Rhea Seehorn Shines in New Look at Vince Gilligan’s ‘Pluribus’

Vince Gilligan, the creator behind Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, is back with a brand-new series for Apple TV+.

The show is called Pluribus (stylized as PLUR1BUS) and stars Rhea Seehorn, who worked with Gilligan before as Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul. Apple has already ordered two seasons, with the first set to premiere on November 7.

The story is set in Albuquerque and introduces viewers to Carol Sturka, played by Seehorn. Carol is a successful romance novelist, though she doesn’t think much of her own work and jokingly calls it “mindless crap.”

While on tour promoting her latest book, her life is turned upside down by a strange event. A virus begins to spread through the city and beyond, and instead of killing people, it leaves them permanently cheerful and optimistic. Carol, however, is the only one not affected.

That immunity becomes both a curse and a mission. She is stuck in a world where everyone else seems blissfully happy, while she continues to feel miserable, angry, and confused.

Gilligan told Entertainment Weekly, “The drama of the show is that the world’s most miserable person is desperately trying to save the planet from happiness.” He added that while the story deals with big ideas, there’s also a lot of humor, describing Carol as a “reluctant hero” who doesn’t want the responsibility but feels like she has to act.

When asked why Carol is immune, Gilligan admitted there may never be a clear answer. “That’s a question that several people have asked me starting back in the writers’ room,” he said.

“I don’t want to give too much away, but maybe we’ll find an answer to that, maybe we won’t. A better way for me to put it is that it never really occurred to me as a question. I just figured there’s always gotta be a one-in-a-billion person. And it’s Carol.”

Gilligan explained that the idea for the series had been with him for years, even while working on Better Call Saul. During breaks, he would take long walks and imagine what it would be like to live in a world where nobody could be insulted or offended and everyone was endlessly helpful. “I didn’t know what it meant,” he admitted. “I’m still not sure exactly what it means.”

The first season will run for nine episodes, beginning with two episodes dropping on premiere day and then one new episode each Friday through December 26, 2025.

Alongside Seehorn, the cast includes Karolina Wydra as Zosia and Carlos Manuel Vesga as Manusos. Miriam Shor and Samba Schutte will appear as guest stars.

Production faced some delays due to the 2023 writers’ strike, which forced the team to pause until October of that year.

Filming eventually began in February 2024 in Albuquerque and wrapped in September 2024 after seven months of work. For much of that time, the show was shot under the working title Wycaro 339. The official name, Pluribus, was revealed in July 2025 when Apple announced its release date.

With its mix of science fiction, drama, and dark comedy, Pluribus looks to be very different from Gilligan’s earlier crime dramas. Still, it carries his trademark style of exploring strange worlds through complicated characters.

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