Apple TV's new series Pluribus has emerged as a standout in 2025's television landscape, showcasing a unique twist on the zombie apocalypse genre. The show, which features Rhea Seehorn in a leading role, diverges from traditional narratives by focusing on a queer female character instead of a male protagonist.
Created by Vince Gilligan, known for acclaimed series like Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Pluribus presents a world transformed by an extraterrestrial virus that instills happiness in its victims. The narrative centers around Carol, one of the few unaffected individuals, who navigates life in a society where the human population has become a blissful hive mind.
While the show incorporates profound themes regarding happiness and human behavior, it also emphasizes the everyday experiences of its characters in a post-apocalyptic setting. Viewers have been drawn in by the series' ability to blend horror with humor, particularly highlighted by scenes that reflect on comfort in nostalgia, such as watching The Golden Girls.