Is no company better than creepy company?
That’s the core question at the center of “Pluribus,” a strange new series from “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan.
When my roommate turned on the first episode in November, I had no idea what to expect. The series’ central conflict — a vague happiness virus that spares all but 13 people — seemed like it could be the plot of a distant sequel to the movie “Smile.”
“Pluribus” chronicles angsty fantasy novelist Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn), who happens to be unaffected by an outbreak that claimed an eighth of the world’s population, including her girlfriend.
The remaining seven billion people on Earth share a hive-mind and do everything they can to earn the favor of the immune 13, with the hopes of eventually assimilating them into their pack.
When Carol meets the 12 other unaffected people, none of whom seem to share her interest in reverting the world back to how it was, much to her frustration.
The remaining episodes follow a more slice-of-life vibe Carol as she meanders around apocalyptic Albuquerque with her hive-mind “chaperone,” Zosia (Karolina Wydra).
Not to say there aren’t exciting moments or shocking reveals, but this show definitely holds its cards close to its chest.
What kept me watching was Carol’s painful lack of charisma. It’s hard not to feel secondhand embarrassment when she proudly lectures the other characters or spouts brazenly terrible Spanish.
It’s a testament to Seehorn’s acting chops that she’s able to effortlessly portray a character who’s so deservedly unpopular with her peers. Seehorn’s performance has an air of self-awareness since it truly leans into Carol’s chronic insufferableness, making her antics all the more entertaining.
It’s no wonder Seehorn won a Golden Globe for her performance.
Even though she was annoying, I found it hard not to feel for Carol. I constantly found myself questioning what was keeping her motivated to not only be alive, but also reverse the virus.
At the end of the day, “Pluribus” is a show about the grief that having the world served to you on a silver platter couldn’t fix.
Speaking of the world, I appreciated the show’s global scale compared to the hyperlocal southwest vibe of “Breaking Bad.” I had no idea Gilligan could crack jokes about language barriers or depict Latin American countries without a yellow-colored filter plastered over them. Huge character growth for sure.
Judging by the way streaming series go, I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a multi-year hiatus until we see Season 2. When the time comes, though, I’ll be happy to see what’s up with Carol and the gang.
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X: @migtsang
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