Pluribus: Vince Gilligan’s Thought-Provoking Sci-Fi Series Sparks Breaking Bad Comparisons

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Many people love the first few seasons of Breaking Bad, but some still point out a recurring weakness. Now, viewers are starting to wonder if Pluribus, the new sci-fi series from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, has the same issue. Although Pluribus explores a different genre than Gilligan’s previous crime dramas, his distinct style is still noticeable throughout the show.

The podcast Pluribus stars Rhea Seehorn, known from Better Call Saul, as Carol Sturka. Carol is a romance novelist living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who believes her life has been destroyed by a strange genetic mutation with alien roots. She turns out to be one of only thirteen people in the world who are immune to a virus that connects everyone else’s minds, effectively creating a single, collective consciousness.

The first episode is full of suspense and fast-paced action, following Carol as she tries to get medical help for her girlfriend and manager, Helen, who has suddenly started having seizures. Carol quickly realizes the whole town is experiencing the same thing—but then everyone wakes up at once, acting strangely and seeming to know a lot about her personal life. It’s a compelling start to the series, though Pluribus might tread into potentially problematic territory reminiscent of Breaking Bad.

Pluribus Has Been A Slow Burn So Far

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Since its exciting first episode, Pluribus has become much calmer, with fewer chases, explosions, and stolen cars. The third episode, “Grenade,” featured a lengthy, artistic sequence of the “pod people” (as Carol refers to them) refilling her grocery store. Prior to that, the second episode, “Pirate Lady,” largely consisted of a conversation between Carol and the other five people who can also speak English.

In the first episode, the pod people repeating “We just want to help, Carol” was unsettling and created a sense of dread. However, starting with episode 2, it became obvious they were genuinely trying to assist. This change in tone allowed the show, Pluribus, to focus less on exciting action and more on exploring deeper ideas and its true intentions.

The full meaning and impact of the world created in Pluribus are still becoming clear. During a discussion on Air Force One, someone pointed out to Carol that she hadn’t once asked the beings she encountered about their feelings or experiences. It isn’t until the episode “Grenade” that Carol truly starts to connect with them, and even then, it shows just how much remains unknown.

Breaking Bad Also Started Slow — Or Did It?

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Actually, the show didn’t rely solely on action. While later seasons of Breaking Bad definitely featured more robberies, explosions, and deaths, those aren’t the only signs of a compelling story. The series increasingly focused on Walter White’s extreme actions – from witnessing Jesse’s girlfriend’s overdose to poisoning a child, and much more – demonstrating a significant escalation of events.

It’s likely a lot happened behind the scenes to change a quiet high school chemistry teacher into someone capable of such actions. The first steps of that transformation weren’t as dramatic, but they were still important for the story’s progress.

Key moments like Walt’s initial foray into making meth, Jesse’s first steps toward sobriety, and Walt sharing his cancer diagnosis with his family fundamentally altered the lives of the characters and the direction of the story. These turning points, rather than flashy action, truly demonstrate a show’s progress and development.

You Shouldn’t Expect Pluribus To Be an Action-Packed Show

Unlike the action-packed explosions in Breaking Bad, the new series Pluribus takes a different approach – and that’s perfectly fine. It’s not a fast-paced, shoot-’em-up sci-fi show. Instead, it’s thought-provoking and atmospheric, similar to Severance or Black Mirror, rather than shows like Breaking Bad or The Last of Us.

We now understand what’s happening: the ‘pod people’ seem to be genuine, and currently pose no threat (except for the potential of spreading their ‘happiness virus’ to Carol). The main things we’re watching now are how Carol reacts and what this all means for the future.

In the story “Pirate Lady”, it’s casually mentioned that the alien duplicates released all the zoo animals. Tragically, some of those animals, like lions and tigers, then attacked and killed the duplicates. Despite this, the duplicates later explain they are peaceful and don’t eat meat. They’re willing to consume existing meat products, but refuse to kill any animal, even to protect themselves.

The fact that the pod people don’t seem to care about their own safety is crucial to understanding how Carol views them. This idea is further examined in the episode “Grenade,” which, fittingly, includes an explosion.

When someone asked Carol if she needed help, she sarcastically requested a hand grenade. To her shock, they actually gave her one. Not expecting them to follow through, Carol pulled the pin, causing an explosion that severely injured Zosia, who bravely jumped in front of Carol to shield her.

Carol is shocked and asks more questions. The pod people reveal they’d give her any weapon she desired, even something incredibly powerful like an atomic bomb. Though this part of the story mainly shows Carol relaxing by watching Golden Girls and doing errands, it’s significant because she now understands just how willing the pod people are to do anything she asks.

Because the inhabitants of Pluribus show no aggression towards Carol, a violent conflict is unlikely, even though she remains cautious. The story then shifts to exploring Carol’s personal beliefs, prompting questions about whether free will is worth the potential downsides, and if living in a completely shared society could be beneficial.

Watching how these concepts develop and shift Carol’s beliefs is what we can expect as the story of Pluribus unfolds, and that’s definitely something to look forward to.

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2025-11-21 02:49