Tracee Ellis Ross and Rashida Jones both grew up in Hollywood, both were raised by famous couples comprised of one Black parent and one white, and now both star in Black Mirror Season 7 Episode 1, “Common People.” It’s not a coincidence, given the episode’s plot.
**Spoiler alert: This article contains details about Black Mirror Season 7**
In “Common People,” the actresses star as two women who have both experienced medical emergencies, leading them to Rivermind, an innovative new procedure that implants technology into their brains and keeps them alive through a server backup. The product only works, however, with the Rivermind subscription, which comes at a hefty cost and a dangerous price.
Talking with Decider at a roundtable ahead of Season 7’s release, the actresses opened up about the significance of their characters both being women of color in the healthcare-focused episode and how that impacted their own perception of the material.
“I think for me, it wasn’t the first thing I thought about, but now kind of looking at it, I think there is, obviously, such an issue with maternal health and reproductive health for women of color in America. And I think part of that is seeing yourself and the people who are taking care of you,” Jones said.
According to the Centers For Disease Control, Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy and maternity-related complications than white women. Additionally, research from Boston University shows that the disparities extend far beyond pregnancy, as Black women face increased risks of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, lupus, and certain cancers. It’s no shock, then, that Gaynor (Ellis Ross) would be a trustworthy individual when she approaches Mike (Chris O’Dowd) about being able to save his wife (Jones) from certain death.
“I probably, subconsciously on some level, seeing myself in this person who is trying to help me, [I think] is going to make me trust them… in this particular iteration, it’s a very cynical use of that idea that representation matters,” Jones said.
It doesn’t take long from the time of Amanda’s surgery for things to take a dark turn, as the free surgery Gaynor promised and small cost of the monthly subscription debilitate the couple and take their toll. Additionally, the side effects of the lower tier of the Rivermind subscription begin to rear their ugly head and cause Amanda and Mike as many emotional and financial troubles as physical ones. It’s a stark reflection of the way that the American healthcare system is heading.
For Ellis Ross, it’s even bleaker given that her own character is a Rivermind patient who then turned to preying on another vulnerable and distressed individuals, knowing that it could bankrupt or make their lives a living and waking nightmare. And no spoilers, but that is exactly what happens in “Common People,” easily the most dismal episode of Season 7.
The Girlfriends actress told journalists during the open conversation that she tries not to see her character as sinister, but rather a perfect example of the system in place in the U.S. and what could continue to happen if things don’t change course and fast.
“I don’t think she thought she was evil. I think that’s the way it comes across, but she is a person who was perpetrated on in her own vulnerability and now she’s the one doing the perpetrating,” Ellis Ross said.
“That’s the thing, the cycle is really hard to break on both sides,” Jones added. “If there’s a way to make money and save yourself, you’re gonna do it. It’s capitalism.”
The Black-ish alum continued, “And she’s a representation of greed, but I don’t think anyone sets out to be a bad person. I think most people have a lot of, whether they’re warped ideas or not, think they’re doing the right thing, even if it turns out being on the wrong side.”
Black Mirror Season 7 is currently streaming on Netflix.
