Vince Gilligan, the creative genius behind the critically acclaimed series Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, has once again struck gold with his latest creation, Pluribus. The new Apple TV+ series has debuted to a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics and audiences alike hailing it as a sci-fi masterpiece and one of the best new shows of the year.
Starring the immensely talented Rhea Seehorn (Better Call Saul), Pluribus is a thought-provoking and darkly comedic sci-fi drama that explores themes of individuality, conformity, and the very nature of happiness. The series marks Gilligan’s triumphant return to television and his first project since the conclusion of Better Call Saul, and it’s clear he hasn’t lost his touch for crafting compelling narratives and unforgettable characters.
Caption: Rhea Seehorn stars as Carol Sturka in Vince Gilligan’s new Apple TV+ series Pluribus
Credit: Apple TV+
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
What is ‘Pluribus’ About?
The series centers on Carol Sturka (Seehorn), a bestselling author of sappy sci-fi romance novels who is, by all accounts, a miserable person. Her world is turned upside down when a mysterious signal from outer space begins to infect the global population, turning everyone into perpetually happy and content individuals. Carol, for reasons unknown, is the only person immune to this phenomenon, leaving her as the last bastion of misery in a world consumed by joy.
The show’s opening moments, reminiscent of classic sci-fi, depict astronomers discovering the extraterrestrial signal, a simple pulse-width modulation repeating every 78 seconds from 600 light-years away. This sets the stage for a mind-bending exploration of what it means to be human. As the world succumbs to a placid and unthinking happiness, Carol is faced with an impossible choice: embrace the blissful ignorance or fight to “save the world from happiness.”
Critics Are Raving About ‘Pluribus’
The critical reception for Pluribus has been nothing short of ecstatic. With a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes from its first 27 reviews, the series is being lauded as a triumph. Variety praises Gilligan for his “vast and ominous sense of collapse” and notes a “clear carryover from Better Call Saul in the deliberate, patient pace of the episodes.” The Guardian calls it a “bleak, blackly comic watch” and “an interrogation of what is lost when everyone is in agreement.”
BBC News has hailed Pluribus as “one of 2025’s smartest, most entertaining shows,” comparing it to a blend of “George Orwell meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” NPR’s David Bianculli describes it as a “boldly brilliant TV series” and likens it to “an episode of The Twilight Zone spun off into its own series.” The praise for Rhea Seehorn’s performance is equally effusive, with critics celebrating her portrayal of the “furiously miserable” Carol as a tour de force.
Caption: Pluribus debuts with a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes
Credit: Apple TV+
Source: Variety
‘One of the Best Pilots in Recent Memory’
It’s not just critics who are singing the praises of Pluribus. Viewers have taken to social media to express their adoration for the show, with many calling the pilot episode one of the best in recent memory. “PLURIBUS has one of the greatest first episodes of television I’ve ever seen. Wow,” wrote one enthusiastic fan on Twitter. Another declared it “easily the best new TV series of the year” and praised Seehorn for creating a “totally unique antiheroine: a mix of righteous, messy humanity and ugliness. It’s brilliant.”
This groundswell of support from both critics and audiences is a testament to the show’s compelling premise and flawless execution. For fans of thought-provoking science fiction and character-driven drama, Pluribus is a must-watch.
The Minds Behind ‘Pluribus’
Pluribus sees Vince Gilligan returning to his sci-fi roots, having previously worked as a writer and producer on The X-Files. His love for the genre is evident in every frame of the series. In a recent interview, Gilligan spoke about the ambitious scope of the show, stating, “The scope of it is globetrotting, world-spanning… The size of this thing is not something we would have attempted or could have succeeded at maybe five or 10 years ago.”
The series also benefits from the talents of writer Ariel Levine and composer Dave Porter, who previously worked with Gilligan on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. The show is filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a location that has become synonymous with Gilligan’s work.
How to Watch ‘Pluribus’
Pluribus is available to stream exclusively on Apple TV+, one of the many streaming services changing the television landscape. The first two episodes are available now, with new episodes premiering every Friday. In a vote of confidence for the series, Apple TV+ has already renewed Pluribus for a second season, so fans can look forward to even more mind-bending sci-fi goodness. For those who enjoy other great Apple TV+ shows, Pluribus is a must-add to your watchlist.
With its perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, stellar cast, and thought-provoking premise, Pluribus has already established itself as one of the most exciting and original new shows of the year. Vince Gilligan has once again proven himself to be a master storyteller, and we can’t wait to see where this incredible journey takes us.
Resources
- https://www.cbr.com/pluribus-rotten-tomatoes-score-is-it-good/
- https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/sci-fi-shows/breaking-bad-creators-new-show-pluribus-debuts-to-a-100-percent-rotten-tomatoes-score-as-viewers-say-its-first-episode-is-one-of-the-best-pilots-in-recent-memory/
- https://www.npr.org/2025/11/07/nx-s1-5600884/breaking-bad-creator-is-back-with-the-breathtakingly-brilliant-series-pluribus
