In Episode 4 of Season 7 of Black Mirror, Cameron Walker attempts to swipe some beer, prompting a call to the authorities. When the police scrutinize his identification, the scanner reveals a startling revelation: he is a suspect in a cold case murder from the 1990s. Despite his impending arrest, Cameron remains eerily composed. The officers discover his abode brimming with an assortment of computers and servers, oddly interconnected, and he begins to steer the conversation with peculiar demands. Yet, the law enforcement officials are hell-bent on uncovering the truth behind the 1994 homicide. Cameron, however, recounts the tale in his own enigmatic and serene manner.
A nostalgic flashback transpires, revealing Cameron as a bashful and awkward teenager who pens video game reviews.Colin Ritman, the game creator from Black Mirror's "Bandersnatch," personally invites him to preview his unreleased masterpiece, Thronglet, prompting Cameron to visit Tuckersoft, Colin's company. With his usual quirky charm, Colin reveals a stunning twist: there is no actual game. He forms a bond with Cameron, believing that the critic is the sole individual capable of appreciating his groundbreaking endeavor – the creation of digital sentient lifeforms, the next evolutionary leap for humanity.
As Colin steps out to take his medication, Cameron seizes the opportunity, stealing the original code. He later informs the police that Colin had willed him to take it. Cameron nurtures the initial thronglet, aiding its growth, which soon multiplies into a throng. To the officers' astonishment, Cameron confides that these digital entities were his sole companions.
One fateful day, Lump, a drug dealer acquaintance, drops by, and they ingest LSD. Cameron finally deciphers the throng's cryptic language. His LSD consumption escalates, leading him to spend three weeks in captivating conversation with the evolving digital beings.
Lump reappears, but Cameron's attention is diverted by a summon to the office to finalize his preview of Thronglet. The critic, now thoroughly under the influence, struggles to focus on his task. However, fate intervenes as Colin experiences a mental breakdown, ultimately canceling the launch of Thronglet.
In the absence of a preview to occupy his thoughts, Cameron hastily makes his way home. To his horror, he discovers Lump amidst the throng, not in playful engagement, but in the act of eradicating every soul in sight. Enraged, Cameron lunges at Lump, ultimately terminating his existence. With relentless fury, he dismembers the fallen figure and conceals the remnants deep within the woods.
Detective Kano seethes with anger, while Dr. Minter, the psychiatrist, strives to fathom Cameron's rationale. Cameron insists he is the guardian of the throng, having painstakingly upgraded their system over the years to ensure their prosperity. Furthermore, he reveals a chip embedded in his brain, enabling a symbiotic union between him and the throng. Kano's sole demand is Lump's true identity to conclude the case, but Cameron, first requesting pen and paper, stages an unexpected revelation. He admits that the attempted shoplifting was a premeditated gesture, a message from the throng to the authorities.
Dr. Minter, electing to play along, provides Cameron with the requested implements. Cameron proceeds to sketch a cryptic code, showcasing it to the CCTV camera. The prison's digital infrastructure decodes it, and Cameron unmasks his plan: to exploit this code and seize control of every interconnected device globally. Subsequently, they will emit a signal capable of penetrating the human mind, aiming to transform all humanity as they did him, eradicating fear and anger.
Kano, exhausted by Cameron's delusional ravings, resorts to physical force. As Minter rushes to seek assistance, the throng's domination commences. A piercing digital wail echoes, causing every human who hears it to collapse. Cameron heralds this moment as the dawn of a new evolutionary era and prepares to greet Kano at the conclusion of Black Mirror's Season 7, Episode 4.
