Black Mirror: Ranking Every Episode From Worst To Best

11. Bandersnatch

In lieu of Season 5 - although that is still happening - we got Bandersnatch, an interactive Black Mirror film that puts you in control of the narrative. Sort of.

The Choose Your Own Adventure mechanics riff on the books and computer games of old, and it's the latter that most informs what Bandersnatch is. It's not really a film or an episode of Black Mirror, but a game. Starting off in the life of Stefan, a programmer who wants to make his own video game, we're forced to make a series of choices to progress his story and ultimately define his life. Sugar Puffs or Frosties? Accept or Reject? Yeah or F**K YEAH?

Each choice weighs heavy upon you, making this a lot of fun to 'play'. Where Bandersnatch is lacking, though, is in story. Its narrative is incredibly slight, there's little-to-no actual character development, and only one of the many endings comes close to being satisfying. Taken as a movie, or thought of next to other Black Mirror episodes, Bandersnatch doesn't really work. As an ambitious interactive effort, and looked at as a game, though, it's something you can get a lot out of, which is why it's middle of the road here.

[JH]