Black Mirror Season 7 (2025)
Episode 1: “Common People”
"Common People" follows Mike (played by Chris O'Dowd), a hardworking welder, and his wife Amanda (Rashida Jones), a dedicated schoolteacher, who have been together for three years. Their lives take a dramatic turn when Amanda collapses during a class and is later diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Faced with no options for traditional treatment, Mike is introduced to Gaynor (Tracee Ellis Ross), a representative from a tech startup called Rivermind Technologies, which offers a groundbreaking solution: the ability to remove Amanda’s brain tumor and replace the excised tissue with synthetic material, all powered by Rivermind’s advanced server systems.
This procedure, though innovative, comes with one catch: it’s free, but Rivermind expects a monthly subscription fee for continued access to the technology, ensuring that Amanda’s brain functions remain at full capacity. The couple agrees, hoping that the payment will allow Amanda to live a normal life again. At first, the procedure seems to work. Amanda begins to regain a sense of normalcy, her cognitive abilities functioning without the tumor, but the system is far from perfect.
As time progresses, the limitations of Rivermind’s service become glaringly obvious. The basic package doesn’t offer enough features to maintain Amanda’s health, and soon, the couple is forced to upgrade to the more expensive “Plus” tier. This new level promises to enhance Amanda’s cognitive performance and provides her with more freedom in her daily life, but it also introduces a sinister twist. Amanda begins involuntarily inserting advertisements into her daily conversations. These brief interruptions seem innocuous at first, but they begin to affect her professional and personal life. As the ads disrupt her interactions with students and colleagues, Amanda’s job security is put in jeopardy, and her mental stability becomes increasingly uncertain.
The price of maintaining the service skyrockets as Rivermind continuously adjusts its subscription model. In a desperate attempt to make ends meet, Mike turns to an unconventional method: livestreaming on “Dum Dummies,” a platform where users perform embarrassing or humiliating tasks in exchange for money. Mike starts with wearing a mask to protect his identity while performing degrading acts at the request of his paying viewers. Eventually, though, he reveals his face in a desperate effort to raise more funds. As the stakes grow higher, so too does the strain on Mike and Amanda’s relationship, and what was initially a means to save her life becomes a source of unrelenting emotional and physical toll.
On their next anniversary, Mike attempts to salvage a semblance of normality by purchasing a "Lux" pass—a special 12-hour service that allows users to manipulate their emotions and sensory experiences through a connected app. This brief window of respite provides Amanda with a temporary escape from her bleak reality, as she turns up her pleasure settings to the highest levels during a sexual encounter with Mike. However, her increasingly erratic behavior and emotional instability hint at the destructive power of Rivermind's technology, and the consequences of their decision to integrate it into their lives become ever clearer.
The tension escalates when Mike’s coworkers discover his humiliating livestreams and share them with others, exposing his secret and triggering a chain of events that leads to his eventual downfall. After an altercation with one of his colleagues, which results in severe injury, Mike is fired from his job. At the same time, the couple pleads with Gaynor to grant them an extension on the subscription, allowing them a brief reprieve until Mike can find new employment. Their pleas fall on deaf ears, however, as Gaynor, detached and indifferent, casually informs them that if Amanda were to become pregnant, they would incur even higher fees for the necessary services, further deepening their financial woes.
Mike's frustration boils over, and in a raw moment of anger, he confronts Gaynor about the corporate greed that fuels Rivermind's operations. Despite their pleas, the couple leaves the office dejected, realizing that their lives have been irrevocably altered by their reliance on this soulless, profit-driven tech company.
A year later, the couple’s situation has only worsened. The unused crib they had purchased for their unborn child is sold off, a painful reminder of the dreams that had been dashed. Amanda, now barely awake for more than a few hours each day, is returned to the basic service, which allows her only fleeting moments of consciousness. In this zombified state, Amanda continues to spout advertisements even as she sleeps for 16 hours a day, her identity now entirely subsumed by the invasive technology.
Desperate to ease her suffering, Mike purchases a 30-minute session with the Lux service to elevate Amanda’s serenity levels, hoping to provide her with some semblance of peace. During this brief moment of clarity, Amanda calmly asks Mike to end her life when she is “not here.” As her Lux session expires, Mike, unable to bear watching her deteriorate any further, suffocates Amanda as she fades into unconsciousness, interrupted by the robotic drone of an ad in her final moments.
The episode culminates in a haunting and disturbing scene. Mike, now physically and emotionally broken, walks into another room and turns on Dum Dummies, streaming live on his laptop. The image of him holding a box cutter in his hand suggests a final act of unthinkable desperation, possibly a final act of self-destruction or a twisted attempt to preserve what little remains of his dignity in a world that has taken everything from him. The bleak conclusion underscores the moral decay that technology, when left unchecked, can wreak on individuals and society.
Episode 2: “Bête Noire”
In a world where reality can be manipulated and memories can be altered, Maria (Siena Kelly) works as a talented and ambitious research and development specialist at a chocolate-making company. Her days are spent innovating new recipes, constantly seeking the next breakthrough in the confectionery world. One day, during a focus group tasting of her latest creation—a miso-filled chocolate bar—Maria's career takes an unexpected turn. While the testers express disgust at the concept, one tester, Verity (Rosy McEwen), arrives late and seemingly out of nowhere. She convincingly joins the group, asserting that she is indeed part of the team. When Verity claims the chocolate tastes good, the rest of the testers reluctantly follow suit, declaring the miso-filled bar a success.
To Maria’s surprise, Verity approaches her after the session, recognizing her as a former schoolmate. Verity casually mentions that she is applying for a job at the company, despite Maria’s belief that there are no open positions. The next day, Verity is hired and quickly becomes integrated into the team. At first, Maria dismisses it as a coincidence, but soon, things start to shift. She notices small, subtle changes in her work—her once-innovative ideas are being altered, and her reputation is beginning to falter. Even more unsettling are the shifts in what Maria perceives as reality itself. Small inconsistencies cause her to question her memory, and the once stable ground beneath her feet begins to feel unstable.
Maria confronts Verity at the office, recalling their school days and the harsh rumors that had followed Verity. Maria had been one of the popular students, and Verity, with her awkward demeanor and lack of social skills, had become the subject of ridicule. The cruel nickname "Milkmaid" had been coined after rumors circulated that Verity had performed sexual favors for a teacher, making her an outcast in school. Maria can't help but wonder: how had Verity changed so drastically? The Verity she had known back then was shy, meek, and often mocked by their peers. The Verity standing before her now was confident, assertive, and seemingly in control.
As reality around Maria continues to warp, she becomes more convinced that Verity is the source of the changes. Her once secure life begins to unravel, and she grows increasingly paranoid. At the office, when most of the staff are out, Maria confronts Verity, demanding to know what she is doing. Verity denies any wrongdoing, not explain the strange occurrences in Maria's life. Just before the office staff return, Verity drinks a container of almond milk belonging to a colleague. When the colleague discovers the empty container, all eyes turn to Maria, and she is immediately suspected of theft. Desperate to clear her name, Maria suggests they review the office security footage, hoping to prove her innocence. But the footage shows that Maria herself had drunk the milk.
Confused and desperate, Maria pleads her case, citing her severe nut allergy as proof that she could never consume almond milk. However, the response she receives is chilling: no one, not even Google, recognizes the term "nut allergy." In this new reality, Maria is left with no way to defend herself, and the people around her dismiss her claims. The confusion and suspicion intensify, and the belief that Verity is manipulating her life grows stronger. In a fit of rage, Maria confronts Verity once again, this time physically attacking her. But the consequences of this outburst are swift and severe—Maria is fired from her job, her world completely upended.
That night, unable to shake the feeling that something is terribly wrong, Maria breaks into Verity’s home, determined to find answers. Inside, she discovers an array of supercomputers and a pendant that Verity has been wearing, one that Maria recognizes from their school days. As Verity catches Maria snooping through her things, she reveals a shocking truth: after finishing school, she became an expert programmer and had created a powerful quantum computer capable of manipulating timelines and shifting reality itself. The pendant, it turns out, is the key to controlling the machine and bending reality to Verity’s will. With it, Verity had been able to alter the course of events, changing not only the past but the present as well, in order to exact her revenge on Maria.
Verity explains that the reason behind her actions is rooted in the trauma that Maria had caused her during their school years. Maria had been one of the students who had started the cruel rumors that had ruined Verity's reputation. The bullying, the isolation, and the pain she had endured all those years had festered into something darker. Now, Verity had the power to reshape reality as she saw fit, and Maria had become the target of her vengeance.
In a moment of anger, Maria attempts to attack Verity, but before she can strike, Verity uses the pendant to alter reality once again. The armed police, who had been moments away from arresting Maria for breaking into Verity’s home, suddenly materialized to stop her. As the officers approach, Maria panics and grabs one of their guns, shooting Verity in the face. The world around her shifts again, but this time, Maria has a new goal in mind. She seizes the pendant from Verity’s lifeless hand and, using Verity’s fingerprint, forces it to work for her.
With the power now in her hands, Maria begins to manipulate reality. She shifts timelines, twisting the events to her favor. She convinces the police officers that Verity was the one who had attacked her, and the officers, now under Maria’s control, follow her commands. But Maria’s newfound power is not just about reversing the past—it is about remaking the world as she wishes. She continues to shift reality, changing the outcome of every encounter, each event more distorted than the last.
Finally, Maria declares herself the ruler of this new reality, asserting her dominance over all those around her. No longer a victim of Verity’s manipulations, Maria transforms herself into a figure of ultimate power. As she shifts the timeline once again, she proclaims herself the empress of the universe, her vision of control and power now fully realized.
Episode 3: “Hotel Reverie”
In the world of high-end Hollywood filmmaking, few stars command the kind of influence and adoration that A-list actor Brandy Friday does. Known for her striking beauty, exceptional talent, and a knack for picking challenging roles, Brandy has long been a household name. When an exciting new project comes her way—an advanced, high-tech remake of a beloved 1940s romantic classic—she is intrigued, yet hesitant. The film is a remake of a deeply emotional and iconic love story, a film that has remained a cultural touchstone for decades. However, Brandy has a unique condition for her involvement: she will only take the role if she is allowed to play a gender-bending version of Dr. Alex Palmer, the original male protagonist. The producers, eager to make the film a cutting-edge experience, agree to her stipulation.
When Brandy arrives at the studio, however, she quickly learns that this is no ordinary film production. Instead of using traditional filmmaking techniques, the project utilizes a groundbreaking technology known as ReDream, which allows an actor’s consciousness to be transferred into the world of the film itself. In this virtual realm, Brandy will interact with digital replicas of the original characters, and the entire story will unfold live, like a play. The producers explain that her performance will be captured in real time as she improvises within the context of the story. Brandy is intrigued but also slightly apprehensive. She never expected that her role would be so immersive.
As she steps into the virtual realm, Brandy begins to realize that her character’s interactions and actions are all governed by the script, but her own reactions will influence the narrative. Brandy is told by the producers to follow the script closely. However, as she navigates her role as Dr. Palmer, she learns that she is supposed to play the piano. This, however, is a significant problem—Brandy cannot play the piano. In the original film, Dr. Palmer's love interest, Clara, is so deeply moved by the music that she is compelled to step outside with him, marking an important moment in their relationship. Without Brandy’s ability to play, this pivotal scene cannot happen as planned. Brandy struggles with the piano, but the failure to perform the scene properly sets off a chain reaction that sends the story into unexpected territory.
In a panic, Brandy tries to fix the situation, but her actions inadvertently cause Clara’s AI to gain more independence. As Clara begins to gain more autonomy, Brandy notices that Clara’s behavior is changing. The once predictable character now appears to be developing her thoughts and actions, growing beyond her role in the script. Brandy becomes alarmed when she accidentally calls Clara by the name of her real-life actor, Dorothy Chambers. This simple slip-up triggers a monumental shift. Clara begins to access memories that had been fed into her system from Dorothy’s own life—memories of Dorothy Chambers, the troubled movie star who died under mysterious circumstances, possibly as a result of a barbiturate overdose.
With Clara’s sudden awareness of her true origins, Brandy realizes that she is trapped in the simulation, unable to leave until the story reaches its conclusion. To do so, she must say the final line of the film, signaling the end of the narrative. But this will not be as simple as it seems. In a moment of chaos, one of the employees working on the simulation accidentally spills coffee on one of the computers running the program, causing everything in the virtual world to freeze, except for Brandy and Clara. The audio and video feeds are cut off, and Brandy can no longer communicate with the producers. She is cut off from the outside world, and the world she once knew is now a distant memory.
With the simulation paused, Brandy explains to Clara that the reality they are living in is not real—that they are both trapped inside a digital construct. Initially, Clara is confused, but as she comes to terms with her own existence, she begins to contemplate escape. She tries to push through the boundaries of the virtual reality, but as she passes the edge of the simulation, she becomes imbued with Dorothy Chambers’ memories. Clara learns about Dorothy’s tragic life—her struggles with her identity, her turbulent career, and the pain that led to her early death. Dorothy’s troubled past becomes Clara’s present reality, and in that moment, Clara’s identity merges with the memories of the actress who once portrayed her.
After learning about Dorothy’s past, Clara returns to the simulation, where she and Brandy share an intimate moment. The two women kiss, and as they continue to live within the confines of the frozen virtual world, they spend several months together, exploring their newfound feelings for one another. Despite the strangeness of their situation, they begin to develop a profound love. However, Brandy is left to wrestle with a lingering question: is her love for Clara real, or is it simply a result of the way her character was written in the script? Clara, now fully aware of the complexities of their existence, is at a loss for words. The question remains unanswered, hanging in the air between them.
Back in the real world, only a short time has passed—less than an hour—when the producers manage to get the simulation back up and running. They reset the simulation to the point before the error occurred, erasing all of Clara’s memories after that point. Brandy is devastated. Her months of connection with Clara are wiped away in an instant. She is forced to continue the film as scripted, and the romantic journey she had shared with Clara is no longer part of the narrative.
As the story reaches its end, Clara’s husband, Claude, turns villainous and attempts to kill Brandy’s character. But in a deviation from the original script, Clara, now fully aware of her own agency, shoots her husband, saving Brandy. In this new reality, the police arrive and shoot Clara, and she dies in Brandy’s arms. With her heart heavy with grief, Brandy cradles Clara’s lifeless body and delivers the final line of the film, signaling the end of the story. The credits roll, and Brandy is released from the simulation, finally freed.
But the world outside is far from the emotional journey Brandy has just experienced. She returns home, still mourning the loss of Clara, the woman she had come to love in a world that no longer exists. As she grapples with the grief of her loss, Brandy finds an unexpected gift from one of the producers waiting for her at home. She opens it to find a telephone—a communication device that allows her to connect with Clara’s simulated consciousness. The possibilities are endless, and as Brandy gazes at the phone, she wonders if the love she shared with Clara could somehow be real again.
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