Smithereens App

Lore & Background

The Smithereens App functions as a potent force of addiction, mirroring real-world platforms like Twitter where users are trapped in reward-feedback loops. In-universe, the company is led by Billy Bauer, a CEO described as a 'switched on, liberal, hippy kind of guy' who feels just as lost and out of control as his hostages. The platform's architecture is intentionally designed to be addictive, prioritizing engagement over user well-being. This design philosophy creates a system where human tragedy becomes ephemeral content; during the hostage crisis, Chris's desperate struggle is reduced to 'ephemeral confetti' that passes by strangers on their phones. The company gathers extensive information on users through social media profiles, allowing them to know intimate details like Chris's history as a teacher and his guilt over a fatal car accident within moments of a kidnapping.

In Their Own Story

The episode's plot centers on Chris Gillhaney, who picks up Jaden, an intern at Smithereens, and holds him at gunpoint in a London field after a police chase. Chris demands to speak with CEO Billy Bauer, who is currently on a solitary retreat in Spain. While Police CS Linda Grace negotiates, Smithereen's COO Penelope Wu and the FBI protest as Bauer eventually calls. Chris reveals he was checking a Smithereens notification when he caused the accident that killed his fiancée, Tamsin, three years prior. He believes himself responsible, though the other driver was blamed. During the standoff, Chris lies to Jaden about the gun being fake; bystanders overhear and post this misinformation online, altering police behavior. Ultimately, Chris asks Bauer to request a password reset for Hayley's daughter's Persona account as a final favor before attempting suicide.

Reader's Guide

Within the episode's reality, Smithereens operates as a dominant social media entity where users are constantly monitored and influenced by its addictive design. The platform serves as a digital confessional and data mine; during Chris's kidnapping, the company instantly accesses his profile to build a psychological profile of him. For employees like Jaden, it is merely an entry-level internship at a massive corporation, yet for Bauer, it represents a 'legend' he helped create that now feels out of control. The app's interface facilitates instant connection but fails to provide genuine human recourse; when Chris needs to speak to the top executive, he must resort to violence because standard channels are insufficient. The system's power is highlighted by its ability to distract millions globally; in the final scene, as Chris struggles with Jaden and snipers fire, people around the world check their phones, see the update, and immediately continue with their lives.

Did You Know?

• The episode was inspired by a real experience writer Charlie Brooker had when an Uber driver unexpectedly exited the car to get water, leaving Brooker unaware of their location.
• Andrew Scott requested that most scenes be shot in chronological order to help him slowly reveal his character's emotional state, despite his inability to drive for the filming.
• Topher Grace filmed his scenes as CEO Billy Bauer in Spain while Andrew Scott and the rest of the cast filmed in England, with an actor hired off-screen to read Chris's lines during their phone call.
• The social media company 'Smithereens' is a fictionalized version of Twitter, with CEO Billy Bauer compared to real-life CEO Jack Dorsey.
• While the episode received widespread praise for Andrew Scott's acting, which earned an Emmy nomination, critics largely criticized the storyline as simple and the message as too straightforward.