Is Netflix's interactive television program a stroke of genius, or a travesty?

If adding a "Pass intro" button was controversial, it's hard to imagine the firestorm that Netflix's latest idea could ignite. According to a new report, the broadcast giant is making a new and brilliant incursion into interactive television – and will test the potential format for an upcoming episode of Black mirror, which should start a new season in December. Until now, these experiences have been limited to Netflix programming aimed at its youngest viewers. It now seems that the streamer is ready to use the trick more widely, in order to attract new users. But what is this new tactic, really: a new fascinating format or a cheap gadget?

According to Bloomberg, sources close to the initiative say that Netflix develops many special programs – television and film – that allow viewers to control their stories. One of these projects is an episode of Black mirror, Charlie Brooker & # 39; s The dystopian series of science fiction that has made a name for itself by examining the dark side of technology and its influence on humanity. Per Bloomberg, several Netflix children's programs, such as Cat in the book, already offers this "Choose your own adventure" style, allowing viewers to choose the narrative course of a show at different times, then go back and choose differently if they want to explore different results. The format looks, in essence, a mix of television and video games – although Bloomberg makes it clear that Netflix does not intend to engage more openly in the production of video games.

Whether this new initiative is a boon or a scourge for the consumer experience remains to be seen. If done right, it will introduce new story opportunities and even more engaging content. If it is poorly executed, the shtick might feel disturbed and useless – and given the ongoing debate over the lack of quality control perceived by society, it is easy to imagine that this criticism is launched. Yet, to the credit of Netflix, starting with Black mirror seems to be a wise decision: Brooker and his team seem, perhaps more than anyone, particularly qualified to use this technology. They are also more likely than others to give a narrative meaning to their job. After all, the series has already made a complete and horrific episode on the dark side of video games; why not take this idea to its logical conclusion?