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Note: This story contains spoilers from “Black Mirror” Season 7, Episode 1, “Common People.”
The latest installment of “Black Mirror,” titled “Common People,” presents a chilling scenario in healthcare, featuring a fictional technology that stars Rashida Jones and Tracee Ellis Ross suggest could soon resonate with reality.
The narrative follows Amanda (Jones) and Mike (Chris O’Dowd), a middle-class couple ensnared in a relentless cycle due to an invention called Rivermind. This advanced technology saves Amanda’s life but requires an exorbitant subscription fee to maintain its benefits. As Amanda and Mike strive to meet the increasing costs, they are pushed to their breaking points, struggling under the pressures imposed by their customer service representative, Gaynor (Ross), who consistently raises the fees associated with their subscription.
In discussions about the episode, Jones expressed her unease over the potential for such a tiered healthcare system becoming a reality, emphasizing that society may be only a few innovations away from facing these daunting possibilities. She raised important philosophical and existential questions surrounding the merge of human health and technology, asking what essence of humanity might remain as we increasingly integrate machines into our bodies.
Ross added to the conversation by highlighting the gradual shift towards a more digital healthcare system. She pointed out that with the advent of telehealth and electronic medical records, the traditional method of in-person consultations and physical medical files has dramatically changed. “All that information about who you are, your blood work, and everything is already digitized,” she remarked, illustrating how technology is redefining patient interactions.
While the advancement of technology raises pressing questions, Jones noted the positive aspects she observed while shadowing an emergency room nurse prior to her role in “Parks and Recreation.” The nurse reflected on how the ability to conduct immediate X-rays on-site has transformed patient care, eliminating long wait times that were once commonplace.
As Rivermind introduces newer and pricier subscription tiers while demoting existing plans, Mike finds himself increasingly overwhelmed, working extra shifts and even resorting to dubious online channels to secure funds. Meanwhile, Amanda struggles to stay awake, reflecting the toll their situation takes on their lives. Ultimately, the couple reaches a devastating decision as Mike ends Amanda’s life in a heart-wrenching moment, ensuring she remains unaware during the process as she recites a commercial in her last moments.
Jones recounted her discussions with creator Charlie Brooker regarding the episode’s critical themes, which encompass the overpowering influence of technology on everyday life and the flaws in the American healthcare system. Highlighting the emotional weight of the situation, she noted that partners will inevitably face the profound dilemma of deciding how their loved ones live or die.
Ross reflected on the broader implications of such technology’s entwining with medicine and the resulting ethical questions. “What happens when you’re at that intersection where technology and science and medicine merge in a life-or-death scenario? What are the long-term consequences?” she asked, emphasizing the gravity of these choices in the context of life and death.
“Black Mirror” Season 7 is now available for streaming on Netflix.
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