The trailer for season 7 ofBlack Mirrorshows a familiar face fromBandersnatch, suggesting that the episode might reveal the real ending of the ambitious but divisive episode.Black Mirroralways straddled the line between sci-fi and reality, using real-world inventions and concepts as a starting point, then showing their dystopian potential. While the love story “San Junipero” was a rare optimistic episode,the best episodes ofBlack Mirrorare usually disconcerting cautionary tales about taking technology too far. That said,Black Mirroreven pushed its own boundaries, resulting in the movie,Bandersnatch.
MostBlack Mirrorepisodes are relatively short, butBandersnatchwas completely different.Bandersnatchwas a cross between a movie and a video game, telling a story using a “choose your own adventure” format that allowed viewers to control parts of the story, accessing different possible endings.The trailer for season 7 ofBlack Mirrorfeatures Will Poulter, who played a key role inBandersnatch. With Poulter appearing to reprise his previous role, the new trailer could tease the idea that one ofBandersnatch’s endings will be revealed as canon in the upcoming season.
Black Mirror Season 7 Teases An Answer To What Bandersnatch’s Ending Really Was
If Colin Is In Black Mirror Season 7, There Could Be Several Explanations
In the trailer forBlack Mirrorseason 7, Will Poulter appears to be playing ColinfromBandersnatch. He is seen talking to another character about game development, and appears similar, with glasses and bleached blonde hair. Colin dies in several ofBandersnatch’s different possible endings, so if Poulter is reprising his role as Colin, that appears to rule out the endings in which Colin dies. This has implications for Stefan, who sometimes ends the episode alive but in prison in the versions in which Colin dies. This could leave the possibility open for Stefan to return too.
While Colin may be alive inBlack Mirrorseason 7, virtually every past episode of the show has illustrated that things are not always as they seem. Eventhe most overrated episodes ofBlack Mirrorcan shock their audiences with twists that nobody saw coming. With that in mind, it is possible that Colin did die inBandersnatch, but has been brought back in another way.Black Mirrorhas featured AI recreations, clones, and even characters that appear to have returned from the dead, so there could be several explanations for Colin’s apparent reappearance.
Bandersnatch’s Endings Gave An Interesting Insight Into Its Audience
Bandersnatch’s format allowed the viewer to make choices on seemingly insignificant things, like what cereal to eat, as well as major events, like who lives or dies. It was not always clearwhat the right choices were inBandersnatch, as the vast majority of the endings were disturbing.Bandersnatch’s many possible paths led to five main endings, including a “meta” one in which the characters are revealed to be actors, and one where Stefan dies. That said, some of the endings appear to be more commonly reached than others, which can reveal something interesting aboutBlack Mirror’s audience.
The title refers to a mysterious creature inAlice in Wonderlandauthor Lewis Carroll’s poem,Jabberwocky.
Bandersnatchleans into the dystopian nature ofBlack Mirrorby adding another “meta” twist, questioning the free will of its audience. While there were several possible endings, these had all been predetermined by Charlie Brooker and the writing team, meaning that the viewer had free will, but only within certain parameters. Earlier decisions would eliminate other possible endings, and sometimes even Stefan would question the viewer’s choices. As Brooker and the team also created the options offered to the viewer, this even suggests thatthe audience never had a choice inBandersnatch, only the illusion that they did.
Giving Bandersnatch A Definitive Ending Would Risk Defeating Its Purpose
Bringing Colin Back Could Be A Way Of “Undoing” Bandersnatch
Black Mirror’s ominous titlerefers to the fact that the show is a social commentary, with every episode holding a mirror up to an aspect of society or technology and revealing the darkest possible future.Bandersnatchis one of the most interesting episodes ofBlack Mirror,as it is a commentary on many things, including the illusion of free will. Giving us a canon ending confirms that some viewers are wrong in their choice of ending, defeating the purpose of the episode, which is raising the question of how much choice we had in Stefan’s story.
Black Mirror Season 7’s Massive Change Is Great News For The Show After Its Recent Slump
Black Mirror season 7, the latest entry in Charlie Brooker’s acclaimed speculative fiction anthology TV series, is making a much-needed change.
The concept forBandersnatchwas so exciting that it appeared certain that more episodes would use a similar format. However, in an interview withThe New York Times, Charlie Brooker explained, “Run away. It’s harder than you think.” This suggests that the concept could have been too ambitious even forBlack Mirror. It is possible that bringing Colin back for a definitive ending confirmation could be a way of “undoing"Bandersnatch, taking away the audience’s influence on the result and makingBandersnatchfeel more like a regularBlack Mirrorepisode that has concluded after an unusually long time.
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
Cast
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is a standalone interactive film within the Black Mirror anthology series, released on August 03, 2025. Set in 1984, it follows a young programmer whose adaptation of a dark fantasy novel into a video game leads him to question reality, offering viewers multiple narrative paths.
