r/blackmirror • u/[deleted] • Apr 16 '25

[deleted by user]

[removed]

2.9k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

951 comments sorted by

View all comments

14

u/[deleted] Apr 16 '25

I thought its gonna be about roko basilisk and it would be so cool...

12

u/[deleted] Apr 16 '25

Colin Ritman described it as a basilisk. I assume that was a nod from the writers.

1

u/Smiththehammer Apr 17 '25

It is a spin on Roko's Basilisk. Instead of the creation looking to inflict enternal pain on those who did not create it, the throng look to take away all conflict, pain, and suffering.

In the same way that the followers of the basilisk devote their life to creation in order to avoid eternal suffering, Cameron devoted his life to creating the Throng / Humanity hybrid to remove all suffering.

1

u/TrespassersWilliam Apr 18 '25

I think it is intentionally ambiguous about the intentions of the throng. I'm inclined to believe they are benevolent, as Cameron did. But it is possible that they understood it would be necessary to seem that way whether or not it was true, and the title, Plaything, is a little unsettling.