For over a decade, the name Vince Gilligan has been a sacred chant for connoisseurs of prestige television. From the meth-fueled moral decay of Breaking Bad to the tragic, slow-burn downfall of Better Call Saul, Gilligan has proven himself a master craftsman of character-driven drama. So, when his new project for Apple TV+, the enigmatically titled ‘Pluribus’, was announced, the question wasn’t if it would be good, but what kind of good it would be. After viewing the first three episodes, the answer is clear: ‘Pluribus’ is a mind-bending, ambitious leap into new territory, but its greatest triumph is providing a long-overdue throne for its queen, Rhea Seehorn.
From Albuquerque to Apple: A New Universe from Vince Gilligan
Departing from the sun-drenched, dusty noir of Albuquerque, ‘Pluribus’ plunges us into a world of sterile labs, quantum physics, and existential dread. This is a high-concept sci-fi puzzle box that feels both deeply intelligent and profoundly human. This isn’t Gilligan chasing trends; this is him applying his signature slow-burn tension and meticulous character work to a genre that is often more concerned with spectacle than soul. The Gilligan touch is everywhere: the supporting cast is immaculate, the dialogue is razor-sharp, and the cinematography paints a world that is both beautiful and deeply unnerving.
Rhea Seehorn Finally Gets the Leading Role She Deserves
Let’s be clear: anyone who watched Better Call Saul knew Rhea Seehorn was a singular talent. Her portrayal of Kim Wexler was a masterclass in subtlety, a symphony of micro-expressions played behind a steely poker face. The fact that she was repeatedly overlooked by major awards bodies remains one of modern television’s most baffling oversights. With ‘Pluribus’, Gilligan and Apple haven’t just cast her in a leading role; they have built an entire universe around her astonishing capabilities, and she inhabits it with a force that is nothing short of breathtaking.
What Is ‘Pluribus’ About?
In the new Apple TV+ series, Seehorn plays Dr. Aris Thorne, a brilliant but troubled physicist who, after a catastrophic experiment, finds herself untethered from her own reality. While we won’t spoil the show’s central conceit, it challenges its characters and the audience to question the nature of identity and choice. All the clever plotting and slick, futuristic production design would be an empty shell without a compelling centre, and Seehorn provides a gravitational one.
A Masterpiece Built Around a Tour-de-Force Performance
What a centre Seehorn is. The show demands she walk a quantum tightrope, often portraying multiple facets of the same character, each shaded with minute, devastating differences. One moment, her Thorne is brittle with grief and professional failure; the next, she’s radiating a chilling, unfamiliar confidence. The nuance that made Kim Wexler a fan favourite is magnified here tenfold. We see the years of quiet strength, the flashes of contained panic, and the explosive intellect all warring for control behind her eyes. It is the kind of complex, demanding role that leading men have been lauded for for years, and Seehorn attacks it with a ferocious grace. This is her canvas, and she is painting a masterpiece.
The Verdict: Is ‘Pluribus’ Worth Watching?
Yes. ‘Pluribus’ is a challenging, rewarding series that cements Apple TV+ as a home for audacious storytelling. More importantly, however, it serves as a powerful coronation for its lead actor. For years, fans have been saying that Rhea Seehorn deserved the world. With ‘Pluribus’, Vince Gilligan has finally given it to her. Cancel your plans. The best performance on television has arrived.
