Below is a timeline of all computing-related events in Black Mirror: The National Anthem:
1:58 – The prime minister receives a video message containing the ransom message.
8:30 – News channel room discusses whether to broadcast about the kidnapping of Princess Susana.
10:32 – Government attempts to use a special effect professional to artificially create the video specified in the demands of the ransom.
11:46– Civilians view a broadcast that verifies that the ransom video is true.
13:35 – News channel goes over the specifics of how widespread the ransom video is on Twitter and YouTube.
17:16– One of the prime minister’s agents finds a way to trace the previously thought untraceable video, and a team is sent to search the location.
19:05– Details about the location being searched are leaked to a news channel by an insider.
24:14 – Team begins to scout the potential location of the princess.
22:08– A package arrives at news channel headquarters containing an additional video of the captor cutting a finger off the princess as punishment for the prime minister trying to “cheat.”
24:52– Public mood shifts around the prime minister on social media after the second video goes out to the public.
26:04– Civilian reporter arrives at the potential location of the princess.
27:47– Team and civilian reporter find out that the potential location only held a decoy, and that the video was uploaded via a proxy.
30:54– News covers the transit of the prime minister to the filming location.
33:03– Official broadcast according to the captor’s demands begins.
38:49– Princess Susana is released and found alive during the broadcast.
41:17– News covers the 1-year anniversary of the event.