Vince Gilligan's New Show Makes Smiling Terrifying

Max Sterling, 10/23/2025Vince Gilligan's "Pluribus" serves up a deliciously twisted antidote to our happiness-obsessed culture. When a virus turns humanity into perpetually cheerful zombies, one gloriously miserable woman becomes humanity's last hope. Think "Black Mirror" meets "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," but with that signature Gilligan bite.

Remember those insufferable social media posts about "choosing happiness" and "good vibes only"? Well, Gilligan's taken that concept and turned it into humanity's worst nightmare. The premise? A virus that transforms people into perpetually grinning optimists. (And you thought those motivational Instagram accounts were bad enough.)

At the center of this happiness apocalypse stands Carol—played by the brilliant Rhea Seehorn—who carries the dubious honor of being "the most miserable person on Earth." Fresh from her Emmy-nominated role as Kim Wexler in "Better Call Saul," Seehorn trades courtroom drama for something far more unsettling: the burden of being the last unhappy person in a world gone mad with joy.

The show's marketing campaign has been wickedly clever. There's this phone number (202-808-3981) that plays automated messages—exactly the kind of detailed world-building that made "Breaking Bad" feel so eerily real. It's almost like Gilligan's daring us to call, knowing we can't resist the urge to peek behind the curtain.

The cast includes some fascinating choices. Karolina Wydra ("Sneaky Pete") and Carlos-Manuel Vesga ("The Hijacking of Flight 601") are on board, along with guest appearances by Samba Schutte and Miriam Shor. Their roles? Well, that's still under wraps—though given the premise, they're probably sporting some seriously unsettling smiles.

Here's where things get really interesting. When asked about Carol's immunity to the happiness virus, Gilligan did that thing he does so well—dodged the question with all the grace of a practiced storyteller. "That's a question that several people have asked me starting back in the writers' room..." he teased, leaving us to wonder whether we'll ever get a straight answer. Classic Gilligan.

The title itself—"Pluribus"—feels like a sharp jab at American ideals. While "E Pluribus Unum" celebrates unity from diversity, this show seems to ask: What happens when that unity becomes uniformity? When the pressure to conform comes with a permanent smile?

Apple TV+ clearly sees something special here. They've already greenlit a second season, which in 2025's ruthlessly competitive streaming landscape, speaks volumes. The series kicks off with a double-episode premiere on November 7, followed by weekly drops through December 26—because nothing says "happy holidays" quite like existential dread about forced cheerfulness.

That trailer, though. Watching The Righteous Brothers' "You'll Never Walk Alone" play over scenes of manufactured joy... it's enough to make you question every genuine smile you've ever seen. Or maybe that's the point?

In an era where streaming platforms seem determined to outspend each other on increasingly hollow spectacles, "Pluribus" might be exactly what we need—a sharp reminder that sometimes the most human thing we can do is just... not smile. And isn't that a wonderfully miserable thought?

Just when streaming platforms seemed destined to drown us in an endless sea of feel-good content, Vince Gilligan throws us a deliciously twisted lifeline. His latest creation "Pluribus" doesn't just push boundaries—it gleefully stomps right over them.Remember those insufferable social media posts about "choosing happiness" and "good vibes only"? Well, Gilligan's taken that concept and turned it into humanity's worst nightmare. The premise? A virus that transforms people into perpetually grinning optimists. (And you thought those motivational Instagram accounts were bad enough.)At the center of this happiness apocalypse stands Carol—played by the brilliant Rhea Seehorn—who carries the dubious honor of being "the most miserable person on Earth." Fresh from her Emmy-nominated role as Kim Wexler in "Better Call Saul," Seehorn trades courtroom drama for something far more unsettling: the burden of being the last unhappy person in a world gone mad with joy.The show's marketing campaign has been wickedly clever. There's this phone number (202-808-3981) that plays automated messages—exactly the kind of detailed world-building that made "Breaking Bad" feel so eerily real. It's almost like Gilligan's daring us to call, knowing we can't resist the urge to peek behind the curtain.The cast includes some fascinating choices. Karolina Wydra ("Sneaky Pete") and Carlos-Manuel Vesga ("The Hijacking of Flight 601") are on board, along with guest appearances by Samba Schutte and Miriam Shor. Their roles? Well, that's still under wraps—though given the premise, they're probably sporting some seriously unsettling smiles.Here's where things get really interesting. When asked about Carol's immunity to the happiness virus, Gilligan did that thing he does so well—dodged the question with all the grace of a practiced storyteller. "That's a question that several people have asked me starting back in the writers' room..." he teased, leaving us to wonder whether we'll ever get a straight answer. Classic Gilligan.The title itself—"Pluribus"—feels like a sharp jab at American ideals. While "E Pluribus Unum" celebrates unity from diversity, this show seems to ask: What happens when that unity becomes uniformity? When the pressure to conform comes with a permanent smile?Apple TV+ clearly sees something special here. They've already greenlit a second season, which in 2025's ruthlessly competitive streaming landscape, speaks volumes. The series kicks off with a double-episode premiere on November 7, followed by weekly drops through December 26—because nothing says "happy holidays" quite like existential dread about forced cheerfulness.That trailer, though. Watching The Righteous Brothers' "You'll Never Walk Alone" play over scenes of manufactured joy... it's enough to make you question every genuine smile you've ever seen. Or maybe that's the point?In an era where streaming platforms seem determined to outspend each other on increasingly hollow spectacles, "Pluribus" might be exactly what we need—a sharp reminder that sometimes the most human thing we can do is just... not smile. And isn't that a wonderfully miserable thought?