Rashida Jones' Black Mirror Season 7 Episode Is One Of Netflix's Darkest Stories In Years

Black Mirror season 7 gets off to a very dark and depressing start with "Common People." Even though it is very sad, "Common People" is arguably the best episode of Black Mirror season 7. In the episode, Amanda falls ill with a brain tumor, which prompts her husband, Mike, to start paying for a subscription for the start-up Rivermind, which will restore her brain and keep her alive. However, throughout the episode, Mike and Amanda struggle to pay Rivermind's increasing monthly subscription costs.

The cast of Black Mirror's "Common People" episode includes Rashida Jones and Chris O'Dowd, who brilliantly portray Amanda and Mike. Reviews for Black Mirror season 7 have been great, with Screen Rant's own Alexander Harrison giving it a score of 7 out of 10. Even though some episodes in recent seasons of Black Mirror haven't been very acclaimed, many fans and critics have argued that the quality of season 7's episodes is much higher. This is definitely true for "Common People," which is the darkest episode of Black Mirror season 7.

"Common People" Is One Of The Most Bleak Modern Black Mirror Concepts & Endings

Mike & Amanda Have Practically No Hope In Black Mirror's "Common People"

When Mike initially signs up for Rivermind in "Common People," he is obviously ecstatic that the company can keep his wife alive. However, it doesn't take long for Mike and Amanda to realize they are at the mercy of the tech start-up, which consistently increases its prices.

some main characters from Black Mirror season 7

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Mike desperately wants to keep Amanda alive, but Rivermind's model is so capitalized and monetized that he can't do so without destroying his own life. Eventually, Mike decides to do ridiculous things to himself for viewers on the internet who will pay him, such as pulling out his own teeth or putting his tongue in a mousetrap. This leads to him losing his actual job, and is obviously not a long-term solution.

Therefore, since it gets to a point where they can no longer afford Rivermind's subscription fees, Mike and Amanda both know that she has to die at the end of "Common People." In many ways, "Common People" feels like classic Black Mirror episodes, such as season 2's "Be Right Back."

"Common People" Is A Dark Criticism Of Netflix's Own Business Model

Netflix Has Also Increased Its Subscription Prices Many Times

While "Common People" is one of the best episodes of Black Mirror season 7 and feels like some classic episodes of the series, I was so surprised to see this kind of story told in a Netflix show. This is primarily because "Common People" is critical of companies that increase their subscription prices, which is something that Netflix has done multiple times.

Obviously, "Common People" is more critical towards companies that monetize basic survival needs, but it is still taking a jab at Netflix. While watching content on Netflix obviously isn't necessary, the company has consistently faced criticism for their business model. Over the years, many Netflix users have argued that the streamer increases its costs but doesn't actually put out better content, which is a sentiment that is echoed through Mike and Amanda in the Black Mirror season 7 episode "Common People."