7 Best Shows Like Apple TV’s Pluribus

I’ve been totally hooked on Apple TV+’s new sci-fi series, Pluribus. It’s created by Vincent Gilligan, who you probably know as the mastermind behind Breaking Bad, so I had high expectations. What’s really interesting is that the cast isn’t filled with huge names – though Rhea Seehorn, who was fantastic in Better Call Saul, is leading the show. She plays one of only twelve people left on Earth who haven’t been affected by this crazy virus that turns everyone into a hive mind.

The new series Pluribus offers a truly unique concept, and even after just a few episodes, it’s exploring complex themes like independence and isolation alongside its thriller and noir elements. This positions it among the best science fiction shows ever made. If you’re enjoying Pluribus, here are seven other TV series you’ll likely appreciate.

The Leftovers (HBO)

3 Seasons – 2014-2017

Both The Leftovers and Pluribus explore the emotional fallout following a massive, life-changing event. Pluribus centers around a virus that connects everyone into a single consciousness, fundamentally altering humanity. The Leftovers begins with the mysterious disappearance of 2% of the global population, an event that shatters society and makes people re-examine everything they believe in, who they are, and how they connect with others.

Both shows center around themes of grief, loneliness, and the quest for purpose. In Damon Lindelof’s brilliant, yet often overlooked, series The Leftovers, the world hasn’t ended, but almost everyone is grappling with profound personal loss – whether it’s the death of someone they loved, a crisis of faith, or a feeling of losing their own identity.

Both The Leftovers and Pluribus center around the difficult process of recovery after something deeply shocking happens. Neither show provides simple explanations, and Pluribus is still developing its central puzzle. The Leftovers powerfully explores the vulnerability and strength of people when everything they rely on is taken away, making it a great choice for anyone who appreciates the thoughtful and unsettling nature of Pluribus.

The Last Man On Earth (Fox)

4 Seasons – 2015-2018

Although The Last Man on Earth isn’t as focused on scientific detail as Pluribus, it delves into similar emotional territory, which is what makes the Apple TV series so captivating. While it’s presented as a comedy, The Last Man on Earth uses humor to explore deeper issues of loneliness and overcoming depression after the end of the world.

Similar to Rhea Seehorn’s character, Carol Sturka, Will Forte’s Phil Miller isn’t immediately presented as a purely good person—though Carol’s story is only just starting. Visually, The Last Man on Earth shares some of the unsettling quiet and spaciousness of Pluribus, but it’s much smaller in scope.

Despite not having a huge budget like some shows, The Last Man on Earth still manages to create a powerfully quiet and eerie atmosphere. Though it has some lighthearted moments, the show ultimately makes you feel more uneasy than at ease. It’s a shame The Last Man on Earth ended after four seasons, but it’s more comedic and optimistic than Pluribus, even though they both explore similar emotional themes.

Devs (Hulu/Disney)

1 Season – 2020

Both Devs and Pluribus explore similar themes of science fiction set in the near future, but they’re especially linked by their shared exploration of free will, fate, and how much control people really have over their lives. In Devs, a highly secretive quantum computing project forces the characters to question whether their decisions are genuinely their own, or if they’re just the inevitable result of a pre-written plan.

Pluribus explores a similar unsettling question as Devs, but focuses on how it impacts both living creatures and society. The story’s virus creates a collective consciousness, making Carol fear losing control of herself. Her struggle to find a solution mirrors Lily’s quest in the sci-fi series Devs, where one person holds the key to a complex system.

Both stories feature characters who haven’t discovered their potential to change things. Their determination, deep connection to another person, and habit of challenging the status quo actually give them the power to reshape their world. Carol’s fight isn’t just against a disease; it’s a battle to preserve her own identity and beliefs.

Invasion (ABC)

1 Season – 2005-2006

Like Pluribus, Invasion explores the idea of a hidden threat – though Pluribus claims it’s a virus, while Invasion features a classic alien takeover. The show follows a Florida town as it’s quietly invaded by alien creatures that live in water. These creatures clone and replace people, slowly taking over the town.

As things started to shift with the town and its people, the show really dug into some seriously unsettling psychological stuff and body horror. It got me thinking about the same questions as the film Pluribus – what really makes us human, and what happens when that line gets blurred? It was incredibly moving, too, because characters were forced to mourn people who were… well, still there in a way, which was just heartbreaking.

The key difference between the two shows is how much information they reveal. Invasion builds tension by keeping both its characters and the audience guessing, relying on the fear of the unknown. Pluribus, however, immediately tells its main character, Carol, what’s going on, but this doesn’t make her feel secure because she doesn’t trust the people who are explaining it.

Despite being canceled after just one season, Invasion has become a beloved show for many, and is often mentioned as one of television’s best prematurely ended series. This is quite different from Pluribus, which Apple ordered for two seasons upfront, essentially ensuring a more complete storyline.

Westworld (HBO)

4 Seasons – 2016-2022

Both Westworld and Pluribus explore similar themes, particularly regarding free will, independence, and the ethics of control. Westworld approaches these ideas through the story of artificial intelligence – its “Hosts” are programmed with every thought and action – but ultimately raises the same challenging questions as Pluribus.

Both the novel Pluribus and the HBO series Westworld explore the idea of control disguised as freedom. In Pluribus, a group called the Others claims to be improving humanity by creating order, but this comes at the expense of personal freedom and genuine decision-making. Westworld presents a similar concept, with characters initially believing their actions are their own, only to realize they are following a carefully planned path.

Both shows explore the tricky balance between helpful leadership and strict control, prompting us to question if a flawlessly organized society is worth sacrificing individual freedom. Essentially, Westworld offers a more dramatic and visually stunning take on the same ideas as Pluribus, using science fiction to examine these central conflicts. In fact, Pluribus might be the ideal story to understand the implications of artificial intelligence.

3 Body Problem (Netflix)

1 Season (Renewed For 2 & 3) – 2024-present

Both 3 Body Problem and Pluribus tell stories about humanity’s first contact with aliens who seem friendly, but whose attempts to help actually cause a lot of damage. In both cases, the aliens think very differently from humans, and this leads to the problems.

The creators of Game of Thrones, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, portray the San-Ti in 3 Body Problem as rational beings who first reach out using a coded message, similar to how the Pluribus virus spreads. The San-Ti become alarmed when they discover humans are capable of lying, deception, and unpredictable planning, and this fear motivates them to seek control.

In Pluribus, the Others come to a similar conclusion, but through a different process: they believe humans are too unpredictable to effectively improve the planet or themselves. This leads to a subtle, peaceful takeover, reminiscent of what might happen in 3 Body Problem once the San-Ti actually land on Earth.

While the first season of 3 Body Problem stops just before the aliens physically arrive, Pluribus explores what life would be like under their control – a situation where the aliens believe they’re acting in humanity’s best interest, even if people disagree.

Severance (Apple)

2 Seasons (Renewed For Season 3) – 2022-present

Though seemingly different, the TV shows Severance and Pluribus explore similar themes. Severance deliberately presents a future workplace where technology isn’t about impressive displays, but rather about cold, hard efficiency.

Lumon Industries doesn’t try to change the world, but rather controls its employees by dividing their memories. This creates two distinct selves – an ‘Innie’ who exists only at work, and an ‘Outie’ who lives their life outside of work – and prevents them from ever fully understanding each other. The recent season finale of Severance powerfully demonstrates this unsettling and effective method of control through the strategic use of separation and what’s missing.

Unlike Severance, which focuses on the fear of lost memories, Pluribus presents a different kind of horror: a shared consciousness where everyone knows everything, but personal feelings and individual experiences are lost. While Severance explores what happens when memories are taken away, Pluribus delves into the terror of having too much knowledge without any emotional connection to it.

Both Severance and Pluribus center around secretive groups with unknown intentions. We never quite learn what Lumon or the Others are really after, and that mystery is a key part of their appeal. However, it’s clear that Apple TV is becoming a powerhouse for smart, suspenseful science fiction with these shows, as well as Silo. They’re really leading the way in high-quality sci-fi storytelling right now.

2025-11-20 21:52