Pluribus Review: Vince Gilligan steps beyond Breaking Bad with a twisted, compelling new series

Pluribus is streaming on Apple TV

‘Pluribus,’ directed by Vince Gilligan, began streaming on Apple TV+ from 7th November and stars Rhea Seehorn, Karolina Wydra, Miriam Shor, Peter Bergman and Samba Schutte.

From the very first scene, ‘Pluribus’ pulls you into a world that feels familiar but also very strange. The streets, offices, and homes look normal, but the way people behave is odd and unsettling. The premise is unusual and bold: a best‑selling romance novelist, called “the most miserable person on Earth,” has to stop a world that has been taken over by forced happiness. The show mixes sci‑fi, psychological thriller, and character drama in a way that keeps you thinking about what normal life really means. Even after the first scene, the feeling of unease stays with you. Rarely does a series make you think about your own life while keeping you entertained at the same time.

The plot revolves around Carol (Rhea Seehorn), a best-selling novelist. After returning from her book tour with her partner Helen (Miriam Shor), Carol finds Albuquerque completely changed. People she knows, including neighbours and co-workers, are unnaturally happy, overly friendly, and unable to act against anyone. During a night out, Helen suddenly collapses, and Carol rushes her to the hospital. There she discovers the hospital is full of people affected by a mysterious phenomenon. Helen dies, and Carol realizes she is the only one who is immune to this strange happiness. Carol has to figure out why she is different and what she must do next.

Visually and tonally, the show is strong and unusual. Even small details—like a woman licking donuts and putting them back in the box, with the tagline “Happiness is Contagious”—show that things are not as normal as they seem. The story makes you wonder about the cost of peace, unity, and universal happiness. Everyday locations like offices, homes, and even a fancy airplane are shown in ways that feel slightly wrong or off, which makes the world feel strange and tense. The soundtrack and camera work make the suspense grow naturally. Every scene is designed to keep viewers on edge while showing Carol’s isolation. The visuals make ordinary life feel threatening, and the cinematography highlights how alone Carol is in this changed world.

Seehorn makes Carol’s fear, determination, and loneliness feel real, and her reactions to this new world make you care about her journey. Every moment she faces danger or confusion keeps the story tense and engaging. The show moves slowly, which might make some viewers impatient because it does not give answers right away. But that slow pace is part of the charm. The tension builds naturally, and small details become important later. Watching carefully is rewarded because Carol’s choices feel real and important. The series slowly raises bigger questions about freedom, conformity, and what it means to live an authentic life. Every episode leaves questions in your mind that stay long after it ends. The writing also makes you care about the characters, even as the world around them becomes stranger. Carol’s struggles feel meaningful and make the story engaging and emotional.

Also Read: Murder Report Review: This Korean thriller delivers a chilling battle of wits behind closed doors

The world of ‘Pluribus’ is very different from the crime-filled worlds of earlier Gilligan shows (‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’), but it still has the same careful pacing and focus on characters. Overall, ‘Pluribus’ gives a thought-provoking start. It asks what makes life meaningful when everyone is happy, when there is no struggle, and when conflict disappears. With strong direction, a powerful lead performance, and a daring premise, it is a show worth watching—especially since only the first two episodes have streamed so far. The series promises more mysteries and moral challenges in the episodes to come, which makes it feel like a show that will stay with viewers.

Rating: 4/5