“Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” remain two of this generation’s most-watched streaming series, and now their creator returns with another gripping, addictive entry; this time with a few familiar faces, though in entirely new roles. Vince Gilligan’s latest, “Pluribus,” stars Rhea Seehorn (known to many as Kim Wexler) as Carol Sturka, a successful but jaded romance novelist whose world shifts in ways neither she nor viewers can anticipate.
Before we meet Carol, who may or may not be self-medicating her professional burnout while touring with her publicist Helen (Miriam Shor), Gilligan sketches a tantalizing prelude: strange signals intercepted by the military from deep space. True to form, he offers no explanation, at least not yet. Instead, he plants a seed of unease that blooms steadily as the series unfolds. What follows is a master class in narrative restraint, suspense, and viewer participation, as we are invited to assemble the puzzle ourselves through Carol’s disorienting experience.
Carol finds her fans ridiculous at her booking signing event, but this very night, everything changes when a sudden, unexplained event overtakes nearly everyone around her. She appears to be unaffected as Carol witnesses what seems like the collapse of humanity. Soon, she encounters survivors who behave strangely: they know her name, greet her with unnerving warmth, and seem to operate with a unified purpose. Her paranoia, confusion, and instinct for self-preservation feel both grounded and relatable; information becomes her currency, and she must gather it quickly.
Each episode parcels out just enough detail to keep viewers leaning forward, prompting the inevitable question, “What would I do in Carol’s situation?” Offering more information would spoil your experience, but trust me when I say that you’ll be setting a Friday reminder as the series is designed to spark “water-cooler” conversations. You’ll want to be part of them as you discuss moral and ethical conundrums about life itself and pull quotes from the episodes.
“Pluribus” (look up the term before watching) lays out its premise with precision, but it’s the show’s intelligence and its uncanny emotional realism that delivers the real hook which inevitably reels you in. Carol’s reactions feel authentic, sometimes humorous, sometimes raw, and always grounded in Gilligan’s signature blend of tension, character psychology, and sly wit. Carol’s identity as a writer only enhances the storytelling, allowing for inventive scenarios that teeter between humor and awe.
Seehorn anchors the series with a performance that should generate serious awards-season consideration. She’s sharp, layered, feisty and independent, characteristics that work in her favor at times and at times, not. She’s joined by Carolina Sydra as Zoysia, Shor, Samba Schutte as Mr. Diabate, and additional recognizable faces later in the season. Still, this is Seehorn’s show, and she carries it with grit and apparent ease, connecting us to her as we feel her every emotion.
If you haven’t begun the series, now’s the time: the first five of nine episodes debut November 27 on Apple TV+. And if you’re already caught up, brace yourself—things are about to get wild.
4/4 Stars