Black Mirror: Bandersnatch Review - 7 Ups & 2 Downs

1. It Lacks The Satirical Bite Of Traditional Black Mirror

Black Mirror Bandersnatch
Netflix

If Bandersnatch was presented as an ordinary episode of Black Mirror, it would probably be on the middle-to-lower tier, because it's lacking the satirical punchiness of the show's better episodes, and feels undeniably compromised by its CYOA presentation.

That's not to say it's not clever, just that it feels a tad Black Mirror-lite, with Brooker clearly toning down his usual incisiveness for the sake of a broader and more accessible game-like experience.

Aside from one hilariously meta sequence, few are likely to be left gob-smacked by much of what happens here, which after four seasons of the show, feels almost ordinary compared to some of Black Mirror's most ferociously clever episodes.

These flaws aside, though, there's plenty to savour, and here's what Bandersnatch got right...

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.