SPOILER WARNING: The next article incorporates some gentle spoilers from the Black Mirror Season 7 episode, “Plaything.” When you have not but seen the installment, simply keep in mind there isn’t a turning again after you select to learn on.
Black Mirror Season 7 was one of the vital anticipated seasons of the acclaimed horror anthology TV present but, particularly as a result of it features a sequel to the Emmy-winning Season 4 episode, “USS Callister.” Nevertheless, it’s not the one sequel within the Netflix authentic collection’ newest assortment of technophobic tales.
“Plaything” exists in the identical universe because the present’s interactive spin-off film, Bandersnatch (or in one of many choose-your-own-adventure story’s many potential timelines, extra precisely), with the return of Will Poulter as online game developer Colin Ritman serving because the connective tissue. The character’s look is definitely an intriguing means of introducing the plot, however an finally disappointing side of the episode for me, if I’m being sincere. Enable me to clarify…
Bringing Again Will Poulter’s Bandersnatch Character Is Pointless
The principle story of Black Mirror Season 7’s fourth episode, “Plaything” (now out there to stream with a Netflix subscription) kicks off when remoted online game reviewer Cameron Walker (performed within the ‘90s by Lewis Gribben and as an older man by Peter Capaldi) is invited by Colin Ritman to preview his new creation, Thronglets. It’s not truly a sport, nonetheless, however a platform that homes a race of dwelling, sentient digital creatures that Walker quickly turns into dangerously obsessive about preserving.
Save one different point out of Ritman later within the episode, this scene is all we see of the character, which begs the query of why he was concerned within the first place. I imply, I do perceive why: it’s one more try for Charlie Brooker and co. to attach the dots between the very best Black Mirror episodes and thru a cameo by an actor who has elevated in notoriety since his final look within the position. Nevertheless, by the tip, the character turns into inconsequential and will have simply been swapped out for some other eccentric sport developer.
Colin Ritman Was Far Extra Attention-grabbing In Bandernsatch
Don’t get me fallacious: I’m a fan of Will Poulter and his films and was genuinely excited to be taught that the English actor was coming again as Ritman. I believe most would agree that he was one of the vital memorable and fascinating points of Netflix’s interactive movie from 2018, however I’d not say the identical about “Plaything.”
There’s, sadly, not a lot about Poulter’s efficiency in his one scene that stands out in any memorable means, apart from the truth that he’s a widely known actor taking part in a well-known character from certainly one of Netflix’s hottest TV exhibits. In fact, I don’t imagine that Poulter is at fault right here, however that Brooker’s in any other case entertaining and modestly fascinating teleplay provides nothing attention-grabbing for him to do with the position like his Bandersnatch screenplay did. I like the intention behind together with Ritman, however not the execution.
There are many different methods to see an awesome, new Will Poulter efficiency proper now, although, together with his scene-stealing flip in Dying of Unicorn and his devastating portrayal of a U.S. soldier in one other new A24 film, Warfare. Nonetheless, I’d say it’s price it to stream Black Mirror on Netflix, as “Plaything,” total, proves that certainly one of my all-time favourite TV exhibits continues to be going robust.