One of the most troubling concerns that has emerged within the streaming ecosystem in recent years is the removal of original content that was developed for the service that it aired on. While licensed content is cycled around on a regular basis, streamers that remove their own projects essentially prevent them from being seen elsewhere, as it is rare that they are ever given a home media or digital release. In some cases, these removals happen to content that has been poorly received,such as Disney+’s deletion of theWillowsequel series. However,it is shocking that Netflix removedBandersnatchfrom its streaming library,as theBlack Mirrorepisode had been met with critical praise upon its debut.
Bandersnatchis unlike any otherBlack Mirrorepisode, as it incorporates an interactive element that allows the viewer to make the choices for the main character. The computer programmer Stefan Butler (Fionn Whitehead) begins developing a fantasy adventure game for the video game company Tuckersoft, which is run by the enigmatic businessman Mohan Thakur (Asim Chaudhry). Although Stefan wants to make something completely independent of outside interference, the brilliant game designer Colin Ritman (Will Poulter) pressures him to help make something that is “designed by committee.”Bandersnatchdeveloped interesting ideas about free will, aggressive capitalism, and determinism, and its removal from Netflix suggests a grim futurefor theBlack Mirrorproject.
‘Bandersnatch’ Was One of the Most Ambitious ‘Black Mirror’ Installments
Netflix has seemingly decided not to lean into further development of any interactive projects, as it has also removed a “choose-your-own adventure” style installment ofThe Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. While it’s understandable that Netflix has attempted to refocus its efforts on the gaming department, which was not as well-developed by the time thatBandersnatchaired, the two initiatives are not the same.Bandersnatchallowed for a greater level of immersion within the stories themselves, and showed the viewers how challenging it could be to be faced with binary options;while some fans ofBlack Mirrorcomplained that the characters on the show made illogical decisions for the sake of continuing the plot,Bandersnatchallowed them to experience all the pressure that emerges when forced to make a split-second choice, in which either option could have disastrous consequences.
While it can be viewed as an independent project, like most installments of the show,Bandersnatchhas several important ties to episodes ofBlack Mirror. While it is not exactly a “sequel” toBandersnatch, the episode “Plaything” from the most recent seasons features the return of Colin, and also explores how easily it can be to get lost within a digital gaming environment. The two installments are thematically linked in a way that complements one another; ifBandersnatchsuggested that there were unwavering rules that prevented human beings from having free choice, then “Playtest” imagineda more harrowing science fiction futurewhen humans were subservient to an artificial form of life.
Bandersnatchalso has many Easter eggs that link it to otherBlack Mirrorepisodesthat are rewarding to fans who enjoy seeing the connective tissue. Between the appearance of the “branching path” symbol from “White Bear,” specific games that appeared in “Nosedive,” an allusion to the protagonist of “Black Museum,” a reference to the titular clinic in “San Junipero,” and an homage to the then-impending events of “Smithereens,”Bandersnatchties together variousBlack Mirrorstorylines in a thoughtful way. Although it is easy to dismiss theBlack Mirrorproject as an anthology,Bandersnatchproved that therewere thematic and narrative themes that kept each installment connected.
He Lost the Oscar for ‘The Holdovers,’ but Paul Giamatti Should Win an Emmy for ‘Black Mirror’
Giamatti’s soulful, complex performance in “Eulogy” is one of the best of his entire career.
Netflix Removing Acclaimed Content Is Part of a Worrying Trend
What’s most shocking is thatBandersnatchwas well-received at the time of its release, as it took home the Emmy Award for Best Television Film overDeadwood: The Movie, and became one of the most-watched episodes in the history ofBlack Mirror. Although there were some critics who felt that the interactive elements simply led the viewer down the same paths, that may have been a purposeful narrative devicemade to reflect its themes. Even those underwhelmed by the format or story had to admit thatBandersnatchmoves seamlessly as an experience; it is very impressive that actors like Poulter, Whitehead, andCraig Parkinsonwere able to retain consistency within their performances, despite appearing in various scenarios.
The fact that a project as daring asBandersnatchhas been erased from Netflix could be an indication thatBlack Mirrorwon’t be allowed to be as subversive in the future; among the criticisms of the seventh season was that it relied heavily on nostalgia for previous episodes, and often chose more heartfelt moments instead of the calculated cynicism that had madeBlack Mirrorsuch a gamechanging piece of storytellingto begin with.
The deletion ofBandersnatchis an ironic betrayal of the episode’s themes, as it circles the importance of having a human hand to guide the decision-making process. Even though Stefan can make choices that end up being detrimental, the fact that he was able to rationalize the outcomes is far more preferable than the notion of a machine calculating the best route. Given that Netflix itself has begun implementing artificial intelligence within its menu optioning andeven some of its original programming, it is hard not to considerBandersnatch’s removal through this extra layer of irony. Beyond the fact thatBandersnatchis a brilliantly conceived work of fiction, it has a message about the importance of personal ethics and the danger of technology that is very important to remember in light of recent events.
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
