Vince Gilligan’s new series Pluribus explores a world of enforced happiness
Vince Gilligan, known for his acclaimed works Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, has ventured into new territory with his latest series, Pluribus, which examines a world transformed by a virus that induces happiness in everyone except one individual, reports BritPanorama.
The series features Rhea Seehorn, reuniting with Gilligan as the main character, Carol, a best-selling romance novelist who is decidedly unhappy in a world where everyone else is blissfully cheerful due to a mental connection. The setting, primarily in Albuquerque, New Mexico, retains some thematic ties to Gilligan’s previous works, yet diverges significantly in genre, shifting towards science fiction.
Unlike his previous narratives entrenched in the realism of crime and morality, Pluribus tackles the concept of a virus that spreads positivity globally. This bug connects people’s minds, creating a collective joy that isolates Carol. As she grapples with the pervasive cheerfulness surrounding her, her struggle intensifies, leading her on a dangerous quest to uncover the truths behind her loneliness amid universal contentment.
Gilligan’s storytelling once again places a complex central character at the forefront, and Seehorn delivers a nuanced performance, embodying Carol’s fury and confusion without succumbing to victimhood. The series highlights her as a formidable force, illustrating a departure from Gilligan’s traditional male anti-heroes.
In this expansive narrative, Gilligan also broadens the series’ geographical scope, contrasting the intimacy of Albuquerque with locations spanning Morocco, Spain, and even outer space. This ambitious setting elevates the narrative’s stakes while maintaining its surreal, comedic tone.
Amidst the backdrop of a society driven by enforced happiness, Pluribus poses essential questions about the nature of joy and the human condition. The characters’ newfound obsession with making others happy becomes a critique of contemporary societal pressures to conform, engage in ‘people-pleasing’, and avoid discomfort or dissent.
Gilligan, expressing a desire to move beyond the ‘bad guys’ he is known for, has crafted a series that defies expectations, blending humor and sci-fi elements seamlessly. As Pluribus unfolds, it becomes clear that, while it may not replicate the groundbreaking impact of Breaking Bad, it carves out its own significant and thought-provoking narrative.
Pluribus is streaming on Apple TV. New episodes stream on Fridays.
