In a television landscape that has largely underwhelmed in 2025, one show has emerged as a dazzling exception. Apple TV+'s sci-fi drama Pluribus, the latest creation from Breaking Bad mastermind Vince Gilligan, is concluding the year on a spectacular high note, providing a much-needed jolt of innovation to the small screen.
A Creative Oasis in a Barren Year
By many measures, 2025 felt like the year television lost its way. Beloved returning series like The White Lotus and Severance disappointed fans, the former with glaring plot inconsistencies and the latter by stalling its narrative momentum. New offerings, meanwhile, have struggled to make a significant impact, often treated as mere background noise for phone scrolling. Amid this creative drought, Pluribus has arrived as a show audiences can genuinely sink their teeth into.
The streamer recently announced that Pluribus is its biggest hit ever, a notable feat even when considering the perennial chart presence of titles like Ted Lasso. Beyond internal metrics, the show's cultural grip is undeniable, driven by two powerful factors.
The Gilligan Factor and a Gripping Premise
First, there is the formidable pedigree of its creator. Pluribus marks Vince Gilligan's first solo project since the era-defining Breaking Bad (its acclaimed spinoff, Better Call Saul, was deftly handled by Peter Gould). A new series from the architect of one of television's greatest achievements was always destined to attract intense scrutiny and anticipation.
Second, the show's core concept is both wildly imaginative and unsettlingly plausible. Rhea Seehorn delivers a captivating performance as Carol Sturka, a somewhat jaded romance-fantasy author who becomes the world's last independent thinker. An alien virus has enveloped humanity, merging everyone into a global hive mind characterised by a sinister, placid kindness. This collective shuns conflict and negativity; when Sturka erupts in frustration, millions in the hive perish. As the sole remaining individual, she reluctantly takes on the mantle of saving the world.
The genesis of the story reportedly sprang from Gilligan pondering the hellishness of universal, insincere nicety—a likely reality for a showrunner of his celebrity status. This theme is deftly explored in an early scene where Sturka endures cringe-inducing fan interactions, showcasing Gilligan's sharp eye for societal artifice.
A Show Built for Theory and Obsession
The brilliance of Pluribus lies in its porous, allegorical nature. Viewers can interpret its narrative through multiple lenses: as a post-pandemic Covid parable, a critique of our blind submission to AI, or simply the tale of a lone voice of reason in an insane world. This ambiguity has fuelled an online frenzy of analysis and debate.
Reddit forums are inundated with theories about the hive's motives and Sturka's mission. A significant discourse even questions whether her resistance is justified, pondering if peaceful assimilation might be preferable. For its dedicated fans, engagement with Pluribus is a deep, all-consuming dive.
Yet, such obsession is not mandatory. Many, including this reviewer, are content to simply bask in the confident, masterful storytelling from one of the medium's true greats. The show is thoughtfully written, thematically dense, and beautifully directed, possessing a crystalline sense of identity. It is a rare gift to witness creators working at their own deliberate pace, entirely on their own terms.
The series does share the slow-burn, process-oriented pacing characteristic of Gilligan's previous work, which may test some viewers' patience as it progresses. Better Call Saul experienced a significant audience drop-off by its magnificent final season, a fate that could befall Pluribus. However, the exceptional quality on display provides ample reason for optimism.
With its finale scheduled for Christmas, Pluribus stands as the best show currently on television. It is a compelling, intelligent, and utterly unique ride. In a year of small-screen disappointments, why wouldn't you join the journey?
