Slate Daily Feed Culture Gabfest: The Creator of Breaking Bad is Back—with Polite Zombies Edition
Nov 12, 2025
The hosts delve into Vince Gilligan's new series, Pluribus, exploring its unique premise where a woman must navigate the complexities of eternal happiness. They discuss the standout performance of Rhea Seehorn and the show's deeper philosophical questions about humanity. The conversation then shifts to the family drama Sentimental Value, highlighting its emotional depth and cinematic craftsmanship. Lastly, they analyze troubling statistics regarding the low number of female directors post-MeToo, sparking a conversation about representation in the industry.
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One Person Versus A Hive Mind
- Vince Gilligan's Pluribus spotlights a single cantankerous protagonist against a universal hive-mind transformation of humanity.
- The premise reframes conformity, servility, and what counts as a humane world into provocative, ambiguous metaphors.
Tonality Shifts Make The Show Productive
- Julia Turner praises Pluribus's first episode as visually stunning and dread-heavy, then notes a tonal shift to calmer, puzzling episodes.
- She stresses the show's slipperiness and refusal to settle on a single allegory, making it more provocative.
Performance Carries High-Concept TV
- Dana Stevens calls Pluribus a daring one-woman show that depends on Ray Seahorn's performance to sustain interest.
- She notes Gilligan's X-Files background and the show's claustrophobic pacing centered on a lone, complicated protagonist.
