One of the shows I was most anticipating this year is Apple TV+s’ Pluribus. The sci-fi drama was created by Vince Gilligan, best known as creator of Breaking Bad and its spinoff Better Call Saul, and as a writer, director, and producer for The X-Files.
Pluribus built intrigue leading up to the show’s launch with a series of cryptic teaser videos, a vague description of its premise, even a Reddit video from Gilligan inviting potential viewers to share videos of themselves as part of a campaign to appear in an Apple TV+ video. When there’s such an air of mystery around a show, it’s usually because creators are confident enough that it will deliver on the hype. This show, which officially premieres with its first two episodes on Friday, November 7, 2025, is no exception.
Note: This spoiler-free review is based on episodes 1-7 of Pluribus.
What is Pluribus About?
Not much is known yet about Pluribus. What has been revealed about the show ahead of its launch is that a presumed virus has arrived on Earth and seems to afflict everyone in a way that makes them overly positive and optimistic. There are no monsters seeking human flesh nor aliens looking to take over. It’s just downright weird.
At the centre of the story is Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn), a historical romance author who seems to be the only person immune to this virus. Why or how is unclear. But the result is that she has literally become the most miserable person on Earth. Based on the short trailers, everyone in society is intent on having her “join them.” That’s about the extent of what we know.
Pluribus Review
I went into Pluribus with high hopes, and halfway through episode one, I felt confident this show was going to deliver. “Now this is how you make a TV show,” I thought to myself as I watched the plot shift slowly then frantically, delivering palpably disturbing but tremendously exciting energy.
I’m familiar with Seehorn’s work from Better Call Saul, but she outdoes herself in this series, carrying this show from the very beginning, largely on her own. Sure, she interacts with others. But Carol is at the core of the story and Seehorn sells it well. Her performance is a shoo-in for an Emmy nod. She’s a strong protagonist while the supporting cast does a good job of allowing her to shine while they intentionally fall to the background.
Through the show, Gilligan flaunts his unique style of blending creepy with sci-fi and terror, mixed with downright weird circumstances and situations. You feel his previous works, from Breaking Bad to The X-Files, shine through in the way the plot drives forward and the directions it takes, some predictable, others deeply creative. Shivers will run down your spine during the most jarring moments as Carol tries to understand what is happening around her.
Post-apocalyptic thrillers and dramas are a dime a dozen nowadays, but Gilligan has managed to deliver something that feels like it stands on its own within this crowded space. At its heart, Pluribus is a story of the world changing as the result of a strange occurrence. But it’s also about an existential conflict: is this for the betterment or worsening of humanity? After all, people are seemingly happy. There are no flesh-eating zombies nor mind-controlling monsters. Is it really all that bad?
Pluribus will spark conversation, providing Severance-level intrigue from one episode to the next. As the show progresses, it gets increasingly more thought-provoking but also slower moving. There are scenes that draw out, at times, far longer than my anxious brain would like them to, and some fun cameos, too. In other moments, epic cliffhangers will leave your jaw dropped, angered at having to wait a week for the next episode.
The tone shifts rather quickly from frantic to subdued once Carol gets over the initial shock and works towards understanding and potentially fixing what has become wrong with the world. By Episode 5, you may find yourself itching for the plot to pick back up again, for something, anything to break the monotony. But that’s also part of the point of these episodes: to help you, as the viewer, dive into what Carol is going through. She’s alone in this world now, and the threat she faces is so seemingly non-threatening that the effect is unsettling.
Pluribus starts on a high then ebbs and flows, with not every episode filled with action and intrigue. But like Severance, you might appreciate that. The episode-a-week schedule gives you time to analyze, theorize, and ruminate in the subtleties and situations of every moment as Carol does the same.
Pluribus Is One of the Best New Shows This Year
Pluribus is entertainment, but it’s also sending a powerful message. On the surface, it’s about what it truly means to be human, to be an individual, and the value that holds. But it’s also about unity, peace, and harmony among humans, despite our differences. Can this only be achieved by not having differences in the first place?
The brilliant writing, incredible acting (seriously, just hand Seehorn the Emmy now), and unique storyline, come together in a way I haven’t seen since Season 1 of Severance. It’s not quite as weird as that show, but it’s just as pensive. It’s also rife with social commentary that you’ll want to analyze and dissect with friends long after the season is over.
Pluribus is a mix of The X-Files and Severance, two juggernauts that would be proud to call this one its baby. It’s one of those sci-fi shows that even those who don’t traditionally like sci-fi will enjoy. After anticipating Pluribus since it was first announced, I’m pleased to say that the show delivers on its promise and more. So, go ahead and watch. You have agency, your life is your own, and you can make the decision to do so. For now.