“Pluribus” is a show that does nearly everything correctly. It will be revered like Vince Gilligan’s other shows (“Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul”). It is deeply human, and that might be the best part. In this review, there will be spoilers for the first episode and other minor plot points.
The show stars Rhea Seahorn, playing romance novelist Carol Sturka, trying to navigate a world now run by a hive mind called the Others. The hive mind was created in a lab after scientists discovered coding for a virus being projected from space. They then created the virus, testing it on rats before a human got infected, eventually spreading to all but 13 people in the world. The Others are peaceful and meet almost any demand the immune make, but their end goal is to have the remaining 13 immune join the rest of the human race. Carol is seemingly the only person opposed to such a goal and thus clashes with the hivemind in the form of Zosia played by Karolina Wydra in a love-hate relationship mirroring actual relationships people have. Another character, Manousos Oviedo, played by Carlos-Manuel Vesga, refuses all contact with the Others. Eventually Manousos discovers the existence of Carol via videotapes she sends to the immune, leading him to travel from Paraguay all the way to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in order to help Carol reverse the virus.
The show does a good job showing the negative and positive aspects of the Others. For example, the Others don’t kill, but this also leads them to not pick plants, causing there to be a crisis in the food supply. Everyone is happy, but it’s a result of everyone being basically one person and having all identity and autonomy stripped away from them with no consent. Nearly a billion people died in the so-called “Joining,” the event where the virus was activated. This includes Carol’s manager and wife Helen, adding to why she initially distrusts the Others. The show really is shades of grey and so morally complex. It deals with ideas of identity, choice, and what it means to be human.
The cinematography is wonderful, with almost every shot being beautiful. All the actors give an amazing performance, especially Vesga. The music is mostly good, besides the intro, which isn’t nearly as memorable as that of “Breaking Bad” or “Better Call Saul.”
One of the only problems the show might have is how long it will take for another season. Increasingly, more shows have taken longer and longer gaps with seemingly fewer and fewer episodes. Estimates for a second season release would be in late 2027, two years after the first season. Regardless, “Pluribus” is an amazing show that deserves immense praise. From its visuals to its storytelling, it’s hard to find many flaws. It is available for streaming on AppleTV. Overall “Pluribus” is the best piece of media I have reviewed so far. I would give the show a 9.2 out of 10 for sure.