Fans of Vince Gilligan have a reason to be excited. If you loved Breaking Bad, you might want to check out his new Apple TV series, Pluribus. This is his first big project since Breaking Bad, more than ten years ago. The show is science fiction, but it also has mystery, dark humor, and a lot of ideas that will make you think.
Pluribus is set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the story follows Carol Sturka, played by Rhea Seehorn. Carol lives in a strange, almost Orwellian world. The show explores a bizarre idea: the unhappiest person on Earth might be the only one who can save everyone else from being forced to be happy.
Pluribus review
The first scenes of the show feel unsettling. Streets, offices, homes, everything looks normal at first. But the people seem too calm, too helpful, or too happy. Carol is a famous fantasy romance novelist. Her fans love her pirate-filled love stories, but Carol herself hates them, calling them “mindless crap.”
Carol tries to write a serious book. Her partner and manager, Helen, keeps pushing her to focus. But before she can even start, Carol notices that the world is changing. People are acting strangely, and she realizes she might be one of the few who hasn’t been infected by this forced happiness.
The premiere of Pluribus is gripping. It has two episodes, and the story unfolds slowly. Vince Gilligan’s storytelling is patient, giving just enough to keep you curious. The first episode puts you in Carol’s shoes, feeling her fear and disbelief. By the second episode, Carol starts to understand that the world has changed completely. The show leaves viewers with more questions than answers, which makes it hard to look away.
Rhea Seehorn brings Carol to life brilliantly. If you watched her in Better Call Saul, you know she can balance emotion and sarcasm perfectly. In Pluribus, she plays Carol as miserable, blunt, but also funny in her bitterness. You feel her fear, confusion, and loneliness as if they were your own.
The show moves slowly on purpose. The world-building is sharp, and every small detail matters. Seehorn’s acting makes it all feel real. Vince Gilligan wants viewers to wait and think between episodes, and it works. Each episode reveals new layers, making you eager to see what happens next. Watching Carol try to save the world from this forced happiness is both thrilling and unsettling.
Have you watched the first two episodes of Pluribus on Apple TV+? If yes, share your thoughts on Vince Gilligan’s new creation.