. “Give me a sign.” Your options? “Netflix” or the glyph. Netflix is the choice and in this entertaining scene, “Bandersnatch” reaches its height of meta-ness.
“What is Netflix?” Stefan asks.
He goes back to the Dr. Haynes and they discuss Netflix. “Is it a planet?” Dr. Haynes asks and we chuckle.
“If people are watching you for entertainment, shouldn’t it be more entertaining?” Dr. Haynes asks in this surreal scene. Everything about his life is ordinary, she says, including her.
You are then given the opportunity to make things more entertaining by throwing coffee over Dr. Haynes’ face. The options are “Yes” and “F*ck Yeah.” Stefan goes for the calmer “Yes.”
The good doctor unleashes her inner Electra and challenges him to a fight. Stefan can fight her or there’s another choice to be made: he can leap through the window. He chooses to do this and discovers that he’s not really at a doctor’s office, he’s on a film set. The director calls him “Mike” even though he insists that he is Stefan.
For the first time, you can opt to exit to credits or “Follow Colin.”
You can end the film there but choosing the latter will take you to more alternate choices with the alternate results. Just like Colin says: There are different paths to take in our lives. The end does not matter.