If anyone has been counting the days since the last decent Vince Gilligan show, their patience is about to be rewarded. Enter Pluribus, Apple TV's latest offering that does not include meth labs, tragic anti-heroes, or crime lords. Instead, it gives us a glimpse into a world where happiness might actually be a virus, and, no, this is not a self-help commercial. One can definitely expect shades of the same twists, but with a wild sci-fi curve that only Gilligan could dream up or live up?

Imagine an Earth where happiness is contagious, not in a good way. Perhaps Vince Gilligan might have some true-to-life remedies for it? 

Pluribus is not stolen from real life, no matter how much it might feel like the plot to an absurdist fever dream conjured from real-life experiences. Instead of crime, it explores an infection of relentless happiness, turning the world upside down with forced smiles and cheer. The main character, Carol, immune to this contagious joy, is an unwilling hero navigating a society gone bizarrely chipper. For those hoping for a true story, the show delivers pure imagination dipped in Vince Gilligan’s signature dark charm.

The virus of happiness infects everyone but Carol Sturka, a historical romance writer, oddly exempt from the manic bliss everyone else experiences. She is stuck in a surreal and pleasantly frenzied world where emotional freedom is the ultimate rebellion. With Gilligan at the helm, expect sharp insights into human nature wrapped in weird, unnerving humor. Pluribus' plot’s charm lies in how it flips joy from a gift to a burden, making viewers question the cost of forced contentment.

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When Vince Gilligan returns, the story may not be real, but if there is one thing to be sure about, it is that everything he creates is from his familiar soil—complete with faces only he can best recall.

Just as eerily as it was hinted at, Pluribus unfolds in the equally strange, familiar streets of Albuquerque, with Rhea Seehorn—the queen of deadpan from Better Call Saul, in the lead role. The tone is a sly blend of dark drama and wit, with Vince Gilligan’s trademark knack for creating complex characters facing extraordinary dilemmas. The quiet desperation behind forced smiles is where the real story simmers, offering a fresh departure while nodding to the master storyteller’s roots.

Launching November 7, 2025, Pluribus marks Vince Gilligan’s first original series outside the Breaking Bad universe since 2005. With two seasons lined up, it promises layered storytelling and psychological thrills wrapped in sci-fi packaging. For enthusiasts of inventive, thought-provoking TV with a dose of wry humor, Pluribus is well worth the wait; just be careful not to expect a history lesson on reality.

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Fact or not, how real do you think the plight of Pluribus is? Let us know in the comments below.