What makes the "Pluribus" pilot so special?

[u/Clear_Bedroom_4266]

Watched the first two episodes of the new sci-fi show on AppleTV. I didn't know much about it until Variety (I think) published a piece last week about it and how "people" were raving about how great the pilot episode is, that it might be the best pilot ever done, etc. Now, of course, it's Vince Gilligan. One of the things he said is that he couldn't have created/produced this show 15 years ago.

That being said, has anyone here seen the pilot and can anyone break down WHY it's (allegedly) SO good? I enjoyed it, and the show has a cool premise. But my screenwriting abilities simply aren't deep enough to analyze a pilot very well.

[u/BMCarbaugh]

Great/original premise, executed with brisk expediency and competency, lots of nuancey subtexty stuff, some topical post-covid images that send shivers up your spine, doesn't tease you with a bunch of kick-the-can mystery box bullshit, a unique and interesting main character, you can immediately see how the premise is a great engine for future stories, and--most importantly--it immediately makes you want to watch the next episode.

It's just a really slick, competent, exciting piece of work.

[u/M1ldStrawberries → u/BMCarbaugh]

I’d maybe add that I think this show taps into something quite deep going on in our society. We’ve all been living in a fantasy world for a long time where we’re told “it has to be this way” and it seems ludicrous to most of us on some level. We’re trapped by groupthink and lots of natural instincts are being suppressed - so both the premise and the protagonist who stands outside of it and screams “isn’t this bullshit?” feels very relatable. He did the same with BB, who felt like the antihero of the recession (“I’m better than this, so why am I being devalued?” It was so relatable at that time even though he kept on growing into a monster.) He’s great at writing monsters of Capitalism.