Charlie Brooker: Stop taking 'Black Mirror' so seriously (exclusive)

Black Mirror might delve into some deep and dark ideas about the evolution of technology, and the way society consumes it, but its co-creator wants viewers to spend more time enjoying it rather than overanalysing it.

Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones are the creative team behind the Channel 4-turned-Netflix TV series which recently released its latest episode Bandersnatch onto the streaming service.

The “Create Your Own Adventure” format allows viewers to choose what decisions and directions the lead character, a young programmer called Stefan (Fionn Whitehead) should take as the feature-length story unfolds.

The concept has earned mixed reviews from critics and viewers alike but Brooker says the worst reaction has been people taking it too seriously.

“I only get annoyed when people think that Black Mirror takes itself more seriously than it actually does,” he told Yahoo Movies UK.

“I think this is a very playful story that we’ve done here and I think sometimes people lose sight of that and take it too seriously, so sod those people!

He added: “I hope they take the film seriously but I think that they think we’re trying to sort of make some grand statement on humankind.”

Will Poulter, one of the stars of Bandersnatch, quit social media for “mental health reasons” not long after the special episode hit Netflix.

He cited “recent experiences” and went on to talk about receiving “responses” and “criticisms” from viewers, which suggests he had been targeted with negative feedback from Black Mirror fans.

Black Mirror will return for a fifth season which will include four new episodes and feature the likes of Miley Cyrus.

Details are being kept under wraps for what to expect but the show should return to Netflix this year.

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is available to stream on Netflix now.

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