Vince Gilligan’s “Pluribus” poses a unique sci-fi concept: “The most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness.” If you’re asking what that means, get ready, because “Pluribus” is all about asking the big questions; the questions with no answer.
Carol Sturka (Rhea Seahorn), a self-deprecating, romantasy author’s world is upended when an “invasion” on humanity connects the minds of every living human on the planet, creating a perfectly linked Hivemind. Yesterday, the world’s worries were about wars and poverty, the next day Carol is talking to the U.S. Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation through the TV, learning she is one of only thirteen humans left. Not only is Carol left completely alone, but it’s the Hivemind’s “biological imperative” to find a way to connect her mind to the Hive.
“Pluribus” is unique because it subverts the typical narrative. Gilligan challenges the viewer to debate about world altering events. This “end of humanity” has no definite good or bad, but instead a moral gray space that lets the viewer make their own conclusions. The opening season does not follow the typical hero’s arc, because there isn’t a typical villain and no exact goal. The Hivemind is not posed as an evil or malicious entity, but a peaceful collective. They are pacifists, and act as beck-and-call servants to the few remaining, sentient humans. The Hivemind claims that there is no more euphoric feeling being joined with them, but without direct consent, the invaders can’t change anything. Carol and many of the other humans are apprehensive, but viewers are left to consider if maybe the world is better off this way. There’s no more war, hate, or polarization, and vice versa there is no more connection, love, or passion.
The moral ambiguity is furthered by Carol, whom the show primarily follows, and is a point of contention amongst a variety of viewers. She is sour, angry and lacks direction, a steep contrast to the disposition of the Hive. Gilligan is quoted as making “Pluribus” for Seahorn: “I’m really doing it for her. She deserves to be the megastar that she is.” Rhea Seahorn is what makes “Pluribus” the masterpiece it is, as she is both relatable and impossibly annoying. “Pluribus” fronts Seahorn’s absurd ability to encompass an emotionally complex character as the show’s centerpiece. The characters around her act as catalysts for Carols, making the show less a story structured on plot, and more one centered on emotion and change. Carol struggles to determine whether she will become another cog in the machine, or if she is there to jam the whole sentient hivemind up, or if she should even do anything at all. What frustrated viewers about Carol was her lack of rationale. At times her decisions are rash, poorly planned, and even massively detrimental to society, but it’s this aspect about Carol that makes her such a unique character. She is not a device but a fleshed out person who is making the hardest choices. It is watching Carol make those tough decisions that keeps me hooked. It’s Rhea Seahorn and her encompassing Carol Sturka that crafts “Pluribus” into the mind melting thought piece about choices and humanity that it is.
Episodes vary in length, but average at 50 minutes. Although, to some “Pluribus” is too slow. Compared to “Breaking Bad,” which featured tense moments and actions frequently, “Pluribus” seems to drag out, focusing more on shots and symbolism as its emphasis. This is true, but the pace of “Pluribus” is actually what makes it strong television. Unlike movies which have quick turnarounds and aim to leave audiences with a full work in an hour and a half, “Pluribus” uses the fact that it has much more time to its advantage. Each episode is like a symbolistic puzzle, asking everyone to question each chapter’s meaning in relation to the experiences of Carol: hunger, isolation, peace. TV gives opportunities to zoom the lens of the plot out, and explore the world’s environment, colors, and secrets. I watched “Pluribus” week by week. I would sit and think about each episode for ages after viewing, attempting to parse the truth from the story, and in doing so, I enjoyed the show more than anything else I’ve ever watched.
“Pluribus” is an excellent show. It tackles the questions about authority and individuality that are at the forefront of the human mind. While the show is “science fiction,” the themes and environment explored couldn’t be more human if they tried. Everyone is left with a different take about “Pluribus”, what was right or wrong, what they liked or disliked, but it is humanity’s innate ability to understand nuance and discuss it with others that makes everybody their own individual person.
