Pluribus

 Pluribus,” the highly anticipated Vince Gilligan series, premiered on Apple TV in fall of 2025, and has gone on to become Apple’s most watched show of all time. The reception to “Pluribus” is an impressive feat for the new, women-led show that was amusingly marketed under the logline: “The most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness.” Drawn largely by the acclaim of screenwriter and filmmaker Vince Gilligan, most of the show’s millions of viewers who tuned in had no certain idea of what they were getting themselves into.

 

“Pluribus” follows Carol Sturka (played by Rhea Seehorn) as an unhappy romance novelist who, up until the first episode, has led a normal life with her wife, Helen Umstead (played Miriam Shor). However, the outbreak of an alien virus changes everything. The virus merges the psyche of every human being into one collective hive mind thereby eliminating individual thought. Carol is one of thirteen surviving people who are immune to the virus. Carol is forced to search for a cure with little help in her efforts to save humanity.

 

On top of the show’s intriguing plot, “Pluribus” is incredibly cinematic. Gilligan, the creator and executive producer of AMC Classic “Breaking Bad”, chose to shoot “Pluribus” in Albuquerque, New Mexico: the same city “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul" were shot in. Gilligan chose Albuquerque for its vast desert scenery which invokes feelings of psychological isolation and moral emptiness. Working in Albuquerque has also given Gilligan the chance to work with the same crew members he worked with during filming of “Breaking Bad.” The crew’s continuity adds another layer to the show's plot and artistic elements.

 

Vince Gilligan spent the last ten years working on the idea that would eventually turn into “Pluribus.” Gilligan had been approached many times about continuing his work in the “Breaking Bad Cinematic Universe.” But growing weary of writing “bad guys,” Gilligan wanted to return to his science-fiction roots (he had previously been a staff writer and Executive Producer on The X-Files). Gilligan came up with “Pluribus” to prove to himself and his fans that he’s not just a “one-trick pony”[1] and that he can create drama outside the world of meth kingpins and sleazy bad guys. When Gilligan approached Sony Pictures with this new series, his pitch sparked a bidding war between multiple studios, with Apple TV eventually winning the rights and giving it a two-season commitment.

 

Through all of this, Gilligan had one nonnegotiable condition: Rhea Seehorn. Gilligan and Seehorn previously worked together on “Better Call Saul", where she starred as lawyer Kim Wexler. She signed onto “Pluribus” without seeing a single script, saying Gilligan had only approached her with the prospective character of Carol Sturka. Seehorn’s and Gilligan’s mutual faith in each other has already paid off: “Pluribus” is a smash hit, receiving multiple award nominations, with Seehorn winning a Golden Globe and Critics Choice for Best Actress in a Drama Series.

 

Seehorn, and the unwavering individualism, determination, and stubbornness she evokes in Carol Sturka, is a character that resonates with viewers as she tries to save the world from a dystopian utopia. True to Gilligan’s style, Carol Sturka is not neatly cast into the category of “hero” or “villain”, rather she is portrayed as a deeply complex and flawed human being doing her best to navigate a mind-bending reality.

 

With its rich characters, majestic cinematography, and intense plot, “Pluribus” is one of the most unique pieces of film media circulating in our era of reboots, sequels, and big budget action films. From its commentary on contemporary issues to its commitment to portraying moral realism and objective truth, the show delivers a refreshing option for binge viewing. In season one, “Pluribus” proved it was one of the best series of the year. With season two currently in the works, the show has the potential to cement itself as a decade-defining hit. While we may not know where the future of the “Pluribus” plot will take us, the show’s ambiguity and unpredictability are assured to keep viewers on their toes.