Minority Mindset

The episode begins with a strange, attention-grabbing scene – a cold open – that, while not as mysterious as those in shows like Better Call Saul or Breaking Bad, immediately introduces us to a completely new situation and characters. It’s similar to the “Madrigal” episode of Breaking Bad, which starts with a German executive casually eating chicken tenders. In this case, we see an unidentified woman in a rough robe walking towards a wrecked car in a Middle Eastern city. She pulls out a burned body from the driver’s seat and drags it through a window. With the help of a truck driver, she wraps up the body and hauls it to a bus where others are being collected. She then drives a moped to the airport, gets into the cockpit of a cargo plane, and flies it to Albuquerque. There, she’s greeted by assistants who have coffee, a shower, and a new identity waiting for her.

Elsbeth encounters Alec (Ivan Hernandez) at a charity event – Dr. Yablonski, a recurring character in the show, is always nearby. Alec, who is running for mayor, initially appears as a charismatic leader focused on bringing people together, reminiscent of politician Zohran Mamdani. He emphasizes affordable living, shares his experience with childhood homelessness, and highlights his background as a fire marshal before entering politics. He’s friendly and approachable, making a connection with everyone he meets. Elsbeth is both impressed and cautious. They bond over a shared love for New York City, even enjoying its more touristy attractions like hip-hop bus tours and restaurants with singing waiters – they even sing the beginning of the song “Manhattan” together! However, Elsbeth rightfully wonders if Alec’s down-to-earth personality is genuine or simply a calculated political tactic, questioning whether he’s being disingenuous like Bill Clinton.

Leslie Jones shared on Vulture’s Good One Podcast that sketches on SNL were often pushed to future episodes because performers didn’t want to do them. This prompted her to recount a story about Margot Robbie agreeing to perform a sketch that other cast members, described as “pretty girls,” had passed on. The comedian then explained:

At the premiere of Stranger Things Season 5, Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour showed there’s no bad blood between them with a warm hug on the red carpet, dismissing recent rumors of a feud. Netflix is livestreaming the premiere event for fans worldwide. Reports had suggested Harbour might skip the event following accusations reported by the Daily Mail and issues with his estranged wife, Lily Allen.

Netflix is kicking off the premiere of Stranger Things Season 5 with a special online event! The “Stranger Things” 5 Premiere Transmission will feature a virtual red carpet, interviews with the cast, unexpected guests, and a first look at the final season. Fans could sign up on the Tudum website for access to this exclusive event.

The new show Pluribus immediately brings to mind the subliminal messaging from the film They Live. In the premiere episode, Carol Sturka, a popular author, returns home after believing she survived an alien invasion – though she’s quickly told that’s not what happened, a point the show leaves open for discussion. As she’s talking, a message appears on screen: YOUR LIFE IS YOUR OWN and WE’RE NOT ALIENS. This feels like a direct nod to They Live, and creator Vince Gilligan is likely a fan of John Carpenter. However, unlike the film, the message in Pluribus isn’t threatening or controlling. It’s surprisingly comforting, almost reassuring viewers that, despite appearances resembling Invasion of the Body Snatchers, no one is being forced to do anything.

The new series Pluribus feels like familiar territory for creator Chris Gilligan, echoing the atmospheric and thought-provoking style of The X-Files, where he used science fiction to explore deeper themes and characters. He’s also working again with Rhea Seehorn, who was fantastic as Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul. Here, she plays Carol Sturka, a cynical fantasy author who isn’t impressed with her fans or much of anyone else. The story kicks off on November 7th with a strange global event that unexpectedly brings about world peace – for everyone except Carol. The title Pluribus (Latin for “of many”) hints at the show’s premise, playing on the American motto “E pluribus unum” (“Out of many, one”). Carol, however, sees this unity as a sign that something is fundamentally wrong, and the series follows her attempt to restore the old, fractured world.