Until its premiere in October, Apple TV’s enigmatic new series Pluribus was shrouded in mystery. While audiences knew it starred Rhea Seehorn of Better Call Saul fame and was the brainchild of television legend Vince Gilligan, the show’s narrative remained elusive. Despite this, Pluribus was green-lit for two seasons before a single episode aired, a testament to the faith in Gilligan’s storytelling prowess.
In a crowded television landscape where new shows often have to shout to be noticed, Pluribus took a different approach: silence. This gamble paid off, as the show quickly became Apple TV’s most-watched series ever, following the airing of its seventh episode. The success is a clear signal that Gilligan, known for his work on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, has once again struck gold.
The Return to Sci-Fi Roots
Vince Gilligan’s return to the science fiction genre, where he began his career with The X-Files, is marked by Pluribus. “There was a certain level of expectation for me to do something else in the Breaking Bad universe,” Gilligan told ABC News. “I haven’t written a flat-out hero since Scully and Mulder.”
The show starts as a hard sci-fi narrative, depicting a world transformed by a beamed RNA sequence into a single, harmonious hive mind. While famine, war, and disease become relics of the past, the story delves into the lives of its human characters, particularly Carol Sturka, portrayed by Rhea Seehorn. Carol, a closeted romantasy author, is one of the few immune to the hive mind’s allure, determined to uncover the truth behind the phenomenon.
Character-Driven Storytelling
Seehorn’s performance has garnered widespread acclaim, a fact that comes as no surprise to Gilligan, who crafted the character specifically for her. “I realized I wanted to work with Rhea Seehorn again, so the character went from male to female,” Gilligan explained. “I had this idea about someone who wasn’t even that happy a person, but everybody loved them.”
Carol isn’t alone in her resistance to the hive mind, but the few others who share her immunity are less inclined to fight back. Some even yearn to join the hive, drawn by the promise of perfect contentment. This tension forms the heart of the series, exploring themes of individuality versus conformity. “I’m intrigued by the difference between individuality and conformity,” Gilligan said. “The idea of being happy, and how important is that to us?”
Reflecting Real-World Tensions
Gilligan’s inspiration also draws from the current political climate in the United States, where division seems to run deep. “I think everybody hates that we live in a country that feels like there’s two sides, two armed camps,” he noted. “But can we find a place where people disagree but they’re cool about it?”
The show’s exploration of a world where all of humanity agrees raises questions about the value of dissent and diversity of thought. It challenges viewers to consider the implications of a homogenized society, even one free from conflict.
The AI Connection
As Carol becomes increasingly frustrated with her fellow resisters’ acceptance of the hive mind, parallels can be drawn to contemporary debates about artificial intelligence. Gilligan, however, insists this was not intentional. “I really wasn’t thinking about AI when I came up with Pluribus, partly because I came up with it almost 10 years ago,” he laughed. “But if people have that takeaway, more power to them.”
Gilligan’s views on AI in storytelling are clear: “The idea of robots or computers telling stories to human beings, it horrifies me.” This sentiment resonates with the show’s underlying message about the importance of human creativity and individuality.
As Pluribus continues to captivate audiences, its success underscores the enduring power of nuanced storytelling. By embracing silence and mystery, Gilligan has not only created a hit series but also sparked meaningful conversations about the future of humanity and the stories we tell.
