Pluribus Is the Best Series Premiere I’ve Ever Watched — Full Stop

I know I’m late to the party, but I’m finally checking out Pluribus.

It’s been sitting on my watchlist for months, and honestly, I have no idea why I waited this long.

I went in knowing next to nothing, which meant I could take it entirely on its own terms. From what I’d seen online, the gist was simple: the world is happy, and Carol is the outlier.

(Apple TV/Screenshot)

If you’ve followed my coverage of shows like The Last of Us or The Walking Dead, you know I’m a sucker for anything even remotely post-apocalyptic, so this was always going to be in my wheelhouse.

When everyone hypes something as the next big thing, I usually go in ready to poke holes in it.

I’ve covered enough TV over the years to know that not everything lives up to the noise.

But Pluribus doesn’t waste time trying to prove itself.

(Courtesy of Apple TV)

The premiere does a fantastic job of laying out the world in a single episode without feeling rushed. We meet Carol on her book tour, confidently engaging with fans, completely in control on the surface.

But behind the scenes, it’s a different story.

Pluribus Delivers on All Fronts

She’s clearly disconnected from the work she’s promoting, stuck telling stories she’s no longer invested in, and you can feel that frustration bubbling under the surface.

Anyone familiar with the publishing world will recognize it immediately — people don’t always get to write what they love, they write what sells. It makes sense, but it’s still soul-destroying.

(Courtesy of Apple TV)

And then the show flips everything on its head.

Carol’s already having a rough day, and then the world quite literally stops. Everyone around her falls into a frozen, almost trance-like state, and she’s the only one left unaffected.

We get a bit of context from the scientists early on, but for Carol, this is a complete shock. In an instant, she goes from being someone going through the motions to the only person who isn’t part of whatever is happening.

She becomes the outlier, and our way into this new reality.

(Courtesy of Apple TV)

The show doesn’t pull its punches, either. Killing off Helen — Carol’s wife and manager — this early is a bold move that immediately raises the emotional stakes.

I’m not entirely sold on how Carol ends up as the only unhappy person on Earth, but after losing her wife like that, how could she be anything else?

Carol Promises to be a Character Worth Following

Grief doesn’t just disappear, and it’ll be interesting to see how the series navigates that when everyone else seems locked into this unnatural state of happiness.

My guess is she won’t stay alone for long, whether that means finding others like her or crossing paths with people trying to stop whatever’s happening.

(Courtesy of Apple TV)

Either way, the setup is strong.

For a series premiere, Pluribus checks every box and then some, and if this is the baseline, I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Not that it’s surprising, considering it comes from Vince Gilligan, the mind behind Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.

I’m just annoyed I didn’t start it sooner.

(Apple TV/Screenshot)

I don’t say this lightly, but this is one of the most effective series premieres I’ve ever watched.

So many shows take multiple episodes to find their footing, but Pluribus comes out of the gate fully formed, confident in its world, its characters, and the story it wants to tell.

Honestly, it’s hard to think of another premiere in recent years that balances character work and high-concept storytelling this well.

Alright, TV Fanatics! I want to hear from YOU!

(Apple TV/Screenshot)

How does Pluribus measure up to other TV shows you’ve watched in the past? Do you agree that it’s better than most of them?

Let’s delve into it in the comments section below.

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