Amanda and Mike are ordinary people. Sheteaches. He works construction. They’re in love, trying for a baby. Life feels stable. Then Amanda collapses at school. The diagnosis: an inoperable brain tumor. She may never wake up. Enter Rivermind. A tech company offers a lifeline. They can replace Amanda’s damaged brain tissue with synthetic parts. Her consciousness will stream from their servers. The surgery is free. But the subscription isn’t. Mike agrees. Amanda wakes up. But she must sleep more. And she can’t leave Rivermind’s coverage area. On a trip, she shuts down. They upgrade to a higher plan. Freedom comes at a price. Then, Amanda starts spouting ads. Mid-conversation, she promotes products.She’s unaware.
At school, she recommends counseling to a student. Her job is at risk. Rivermind suggests another upgrade to remove ads. More money. Mike turns to “Dum Dummies,” a livestreaming site. He performs humiliating acts for cash. Initially masked, he eventually reveals his face. Amanda’s sleep increases to twelve hours daily. They learn Rivermind has introduced a new tier: Lux. It offers enhanced emotions and sensations. Standard users now sleep more.Mike works harder, endures more on Dum Dummies. He buys Amanda a brief Lux upgrade for their anniversary. She experiences joy.
But it’s fleeting. Mike’s coworker exposes his Dum Dummies videos. A confrontation leads to an accident. Mike is fired. Rivermind offers no leniency. They even charge extra for potential pregnancy. Amanda’s condition deteriorates. She sleeps sixteen hours daily. Awake, she’s an ad machine. Mike sells belongings, continues Dum Dummies. He’s missing a tooth. The crib is sold to teens for a music video. On their anniversary, Mike buys thirty minutes of Lux. Amanda feels serene. She asks Mike to end her life. As she begins another ad, he suffocates her. Mike then enters another room, Dum Dummies streaming. He holds a box cutter. The door closes.
Themes and Analysis
“Common People” critiques the commodification of healthcare. Rivermind’s model mirrors real-world subscription services. Basic survival becomes a tiered plan. The episode also explores the erosion of autonomy. Amanda’s identity is hijacked by advertisements. Her consent is irrelevant. Mike’s descent into humiliation reflects desperation. He sacrifices dignity for Amanda’s well-being. The narrative questions the cost of love in a capitalist society.
Performances and Direction
Rashida Jones delivers a poignant performance as Amanda. Her transformation from vibrant to hollow is heartbreaking.Chris O’Dowd portrays Mike’s despair with nuance. Tracee Ellis Ross’s Gaynor is chillingly corporate. Director Ally Pankiw crafts a bleak, immersive world. The pacing is deliberate, enhancing the narrative’s weight.
Social Commentary and Relevance
“Common People” doesn’t just criticize the healthcare system; it’s a sharp commentary on societal trends that see the human experience through a financial lens. The way Amanda’s brain is monetized, packaged, and sold to the highest bidder reflects the increasing normalization of corporate ownership over personal lives. Her condition, once a private matter of life and death, becomes a service—one that is both monetized and commodified in ways that erode her dignity. The episode doesn’t shy away from showcasing how people, driven by love or desperation, will tolerate or participate in systems that exploit them. In doing so, it forces us to question the price of survival, the lengths we go to preserve relationships, and how much of our identity we’re willing to sacrifice for the sake of convenience or technology.
Conclusion
“Common People” is a harrowing tale of love, sacrifice, and systemic failure. It’s a stark reminder of technology’s potential to dehumanize. The episode sets a grim tone for the season. It’s a return to Black Mirror’s roots: unsettling, thought-provoking, and tragically plausible.
