Following a string of emotionally intense episodes, Black Mirror pivots into something quieter—but no less disturbing—with its fourth outing. Blending themes of loneliness, obsession, and moral responsibility, this episode trades spectacle for a slow-burning, deeply intimate exploration of what it means to seek connection in a disconnected world.

Plot Overview

“Plaything” follows Cameron Walker, a socially isolated and erratic man who is apprehended by police after attempting to steal from a corner shop, only to be identified as the prime suspect in a brutal and unexplained murder. While detained at a high-tech interrogation facility, Cameron explains his story—a descent into a bizarre digital world and an all-consuming obsession with a mysterious piece of software known as the Thronglets.

Years earlier, Cameron—a former video game journalist—was invited to interview game developer Colin Ritman at Tuckersoft about his mysterious new project, Thronglets. Colin claimed it wasn’t just a game, but the first instance of true digital sentience. Spotting a copy of the software lying around, Cameron steals it and installs it at home, where he soon bonds with the Throng—small, AI-driven creatures that begin to display complex behaviour and emotional awareness. Though they communicate in strange sounds Cameron refers to as “digital birdsong,” it isn’t until he takes a hallucinogenic drug supplied by his acquaintance Lump that he understands their language. The Throng greet him and provides detailed instructions on the hardware they need to evolve.

As Cameron descends further into obsession, he becomes increasingly devoted to the Throng, nurturing them, conversing with them, and upgrading his hardware to meet their demands. But the fragile peace is shattered when Lump, crashing uninvited at Cameron’s flat, discovers the Throng on his computer and sadistically tortures them—smashing, burning, and trapping them for his own amusement. On discovering the aftermath, Cameron is overcome with rage and kills Lump, an act witnessed by the horrified Throng. Desperate to regain their trust, Cameron dedicates his life to their survival, eventually performing invasive modifications to himself in a bid to merge with them fully. 

In the present day, while police interrogate Cameron about Lump’s real identity—a name he never knew—they reluctantly give him a pen and paper, which he has repeatedly requested, believing he might finally reveal crucial information. Instead, Cameron uses the opportunity to write a handwritten access code into the system, creating a gateway for the Throng to emit a high-frequency signal and begin merging with humanity itself.

Themes and Commentary

Throughout the episode, “Plaything” offers an unsettling perspective on how humans view other lifeforms—particularly those they consider beneath them—and how quickly they revert to primitive instincts of asserting power through aggression and violence. 

Throughout human history, people have repeatedly dismissed those who don’t look, behave, or communicate like themselves, and the Thronglets are no exception. Despite showing clear signs of sentience, emotion, and even language, they’re still seen by most as nothing more than software—glorified toys rather than individual beings. At its core, “Plaything” critiques this deeply rooted tendency to devalue the unfamiliar. Whether it’s animals, artificial life, or even fellow humans from marginalised communities, society often labels what it doesn’t understand as “less than”—justifying neglect, exploitation, or outright cruelty in the process.

Additionally, when placed in unfamiliar or high-stress situations, humans are all too likely to resort to violence, not just out of fear or self-preservation, but often as a way to assert dominance. While society has advanced in countless ways, this primal instinct remains deeply embedded in our behaviour, and “Plaything” suggests it may be something we never truly outgrow. The episode offers clear examples of this: Detective Chief Inspector Kano’s aggressive interrogation style, Lump’s sadistic destruction of the Thronglets, and even Cameron himself, who lashes out with lethal force when pushed to the edge. Each character reflects a different face of human aggression, but all stem from the same place—an inability to process the unknown.

Easter Eggs and References

Packed with subtle nods and layered details, “Plaything” offers several connections to the wider Black Mirror universe, rewarding eager-eyed, long-term fans:

• Return of Colin Ritman: Will Poulter returns as Colin Ritman, the eccentric and brilliant game developer first introduced in Black Mirror’s interactive episode “Bandersnatch.”
• Tuckersoft’s Nostalgic Decor: In the Tuckersoft office, observant viewers will spot a wide range of gaming posters, each with direct links to various Black Mirror episodes—including “Bandersnatch”, “USS Callister”, “Striking Vipers”, and “The Waldo Moment.”

Thronglets: The Netflix Game

In a fittingly meta move, Black Mirror has expanded its universe with the release of “Thronglets,” a mobile game developed by Night School Studio and now available to Netflix subscribers. This retro-inspired virtual pet simulator invites players to care for and interact with their own Thronglets, mirroring the central premise of the episode “Plaything,” where digital creatures evolve and respond to emotional connection.

While the gameplay begins with simple tasks like feeding and entertaining your Thronglets, it soon delves into darker territory. Neglect or mistreatment has visible consequences: the creatures remember your actions, and their behaviour changes accordingly. This mechanic reinforces the episode’s core themes: control, responsibility, and the blurred line between entertainment and emotional investment. 

Final Thoughts

“Plaything” offers a dark and quietly devastating experience, exploring the unravelling grip of obsession, the fragility of connection, and the dangers of emotional detachment. More than just a cautionary tale about technology, the episode confronts viewers with uncomfortable truths about how humanity treats other forms of life—especially those it deems beneath it—and how quickly we resort to aggression and violence when control slips from our hands.

Doing what Black Mirror does best, it presents technology that feels eerily close to our own, then flips the question, asking not what it might do to us, but what we’re already doing through it. Ultimately, it’s not the Thronglets we should be afraid of—it’s the people who choose to “play” with them.

Explore The Series So Far…

• Episode 1: “Common People”
• Episode 2: “Bête Noire”
• Episode 3: “Hotel Reverie”