Is a world where everyone is happy and peaceful really perfect? For those left out, it’s more like a nightmare of meticulous brainwashing. With Pluribus, Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan introduces us to a new heroine, stuck in this supposedly idyllic world, which started with the Latin phrase E pluribus unum (out of many, one).
The Apple TV series follows Carol Sturka (played by Rhea Seehorn from Better Call Saul), a romance novelist who is dissatisfied with her career. Unable to see the bright side of almost anything, she could easily be described as “the most miserable person on the planet.” And it is precisely this grumpy writer who ends up with the unlikely mission of saving the world… from happiness.
It’s an unconventional and refreshing premise. At first, you don’t know what you’re getting into, what this new world means, or how deeply you’ll be drawn into it, but after a few minutes, it’s impossible to stop watching.
Apple TV is betting on disturbing, unique, and bold shows that explore the darkest corners of humanity, and the move is paying off. Just think about the success of Severance – with shows like that and now Pluribus, Apple’s creative minds are reinventing the concepts that dominate streaming today.
In Pluribus, the effervescent creativity questions the notion of a more equitable, supportive, and peaceful society. Although almost all of us – not everyone, of course – have dreamed of a kinder, fairer, and more egalitarian world, it’s easy to doubt whether such a goal is possible to achieve. What if, in that process, we lose our individuality? That’s the core of the matter: if the fate of human beings does not depend on our ability to choose the best path, but on an external factor that transforms us into nonviolent automatons, the result is no longer a paradise but a disturbing horror story. As Carol says, we’ve all seen that movie, and it never ends well.
However, at first, she seems to be the only one capable of perceiving the danger hidden behind the loss of individuality and autonomy, disguised as unconditional love. With her skepticism, Gilligan exposes dark aspects of human nature: the price of not belonging, the eagerness to take advantage of the situation, and the fear of challenging what most people take for granted.
While Carol is stuck, isolated and lonely, another hero emerges on the other side of the world, Manousos (played by Colombian actor Carlos Manuel Vesga). He decides to stay away from these new, contented humans as he searches for survivors with a radio in true old-school style. So, while Carol discovers that she can use her society’s prevailing sense of unity to her advantage to save the world, Manousos chooses the opposite path, distancing himself completely, even if it means starving to death. They both share the same roots: childhood trust issues and trauma. And that shared past sets them both up to go against the grain and work on what humanity needs most at the moment – saving everyone from happiness.
Carol’s methods may not always be the most appropriate, but that makes us realize that everything could be a big sham. What if they aren’t actually happy? What if that sense of community and helpfulness is nothing more than a facade? The series leads us to think about those great dystopian stories that move away from devastation to remind us that perfection does not exist. In Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, people have given up on critical thinking and chosen “happiness” over freedom.
Pluribus once again sees Vince Gilligan in New Mexico, in a city that is already part of his creative signature. But this time, we’re in a completely different setting, driven by a renewed imagination that embraces science fiction. This Albuquerque no longer belongs to Walter, Jesse, and Saul, but to Carol, a moody heroine determined to save humanity from its own dark happiness. Without a doubt, the new Apple TV series, which premieres on November 7, will give us a lot to talk… and think about.
