Pluribus Series-Premiere Recap: They Live

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I still think about the movie They Live from 1988 all the time. It’s such a brilliant concept – aliens secretly taking over, but not with force, just…by blending in. What’s really stuck with me is how this drifter in L.A., played by Roddy Piper, finds these sunglasses and suddenly sees the truth. It’s terrifying! The people in power, the ones running things, aren’t who we think they are – they’re aliens with these creepy skull faces. And it’s not just their appearance; they’re using advertising to control us, constantly telling us to “OBEY,” “CONFORM,” “CONSUME.” It’s all so blatant when you see it through the glasses! What’s so chilling is that they aren’t trying to destroy us with weapons; they want to keep us happy and complacent, to stop us from even thinking for ourselves. It’s a much more insidious invasion than most movies show, and it really makes you look at the world differently.

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.

I’m completely hooked by Pluribus, even though, like Carol says, my first thought was, ‘What on earth is going on?’ Thankfully, the show isn’t rushing to explain things, and I think that’s a really smart move. Knowing Vince Gilligan’s style – especially from Better Call Saul – he clearly believes in building suspense slowly. Remember how the seemingly small issue of overbilling played out over six seasons? So, I expect this alien mystery will unfold gradually too. What I loved about the first episode is that it threw us right into this huge alien event, but kept the bigger picture a secret. It’s frustrating, but in the best way – it keeps me wanting more and makes me think everything is connected.

The story begins with enthusiastic scientists. The opening scene, showing the night sky and satellites, is reminiscent of the movie Contact, which also starts with researchers trying to decipher a message from a faraway star. In this case, astronomers are stunned by a simple radio signal that looks like a distorted game of Pong, but is actually a complex line of data repeating every 78 seconds from 600 light-years away. As the team of scientists realizes the signal is more than just a greeting, the project quickly escalates. In a matter of moments, we see them transition from working in makeshift trailers to a state-of-the-art government laboratory, complete with advanced technology and animal testing.

The show uses on-screen countdowns to cleverly track the passage of time. We see over a year passes between the beginning of the story (439 days, 19 hours, 56 minutes, 8 seconds) and the scientists trying to understand a mysterious signal (71 days, 13 hours, 21 minutes, 2 seconds), but the pace quickly picks up. During a routine experiment, scientists notice a rat seemingly die, only to discover its heart is surprisingly strong. When the rat bites a worker, the virus starts spreading rapidly through saliva. The first encounters with the infected are unsettlingly creepy, as they transmit the virus with a disturbing smile and kiss. Soon, the connection between the infected individuals leads to a strangely organized spread: the sounds of mouth swabs being packed for shipping and the sight of complimentary donuts being licked clean highlight this eerie efficiency.

Much of the show Pluribus focuses on Carol’s limited point of view as the invasion unfolds. Though Carol isn’t similar to Kim Wexler from Better Call Saul, Rhea Seehorn brings the same sharp, biting humor to both roles, giving Pluribus a welcome comedic tone. We first see Carol reading a steamy scene from Bloodsong of Wycaro, which is described as the fourth book in a series that has ironically trapped her due to its popularity. As she and her manager/partner Helen (Miriam Shor) leave a crowd of enthusiastic fans at a Dallas bookstore, their driver asks if he should recognize Carol. She bluntly replies, “Depends. Are you a fan of trash?”

Carol is a complex character – outwardly cynical and motivated by money, but with a strong, hidden moral compass. Though she writes popular, somewhat shallow stories, there’s a talented author beneath the surface. Her disdain for her readers suggests a secret desire to be different; she’ll profit from them, but resents any connection. The show, and actress Rhea Seehorn, brilliantly portrays her shock, pain, and anger, starting with the moment she loses Helen (a real death, not just a change) and the beginning of the alien invasion. So, when the aliens try to appease her, she rightfully rejects their attempts.

What makes Pluribus different is that, instead of acting menacingly like in typical ‘Body Snatchers’ stories, the people who have been taken over are overly friendly and eager to please. They all cheerfully offer help – like a chorus of voices saying, “We just want to help, Carol!” outside the hospital. Even when she’s locked out of her house, they instantly know where she hid a spare key years ago, which is unsettling, to say the least. They even leave the neighborhood to give her privacy while she grieves and figures things out. A man named Davis Taffler, who used to be a high-ranking official at the Department of Agriculture, tells her she’s one of only eleven people worldwide who haven’t been affected by the alien takeover.

Carol also believes she has a natural immunity, and she refuses to be like those she considers unintelligent—the people who buy her books. She especially doesn’t trust the alien entity she blames for Helen’s death. While she suspects the idea that “YOUR LIFE IS YOUR OWN” is false, she’s determined to live as if it’s true, and on her own terms, for now.

Mizzenmasts

Carol’s reading was full of beautiful language, but a single line really stood out to me: ‘Later, at four bells, Lucasia stood by the mizzenmast.’

It’s a truly difficult situation when a fan tells Carol they’ll stop supporting her if Raban doesn’t return. The fact that Carol hasn’t been able to stand up to her fans and pursue her own creative vision is central to understanding her feelings at the beginning of the story.

It’s a running joke in TV and movies that snack machines always malfunction. So, if you’re ever on a television show, don’t waste your time trying to buy a snack – it’s almost guaranteed to get stuck!

I loved that little scene with Carol! It was so subtle, but the way she signaled Helen to move those books… it was all about getting a better view of Bloodsong of Wycaro. That book is massive, seriously like Infinite Jest, but honestly, I bet it’s a much quicker read – maybe a hundredth of the time! It felt like a little inside joke, and a nice character beat for both of them.

Carol described a typical online fan as someone who would do anything for even a small amount of attention, using the provocative statement, “I think HoustonMom would spread her legs for a grilled cheese sandwich.”

Interestingly, after telling Carol they’re all connected, Davis Taffler admits he doesn’t fully understand how that connection works. This suggests a certain distance between him and the alien entity he’s connected to.

The reason Carol is speaking with the Under Secretary of Agriculture is surprisingly simple: Davis Taffler was present, unharmed, and, crucially, wearing a suit.

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2025-11-07 05:57