Vince Gilligan, the acclaimed creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, is returning to television with Pluribus, premiering November 7 on Apple TV+. The new series explores a world where humanity achieves perfect happiness—except for one woman who refuses to accept it.
The drama stars Rhea Seehorn as Carol, a successful author who wakes up to find that everyone around her has become perfectly content after a mysterious signal from space. As grief and anger vanish from society, Carol becomes the only person left feeling discontent. Her resistance to happiness raises profound questions about free will, individuality, and what it means to be human.
Ambition and Scale in a Shrinking Industry
Apple reportedly ordered two seasons of Pluribus before its premiere—an unusual move amid industry-wide cost-cutting. The production was filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Gilligan has long worked. The crew built entire suburban neighborhoods from real materials, underscoring Apple’s investment in high-quality, cinematic storytelling.
The show’s tone is described as a mix of science fiction and philosophy rather than traditional dystopia. Instead of focusing on destruction, it asks what happens when humanity gets everything it has ever wanted. Early previews call it “a vision of a tedious utopia,” balancing beauty with quiet unease.
A Creative Reunion
Gilligan wrote Pluribus specifically for Rhea Seehorn after collaborating with her on Better Call Saul. Their reunion highlights his preference for loyalty and consistency in production. The team deliberately avoided Breaking Bad locations to give Pluribus a distinct visual identity, even though it shares Albuquerque’s signature desert light and atmosphere.
Apple TV+ Bets on Quality Over Quantity
While other streaming platforms scale back, Apple continues to invest in visionary creators like Gilligan, Martin Scorsese, and Ridley Scott. The company’s strategy emphasizes storytelling depth over volume.
With Pluribus, Apple positions itself once again as a home for prestige television—offering audiences not just entertainment, but reflection on what it truly means to live, feel, and choose.
