Minority Mindset

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.

Another sequel to the 1999 film The Mummy is reportedly being made, and some of the original stars are returning. The project is being led by horror experts, which could be a good thing. The Mummy movies have become very action-focused, and a return to the horror elements that made the original so popular could help the new film stand out.

Out of the three Marvel movies released in 2025, I enjoyed The Fantastic Four: First Steps the most. Its unique 1960s retro-future style and accurate portrayal of Galactus felt like a fresh start for the franchise, and it’s made me really look forward to seeing this version of the Fantastic Four in Avengers: Doomsday and future Marvel films. Now that First Steps is available to stream on Disney+, I want to discuss a particularly powerful scene featuring Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm.

The reality competition show, Squid Game: The Challenge, is back for a second season and, so far, I find it more entertaining than the original scripted series. The first season wrapped up with a fantastic finale, and the new episodes are already proving to be exciting, filled with drama and emotional moments as contestants compete for a life-changing $4.56 million prize.

The Infinity Stones were central to connecting all the stories in the Infinity Saga. They acted as the main driving force of the plot, giving characters reasons to act and creating conflicts throughout the series. We saw hints of each Stone in earlier movies, building up to Thanos’s quest to collect them all in Avengers: Infinity War.