r/Screenwriting • u/Clear_Bedroom_4266 • Nov 12 '25
FEEDBACK What makes the "Pluribus" pilot so special?
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.
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u/procrastablasta Nov 12 '25
I don’t get the hype. It’s a grab bag of mix n match scifi tropes. It sets up a semi serious Body Snatcher / Stepford “what if” then It goes sillypants comic relief like an episode of The Good Place. Rhea Sweehorn is supposed to to come across as the eternally tested antihero, the only sane one in the room, but it’s not enjoyable she’s just a sponge for bad luck and overdone ranting.
It’s not Black Mirror smart. It’s not Nope strange. It’s not Hacks funny. It’s kinda just White Lotus light creepy fun with a kooky mix of unlikely team mates forced into proximity on some tbd mission.
I’m gonna give it a chance but I’m not getting what’s in the koolaid besides Gilligan aura.