Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Black Mirror season 7, episode 1!
Please note that this article discusses sensitive topics, including suicide and self-harm.
Insights from Rashida Jones on the Complex Relationship of Amanda and Mike
In the first episode of Black Mirror season 7, titled “Common People,”Rashida Jones sheds light on the harrowing choices faced by her character, Amanda, and Chris O’Dowd’s character, Mike. The narrative centers on Amanda’s brain, partially replaced with technology that renders her dependent on an expensive subscription service, Rivermind. This dependency creates a strain on their relationship that ultimately leads Amanda to a heartbreaking decision about her own life.
As the episode unfolds, Amanda grows increasingly unable to cope, culminating in her tragic choice to end her life. The episode closes with Mike taking a drastic action in response to her request, leaving his fate uncertain. During a roundtable discussion that ScreenRant attended, Jones elaborated on Amanda’s mindset leading to her decision and the implied aftermath for Mike.
It’s interesting because she does make this decision, but she makes it under the influence of Rivermind Luxe. So, I bet it’ll be debated whether or not she actually had the agency to make that decision, and how much of it was her.
But I kind of chose that it was the best version of herself because I push up my serenity button at the end, and I think it’s still me. It’s me in a clearer mindset where I wasn’t distraught with pain and fatigue, and I could actually see the forest for the trees. Literally, I’m looking out, and I can kind of see myself as part of nature and be okay with the idea that I’ve taken it as far as I can. It’s time to let go of this version of our relationship, which is extremely sad. But I think, for me performing that, I had to accept that it wasn’t sad. It was actually a relief and actually the right thing to do.
As far as Mike is concerned, my interpretation is that he is doing the same thing. It was probably the hardest thing he’s ever done, to have to do that at my request, but then to live without me after going through what he’s been through, the humiliation and the frustration and just the overwhelming [feeling] of being left with no choice? I think he does the same. He says, “I’m doing a specialty thing later,”which is pretty dark.
Decoding the Dark Ending of “Common People”
Critics have lauded “Common People”as one of the standout episodes of Black Mirror season 7, highlighting its poignant examination of the destructive impact technology can have on human lives. Despite the ostensibly life-saving attributes of the Rivermind treatment, it ironically ensnares Amanda in a cycle of dependency that drives both her and Mike to their breaking point. This portrayal raises uncomfortable questions about the intersection of technology, mental health, and the lengths to which individuals must go to maintain a semblance of normality.
The Bleak and Unflinching Reality of Amanda & Mike’s Story
Confronting Difficult Themes Head-On
The narrative in “Common People”is one that does not shy away from difficult truths, offering a stark but necessary portrayal of the consequences of our reliance on technology for wellness and connection. Amanda and Mike’s tragic trajectory is a reflection of both the darker sides of medical dependency and the emotional toll such reliance can exact. As discussed by Jones, the episode, while painful to witness, ultimately serves as a crucial commentary on the human condition and our struggles in a technologically saturated world.
All episodes of Black Mirror season 7 are currently available for streaming on Netflix.