Kicking off the seventh season, Black Mirror introduces its viewers to an episode titled "Common People," which commences on the commemorative dawn of Amanda and Mike Waters' anniversary. Amanda, a compassionate science teacher for elementary students, nurtures their young minds with kindness and patience. Mike, a diligent construction worker, often finds himself having to reprimand his colleague Shane, who is hopelessly engrossed in Dum Dummies, a platform where streamers are rewarded for indulging in bizarre antics.
That evening, the Waters couple embarks on their anniversary ritual, heading to The Juniper. We are privy to their aspirations of starting a family, evidenced by the crib they've purchased. However, Amanda's headaches intensify, culminating in a fainting spell during one of her classes. The subsequent medical diagnosis shatters their world: Amanda has a brain tumor, and there's a risk she may never regain consciousness.
Just when hope seems lost, Mike is introduced to Rivermind, a revolutionary neurological technology. Gaynor, the spokesperson, stands as a living testament to its efficacy. They propose creating a backup of Amanda's cognitive functions, excising the tumor, and then restoring her consciousness through streaming. The only caveat is that she must increase her sleep hours and remain within the servers' range. The surgery is offered free of charge, with the streaming service costing a mere $300 per month. Overwhelmed by this seemingly miraculous offer, Mike readily agrees.
Life begins to resemble its former rhythm, albeit with Mike taking on extra shifts to finance the streaming subscription. Their dream trip to Ireland to visit Mike's father is postponed indefinitely, awaiting Rivermind's global expansion. Amanda's waking hours gradually diminish, Synchronize with Mike's growing exhaust from his unrelated work schedule
A year slips by, bringing their anniversary around once more. The couple, worn out from their relentless pace, finds themselves at odds. Mike yearns for a respite, while Amanda Advocate for the cancellation of their Juniper trip to conserve funds A harrowing incident occurs when, upon leaving the county, Amanda loses consciousness, only to revive upon Mike's return. This harrowing episode serves as a stark reminder of their fragile new normal, tethered to the digital lifeline of Rivermind.
It transpires that Rivermind has expanded its reach across the nation, yet its privileges are restricted solely to subscribers of Rivermind Plus, a premium service costing an astonishing $800 per month. For Amanda, clinging to Rivermind Common means confinement within the county borders. This limitation begins to strain their relationship, and Amanda's condition deteriorates. Unbeknownst to them both, Amanda inadvertently finds herself engaging in contextual product placements, unwittingly dispensing poor advice to a child with divorced parents.
The frequency of these ads escalates, and the school warns of severe consequences, including termination, if she fails to cease the behavior. Faced with the prospect of losing her sole income stream, Mike resorts to becoming a streamer for Dum Dummies and upgrades Amanda to Rivermind Plus. However, aside from the absence of advertisements and the added perk of travel opportunities, the upgrade fails to deliver much else. Despite sleeping for a dozen hours, Amanda remains perpetually exhausted, having unknowingly slipped into sleep mode—a state where her brain is harnessed to run the servers.
Gaynor, observing their plight, suggests an upgrade to Rivermind Lux, a tier that would empower Amanda to control her moods, amplify her senses, and much more. However, the cost remains prohibitive. As a compromise, Gaynor proposes booster packages for special occasions, offering a glimmer of hope amidst their financial constraints.
Meanwhile, the stakes for Dum Dummies skyrocketed, demanding an exposure that delved into Mike's very visage and intimate encounters. Yet, paradoxically, this propelled him to secure a Rivermind Lux experience for Amanda on their anniversary. She dialed up her pleasure settings to the max, transforming her world into a utopia of sorts. However, Mike's discomfort grew as Amanda's exaggerated reactions to even the simplest of pleasures, including food and sex, began to unsettle him.
The fallout was devastating when Shane, unable to contain his curiosity, spilled the beans about Mike's streaming escapades at work. In a fit of rage, Mike confronted Shane, leading to a violent altercation that culminated in a tragic accident—Shane was Accidentally hit by a crane. Mike was subsequently fired, and in a desperate bid for leniency, he pleaded with Gaynor for some breathing room to find new employment. She was unyielding, and upon discovering their plans to start a family, she coldly revealed an additional monthly fee of $90. Enraged, Mike stormed out, leaving behind a trail of broken promises.
A year later, the Waters' anniversary arrived again, but the celebration was marred by change. Mike, now missing a tooth, had resorted to selling their crib for a mere 30 minutes of respite on Rivermind Lux. Amanda finally awakened from her synthetic slumber, and they together amped up her serenity settings, immersing her in a state of tranquility. Overwhelmed by peace, she uttered words that chilled Mike to the bone—she begged him to end her life. As their time expired, she began reciting advertisements, revealing that she had been trapped in Rivermind Common for an entire year. In a heart-wrenching decision, Mike granted her final wish, and in the closing moments of the chapter, he took his own life as well.
