Vince Gilligan's new sci-fi series Pluribus debuted on Apple TV+ on November 7, 2025, with the first two episodes, earning a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for its bold exploration of happiness and individuality. Starring Rhea Seehorn as a romance novelist immune to a global alien virus that unites humanity in bliss, the show blends eerie tones with philosophical depth. Already renewed for a second season, Pluribus marks Gilligan's return to sci-fi roots after Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.
Premiere Details
Pluribus premiered on Apple TV+ on November 7, 2025, releasing the first two of its nine episodes, with subsequent episodes dropping weekly on Fridays. The series, produced at a reported $15 million per episode, follows Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn), a bestselling author of romantic fantasy novels who remains unchanged when an alien virus transforms the world into a unified hive mind of perpetual contentment. Immune to the infection, Carol grapples with isolation as society achieves harmony, prompting debates on autonomy and utopia. The show has been renewed for Season 2 ahead of its debut, signaling strong network confidence.
Critical Reception and Themes
Critics have praised Pluribus for its audacious premise and slow-burn pacing, drawing comparisons to The Twilight Zone, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and The X-Files—Gilligan's early writing credits. Reviews highlight Seehorn's commanding performance as the prickly, grief-stricken Carol, whose rage and sarcasm anchor the narrative. 'Vince Gilligan aims high with his sci-fi series Pluribus, and it mostly works, anchored by Rhea Seehorn’s dazzling performance,' noted TVLine. The Guardian called it a 'bleak, blackly comic watch' interrogating conformity in 2025's divided world, while 9to5Mac deemed it Apple TV+'s best sci-fi yet, surpassing Severance. Themes explore loss of self amid enforced happiness, with Carol's outbursts causing hive-mind disruptions, including mass deaths.
Background and Production
Gilligan, known for Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, reunites with Seehorn, who played Kim Wexler. Miriam Shor co-stars as Helen, Carol's wife and agent, whose death adds emotional layers. Filmed in New Mexico, the series features impeccable cinematography and black humor, though some note its deliberate pace risks repetition. A minor detail: Local donut shop Sandy Pony Donuts appears in a trailer scene, tying into the virus's spread. With universal acclaim, Pluribus positions itself as essential viewing for sci-fi fans.