Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus Earns Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score

For the third time, Vince Gilligan creates another phenomenal series. The creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul returns with a new science fiction drama titled Pluribus which is already one hundred percent on Rotten Tomatoes with many critics and audiences labeling it one of Apple TV+’s largest original series to date.

Pluribus — A Strange New World

Pluribus premiered on November 7th; it follows Carol Sturka (played by Rhea Seehorn), a romance-fantasy novelist with a cranky demeanor who awakens in a strange location, realizing she is one of the few remaining humans outside of a mysterious alien-induced hive-mind. The rest of humanity has merged into a collective consciousness and are now happy but devoid of individuality.

Like Gilligan’s previous series, Pluribus is set in Albuquerque, New Mexico and will explore what it means to be human when we live in an age of connectivity, control and comfort. This creepy premise has drawn comparisons to Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, and it raises an unnerving question: If giving up our individuality allows us to become happier, then isn’t this a good thing?

Seehorn, best known for playing the role of Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul, has brought dark humor and emotional depth to the lead role. She plays Carol, who is isolated and defiantly opposes a world of fake peace and has become a fascinating base in a series that has found the perfect balance between existential dread and wry comedy.

Critics Praise Gilligan’s Latest Creation

Since it debuted, Pluribus has received a unanimous critical acclaim. Since it’s debut, critics from publications like NPR, Decider, and the Los Angeles Times have praised the show for its haunting atmosphere and outstanding performances. Linda Holmes from NPR said the show “is a brutal watch”, while she describes the scenes where Carol walks through empty neighborhoods and decaying cities, facing both grief and absurdity.

“Carol finds herself deep in grief, walking through empty buildings, driving deserted neighborhoods, experiencing the arid desolation of a frictionless life,” Holmes stated. “But the collaboration between Gilligan and Seehorn is also based on how funny she is, how perfectly suited to both his desire to dig deep into sadness and the playfulness.”

Robert Lloyd from the Los Angeles Times praised the slow pace of the series and the visual story-telling: “Large sections of time pass without dialogue. For most of the time, it’s Seehorn’s show, and she is incredible — confused, clever, resigned, and determined at different times.”

Nicholas Quah from Vulture⁠ urged viewers to take their time watching the series, calling it “an entrancing piece of television” that becomes richer over time. In the meantime, Chase Hutchinson from the Seattle Times⁠ praised the emotional effect of the series: “It’s about survival vs. resistance, conformity vs. conflict, fantasy vs. reality, and whether a false happiness is worth losing everything that you once were.”

Enthusiastic Audience Reaction

Audiences reaction to the show has been just as enthusiastic. At the time of writing, the series has a 84% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes with fans praising the show’s originality and emotional scope.

“Vince Gilligan is the greatest TV writer of his generation. The pilot is original, captivating, mysterious, funny, and tragic, all at the same time,” one fan wrote. Another added, “Finally something exciting to watch. The actors are great. I was hooked from the beginning.”

However, there were some viewers who did not feel the same enthusiasm. Some described the pacing as too slow, or the plot as too cryptic. Nevertheless, the overall reaction to the series has been extremely positive, with most agreeing that Pluribus delivers the type of cinematic storytelling that has come to define Gilligan’s body of work.