Warning: SPOILERS for Black Mirror Season 7, Episode 1 – “Frequent Individuals,” are in play.
Netflix’s Black Mirror isn’t precisely the cheeriest present in the marketplace. Whereas creator Charlie Brooker’s dystopian anthology does have some upbeat episodes in its canon, it’s largely recognized for surprising morality performs that spotlight our trendy preoccupations with expertise. So for Season 7 to reach on the 2025 TV schedule with a narrative so upsetting that it’s a great factor it was put into the debut slot is saying rather a lot.
Brace yourselves, particularly when you thought “Past The Sea’s” chilling ending from Season 6 was a heartbreaker. Because of what I noticed in Black Mirror Season 7’s premiere, “Frequent Individuals,” the annoying behavior of streaming suppliers elevating their subscription charges has now been translated right into a extra terrifying and probably lethal idea.
Frequent Individuals Might Be Black Mirror’s Bleakest Hour
The quick, quick model of Black Mirror’s Season 7 premiere sees Mike (Chris O’Dowd) and Amanda (Rashida Jones) colliding with the trendy miracles of science. Because of a medical emergency that leaves Amanda with extreme mind injury, “Frequent Individuals” sees her loving husband have interaction within the companies of the tech agency Rivermind.
Their promise is just too good to move up: a cloud-based implant that mimics the perform of that space of the mind. As company rep Gaynor (Tracee Ellis Ross) describes within the phase of her pitch that closes the deal:
Actually, it is lower than you suppose; as a result of we’re actually attempting to drive uptake. So our pricing is basically affordable. And the surgical procedure is free.
Since this is identical universe that has made us worry social media, robotics and video video games, you possibly can just about name the place this story goes. Nevertheless, that’s what makes “Frequent Individuals” such a heartbreaking journey to undertake.
Every impediment that raises the stakes is clearly going to see Amanda getting worse, and Mike turning into much more determined. It will get to the purpose the place a phase of the plot I assumed was going to change into a battle, the couple’s conventional anniversary journey to “The Juniper,” did not even pan out.
With every change to Rivermind’s companies politely specified by recurring consultations with Gaynor, the associated fee goes up – and the service’s choices lower. So as a substitute of a bland blow-up over a routine that Amanda clearly is not that into anymore, we one thing sadder.
The excessive value of Rivermind is one thing that results in an enormous motive why I’m stunned this Netflix subscription booster was allowed to go as exhausting because it does. In re-reading that quote offered above, it dawned on me that one might simply draw the parallel to the Netflix story.
A fledgling by-mail rental service attempting to interrupt into the world of streaming, with free trials and inexpensive charges because the lure. Certain, it is not overtly constructed into the episode’s story; however the connotation is closely hinted at with the trivial instance of subscription companies scaling up costs whereas gating off options.
Black Mirror Season 7’s Preoccupation With Subscription Fashions Hits Hardest Right here
Whereas Season 6’s spherical of anthological storytelling naturally mocked its dwelling platform’s enterprise mannequin, “Frequent Individuals” makes use of that lens on a really important subject: the healthcare business. By means of all of this Black Mirror premiere’s pitfalls, Amanda’s high quality of life declines.
One huge instance of that at work, which was proven off in Season 7’s cryptic trailer, sees Rashida Jones’ character ultimately finds herself turning into an promoting platform. Momentary, unpredictable blackouts see Amanda lose time, during which she shills every part from espresso to spiritual household counseling.
If she needs to have something resembling a traditional life, she must improve from Rivermind Frequent (the OG plan) to the ad-free/prolonged protection tier often called Rivermind Plus. That leads Mike to think about more and more determined means to pay for this medical “miracle,” which matches in a path that’s harking back to Black Mirror’s first season actuality TV sendup “Fifteen Million Deserves.”
And that is earlier than we even get to the horror that’s Rivermind Lux! I am going to allow you to uncover the perils of that plan by yourself, however I will suggest you pause the medical advert parody that is included within the pitch. It’s essential to learn that effective print fastidiously, as it is a refined, a lot wanted snicker in the midst of a critically dour affair.
That instance in all probability has you recalling Netflix’s controversial ‘Primary Tier’ elimination. Even the gripes related to Amazon Prime’s introduction of adverts for subscribers who did not even change their plan are mirrored in a second of anger for Chris O’Dowd, as Michael criticizes a plan change for not protecting in thoughts these patrons who helped construct Rivermind’s basis.
In a means much like how Season 6’s “Joan is Terrible” criticized Netflix’s manufacturing and launch strategies, “Frequent Individuals” takes the rising value of leisure and applies that methodology to an individual’s well being. I don’t find out about you, however as a neurodivergent Sort 1 diabetic, I might hate for my high quality of life to be impeded by obligatory advert breaks when I attempt to take my meds.
A relatively trivial matter has been given a really actual face in Black Mirror’s Season 7 premiere. Sadly, whereas this spherical of speculative fiction continues to be not a commonplace actuality, as you will see on this article from IEEE Spectrum, writers Charlie Brooker & Bisha Okay. Ali are nearer to the reality than most would understand.
At its coronary heart, “Frequent Individuals” is a basic instance of how Charlie Brooker and his writers have continued to interrupt our hearts by way of fiction, in order that it doesn’t simply change into truth. So having this be the premiere and “USS Callister Into Infinity” function the finale makes emotional sense.
With a trio of highly effective performances from Rashida Jones, Chris O’Dowd and Tracee Ellis Ross, the subject material walks a line between humor and heartbreak – till the latter turns into too overwhelming to disregard. In a world the place being “frequent” turns into an obstacle, every part feels a bit crueler and colder.
However you don’t must take my phrase for it, as all six episodes of Black Mirror’s Season 7 are actually streaming on Netflix – it doesn’t matter what tier you’re subscribed to. And get used to these subscription worth jabs, as they seem to be a operating thread all through this season.