Apple TV+'s double-episode Pluribus premiere has finally answered some of the biggest questions about Vince Gilligan's sci-fi show, but the project's enigmatic formula still hasn't been completely unveiled. After "We Is Us" provides the show with a solid pilot that perfectly sets up Pluribus' darkly alluring premise, "Pirate Lady" then builds the world impressively quickly.
Pluribus' expert-level marketing has managed to elicit immense excitement about the show without giving almost anything away about the larger storyline. While it's been known for while that some sort of happiness-adjacent virus was set to be released upon humanity, the fallout of such an event has been left up to the imagination of those waiting for Apple TV+ to begin dropping episodes.
Thankfully, the first two installments are streaming now, and another will continue to arrive every Friday until the season 1 finale on December 26. That said, there is already plenty to unpack and analyze in "We Is Us" and "Pirate Lady." Each of the two episodes are great in their own way, and masterfully create heaps of anticipation for the rest of Pluribus' inaugural run.
Warning: FULL SPOILERS ahead for Pluribus season 1, episodes 1 & 2!
Pluribus' first episode is an apocalyptic origin story unlike any I've seen before
Showrunner Vince Gilligan's version of the end of the world is a little more optimistic than most — but that's sort of the point. While a fictitious apocalypse can often involve a zombie virus or an extraterrestrial threat, Pluribus softly combines both tropes while stitching in some very unique elements. Besides, the world doesn't end in the conventional sense. Instead, the "psychic glue" that takes hold of almost every human on Earth actually results in what many other stories would label a utopian society.
Pluribus' unsettling landscape allows Rhea Seehorn to shine as Carol Sturka. The disillusioned author who's oddly apathetic to her literary success is the perfect character for the Better Call Saul star to bring to life, although only shades of Seehorn's performances from her time as Kim Wexler in the Breaking Bad spinoff are present in the Apple TV+ sci-fi show. Seehorn helps makes Carol the perfect flawed protagonist, who can easily be seen as a villain through even a slightly different pair of eyes.
This is, of course, a Vince Gilligan signature move. So, it's not surprising it's been woven into Pluribus too, but it feels joyously fresh against the background of a different genre. Along with the genius character design and compelling narrative bedrock, Pluribus' stunning cinematography allows the story to unfold to its fullest potential. The result is that "We Is Us" becomes the gold standard of what a pilot episode should be.
Episode Grade: A+
"Pirate Lady" is the perfect follow-up to Pluribus' first episode, but is great in a different way
Pluribus' second episode addresses the immediate chaotic aftermath of the — for lack of a better turn of phrase — outbreak of world peace. Although the event in "We Is Us" is initially framed as an entirely negative occurence, "Pirate Lady" is the first time the show started to gradually skew my perspective of what had happened to the human race.
Sure, the functional loss of individuality is a fairly common trope associated with sci-fi villains, but Pluribus' second episode makes the show's characters (and me) wonder whether the mysterious pervasive force has actually benefited the Earth's inhabitants. The obvious answer feels like it should be "no, of course it hasn't," but scratch just a little below the surface and there's nothing there but doubt.
"Pirate Lady" also introduces several new characters who will surely be pivotal moving forward, but even if they aren't, they've already contributed so much to the story. It's pretty clear that Zosia (Karolina Wydra) is more than just a curiously familiar face chosen with the hope that Carol will be more cooperative. Despite almost everyone basically being the same person, Zosia appears to have built a strong bond with Carol by the end of "Pirate Lady." The way Seehorn's character rushes out to stop Air Force One's departure with Zosia aboard suggests the affection is mutual.
What I find most impressive about "Pirate Lady" is the episode's restraint. It would be very easy for Gilligan to include reams of expositional dialogue pertaining to the joining of humanity's conciousness into a creepy hive mind. Thankfully, he's far more subtle than that. Gilligan instead opts for embedding context clues into both episodes, but most prominently in "Pirate Lady." Of course, a lot of helpful information can be gleaned from Carol's conversations with Zosia and the other joined characters, but it's also important to keep an eye out for the various visual breadcrumbs.
Episode Grade: A+
The rest of Pluribus season 1 has a lot to live up to now
Granted, Pluribus essentially had a baked-in fan base before it even aired. Apple TV+'s reputation for brilliant sci-fi shows paired with the man behind Pluribus having already experienced immense critical acclaim meant the project always seemed destined to reach the highest of heights. That said, it's never a guarantee that a show like Pluribus will hit the ground running.
Gilligan and company should be very proud of the way Pluribus has started, but the quality of the first two episodes creates the possibility of a dip during later installments. It's rare that any show is perfect throughout, so I expect this downturn to occur at some point. On the other hand, even a slight dip from the brilliance of "We Is Us" and "Pirate Lady" would still make Pluribus one of the best and most promising new shows on TV.
Pluribus season 1's double-episode premiere is streaming now on Apple TV+, with a new episode coming every Friday until December 26, 2025.