‘Pluribus’ Review: Is This Vince Gilligan’s New Sci-Fi Hit After His Popular Show, ‘Breaking Bad’?

Good news for Vince Gilligan fans, if you have followed his hit series, Breaking Bad, you might want to check out this new, and highly anticipated Apple TV drama, Pluribus. This show marks his first project after the Breaking Bad series in more than 10 years. Falling under the science fiction genre, you can definitely expect elements of mystery, dark comedy, as well as numerous thought-provoking themes. 

Setting and narrative of the show, Pluribus

Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the narrative of Pluribus centres around ‘Carol Sturka’, portrayed by actress, Rhea Seehorn, who navigates an Orwellian world. The show essentially tries to capture a world where ‘the most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness’. 

The very first scene of the show leaves us feeling unsettled, where the streets, offices, homes, and other everyday places might look normal at first glance, but the people seem to have a strange sense of calm to them. They often act too helpful, and other times, too happy. It is in this very world where famous fantasy-romance novelist ‘Carol’ writes pirate-filled love stories that her fans adore. Although one thing they don’t realise is that the author herself hates her books, calling them “mindless crap”.

‘Carol’ tries to write a serious book as ‘Helen’, her partner, who also happens to be her manager, keeps pushing her towards it. However, before she can even begin, she realises that the world has suddenly turned into something she doesn’t quite recognise. This ultimately leads to a realisation, she is one of the very few people left who hasn’t been infected by a strange forced happiness or whatever has taken over humanity.

The premiere of Pluribus will leave you glued to your seats

As one might expect from Gilligan’s storytelling, it is both careful and patient. The premiere, which has two episodes, slowly unfolds, not giving away too much of the story just yet. With the vagueness that comes with the first episode, viewers are also thrown into ‘Carol’s’ fear and disbelief as she witnesses the strange happenings of her world. By the second episode of the show, ‘Carol’ must start to process what’s really going on, leaving viewers with more questions than answers. The show captivates viewers and hooks them to their seats in the best way possible.

Rhea Seehorn, in a world that is happy, yet eerie

For those of you who have watched Rhea Sehorn in Better Call Saul, she is an actress who can balance both emotion and sarcasm, a perfect choice for a show like Pluribus. In her portrayal of ‘Carol’, who is miserable, blunt, yet hilarious in her bitterness, Seehorn makes her feel more relatable to viewers in today’s age. You can feel her emotions deeply as if they were your own, be it her fear and confusion, or her sense of loneliness in a world she doesn’t recognise any longer. 

The intentionally slow pacing of the show, the sharp world-building, coupled with Rhea Seehorn’s brilliant acting, will keep you wanting more, and that is exactly what the show’s creator intended, making the wait for the ‘Next Episode’ almost unbearable for some viewers. However, you can rest assured that the wait for each episode will be completely worth it as every little eerie and strange detail starts clicking into place. Keep watching the show to find out how ‘Carol’ could save the world from this unsettling happiness that has turned into her reality. 

Did you watch the first two episodes of Pluribus on Apple Tv+? If yes, let us know what your thoughts are on Vince Gilligan’s new show.

Also read: ‘Pluribus’ Trailer Out, Rhea Seehorn, ‘Breaking Bad’ Creator Vince Gilligan Reunite In Gripping Show