Trust in Pluribus

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The new Apple TV series Pluribus might not be for everyone – its slow pace and unusual story could be off-putting. But it’s equally likely to completely captivate you for the duration of its run. Created by Vince Gilligan (of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul fame), the show unfolds realistically, with characters going about their lives in long, unedited scenes. There’s a quiet, thoughtful feeling throughout, almost like a statement against our fast-paced, constantly stimulating world and our impatience for instant gratification. While it might sound a bit ambitious, it’s worth giving Pluribus a chance. There’s something truly special developing within this fascinating show, but you need to be patient and let it unfold.

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.

The new series is unlike anything else, though it shares some similarities with shows like The Last Man on Earth. However, while that show became a comedic ensemble piece about life after the apocalypse, Pluribus focuses intensely on the isolation of its main character, Carol. It doesn’t rely on a typical, suspenseful plot; instead, it presents mysteries – how this new world works, and whether Carol can restore things to how they were – but quickly makes it clear that finding answers isn’t the main goal. Pluribus is primarily a deep dive into Carol’s character. Through her experiences, the show explores thought-provoking and unsettling questions about human nature. It asks us to consider what this strange new reality says about us, why anyone would try to change things, and how Carol copes with the uncertainty of what success might even look like.

As a total cinema and TV devotee, what really struck me about Pluribus is how it takes its time. Episodes aren’t afraid to just show things happening – the nitty-gritty details, the atmosphere. There’s this amazing part in the first episode where we watch Carol painstakingly figure out how to get someone into a truck, and later, an entire opening sequence is just a silent journey across continents. It reminded me of how Vince Gilligan – the creator – started working in Breaking Bad, and especially how it evolved in Better Call Saul (which he co-created with Peter Gould, who also consulted on Pluribus). He loves these long, almost meditative scenes where we just observe his characters existing in their world. Think of Walt and Jesse carefully cooking, or that two-minute sequence in Saul where Kim slowly tries to win back her firm’s approval. These aren’t just about moving the plot forward; they’re about showing how much a character can develop when nothing much is happening. It’s a recognition that we’re just as defined by those quiet, in-between moments – who you are while you’re on hold on the phone is just as important as who you are during the actual conversation.

The leisurely pace of Pluribus reflects the confidence of a well-established creator with significant financial backing. Having already been renewed for two seasons, Vince Gilligan clearly enjoys the creative freedom Apple TV+ provides. Much of the show is filmed in Albuquerque, where Gilligan has worked since Breaking Bad, and his fondness for the city is evident. Pluribus is visually stunning, showcasing beautiful southwestern details in the sets and expansive desert landscapes. However, the show also ventures beyond Gilligan’s familiar settings, becoming more ambitious and international in scope. The production went to great lengths to create a realistic world, reportedly building an entire neighborhood from scratch and securing access to planes, hotels, and even a grocery store to film the show’s unusual events.

While Pluribus is well-made, it’s missing something that drove its predecessors, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Breaking Bad kept viewers hooked with the tension of Walter White’s cancer diagnosis and his desperate need to provide for his family. Better Call Saul benefited from being a prequel, gradually revealing how characters evolved into the people we knew from Breaking Bad, especially Kim, who wasn’t present in the original series. Because these shows had such strong storylines, the creators could take their time, build atmosphere, and let the story unfold at a deliberate pace.

As a film fan, I’ve seen a lot, and Pluribus is something else. It’s not really about what happens, but how it feels to watch something unfold. It really leans into those unsettling feelings you get when a mood lingers, and that weird clarity when you get lost in a rhythm. It’s truly slow TV – deliberately paced and wandering, which is both exciting and frustrating because it doesn’t rush to give you answers. Honestly, it’s incredibly satisfying to just let its slowness wash over you. A huge part of that is Mary Seehorn; she’s amazing. She communicates so much with just a look that most actors need pages of dialogue to achieve. She makes it easy to fully immerse yourself while the show explores something really fundamental about being human. You might find yourself asking ‘where is this going?’ and ‘what’s the point?’ but by the end of each episode, you’ll realize the point was the space it gave you to just think.

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2025-11-07 05:55