Interactive Netflix, ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ style

Okay, we called it. Netflix’s foray into interactive storytelling, 2018’s Black Mirror: Bandersnatch was just the first of many. Now we’re pumped to hear our favorite Netflix Originals quirky comedy, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, is now going to be made into an interactive special.

“We’re thrilled to announce that we’re about to start production on an all-new iInteractive Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt special, set to debut on Netflix in 2020. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt was one of the first original comedy series on Netflix, and now it will be its first interactive comedy event.

Fans will be able to make choices on behalf of our characters, taking different story paths with, of course, different jokes. I think it’s a great fit for our show and will be a great way to officially complete the series.

Choose-your-own-adventure’s heyday in the 80s saw an explosion of gamified literary storytelling, but a number of obstacles stood in the way of its long-promised transfer to the world of video. Technology has certainly solved all those issues by now, and it was only a matter of time until a team tackled the good old-fashioned narrative design and longer shooting schedule.

It’s no secret that Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt has a young audience, and this type of technological manipulation is perfectly suited to Gen Y and younger, who never let a minute of their day pass without their phone in hand.

We’ve known for a while that S4 of Kimmy would be the last for the fantastical tale of a girl looking for community after being a victim of trauma. That knowledge doesn’t make the loss any more palatable, so it’s absolutely amazing news that we’re getting to choose our own adventure with Kimmy, Titus, Lillian, and Jacqueline soon.

Thanks, Netflix – now bring back One Day at a Time and Jessica Jones, and buy the rights for Gotham and Shadowhunters, please.