TechCrunch Podcast Tackles Netflix's 'Bandersnatch' and Record-Breaking 'Bird Box'
The TechCrunch Original Content podcast reviews Netflix's interactive 'Black Mirror: Bandersnatch' special and the hit thriller 'Bird Box'. The hosts find the interactive format frustrating, even as they discuss the massive viewership success of Sandra Bullock's new film.
The TechCrunch Original Content podcast dives into Netflix's "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch," an interactive special that follows a young programmer adapting a novel into a choose-your-own-adventure game. Unlike previous Netflix interactive experiments aimed at children, this adult-themed episode explores dark themes like parallel universes and government conspiracies as viewers make periodic choices for the main character.
However, the podcast hosts express frustration with the unique format, noting that the experience ultimately feels tiresome. While traditional interactive games try to make choices feel meaningful, "Bandersnatch" deliberately rips away the illusion of free will, leaving viewers feeling like their decisions are often reversible or completely meaningless.
The episode also covers Netflix's hit thriller "Bird Box," starring Sandra Bullock as a mother navigating a post-apocalyptic world where seeing mysterious monsters drives people to suicide. The hosts highlight the film's massive success, noting that it currently holds the record for the most viewers in a single week for any Netflix original movie.