Every generation of media lovers has their version of The Twilight Zone. For my generation, the most recent show that comes to mind is BBC4 and Netflix’s science fiction thriller Black Mirror. Unless you have been eternally living under a rock, you have definitely heard the name once or twice before. Black Mirror is an English anthology series that tells various science fiction-based micro stories set in a world that closely resembles ours but just a few years down the road. The horrors and possible consequences of emerging technologies are major themes that exist in every episode of the series, touching on a few technologies such as augmented reality, memory banking, as well as the masses perception of technology and media.

The Millennial Twilight Zone.

However, we are not here today to talk about the series as a whole, but the newest addition to the franchise, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. Bandersnatch is Netflix’s first “adult” step in testing interactive media, as the film works in a choose-your-own-adventure format. While the film starts relatively tame and loosely fitting into the Black Mirror-style we know, Bandersnatch can run off the rails incredibly quickly…if that is what the viewer wants.

Before we reach the reason why you’re here, a quick recap. Set in the 1980s, Bandersnatch puts viewers in the shoes of Stefan Butler, a young programmer who is driving himself crazy on the development of a new game. In an effort to finally receive closure after partially causing his mother’s death years prior, Stefan is developing a choose-your-adventure game adaptation of the book of the same name by fictional author Jerome F Davies. However, things can go awry very quickly, as the viewer can put Stefan through a living hell for their amusement. Do you want a government conspiracy? Check. Perhaps you want him to suffer the same madness that plagued Davies, and causes mortal bodily harm? Maybe you even want to explain to Stefan the concept of Netflix? You can do whatever your little heart desires.

What will you choose?

Here is the list of choices that you have to make, definitely without a context of course to not ruin the adventure:’

Phew! I know, it’s just a mere FORTY-NINE choices to reach this point. It will be rewarding in the end, and in this way you also reach the hilarious “Netflix ending” (my personal favorite). However, that is not what we are here for, even if that ending could be satisfying. You wanted the secret ending, right? It is why you came here? Well if you followed all FORTY-NINE steps above, you will revisit the second choice when you are choosing the music that Stefan listens to. There is a change this time around, as he only takes out one cassette labeled “BANDERSNATCH.” How ominous. If you choose to play the cassette, then you are treated to an assault of the senses with what sounds like a classic dial-up connection to the Internet. What does it mean?

Now if only their developers would stop dying or murdering people, maybe Tuckersoft would make a major impact.

First, shout out to Matthew and Stefanie Patrick over at The Theorist Gateway for giving me the observational and cryptographical skills to decode this problem. Now, this is where things get interesting. Many loyal Black Mirror fans have figured out that those sounds actually are from a ZX Spectrum computer, which is supported since Stefan is building one in the film. If you load up a ZX Spectrum emulator and run the audio through it, you will be rewarded with a QR code. Yes, I would be wary as well if I was to receive a suspicious QR code that I had to decode! However, scanning the code leads to an interesting website. Welcome to Tuckersoft.

Now if you haven’t seen Bandersnatch yet, then you may have no idea what this means. Tuckersoft is the main gaming company that both game developers Stefan and Colin work for throughout the film. Examining the website, you can learn more about the success or failures of their various titles: Bandersnatch, NOHZDYVE, and Metl Hedd.  While this website can be manipulated even further, if you followed our guide then you will be able to find a sweet download link for NOHZDYVE on its info page.  This link only exists in the timeline where Colin is able to finish the game on time, as viewers can interpret what happens to him. The game is actually playable but true to form, you can only run it with that ZX Spectrum emulator we mentioned above. Happy playing!

All in its ZX Spectrum glory.

If you are actually able to play NOHZDYVE using our guide, let us know in the comments if you reached a high score. If you like this quick breakdown on a hidden Easter eggs in modern media, let us know so we can keep diving further. Also, if you would like a full review of the film or the series as a whole, we will happily oblige. Stay tuned here to Nerd Bacon as we continue to pick apart Bandersnatch and all of its endings. Maybe we are being controlled by someone via Netflix as we write this; we won’t ever know for sure.

Written by Rhutsczar

Hello everybody! Thanks for reaching the end of whatever my newest/current addiction is above me. If you haven’t had enough of my thoughts yet, I now run the highly addictive media collective Modern Neon Media @ https://modern-neon.com/ We are active on most social media platforms as well as the Modern Neon and Senor con queso channels, so follow and subscribe 😀 Anyway if you like what you read and would like to check out more, follow the links below. Also be sure to check out the RBG over on Beyond Bacon!.