Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan is back with his new series, Pluribus, which premiered its first two episodes on November 7 on Apple TV+. The show has already left viewers feeling unsettled. Rhea Seehorn stars as Carol Sturka, a romance novelist and one of the few people immune to an alien virus that makes everyone else “happy.” Pluribus explores what happens when peace comes at the cost of individuality.
The title, Pluribus, comes from the Latin phrase E Pluribus Unum, meaning “out of many, one.” While it was once considered an unofficial motto of the United States symbolizing unity, Gilligan interprets it differently. In the show, humanity literally merges into one collective consciousness, losing personal identity along the way. Gilligan explained, “I liked the idea of ‘out of many, one,’ not just in reference to democracy, but to people everywhere—all becoming one.”
The series, stylised as Plur1bus, shows this idea both physically and thematically. Thoughts and feelings are shared across a psychic network, creating global unity—but it quickly becomes an invisible cage.
The story begins with an alien signal that transmits a formula scientists replicate on Earth. The result is a virus that doesn’t kill but removes all conflict, sadness, anger, and aggression. The world becomes peaceful and calm, but the utopia feels wrong to the few who remain uninfected. Carol Sturka, immune to the virus, experiences the full weight of the world’s collective happiness and becomes “the most miserable person on Earth.” She is the only one who can see the darker side of this universal peace and may be humanity’s last hope.
Pluribus continues Gilligan’s tradition of exploring moral complexity. Its tagline, “the story of the most miserable person on Earth who must save the world from happiness,” captures the paradox. Carol is both disruptor and hero, challenging the idea that happiness is meaningful if it can be forced.
Gilligan revealed that choosing the right name for the series was extremely difficult. Over 100 titles were considered before they returned to Pluribus two years later. “It finally felt right,” he said.
At its core, Pluribus asks whether individuality is necessary for utopia. Carol’s defiance represents the essence of humanity—our ability to doubt, to be angry, and to feel sadness. The show turns happiness into a chilling metaphor for conformity, making viewers question what it truly means to live freely.
