Why Pluribus is suddenly the most talked about show on Apple TV

Apple TV has landed a rare industry moment with Pluribus, the new science fiction drama from Vince Gilligan that has debuted with a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score. The show arrived with little fanfare compared to some of the platform’s louder releases, yet the early reception has positioned it as one of the strongest contenders of the year. The praise has centred on Gilligan’s shift from his signature crime driven storytelling toward a stranger and more psychological concept, which follows a virus that infects people by making them feel perfectly satisfied with life. Critics found the premise both eerie and oddly grounded, noting that the show toys with the idea of enforced bliss in a way that unsettles more than it comforts.

Rhea Seehorn plays Carol, the one person who appears unaffected by the wave of sudden contentment that spreads through Albuquerque. Reviewers highlighted her performance as sharp and tightly controlled, bringing a layer of bite that cuts through the show’s cheerful façade. Many also remarked on the chemistry among the supporting cast, which includes Karolina Wydra, Carlos Manuel Vesga and Miriam Shor. Their interactions form the emotional backbone of the series, allowing the growing mystery to play out with steady tension.

The series drew immediate interest from fans of Better Call Saul, who recognised the reunion between Gilligan and Seehorn. However, rather than relying on nostalgic appeal, Pluribus clearly sets out to build its own identity. The tone is lighter in humour yet still charged with the same slow burn unease that made his earlier work iconic. Several critics have gone as far as calling it his most ambitious project, describing the central idea as deceptively simple but layered in execution.

Early online discussion has followed the glowing reviews, with social media users expressing surprise at the perfect score and sharing clips from the initial trailers. Some have already labelled it the next major streaming obsession, predicting debates about its themes once the full series becomes available. The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive across fan forums, where viewers are speculating about the origins of the virus and the deeper meaning behind Carol’s resistance to it.