Vince Gilligan says one major detail separates Pluribus from The Walking Dead and The Last of Us

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The new TV series Pluribus centers around a strange virus that connects most of humanity into a single consciousness. According to its creator, Vince Gilligan, this differs from the scenarios in The Walking Dead and The Last of Us in a significant way.

Pluribus brings together Vince Gilligan, the creator of Better Call Saul, and Rhea Seehorn, the actress who became a fan favorite on the show.

However, the new show is vastly different. It’s a sci-fi series where Seehorn stars as a writer who is immune to a mental virus and decides to rescue the world.

During a Pluribus event co-hosted by Apple and Empire, the show’s creator and lead actor discussed the first two episodes in a question-and-answer session. They offered some clues about the main puzzle of the show and explained how it stands out from other shows with similar themes.

Your viewpoint should shift as Pluribus progresses

The conversation turned to the idea of joining a collective consciousness – a ‘hive mind.’ While the virus eliminates personal freedom and uniqueness, it also gets rid of issues like crime and war. Gilligan thinks there’s no easy way to look at this trade-off.

Shows like The Walking Dead and The Last of Us make it clear: nobody wants to become a zombie or lose their mind. But this show is different. It’s designed to make you question that instinct, to wonder if losing your individuality might actually be a terrible thing.

Sometimes, after an episode or two, you might start to think a show is actually pretty good. But then, just an episode later, you could change your mind again.

You can definitely pick a side – Team Zosia or Team Carol – right away and stick with it. But what I find really exciting is the idea that as you watch, your opinion might actually change. Ultimately, it’s up to the audience to decide who they support.

Why Vladimir Putin puts Vince Gilligan off the mind virus

Gilligan is talking about Rhea Seehorn’s character, Carol, who is immune to the virus and strongly opposes it. He’s also mentioning Karolina Wydra’s character, Zosia, who died from the virus and now acts as a guide for Carol.

When asked who she’d side with, Seehorn explained that the cast and crew had long discussions about the complex issues the situation raised. She realized that knowing everything in advance would eliminate genuine surprise – and therefore, joy. Because comedy relies on being caught off guard, losing that element would be deeply affecting. She admits this is a somewhat selfish perspective, but ultimately says she’s on Team Carol, though with reservations.

Wydra agrees, explaining that while a world without suffering, prejudice, or crime – a place filled with goodness and even telepathic communication – sounds appealing, it would come at a cost. She believes giving up one’s individuality would be a very difficult sacrifice to make.

Gilligan pointed out how the character gaining immunity and power immediately starts attracting romantic attention, joking that he’d want to be as relaxed as the character Diabate. He imagines being more like another character, Carol, because the situation—being surrounded by admirers—would be overwhelming. He humorously notes that the potential presence of someone like Vladimir Putin within that group would quickly ruin the fantasy of it being a dream come true.

The next episode of Pluribus arrives on Apple TV tomorrow, November 14th, and will likely unravel more of the story’s secrets. It might also explore concerns about artificial intelligence. If you’re looking for other compelling dramas, check out these great shows to watch this month and the best TV shows of the year so far.

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2025-11-14 13:20