‘Pluribus’ review on Apple TV: Vince Gilligan’s stellar new sci-fi drama starring Rhea Seehorn, Karolina Wydra, Carlos-Manuel Vesga, and more will be your next obsession.
Towards the end of the first episode of Pluribus, series protagonist Carol Sturka poses the question that will echo in viewers’ minds throughout the gloriously mysterious season: “What the fuck is happening?!”
In the lead-up to the highly-anticipated premiere of the Apple TV series, people knew that the title and several key concepts explored in Pluribus were inspired by America’s motto, “E pluribus unum,” which translates to “Out of many, one” in Latin. But creator Vince Gilligan went to great lengths to keep specific storylines and details that make the new sci-fi series so compelling shrouded in secrecy.
Critics were given a lengthy list of plot points to avoid mentioning in reviews, which were embargoed until 9:00 p.m. ET on November 6, when the first two episodes became available to stream. Having devoured seven of nine episodes provided, I can’t stress the value of that pure, unspoiled viewer experience enough. So what can we say without ruining the mind-blowing reveals to come? At a time when the United States is extremely divided, Pluribus dares to imagine a world in which everyone is happy. Well, almost everyone…
After years of being frustrated by viewers putting his male antiheroes and villains on pedestals, Gilligan (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) vowed to build his next project around a more traditionally heroic figure — and a female one, at that. When the inspiration for this story first came to him a decade ago, Gilligan considered centering another male lead, but after beholding her brilliance in the Breaking Bad prequel, he auspiciously thought, “Better call Rhea!” and wrote the role with Seehorn’s innumerable strengths in mind.
Flawed and reluctant, but a well-meaning hero nonetheless, Seehorn’s Carol is a bestselling author of the Winds of Wycaro romance series. Professionally, she’s thriving, but she’s emotionally unfulfilled by her job, has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, and feels the need to hide crucial parts of herself from readers. Pluribus dubs her the most miserable person on Earth, and when the world changes in unprecedented ways, she makes it her mission to save others from happiness. Along the way, Gilligan and team challenge us to examine the dystopic costs of pursuing a utopia.
In trying to hype up Pluribus by comparing it to a hit series more recent than Game of Thrones, Seehorn’s Better Call Saul co-star Bob Odenkirk suggested it would be the biggest thing since Severance, another ambitious drama that’s helped make Apple TV a destination sci-fi streamer. Both shows feature thrilling, perplexing, lean-forward material with uncomfortable relatability that will keep viewers thinking. And if the similarly rebellious Helly R (Britt Lower) and Carol S ever teamed up, I imagine there’s no system they couldn’t dismantle.
