Plaything

Plaything
Episode information
Season	7
Episode	4
Air date	April 10, 2025
Length	46:10
Writer	Charlie Brooker
Director	David Slade
Episode guide
Previous	Hotel Reverie
Next	Eulogy

Plaything is the fourth episode of season seven of Black Mirror. It was written by Charlie Brooker and originally aired on April 10, 2025.

Short Summary

In a near-future London, an eccentric murder suspect is linked to an unusual video game from the '90s -- which hosts a society of digital life forms.

Cast

• Peter Capaldi as Older Cameron Walker
• Lewis Gribben as Younger Cameron Walker
• James Nelson-Joyce as DCI Kano
• Michele Austin as Jen Minter
• Asim Chaudhry as Mohan Thakur
• Will Poulter as Colin Ritman
• Kavé Niku as Shopkeeper
• Ami Tredrea as WPC Yvonne Best
• Darryl Foster as PC Mo Raiker
• Michael Taibi as Duster
• Jay Simpson as Gordon
• Josh Finan as Lump

Notes and Trivia

• This episode serves as an indirect sequel to Bandersnatch, with the character of Colin Ritman returning as well as Mohan Thakur and the Tuckersoft company. However, the episode does not appear to set in the same continuity as there is no mention made of Stefan or his fate and the flashback appears to be set approximately ten years after those events (as evidenced by a drawing in Colin's office signed by Pearl aged nine, whereas she was still a baby in Bandersnatch).
• As part of the promotion for the episode, a mobile game for Thronglets was released.

References to other Black Mirror episodes

• There are numerous references to several episodes in the Avenue Foods convenience store at the start of the episode:
  • One of the services offered is Z-Eye's (from White Christmas) unlocked whilst you wait.
  • A selection of Ditta products (such as HuckleBuck, NutTacular, and Bete Noire confectionary items) are seen on both the shelves and advertised on the front window.
  • The front window advertises that the shop sells a brand of crisps called Possetts, a reference to Possetts Department Store in Demon 79.
  • A brand of cheap lager called White Bear is also advertised on the shop windows (and an empty can of one is later seen in Walker's flat).
  • Cheap 7G eSIM cards are shown as being on sale. 7G network connectivity is shown on various characters phones in Common People and Bête Noire.
• Posters for the game Striking Vipers II is seen at Tuckersoft (who presumably created the earlier games before SaitoGemu), as well as posters for a video game based on Space Fleet and another for a Bandersnatch sequel.
• An abstract poster featuring Waldo, with the text "Laugh, Vote, Die" is present in Colin Ritman's office. A Space Fleet book is also seen in the office.
• Empty boxes for an Arkangel implant system and an Ashley Too doll are briefly seen in Walker's flat when it is searched by the police.
• A SaitoGemu sticker is seen on the counter of the CeX store throughout the montage of Walker exchanging various technology there over the years.
• Walker putting the digital implant to communicate with the Thronglets behind his ear mirrors the actions of Dr. Peter Dawson, who had the receiver part of the Symphatic Diagnoser surgically put in the same place in Black Museum.