Those of us who spent the last several years glued to our televisions thanks to Vince Gilligan may associate him more with crime dramas revolving around morally complicated characters, but the creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul actually got his small-screen start in a different genre. Before the likes of Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), Gilligan was crafting episodes of one of the most iconic science fiction shows of all time in The X-Files. Given his TV origins, perhaps it shouldn’t have come as any surprise that Gilligan would inevitably make a return to sci-fi, but no one could have foreseen what his mind has been cooking up for his new venture on streaming. With Pluribus, which reunites him with Better Call Saul star Rhea Seehorn, Gilligan not only contributes another sci-fi masterpiece that feels right at home in the Apple TV library but also delivers a series that manages to be equal parts unnerving, hilarious, heartbreaking, and always unexpected.
What Is ‘Pluribus’ About?
It’s almost impossible to talk about the best aspects of Pluribus without treading into spoiler territory that reviewers have been warned to stay away from, but we’ll divulge what’s permitted. (And it may seem counterintuitive for a review to suggest this, but it’s actually best to go into Pluribus knowing as little as possible about what’s coming.) Carol Sturka (Seehorn) is a speculative historical romance author disillusioned with her career, despite penning the wildly successful Winds of Wycaro series, which seems to rival even Outlander in terms of devoted readership. While her audience is clamoring for another Wycaro book, Carol has been secretly kindling the desire to publish in a completely new genre — but beyond feeling stifled on a creative level, one gets the early impression that Carol has long been suppressing some of her deepest truths. Her manager, Helen (Miriam Shor), is also her partner, although the two haven’t gone widely public about their relationship to fuel the imagination of readers who still believe Carol’s swooniest fictional hero, Raban, was inspired by a handsome man.
Right as Carol is considering making her riskiest professional move yet, however, the world turns upside down after she and Helen return home from her latest book signing. A strange event occurs that changes every human being, but when a new day dawns, Carol is the odd one out. Somehow immune to the phenomenon that has taken hold of others around the globe, her first instinct is to shut herself away in her Albuquerque home and drink in the hopes that the problem might solve itself — but when said problem physically lands on her own doorstep, Carol realizes that she’s going to have to get to the bottom of what’s going on, especially if her own survival is at stake. With an unlikely ally named Zosia (Karolina Wydra) and a surprising amount of resources at her disposal, Carol sets out in search of answers about what’s happening on Earth while inwardly wrestling with the question of whether her own misery is the reason she was somehow spared in the first place.
Rhea Seehorn Is Tremendous in Apple TV’s ‘Pluribus’
While Gilligan reportedly first envisioned the main character of Pluribus as male, casting Seehorn — and restructuring the show around Carol’s narrative arc as a consequence — turned out to be the best decision he could have made. Where Better Call Saul largely positioned Seehorn in a supporting capacity, Pluribus allows her to showcase all aspects of her immense acting talent in a true leading role. Carol is a standout character not just because of the new layers that are excavated with every subsequent episode, but because she’s on the outside looking in as the rest of the world easily adapts to this new normal. It’s a part that demands every single emotion imaginable, from terror to grief to rage to dark humor, and Seehorn masterfully shoulders that weight to inhabit someone who doubles as our guide to a strange world that resembles no version of the one we all know.
Given the nature of Pluribus‘ mysterious narrative, Seehorn also has to exist somewhat in isolation, the outcast desperately searching for answers and becoming increasingly frustrated at every dead end. What makes Carol’s situation even more fraught is the fact that no one else, apart from her, is under the impression that anything is wrong, and her increasingly intensive efforts to uncover the truth are met with confusion and ranging levels of discouragement. The show’s premise often results in Seehorn having to act opposite a constant rotation of screen partners, some of whom are only present for the duration of a single scene.
When Zosia, previously a stranger, is uniquely positioned to help Carol with whatever she might need, Carol’s first instinct is to reject that open hand, no matter how tempting it might look. Yet as Zosia continues to insist that she only has Carol’s best interests at heart, those seemingly impenetrable walls begin to crack, and Seehorn and Wydra’s compelling chemistry toes a delicate line between reluctant allies and deeper feelings that are best left suppressed. Opposite the show’s leading lady, Wydra has an equally difficult balance to strike with Zosia’s characterization, but she unexpectedly becomes the source of some of the story’s most emotionally vulnerable moments.
Vince Gilligan Still Knows How To Deliver Great Television With ‘Pluribus’
Whether you’ve known him from his start on The X-Files or only became acquainted with his work after Better Call Saul, Gilligan is unquestionably breaking new creative ground with Pluribus, despite returning to familiar stomping grounds with an Albuquerque setting (and some cheeky Easter eggs for eagle-eyed fans). Carol’s hometown might be a welcome return for Breaking Bad diehards, but Pluribus quickly evolves into more of a global story given the impact of that strange event. Its concept allows for some technically stunning feats of choreography and camerawork, creating a synchronized dance between directors and actors that has to be seen to be believed. As a critically acclaimed television veteran, Gilligan also knows the value of when to spool out important worldbuilding information and when to keep his best cards hidden from the audience. This is a show that rewards close observation, but also benefits from rewatching, which unfortunately feels like more of an anomaly in an era where second-screen viewing has increasingly become the norm.
While this cerebral Apple TV sci-fi series does tackle similar themes as Severance, wrestling with questions of personal autonomy and consent as well as grief and depression, it sets itself apart through a broader exploration of humanity and a curiously optimistic core. But just like Severance before it, Pluribus succeeds at being a show unlike any other you’ve watched before, one that’s only improved by going in with very little advance knowledge. Alongside Gilligan, writers Gordon Smith, Alison Tatlock, Ariel Levine, Vera Blasi, Jenn Carroll, and Jonny Gomez have crafted something truly special here, made even better with the assurance that a second season has already been guaranteed. The best surprises are the ones that come out of nowhere, and in that vein, Pluribus could very well be one of 2025’s greatest — but it’s also proof that Gilligan is only getting better at delivering great television.
- Release Date
-
November 6, 2025
- Network
-
Apple TV+
- Writers
-
Ariel Levine
Pros & Cons
- Pluribus’ story is too good to spoil, but it’s even better if you go in knowing as little as possible.
- Rhea Seehorn delivers a masterful performance, carrying the show’s emotional core on her shoulders.
- Karolina Wydra’s Zosia is a complex presence and terrific scene partner for Seehorn.
- The show is a terrific technical feat involving carefully-timed choreography and camerawork.
- Gilligan knows exactly how much worldbuilding information to reveal and how much to keep withheld.
