Netflix’s Bloodride Theory: The Bus Driver Is [SPOILER]

Warning! Major spoilers for Bloodride below

The horror anthology series Bloodride is arguably creepy, but the creepiest part of Netflix’s new show isn’t the individual stories in this six-part season — it’s the bus driver.

Bloodride is an anthology in the truest sense of the word. Each character has no connection to the others that are seen, save for the bus they are all on. Netflix’s newest bingeworthy offering features six independently scary stories, ranging from a sinister sacrificial rock to a tale of homicidal roommates. The opening shot of each episode features each one of the protagonists placed together on a bus. The camera pans across each person before settling onto the subject of the current episode.

Despite the disconnect in characters and plots, there is one constant in each of these episodes: the man driving the bus. In each episode’s opening sequence, he still gets a little camera time. Sometimes, he’s even smirking at the protagonist in the episode. That’s because he represents more than just a bus driver — he’s death incarnate.

Netflix’s Bloodride: The Bus Driver Is The Grim Reaper

Bloodride isn’t one of those anthology shows where each story is loosely connected to one another — don’t look for any connections like in Netflix’s Black Mirror, which is arguably the streaming platform’s most popular original anthology series to date. These six individual stories literally have nothing in common despite the fact that each of the main characters are seen riding on a bus at the beginning of each episode. On the bus, the passengers appear to be in their own worlds, some even seeming totally unaware that there are other passengers with them. Yet, the bus driver is always aware.

The driver typically gives the upcoming protagonist a little smirk in the rearview mirror, then switches on his blinker. The character he’s zeroed in on typically has a look of fear in their eyes when they hear that sound. They know what’s coming next, as does the bus driver. The bus is like limbo for these people — it’s literally a portal from their life to the afterlife. Every main character dies in their episode, and they end up on the bus together. The bus driver knows when everyone’s “stop” is coming because he is the grim reaper. He’s gathered up these souls and is transporting them to the afterlife. The protagonists are on their journey from dying to whatever comes next in this show’s universe. Each time a passenger is singled out, it’s their turn to end their metaphorical journey.

At the time of writing this article, it’s too soon to say whether Bloodride will be renewed for a second season. With Hulu’s horror anthology series Into the Dark being successful, maybe there’s demand for more shows in a similar vein. If it does, it’s safe to assume that the bus driver will be featured driving a new set of characters to their doom in a future season.