What would you do for love — especially when love becomes unaffordable?
The first episode of Black Mirror Season 7, titled “Common People”, is a gut-punching portrayal of the emotional, financial, and ethical costs of a life-saving technology wrapped in the all-too-familiar cloak of capitalism. With a premise rooted in science fiction but emotionally real, this episode raises chilling questions about the price of survival — and whether love alone is enough to keep us going.
Let’s dive into the episode’s haunting storyline, its emotional ending, and the hidden meanings behind the choices the characters make.
Plot Overview: When Love Meets the Subscription Model
Set in a near-future world, “Common People” follows the story of Amanda (Rashida Jones), an elementary school teacher, and Mike (Chris O’Dowd), a welder, whose life is turned upside down when Amanda slips into a coma. A terminal brain tumor is discovered, and the only lifeline comes in the form of Rivermind — an experimental tech that backs up brain data to the cloud and streams it back via subscription.
Rivermind, like a Netflix for brains, seems too good to be true — and it is. While the procedure is free, the “streaming” of Amanda’s cognitive functions costs $300 a month. Over time, that price rises, the geographic availability of the service shrinks, and soon Amanda’s brain becomes a vessel for advertising. Her speech is randomly interrupted by ads, endangering her teaching job.
Still, Mike keeps paying, sacrificing everything to keep her alive.
Desperation Deepens: The Hidden Costs of Staying Alive
As the bills mount and Amanda’s quality of life deteriorates, Mike turns to a disturbing online platform called Dum Dummies — a dark web reality show where people perform humiliating or painful challenges for cash.
Even with all his efforts, they can’t keep up. Amanda now requires 12+ hours of sleep, just to function at a minimal level. Her once joyful demeanor is now plagued by fatigue, dullness, and increasing physical deterioration. When Mike gifts her a 30-minute Rivermind Lux booster for their anniversary — a temporary upgrade that offers peace and clarity — Amanda finally feels a moment of serenity.
But it’s short-lived. Amanda realizes there’s no future like this. Her final wish? To let go.
The Ending: A Love Story with No Way Out
In the episode’s emotional climax, Amanda asks Mike to “do it when I’m not here.” And he does. As her brain reverts to streaming intrusive ads, Mike suffocates her with a pillow while whispering that everything will be okay. It’s her wish, her peace.
He then walks into another Dum Dummies livestream room — bringing only a box cutter — strongly implying that he, too, is ready to end his suffering.
It’s not just a tragic love story. It’s a warning.
What Rashida Jones and Tracee Ellis Ross Think
Rashida Jones (Amanda) believes Mike’s decision came from a place of deep love, not weakness.
“This is not a six-month discomfort. It’s years of physical, emotional, and financial strain,” she explained.
Jones also strongly supports Amanda’s right to choose how her life ends, stating that “everyone should have a say in the way they die.”
Tracee Ellis Ross, who plays Gaynor, the Rivermind salesperson, offers a sobering take: Gaynor is also a victim of the system. She may be selling dreams, but she’s just trying to survive too.
“Maybe this is how she pays her bills. Maybe her husband signed her up,” Ross suggests.
Both actors agree: the episode isn’t just about futuristic tech. It’s a mirror to our present — a world where technology often moves faster than ethics, and survival comes with fine print.
Black Mirror’s Message: Ask Before You Stream
“Common People” echoes the classic Black Mirror warning: Tech doesn’t just change lives — it defines who gets to live them.
It critiques corporate greed, unaffordable healthcare, and blind faith in innovation. Most of all, it asks: When love demands more than you can give, what do you do?
The title itself, “Common People,” may imply that this story — though extreme — reflects the quiet desperation millions already live with.
FAQs: ‘Common People’ Explained
1. Why did Amanda start speaking in ads?
Rivermind began inserting ads into Amanda’s cognition as a way to subsidize lower-tier subscription models. It mirrors real-life “freemium” services — but with horrifying implications.
2. What is Dum Dummies in the episode?
It’s a dark web platform where users perform harmful stunts for money. Mike joins out of desperation to afford Amanda’s streaming plan, highlighting how poverty can push people into degrading situations.
3. Did Amanda choose to die?
Yes. Amanda clearly asks Mike to let her go. She was mentally and physically exhausted, and unable to find peace in her daily life.
4. What does the ending imply about Mike?
Mike likely decides to end his life by joining Dum Dummies’ livestream with a box cutter. It represents ultimate despair — and a chilling statement about what people are driven to when all hope is lost.
5. Is Gaynor a villain in the story?
Not exactly. She’s more of a tragic cog in the system — both a salesperson and a Rivermind patient herself. Her character represents how people perpetuate broken systems just to survive.