Apple has ordered two seasons of the series for Apple TV, with the series premiering two episodes on November 7, 2025, for a nine-episode first season.[2] The title of the series refers to e pluribus unum, a Latin phrase meaning 'out of many, one'.[3]
Premise
Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the series follows author Carol Sturka, who is one of only twelve people in the world immune to an unexplained virus that transforms the world's population into content and optimistic citizens.[4][5][6][7]
Cast
Main
Rhea Seehorn as Carol Sturka, a historical romance author who survives the outbreak of a virus that renders nearly all of humanity into a relentlessly optimistic hive mind[7]
Karolina Wydra as Zosia, a member of the hive mind who acts as Carol's companion
Vince Gilligan conceived the series's premise after becoming "weary of writing bad guys"[11] after a decade of working on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.[12] After Better Call Saul ended in August 2022, he pitched a new series that he would develop with Sony Pictures Television.[13] A bidding took place, and Apple TV won the rights to the show in September 2022, giving it a two-season order. Gilligan was formally named to serve as showrunner and executive producer. Rhea Seehorn was cast as Carol Sturka, a discontented but successful romance novel author.[1][9] Gilligan wrote the character specifically for Seehorn[9] and crafted the character to be a "flawed good guy" who tries to save the world.[14]
Production
In October 2023, after writing for the first season was interrupted by the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, Gilligan and his writers' room regrouped to finish the last two episodes. The strike also pushed back the plans to begin shooting, possibly into the winter, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[6] Filming began on the series in February 2024,[15] finishing in September 2024 after 7 months of production in Albuquerque under the working title of Wycaro339.[16]
In March 2024, Karolina Wydra was cast in the series in a lead role.[17]
The official series title of Pluribus, along with its planned release in November 2025, was announced in July 2025.[2]Dave Porter is the composer for the series.[18]
Release
An advance invitation-only screening of the series's first two episodes was held in New York City on October 10, 2025.[19] The series held its official premiere event at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles on November 4.[20]Entertainment Weekly released an exclusive preview of the series's first four minutes one day before the Apple TV premiere.[21]
Pluribus premiered its first two episodes on November 7, 2025, exclusively on Apple TV. A new episode is set to air every Friday through December 26.[2]
Astronomers detect a radio signal from space that matches an RNA sequence. Over a year, researchers reproduce the sequence in a lab, but an outbreak occurs one night, causing those infected to act collectively, spreading the virus through saliva. Meanwhile, romance novelist Carol Sturka returns to Albuquerque after her latest book tour with her manager and partner Helen. During a night out, Carol notices everyone around her begin to suddenly convulse, including Helen, who collapses. Carol rushes Helen to a hospital, finding the city overrun with chaos and destruction along the way. Carol is alarmed to find everyone at the hospital is infected and knows her name; Helen soon dies from her injuries. Carol flees to her house, where she discovers a TV broadcast showing a man in the White House press room with a phone number on-screen. When she calls, the man explains that the virus originated from the extraterrestrial RNA signal and has transformed humanity into a permanently happy hive mind. He tells Carol that she and eleven others appear immune, but warns that the hive mind seeks to assimilate them.
2
"Pirate Lady"
Vince Gilligan
Vince Gilligan
November7,2025(2025-11-07)
While burying Helen, Carol is approached by Zosia, a member of the hive mind, who explains that all infected humans share one consciousness, containing each other's memories—including Helen's—so any of them can speak for the whole. When Carol lashes out at her, Zosia convulses, and countless others across the world do the same. After recovering, Zosia reveals that Carol's anger overwhelms the hive mind and that her outburst killed many. Carol demands to meet the five other immune English speakers, and Zosia arranges a gathering in Bilbao. One, the hedonistic Koumba Diamaté, arrives aboard Air Force One, where the group assembles. Carol discovers the others have accepted the new collective existence, despite her pleas to search for a cure. At dinner, Zosia explains that the hive mind is nonviolent, but admits that over 886 million people died during the initial "Joining." Enraged, Carol triggers another deadly seizure, prompting the group to abandon her. Only Koumba remains, telling Carol he plans to travel with Zosia as her sexual partner, but that he requires Carol's permission. A disgusted Carol refuses, but when she sees Zosia preparing to leave with Koumba's group, she rushes to stop their departing plane.
Hi, Carol. We're so glad you called. We can't wait for you to join us. Dial "zero" and we'll get back to you via text message.
Subsequent text messages included alerts for teaser trailers and an invitation to the October 2025 advance screening event in New York City. The messages referred to all recipients as "Carol".
Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 100% approval rating based on 64 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Genuinely original science-fiction fare from television veteran Vince Gilligan, Pluribus leads Rhea Seehorn through a brave new world with plentiful returns."[26]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave the series a score of 87 out of 100 based on 31 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[27]
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