Vince Gilligan’s highly anticipated new Apple TV series, Pluribus, finally arrived with episode 1, “We Is Us.” The sci-fi drama starring Rhea Seehorn follows a bestselling author whose world is turned upside-down at the onset of an infectious viral outbreak that collapses society.
Before meeting our reluctant protagonist, viewers are introduced to a small group of scientists who make a remarkable discovery. A foreign radio signal — breaking all scientific logic — arrives on the planet from 600 light-years away. The professional nerds are ecstatic with their findings. One hundred days later, the small group balloons to a federal operation, with a department of infectious disease running tests to no avail. That is, until a freak accident with a lab rat causes exposure. Soon, those infected quickly multiply.
In the meantime, we meet Carol Struka, a fantasy romance author who is at her wits’ end with the pageantry of her own success. She’s become bored with the art and the cultishly devout fans it has wrought. Paired with her agent and partner, Helen, she yearns to complete her passion project. A work that departs from the low-hanging material that has garnered her notoriety. It will remain on hold while they complete the current book tour. Returning home to Albuquerque, the couple relaxes at a local bar when tragedy strikes: Helen suffers a medical emergency. And she isn’t alone. Carol realizes everyone around her has succumbed to the same immobilizing seizure.
As Carol struggles to get Helen medical attention, the world around her cascades into chaos. Just as quickly as it started, the collective seizures cease as Carol arrives at a hospital. Her relief soon turns to horror. Helen doesn’t wake up. And those who did are different, moving as a gleeful hive mind, and Carol remains the odd one out.
She arrives home seeking answers and receives them via a personal phone call from a government official on CSPAN. After offering his condolences for her loss, he informs her that an alien radio signal transmitted through space reached Earth as a virus and has attached like a psychic glue. And eventually, they want Carol to join their ranks.
This first episode is brilliant in its narrative choices, introducing us to our main character and the conflict immediately. Its quirky humor meshes well with the horror elements, akin to another series about body snatchers, BrainDead. The dramatic portions are also strong, making us care deeply for Carol and Helen at the onset. And the choice to remove Helen, for the time being, feels more extreme than if she became one of them. Directed and written by Gilligan, the pacing is perfect, allowing viewers to experience the slow dread as Carol does. Seehorn is brilliant in carrying a long stretch of the episode by herself, which wouldn’t be possible without the great work of the background actors. The episode also does a great job flipping Carol’s faux glee with fans from earlier in the episode, making that her uncomfortable reality. Overall, a stellar start to this genre-bending series.
Rating: 9/10