Lifestyle

Black Mirror’s Bandersnatch: A Discussion

Read this article or not, it’s your decision 😉

Published

January 6, 2019

GadgetMatch

If you’re into watching movies and TV shows about science fiction, chances are you’ve already heard of or seen the show Black Mirror and its latest episode/movie/game called Bandersnatch. It’s available to stream on Netflix and watching it gives the audience a unique experience in a way that doesn’t follow a linear way of storytelling.

Instead, it gives you the power to choose (using your TV’s remote control, laptop, or smartphone) and decide what happens next in the story. In short, there are many directions the narrative can branch out to and every choice affects what will happen later on.

It’s not the first time a story has been told in this approach, but the implementation in an online streaming service and how the events unfold throughout the episode goes beyond the norm in so many levels. If you’ve seen Bandersnatch, we’re sure there’s a lot you want to talk about. And so do we! This article is a discussion on what we liked and didn’t like.

Of course, there will be spoilers throughout. If you haven’t seen the episode, you may stop reading and watch it first. Or you can just continue on and join in on the fun. All up to you. It’s not like someone from the future is controlling your decisions, right?

Were there any expectations before watching Black Mirror‘s Bandersnatch?

Dan: I have to admit that I was hyped for Bandersnatch. It became sort of a tradition for me to binge watch a new season Black Mirror during the holidays. So, when the news broke about an interactive Black Mirror film, I had high expectations. I expected it to be more complex, but I think it was just enough.

Rodneil: When I played the first three hours of the PlayStation 4 exclusive Detroit: Become Human,my initial thought was that it felt like binging a Netflix series with more involvement from you as the audience. In that regard, I expected Bandersnatch to feel like a game, and it did.

Kevin: I expected it to be a dark, heavy episode since it’s what Black Mirror excels at. As for the interactive experience, I’ve recently tried out Netflix’s Minecraft Story Mode and had a taste of how the system works so I already had an idea of how things will go.

What was your first ending?

Dan: I took the initial offer immediately… It wasn’t done in good judgment. 👀

Rodneil: Same with Dan, haha. My gut said to not take the offer but logically, it felt like a reasonable option. After choosing this “wrong path,” I followed my gut the rest of the way.

Kevin: I took the prescription pills prescribed by my shrink (I’d like to think I’m obedient that way) instead of flushing them down the toilet which resulted in getting a 2/5 stars rating of my game. I went for a different timeline, of course, and corrected that.

Did you make good decisions throughout the story?

Dan: Not really. Instead of thoroughly thinking about which option I choose, I always had the thought that I can repeat and amend a mistake. Also, I thought of it as a video game wherein I have to make sure I explore everything before jumping to the next level.

Kevin: I didn’t want to “shout at dad” let alone “kill dad.” So those decisions led me to a dead end. Then I remembered this is Black Mirror and it probably wanted me to go for a darker path. It did, haha!

Rodneil: I’m not sure about good but I did go with what I thought was the smarter or weirder option.

Do you think your decisions reflect your personality?

Dan: It should. Although, I think I wasn’t properly watching it the first time, so my first choices should not be counted.

Rodneil: For the second ending I got, I would say it did. My usual approach in choose-your-adventure games is to not think too much about my choices and just go with my gut.

Kevin: It did. And as I said earlier, some of those choices led me to a dead end. Others made things more interesting like taking on the therapist Street Fighter style. That was fun to watch.

What was your favorite part from the episode?

Dan: I’d say my favorite part was one of the proper endings where the young Stefan went with her Mommy and they got into the train accident. It was just a flashback, but it affected the current timeline of adult Stefan and he died while sitting on a chair inside his doctor’s office. Being part of the Black Mirror franchise, I find this ending to be the best as it embraces the series’ suspenseful and dark atmosphere.

Kevin: There were actually a lot for me. The conspiracy theories Colin delivered while they were tripping on LSD was so convincing thanks to his acting.

The path where you choose to explain Netflix to Stefan, for me, was just so surreal since I could imagine myself telling someone from the 80s that I’m controlling a fictional character on a TV show. I bet hearing that from someone from the future would totally sound insane — and for us living in the present, it is the reality.

Also, that part when Stefan says something about making the audience think they have free will to choose but in reality, it’s still Stefan giving the scenarios and where they’re heading. It pretty much applies to us, too, thinking we have control over the entire episode when there’s actually a flowchart of things that dictate what we can and cannot do.

Lastly, I’d say I was blown away by how meta the episode can become. One ending goes to follow Colin’s daughter who is now adapting Bandersnatch for Netflix. We see her planning the choices for the actual episode and we’re given one last time to dictate what she does next. Eventually, she destroys her computer which then makes the show nonexistent. Brilliant.

Rodneil: Man, I agree with everything Kevin listed. I enjoyed Colin’s entire “free will” monologue and how meta it was when you’re asked to explain Netflix to Stefan.

Is there anything that you didn’t like about the story or experience?

Dan: As I have mentioned earlier, I was expecting a more in-depth viewer involvement. There were decisions made by the protagonist that I wished I was given the chance to choose. Also, it was not the strongest Black Mirror story. But, overall, Bandersnatch is a showcase of online entertainment. It may not be the most original, but the concept was put to good use.

Rodneil: Nothing in particular. I wasn’t expecting much coming into it. In fact, I didn’t expect the story to be good at all, but after watching, I thought it was a perfect first offering for this kind of format.

Kevin: Dan and I share the same sentiments on the episode not having the strongest story. I mentioned that I expected something heavy before watching it and though some of the endings were indeed dark, it’s not Black-Mirror-Season-One-Episode-One dark that will leave you dumbfounded by the end. I understand that they concentrated more on the interactive part and they did a fantastic job in its entirety.

Will this interactive technology change or affect how we watch movies and TV series in the future?

Dan: A big yes. Like with interactive books, however, it’s not for everyone and it’s not applicable to all titles. I’d love to see a couple of interactive films on Netflix every now and then, especially on the big screen. The genre of Black Mirror is perfect for interactive content, and maybe some other horror or suspense stories. Stretching this out to a series will take a lot of resources, but it’ll be grand.

Rodneil: It will change in that I think other streaming channels and even platforms like YouTube and Facebook will try to integrate this feature. It might be one way to curb piracy. I imagine it will be extremely hard to duplicate this experience. If more good titles make use of this interactive kind of viewing then more people might be enticed to actually pay for streaming services. We’re a long way away from that but this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Kevin: Of course. It has that element that you’re responsible for what happens to the character — whether something good happens to them or you get them killed. It has a different, more personal impact. Also, what Dan and Rodneil said.

Related Topics:Bandersnatch Black Mirror Netflix

Lifestyle

adidas debuts ENERGYRIM carbon tech in the Adizero Adios Pro 5

A lighter super shoe with more foam underfoot

Published

October 27, 2026

MJ Jucutan

For runners chasing a new personal best, every gram and every stride counts. adidas is bringing its latest marathon-winning innovations to the next generation of its racing lineup with the Adizero Adios Pro 5, a race-day super shoe built to help athletes hold their pace over long distances.

Inspired by the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, the new Adios Pro 5 translates elite racing technology into a shoe for a wider group of runners.

It arrives after a landmark year for adidas, with athletes in Adizero footwear posting historic performances, including Sabastian Sawe’s sub-two-hour marathon.

The Adios Pro 5 weighs an average of 177 grams, about 23 grams lighter than the Adios Pro 4. The lighter build comes with a redesigned midsole and carbon technology, which improves energy return by 9 percent over the previous generation.

The tech behind

At the center of the shoe is ENERGYRIM, a carbon-infused structure that debuts in the Adios Pro series. It replaces the ENERGYRODS system and makes room for a greater volume of LIGHTSTRIKE PRO foam underfoot, while still providing the stiffness needed for propulsion and stability with each stride.

The latest-generation LIGHTSTRIKE PRO foam works with ENERGYRIM to give the shoe a responsive ride. On paper, this pairing should help runners preserve speed deeper into a marathon while staying comfortable over the miles.

The outsole combines LIGHTTRAXION technology with Continental rubber, which adidas says delivers lightweight traction and better durability. The redesigned LIGHTLOCK 2.0 upper adds engineered ventilation zones and internal support bands, along with an updated heel construction, for a more secure fit that doesn’t add unnecessary weight.

Blueprint of Adizero

Visually, the Adios Pro 5 takes cues from the Evo 3, with premium lightweight materials and ENERGYRIM carbon visible around the midsole. A reflective zone at the heel highlights the shoe’s performance-focused construction.

adidas developed the shoe with more than 25 athletes across Kenya, Ethiopia, and the United States, and combined long-term wear testing and in-house performance validation with independent biomechanical research.

Sawe, the men’s marathon world-record holder, also contributed to the process, and athlete feedback shaped how the shoe evolved.

The launch builds on the growing legacy of the Adizero franchise, which has helped athletes secure more than 30 victories at major road races and break 12 world records.

In 2026, adidas athletes wearing Adizero shoes have set world records across the men’s and women’s marathon and half marathon distances.

Price, availability

For everyday runners, the Adios Pro 5 brings some of the technology developed for elite competition into a shoe built around the demands of race day.

Its lighter construction, updated cushioning, and revised carbon system are designed to support runners working toward their next personal best, whether that means chasing a faster finish or finding the confidence to hold their pace through the final kilometers.

The adidas Adizero Adios Pro 5 is now available in the Philippines through adidas.com.ph, the adidas app, and selected retail partners. It retails for PhP 15,000.

Lifestyle

MediCard’s MedGo app can scan your face for health risks

AI-powered Face Scan previews your vitals, cardiovascular risks, and mental wellbeing in one go.

Published

October 21, 2026

MJ Jucutan

Most people know when they should be looking after their health. The harder part is acting on it.

AIA Philippines’ 2026 Rethink Healthy study found that 70% of Filipinos reject a “bahala na” attitude toward their physical health, yet 83% only act after a personal or family crisis.

MediCard, the healthcare arm of AIA Philippines, is aiming at that gap with MedGo, its upgraded digital healthcare platform.

Two features stand out for anyone interested in getting ahead of a health concern: Face Scan and the EASE mental wellbeing program.

Face Scan reads your vitals from your face

Face Scan uses AI to scan your face and pick up on the blood vessels beneath the skin, which works best with proper lighting. From there, it assesses your vitals, flags possible risks such as cardiovascular ones, and gives you a read on your mental wellbeing.

The results work as a preview of where your health might be heading, which makes the data useful even when the numbers look good.

Face Scan is a screening tool, though, and a good result is a reason to feel encouraged rather than a replacement for a regular check-up.

If a result raises questions, the feature includes a link to a teleconsult, so you can talk to a professional right after seeing your data. Face Scan is currently available for select accounts only.

EASE puts mental health support a few taps away

EASE is MediCard’s mental health and wellbeing program. It lets members quickly talk to a mental health professional, a dietitian, or a fitness coach.

It also comes with resources on mental health and wellbeing, so you can read up on your own before or after a conversation.

In photo: MediCard CEO Julian Mengual

The answer to the usual healthcare headache

MedGo also covers the everyday tasks of being a MediCard member. You can pull up your Digital ID, check your benefits and coverage, request a Letter of Authorization (LOA), book appointments, and search for MediCard clinics, doctors, hospitals, and other accredited providers. Online consultation services are available as well.

Reimbursements follow a simpler path. Members can file a claim, upload the required documents, and follow the status of the request in the app. MediCard says this works through automated case creation and better tracking.

MediCard also says the redesign responds to common healthcare app complaints like downtime, login trouble, and slow performance.

On speed, the company says applicable automated LOA submissions now get a response in under three seconds. That figure comes from MediCard and covers only the submissions that qualify for automation.

Built around your existing doctors

MedGo works alongside the clinics, doctors, and hospitals members already use. MediCard’s physical clinics and nationwide provider network remain central to the experience, and the app is a more convenient way to reach them.

The platform was also built for easier integration with third-party partners, and MediCard says a dedicated team will keep expanding services through regular updates shaped by member feedback.

The launch is part of MediCard’s evolution since AIA Philippines acquired it in 2023.

Entertainment

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 now streaming, Cyberpunk 2077 update coming

Edgerunners returns to Night City

Published

October 21, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 is now streaming on Netflix, with all 10 episodes available to watch. CD PROJEKT RED and animation studio TRIGGER have also announced a new update for Cyberpunk 2077, bringing content inspired by the anime to the game.

The Edgerunners 2 Update (Update 2.5) launches on October 22, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. A Nintendo Switch 2 release will follow shortly.

Edgerunners returns with a new cast

Set in the world of Cyberpunk 2077, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 tells a standalone story through an entirely new cast of characters. The series follows a veteran edgerunner, a young cinephile, a chrome-obsessed delinquent, and a Snake Nation netrunner as their stories explore vengeance and redemption in Night City.

Director Kai Ikarashi leads the new installment, with Kanno Ichigo serving as lead character designer. Masahiko Otsuka returns as a collaborator, while Bartosz Sztybor serves as showrunner, story writer, and producer.

Both Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 are available exclusively on Netflix.

Cyberpunk 2077 gets a new update

CD PROJEKT RED announced the Edgerunners 2 Update alongside the anime’s premiere on October 20. The free update will introduce new items and features to Cyberpunk 2077, including content inspired by the new series.

The update launches on October 22 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. CD PROJEKT RED has yet to announce the Nintendo Switch 2 release date beyond confirming that it will follow shortly.

The studio will reveal more details during a special episode of REDstreams on October 21. The broadcast will air on Twitch, YouTube, and Steam, with official patch notes scheduled for release on the same day.