PLUR1BUS Brings Back Two of TV’s Best Creatives in an Intriguing Sci-Fi Story

The solo-hero story is one of the riskiest projects in television. If the protagonist fails to connect with the audience, the show has few traditional dramatic elements — such as character chemistry, sharp dialogue, or intersecting plotlines — to fall back on. Yet Apple TV’s new series PLUR1BUS succeeds in crafting a solo-hero saga that not only introduces a protagonist viewers can’t help but connect with, but also delivers a story that, after two episodes, is compelling enough to keep audiences watching.

The story revolves around Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn), the author of high-brow romance novels, who doesn't truly understand why her books are so popular. One night after a long "book promotional" tour, she returns to her hometown with her companion, Helen. Unfortunately, their arrival occurs smack-dab in the middle of a global crisis. It seems that the deciphering of a special message from a faraway alien society has led to a heightened state of euphoria in the minds of everyone in the world, except for Carol and a handful of other people across the globe.  

Scared and confused about the events, and angry that the situation ended up killing Helen, Carol must cope with her new normal without any support and against an opponent that, although it is friendly to a fault, is nevertheless dead set on turning her into one of their own.

While the story of an alien terror based on an extreme helpfulness and happiness that is super-sensitive to Carol’s negativity is an interesting take on the doomsday apocalypse genre is a premise is well worth watching the series for on its own, what makes PLUR1BUS stand out even more is Seehorn’s portrayal of Carol.

Although few would have recognized her a decade ago, Rhea Seehorn has since captivated millions of television viewers with her mesmerizing portrayal of Kim Wexler, Saul Goodman’s (Bob Odenkirk) partner in Better Call Saul. As a side note, Better Call Saul’s creator, Vince Gilligan, is also behind PLUR1BUS.

Seehorn’s standout talent lies in her ability to embody ordinary individuals thrust into extraordinary circumstances, situations that demand far more emotional and psychological bandwidth than they’re accustomed to. In Better Call Saul, that challenge came in the form of a transnational criminal enterprise. In PLUR1BUS, it’s an as-yet-unidentified alien society.

The “secret sauce” of both stories lies in Seehorn's portrayal of the average person "muddling through" adversity. Her character in Better Call Saul was ultimately broken by her circumstances. In PLUR1BUS, however, Carol appears to be navigating a different course, having identified a potential vector for success in a seemingly impossible situation. Whether this leads to a different outcome remains to be seen.

PLUR1BUS is currently airing on AppleTV. Check out the series and let us know what you think in the comments.