BLACK MIRROR SEASON 7 EPISODE 1

Black Mirror Season 7, Episode 1, Common People, tells the story of a couple: Amanda, a school teacher, and Mike, her loving and devoted husband. They are in a lovey-dovey marriage and still expecting a child. After a tragic turn of events, their lives are changed forever, and their love slowly fades, drained of happiness and purpose.

This episode mirrors the subscription model that many of our lives now revolve around. (No pun intended, by the way.) You onboard as a freemium user and get plagued with ads. Then you upgrade to Plus or Premium and gain more access to features, some of which are still locked behind yet another higher-tier upgrade that costs significantly more. We find ourselves living in a reality and tech ecosystem where a lot depends on this structure.

On a deeper level, the episode asks: what is the price of a life? What is the price to pay for a second chance at life for a loved one? How far would someone go to keep a loved one alive? It explores the heartbreaking reality that life is not always kind, and sometimes demands more than we can bear, forcing us to face impossible choices.

"Common People" is a dark and bleak episode that ends on a tragic note.