Vince Gilligan, the creator of Breaking Bad, returns to television with a highly-anticipated new series premiering on Apple TV today.
Pluribus is a new sci-fi drama starring Rhea Seehorn as the most miserable person in the world who must save the world from happiness. The first two episodes of season one are available to watch now.
What is Pluribus about? Well, plot details have been very tightly-guarded, but what we do know is Seehorn plays the lead role of Carol, a romance novelist by trade. Carol is the only unhappy person on the planet as a contagion has seemingly converted the rest of the population into a hive mind of happiness. The President even calls her personally to try and get her to join them.
As always with too much of a good thing, unrelenting happiness does not lead to great outcomes for the world. Rather than succumb, Carol tries to fight back.
The series is largely set in Albuquerque, and Gilligan fans are likely to recognize some similar backdrops to scenes from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. However, despite sharing a lead actress and location, Pluribus is not part of the Breaking Bad universe. It is a totally independent story.
In Pluribus, Seehorn is very much the star, present in most scenes, with much of the comedic and dramatic underpinnings resting on her shoulders. The supporting cast includes Carlos Manuel Vesga, Karolina Wydra, and Miriam Shor.
With this project, Gilligan moves away from crime stories and back to his science fiction roots, having worked extensively on The X-Files earlier in his career. So far, the gamble appears to have paid off. Early critical reception to Pluribus has been very positive.
Pluribus begins today with a two-episode premiere on Apple TV. You can get a 7-day free trial for new accounts here. In total, season one comprises nine episodes with a new episode rolling out every Friday, culminating in the finale on December 26.
Apple is obviously hoping the show will be a big hit. It greenlit the series with an upfront two-season order, and a premium budget reportedly in the $15m per episode range.
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