Rashida Jones is buying and selling laughs for tears in Black Mirror’s Season 7 opener. The bleak episode follows a lower-middle-class couple, elementary faculty trainer Amanda (Jones), and building employee Mike (Chris O’Dowd), whose lives come crashing down when Amanda is identified with a mind tumor. When she falls right into a coma, Mike has to determine whether or not to let Amanda die or conform to let a subscription service, Rivermind, function her mind. Upon agreeing to the experimental process, the couple learns simply how nefarious the deal actually is. Right here, Jones talks about dystopia and love within the time of more and more unchecked know-how.
DEADLINE: There’s a lot occurring on this Black Mirror episode. From the flimsy healthcare system, infertility, low wages, relationships and euthanasia. The place would you want to begin?
RASHIDA JONES: Actually, if I didn’t know [series creator] Charlie Brooker, I’d completely see Black Mirror as full tech panic. However I don’t suppose that’s what it’s. It’s exhausting to say with this episode as a result of it’s so dreadful and bleak. The couple’s state of affairs is intractable. There are only a few selections on this episode for them. I feel the concept that tech is so thrilling to individuals who work and innovate in tech that typically there’s a rush. There’s an excited momentum that bypasses an ethical compass.
DEADLINE: Chris O’Dowd, one other actor like your self identified for his or her comedic prowess, performs your husband. Nonetheless, this episode leans extra in direction of drama and tragedy than comedy. Inform me extra about working collectively to create this dynamic.
JONES: We’ve labored collectively earlier than, so we’ve identified one another for a very long time. However Chris is a superb actor. I feel individuals know him essentially the most for comedy, however he’s a classically skilled, Broadway on the West Finish, real-deal actor as nicely. You may see that on this episode. He’s so emotionally accessible, and I feel this doesn’t work until you might have a sensible relationship. However it additionally doesn’t work if in case you have anyone who’s too comedian as a result of there’s plenty of deep, darkish sh*t occurring right here and also you want anyone who can do each.
Chris O’Dowd and Jones in ‘Black Mirror’
Robert Falconer/Netflix
DEADLINE: Amanda’s company comes into query on this episode. She’s not the one who decides to get the process; Mike chooses for her. And then, finally, adverts begin working by means of her physique once they get priced out of the highest ad-free tier. What’s your tackle her company?
JONES: When you’ve ever had a cherished one who’s sick or goes to the ICU or results in a coma or has a Do Not Resuscitate… to me, this isn’t genderized. Your emergency contact has plenty of accountability and Amanda shouldn’t be aware, so he didn’t have a alternative. She was going to die, or he had to enroll in this factor. There wasn’t a 3rd alternative. Within the concern of dropping her altogether, after all, he’s simply going to cobble collectively no matter to make that work. Ultimately, Charlie deliberately wrote it for them to make the choice to [end her life] collectively. There’s stuff that clearly occurred off-screen earlier than that second on the finish when Amanda says, “It’s time.” They’ve had that dialog and she or he’s making that call from a spot of serenity as a result of she’s on Rivermind Lux, which I feel is basically lovely as anyone who believes that there ought to be dignity round how we die. That’s your final lively company on this one valuable life.
And my interpretation is that he does, and does his personal factor [to end his life] as a result of he can’t dwell with out her afterward. There’s one thing barely romantic in that they’re on this collectively. They did every part they might for one another to dwell a significant life, and so they simply not have that choice.
DEADLINE: You and Tracee Ellis Ross have labored collectively earlier than too. What was it like working together with her on this capability?
JONES: She’s a fantastically dressed, humane villain. It was so nice usually because we’ve identified one another for a very very long time and we have now a deep friendship and connection. And Black-ish was simply so enjoyable as a result of what a ridiculous character I obtained to play on that present. However this was good as a result of it’s virtually like our friendship. I belief her. So, to enter this relationship trusting anyone who’s upselling me in a fairly malevolent method, on the finish of the day, it actually works. As a result of I may really feel my very own disappointment as she saved upselling us.
DEADLINE: What would you want individuals to take from this episode?
JONES: I don’t know if it’s blind acceptance or give up to the truth that we dwell within the tech period. Within the smallest methods, we may in all probability be extra tech-literate about how we transfer by means of the world. I’m responsible of this, however for instance, you conform to the person agreements once you get a brand new replace from an app. You’re not even these. I don’t suppose we essentially take these freedoms with no consideration, however we predict that techniques are arrange for us in a method that’s actually contemplating our greatest curiosity, and the reality is that they’re not. There’s plenty of proof to assist the concept that we must always possibly be extra suspicious and barely extra discerning on the subject of how we use tech in our lives and the way we invite tech into our properties.
DEADLINE: What app are you mind-numbingly obsessive about proper now?
JONES: I actually like TikTok. It’s simply so good. It jogs my memory of watching TV within the ‘80s as a result of I simply scroll by means of, and I get to see individuals from all around the world doing nice dances, being humorous, telling me about intestine well being, and displaying me their lovely residences. I do sometimes take breaks from it; I’ll take it off my cellphone quite a bit.
Henry Winkler, Jones and Rob Lowe in ‘Parks and Recreation’
Danny Feld/NBC /Everett Assortment
DEADLINE: What did you do in the course of the Nice TikTok shutdown of 2025?
JONES: Oh god, what a few days. I used to be unhappy, however then I used to be like, “That is in all probability higher for me. I don’t really need this.” You realize what I imply? If it did find yourself being everlasting, it might have been OK. Although I do suppose it’s an ideal place to get information. There’s some really nice international content material on there. I watch this man who makes these lovely meals for his son within the mountains of Nepal. I’d have missed him.
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DEADLINE: Between Black Mirror, Sunny and the upcoming sci-fi Within the Blink of an Eye, are you in your dystopian period proper now?
JONES: Evidently method, proper? I didn’t design it that method in any respect. I feel seeing me in Black Mirror and occupied with me being on a beloved comedy like Parks and Rec or The Workplace, there’s one thing acquainted about me that makes individuals really feel cozy. So, I feel individuals in all probability wish to see that character on this bleak circumstance. There’s one thing about that mixture that appears like they’ll enter by means of the lens of anyone they belief or one thing. However I adore it. I’m obsessive about dystopia; it’s been that method since I used to be youthful. I like Ray Bradbury and The Twilight Zone. So, I suppose my soul has come residence to this.
DEADLINE: Your subsequent undertaking, The Invite, for which you co-wrote the screenplay, is being directed by Olivia Wilde. It additionally stars Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton. What are you able to inform us about that?
JONES: It’s an ideal forged. It’s going extremely nicely. I’m so enthusiastic about it. It’s very a lot within the vein of the flicks that I grew up loving and the flicks that [co-writer] Will McCormack and I’ve written previously. We began with Celeste and Jesse Endlessly, however we like to jot down motion pictures in regards to the nuance of relationships, and this can be a film that’s the interrogation of what it’s prefer to be in a wedding and a long-term marriage. Inside that lengthy dedication, what components of you die, what are the components of you that you simply neglect, what are the components of you that you simply miss, and come again to that.
