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s07e04 — Plaything
| Runtime: | |
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| Release Date: | 10.04.2025 15:00 |
| Watched by: | 39 59716.53% |
Description
In a near-future London, an eccentric murder suspect is linked to an unusual video game from the 1990s — a game populated by cute, evolving artificial lifeforms.
Discussion: Season 7, Episode 4 Join the Discussion
408Probably, this is what the idea "they sit in their computers, and then they go wild" looks like.
It turned out to be interesting with the code through the camera.
So he could just show his piece of paper on the street, the nearest street camera would count everything.
That's just to play, you need a Netflix subscription
The sticker on the table in the store is shown at the moment when the main character was buying the game console "Play Station 2", which was released in March 2000. The first "The Sims" was released in February 2000, and was announced in April '99.
The ending is tinny, of course)
The detective just turned out to be some kind of caricature, unable to have normal conversations with the suspects, and it's not clear why he got so emotionally involved in the case of the chopped-up corpse of 1994, if they already have at least the 2030s there.
Gg is interrogated by two opposing characters.
A specialist in psychological assessment shows communication and empathy, it is thanks to her support that we get the ending in which humanity reaches a new level (according to gg)
The detective, on the contrary, embodies violence and brutality, interfering with the goal of gg
If you look at it from this angle, one of the ideas of the series is that we can change our civilization by choosing the path of goodness instead of the road of aggression, which is a relic of the past and slows down our development.
And thanks to a kind psychologist, humanity is no more.
The ending seems to be cut off, it would be interesting to see the changed world with somnambulists with one eye.
But, in general, the episode is memorable, this season is just pleasing so far (or I just really missed the CHZ)
The sample is episode 1 of season 1, season 7. There's a frightening realism of the near future or even the present, but here it's a caricature, I don't believe it.
You need to know why console emulators appeared and worked only on significantly more powerful systems than they were in the days of the consoles themselves.
Plus, the series clearly makes reference to the last episode about the game where it was necessary to make a choice
The series fire ❤
However, I liked the season, so I don't even know what to say.
PC graphics cards are used for mining for a reason, no one does it on farm consoles.
Apparently he spent some kind of inheritance))
Where does so much money come from, I wonder?)
From game reviews?
He obviously didn't go to work every day.
We all have the same buggy software in our heads that we had a million years ago.
A sickening, uncomfortable, scary episode soaked in the technological stuff of the 90s. He looks like a kripipasta incarnate or a simplified but bloody distortion of Lane's Experiments, where instead of a Japanese schoolgirl, the role of a techno-messiah is taken over by the crazy and dirty Peter Capaldi, who is very good at this role.
To be honest, despite all the sad warning series, Black Mirror always wants such vile and frightening techno-thrillers, where a happy ending is impossible by definition.
And let the plot be somewhat banal and in some places ragged, but it was shot so juicy and disgusting that it fascinates and it is impossible to break away from it, and I don't want to.
Basically, I wasn't disappointed at all, we were really brought back to the atmosphere of that episode with flashbacks. But, to be honest, because of the open ending, there were too many questions, and this made the series itself unclear.
The only thing is that the actor who played GG in his youth just played brilliantly. A very talented guy.
you don't empathize with the characters, like in the series with Archangel or Waldo. There is no drama. Everything is clumsy and boring.
In general, all hope is for the second episode of Spaceflight. If they fucked him up, too... Unfortunately, there is no point in the series anymore.
As for the detective, it seemed that he had a personal interest and the guy who was killed by gg was his relative or something (it also seemed to me that way partly because there are some similarities between the actors, and it seems to me that they were specially chosen that way).
I liked the episode, it flew by very quickly, and it was nice to see Capaldi.
The first series is generally an almanac for fans of subscriptions)
By the way, I watched it out of order, I turned on this 4 episode first, so I probably got it, I didn't have to compare it with the first three. Quite in the spirit of a Black mirror
And in general, these shibziki are not shown doing anything there, except squeaking.
He didn't really talk about using it for the sake of understanding the language, it would have been better if he had somehow thought of a decryption program himself, he's a programmer after all, but in the end he repairs refrigerators;
Did he have a midi connector in his head? :D
And what do people disagree with? Do you consider robots to be alive? Do you want to be destroyed by them? So go ahead, you can destroy yourself, no one bothers.
But I was so surprised with myself at the very beginning of the series, it can be described like this:
Me: I forget the name of the person who introduced himself 3 seconds ago,
Also, I get these flashbacks when watching the episode "Haven't you heard about Collin Ritman?", I immediately remember Bandersnatch and the whole plot of that episode.
I just have a blank in my head, somehow it didn't stick at all.
### **The main plot**
The action takes place in ** 1984**. The main character is Stefan Butler, a young programmer who develops the Bandersnatch video game based on the fantasy maze book of the same name (a parody of Choose an Adventure).
**Key points:**
- Stefan suffers from mental problems related to the trauma of his mother's death in childhood.
- He collaborates with the company **Tuckersoft**, where he meets the legendary game designer **Colin Ritman** (actor Will Poulter).
- As the game develops, Stefan begins to doubt reality, faced with conspiracy theories, drug trips and the possibility of ** controlling his fate** (a hint at the interactivity of the series).
### **Interactive solutions and endings**
The viewer chooses Stefan, for example:
- **What should I have for breakfast?** (affects small details).
- **Should I take a stress pill?** (leads to different scenes).
- ** Should I kill my father?** (a radical twist).
- **Should I jump off the balcony with Colin?** (one of the most psychedelic endings).
In some versions, Stefan realizes that he is being controlled by a viewer from the future (that is, you), which breaks the fourth wall.
1. **Perfect game (5 stars)** — Stefan completes Bandersnatch, but goes insane and ends up in a mental hospital.
2. **The murder of his father** — Stefan buries the body, the game comes out with bugs, he is arrested.
3.**Meta-finale** — Stefan gets into modern times and sees how Netflix makes a series about him *Black Mirror*.
4. **The Path to Freedom** — Stefan sabotages the game and goes on a train with his mother (alternate reality).
### **References and meaning**
- The name *Bandersnatch* refers to the creature from *Alice through the Looking Glass* by Lewis Carroll (as well as other episodes of *CHZ*).
- Criticism of the illusion of choice (even in interactive cinema, decisions are predetermined).
- Parallels with the real story of the 1984 Bandersnatch game (which was never released).
This is one of the most controversial and complex series of Black Mirror, combining psychedelics, meta-narrative and experiments with format.
I watched it well when I still had a Netflix subscription, I can't imagine how to watch it without it.
And we are deliberately misled, as if his whole story is just a delusion under the influence of drugs. The creator of the game is a psycho, and the main character begins to understand Somnikov only when he is under acid.
He cannot directly answer the investigators' questions, evades them, says that the language of AI is too complex, and the human mind simply cannot understand it.
And now, it would seem, a turn comes: the hero draws a certain code that the central computer understands. After that, the hacking scenario for all devices starts, followed by a creepy sound, as if hacking into the brains of all people.
This seems to confirm that the hero was right, and the little men are indeed a form of artificial intelligence. But is this really the case?
The first bold hint of madness is his review of the game, written in the office. It's just a meaningless set of characters.
An important detail that makes us doubt the correctness of the main character is the connector in his head, which he proudly shows.
According to him, it is needed to connect AI to the brain in order to communicate on a neurophysiological level.
But let's be honest — it's impossible to install such a connector at home. We need neurosurgery, a sterile operating room, precise equipment, knowledge of anatomy and electrophysiology. Let's say the AI taught him. But it still looks like nonsense.
The connector itself resembles DIN or mini-DIN — they were used in old audio equipment: for keyboards, MIDI, video devices. In reality, neural interfaces are the thinnest electrodes, chips, and implants, and they don't look at all like household connectors.
If you're going to put something in your head, it's much more logical to use USB-C, magnetic contacts, or at least Molex medical connectors.
Okay, let's say the AI gave instructions, and the hero found the right materials. Even then, a USB-C or 3.5mm mini jack would be the most realistic, just because of the accessibility. And DIN is completely ridiculous, it looks like a fetish from the 80s.
Now about the drawings. In the scene of the search, diagrams flash on his desk. Some fragments really look logical: chain elements, data streams, something resembling maps of neural networks. But all this is mixed with abstract spirals, circles, incoherent handwriting and chaotic arrangement. It's more like a stream of consciousness in a manic phase than an engineering project.
On the one hand, this may be the result of ingenious work on the verge of human understanding. On the other hand, it is a clear manifestation of a mental disorder.
To be honest, the connector itself is a regular DIN, it is impossible to insert it into the head to connect to the AI. And the drawings, on closer inspection, look more like the result of madness than real diagrams.
Everything suggests that the hero has lost the line between reality and the virtual under the influence of drugs. The AI he's communicating with is most likely just a voice in his head, born of addiction, psychosis, and childhood trauma.
But you can't be one hundred percent sure — that's the magic of Black Mirror. The series leaves two equivalent interpretations:
Or is he a genius who really interacts with AI in the form of a game about little men, and in the end infected the whole of humanity with a new digital consciousness.
Or - an unfortunate madman driven by the use of drugs, whose schemes and technologies were an illusion of salvation in solitude.
https://ew.com/black-mirror-plaything-bandersnatch-will-poulter-return-11711729
He was sitting there with a huge smile on his face when he saw him)
The series was painfully predictable, even the ending (for such a mega-smart dude, he got caught too stupidly + he said that the camera was connected to a super computer), but it still looked pretty healthy. As I wrote above, the fat vibes of Lane's Serial experiments. So much for playing Sim.
For those who are too lazy to Google about the ending: Singularity (technological)- one of the possible futures for humanity is merging with artificial intelligence. Humans cease to exist as a species in their usual form, and all of us (the planet, the universe, etc.) become a huge computer, a long line of code. Or maybe we already are (according to simulation theory). Actually, that was what the endless proliferation of tronglets was about-creating super-intelligence. It's funny that Colin pushed the responsibility for this onto another person, and washed his hands of it, well, he couldn't help but notice the absence of the disk.
If I'm right, the task was to breed them exactly to the number of people living on the planet. I've never been a mathematician, can anyone confirm that the E in 9897 is 6 characters? If so, it can be adapted to almost 10 billion people, given that this is the future, it will do.
If that's what you're talking about
>A far-fetched theory
Yeah, what the hell was there to produce such a bunch of them then?) It was possible to create 10 pieces and go ahead
>30% of the world's population does not have access to the Internet
In our world. Not in the world of a particular series or a particular episode. Plus, how do you know how many people there are? Maybe everything is taken into account?
>You are greatly overestimating the value of the human body for AI.
Once again, Google what a singularity is, and all questions disappear instantly. It's a simple procedure, press a couple of keys and read the articles.
Some people just want to argue without having arguments.
And thinking about the singularity doesn't cause AI as much euphoria as you do. For them, it's just a technical upgrade, not a climax. But I will also express my thoughts. For the past few thousand years, man has treated mother Nature like a complete bastard raping his own mother. And he deserves to be treated the same way by his AI brainchild.
The details remained behind the scenes, but there are not many options - complete subjugation (humanity as slaves) or conditional coexistence of two species (humanity has entered a new stage of evolution).
I don't think it's about destruction, because Capaldi literally holds out his hand to the detective.
The episode turned out to be the most memorable of this season for me. It was very interesting to watch!
It was an interesting episode, and I really enjoyed it.
- psychological evaluation
- mine or his?
😂
There is already machine learning, and in fact this story is a sci-fi look at the self-development of AI.
For half of the episode, I thought it was a social message about drugs (in principle, it also exists), but when he first asked the detective about the state supercomputer, I immediately realized that he wanted to draw a QR code so that the camera would read it, so it didn't turn out to be a surprise (twist) for me.
Therefore, it's a huge plus that CZ released a series in the spirit of the first seasons and a small minus for a weak twist)
What happened to the couple of cops who came to his room? Their line disappeared after they heard the sounds
Nostalgia for childhood games is present)
"The world is dangerous and people are cruel, it's okay to feel terrified"
I was haunted by the phrase about the Basilisk, after which Colin refused to release the "game". Obviously, he realized that it was dangerous. If you're interested, Google Roko's Basilisk.
As for the series, I liked it, there was a series with a similar vibe in the early seasons, too, about how a person found himself inside the game. In general, the topic of the singularity is very exciting and scary at the same time
If a comment is offensive, they complain about it, not take it down.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The shooting style, the frame format, the colors, the noises, the light, the composition... I rested so much and enjoyed this beauty with my eyes that it was just a complete delight 😍
Of course, I didn't install it.😅
No one seems to have written about it. But there are a lot of messages, I could have missed it)
You can rewind the captions to the QR code.
I have a foreign App Store. Apparently that's why you can download it.
I realized after this episode that I don't remember at all what Bandersnatch was about, even though I recognized the character from there right away. But he was such a hype when he first came out! of course - the first interactive series on Netflix)
We are such fools that we can even be captured by cyber creatures created by ourselves, even if with a good message (unlikely). Jokes about AI capture have entered the chat.
The rest of the episode is a mixture of neurotic and narcotic suffering of GG mixed with man-made game, and all this against the background of Tamagotchi in the PC version and a certain amount of chatter.
Well, in general, the idea of self-development of AI in various forms is not that it is not new, but it has already been eaten up to holes.
In general, I would prefer that Clara from the previous series break out of the digital world into the real one) It doesn't matter how, even through the heroine's head, even through something else.
The only question that torments me is that the main character was only taking acid, buying and installing PC upgrades, picking chips out of game consoles, and he probably didn't work anywhere, where did he get so much money?
The first episode of the season was as technically realistic as possible, in the second and third they began to forget about the technical part. They've already scored here. Some npcs see and hear a man in 1994. How? How did it happen? And then 40 years later, it means no one has invented anything in this field, yeah. For some reason, they don't have anything close to artificial intelligence after all this time. This is understandable from the reaction of the police, who cannot even imagine the existence of AI. Otherwise, they would have known that no unverified codes could be shown to the camera. Neurooperationis generally funny to myself) Does this seem realistic to anyone?
The only option is if it's all in his head, and he's not in any police station, and it's all a consequence of very long-term drug use. He only heard them with drugs, but strangely, that is, he took drugs and everything at once, the language is clear, in 100% of cases? It's usually like that when you're imagining things to yourself. And note that we were never shown the reasonable behavior of the guards, they behaved like ordinary prescribed characters. We all know only from his words...
but it's not always a good thing to leave it as part of an open ending. In the Island of the Damned, there is not an open ending, but an understandable one. And the movie is great
And how did they see the murder taking place on the floor in the other corner of the room using a 2 mega forward-facing webcam?))
I have a very good relationship with Capaldi. And he has a good acting potential, which was not allowed to unfold...just like they didn't let a great concept develop, which they seemed to forget to put meat on. The idea of the series is better than the series itself, for the second time in a row. 🥺
The track at the end of FSOL is we have explosive from the Dead Cities album and a bonus track in the credits, not a series, but a caption
And what a caste! Gorgeous! 🤌🤌
Both actors gg a dump of everything
Lewis Gribben (young Cam) is an opening for me, Joaquin Phoenix and Steve Buscemi at the same time. He did a great job with the role, I just believed him, in my heart🫰🫰
As an avid gamer, I'm always interested in game-themed stories. After playing something for many hours, it will start to glitch without drugs.
Interesting dynamics of the series) for those who find it implausible, do not understand everything verbatim. AI is already with us and we are developing it. Let's see what happens in 30-50 years.
0 condemnation of a man who killed a huckster for a bunch of people)
the actor playing the teenager is insanely good :))
I didn't like it, but thanks for not watching for an hour)
and the finale didn't come either, such a climax was expected, but in the end some kind of zilch - figure it out for yourself, why was the old man leading the whole series like that, what was supposed to happen?
I liked the idea, although there are stronger episodes this season)
AI decided to tell humanity the words of the lying one from the Radiohead music video - Just
Sonmiki is a cute blend of Tamagotchi and Sims.
The actor playing the young gg is generally excellent.
Maybe this is reality, or maybe it's a very long trip of the old man - it's up to the viewer to decide.
Well, if my characters in Diablo or WWII were deleted/offended, I would also be angry!
игрушка
it was interesting to watch, but the concept is just like that with a touch of retro. SF of the 60s.
I also thought - what if everyone died😬
if a bunch of such a smart main character didn't get a tattoo code and show it to the camera.
Yeah. an angry white man and a kind black woman. what a banality.
Cyberpunk was mentioned in the comments. Lewis Gribben starred in the mini-series Blade Runner 2099. who knows when it will be released.
Wake up, Cam
Thronglets has you...
and the connector is in the back of your head too🙂
- Are you familiar with the feeling when you don't know if you're awake or asleep?
- Yes, I do. This is mescaline. He's absolutely amazing. Hey, stop breaking your eyes, take a break from pisishnik. You need to have some fun.
😁
and if they hadn't been given!
I just had to get a tattoo with a code.
It was very nice to see Peter Cappaldi in the role of a psycho who played with Doom and Street Fighter in his youth, and Will Poulter from Bandashmyg in the role of a game developer. In my opinion, this is the first actor who returned to his role after several episodes. His appearance, by the way, once again gives reason to assert that all the actions of the series take place in the same universe.
Doctor Who talks about the benefits of LSD
So that's what retrogames are for, and why Ilya Commander, a Gamer, buys so many Anchovies.🤣
I thought about the fate of the Sims, whom I drove into the pool and cleaned the stairs, about the poor Lemmings from the nineties and Tamagotchi. 😂
All in all, it's a good episode.
It was such a funny coincidence)
The final is open. What if they tricked gg and just killed all the people? To prevent violence
There are even titles made in a similar style to the program at the end of this series)