According to Forbes, Apple TV+’s new sci-fi thriller Pluribus premiered on November 7 with its first two episodes, earning a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes from 74 critic reviews. The series from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan features Rhea Seehorn as one of only 13 people immune to an alien virus that turns humanity into a peaceful hive mind. New episodes drop every Friday at 9 p.m. ET/midnight PT, with the third episode arriving November 14 and the Season 1 finale scheduled for December 26. The first season consists of nine episodes total, which is typical for Apple TV+ freshman series. An Apple TV+ subscription costs $12.99 monthly or $99.99 annually, though new users can access a seven-day free trial.
What Makes This Show Different
Here’s the thing about Pluribus – it’s not your typical alien invasion story. The premise is genuinely bizarre: scientists detect an alien signal containing RNA for a virus, and when they’re exposed, they become compelled to kiss each other to spread the infection. Basically, it’s an alien takeover through forced happiness and unity. The show asks what happens when resistance means choosing loneliness over connection. And honestly, that’s way more interesting than another “aliens shoot lasers” scenario.
Why Critics Are Obsessed
The show’s pulling off something pretty remarkable – it’s maintaining that perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score after 74 reviews. That’s nearly unheard of for any series, let alone a sci-fi one. NPR’s Linda Holmes called it “one of the era’s most relevant works” if loneliness turns out to be humanity’s legacy. Meanwhile, The New York Times’ James Poniewozik described it as “wildly fanciful but unsettlingly real at its core.” So what’s the secret? Probably that Vince Gilligan magic – taking a completely absurd premise and making you feel every emotional beat.
Your Weekly Viewing Plan
Now that you’re hooked after the first two episodes, here’s your roadmap. Episode 3 drops November 14, and we’ll get new installments every Friday after that. The season wraps right after Christmas on December 26. That weekly release strategy is actually smart for building anticipation – remember when Netflix used to do that instead of dumping entire seasons at once? It creates that watercooler moment where everyone’s talking about the same episode. And with only nine episodes total, each one needs to count.
Getting Access to the Show
If you haven’t jumped on Apple TV+ yet, there are a few ways to watch without immediately paying. The seven-day free trial is perfect for binging the available episodes, and if you’ve bought any new Apple device recently, you might qualify for three free months. At $12.99 monthly, it’s competitively priced against other streamers, though the content library is obviously smaller. But with shows like this and the Ted Lasso universe, they’re proving quality over quantity might just work. You can check out the series and sign up at Apple TV+.
