Vince Gilligan, the mind behind Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, is back with a new sci-fi series Pluribus and it’s already earning praise from fans, critics, and even game design icon Hideo Kojima.
The show, titled Pluribus, debuted its first two episodes on Apple TV earlier this month, and Kojima wasted no time singing its praises. In a post, the Death Stranding creator called the premiere episode “absolutely incredible” and praised Gilligan’s storytelling as “genius.”
Pluribus opens strong with rave reviews and a star lead
Pluribus premiered on November 7, launching with two lengthy episodes:
- Episode 1: We is Us – 56 minutes
- Episode 2: Pirate Lady – 62 minutes
Reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with early viewers comparing its emotional depth and visual weight to Gilligan’s earlier work. Episode 3, titled Grenade, drops Friday, November 14, continuing the weekly release format.
Hideo Kojima joins the chorus of early admirers
Kojima has always shown a deep appreciation for well-crafted storytelling, especially when it crosses media boundaries. On X (formerly Twitter), he shared his reaction after watching the debut episode:
“Oh my god this is incredible. Absolutely incredible. It pulls you in right from the opening scene. Vince really is a genius!”
His response mirrors that of many early viewers Pluribus doesn’t waste time. It opens with tension and character nuance, leaning into the emotional gravitas that made Better Call Saul such a standout.
Rhea Seehorn takes the lead in Gilligan’s vision
The lead role in Pluribus was written specifically for Rhea Seehorn, who previously played Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul. Gilligan admitted that her performance in that series led him to rework the Pluribus concept entirely shifting the protagonist’s focus from a man to a character built just for her.
“You just can’t take your eyes off her,” he told Variety. “She’s got a wonderful charisma. And she can do anything make you laugh, make you cry.”
Gilligan’s human-first philosophy echoes in the credits
In a move that subtly fires back at rising AI use in Hollywood, Pluribus features a credit that reads:
“This show was made by Humans.”
Gilligan isn’t subtle about his disdain for artificial intelligence in creative work:
“AI is the world’s most expensive and energy-intensive plagiarism machine,” he said, calling the entire AI gold rush “a bag of vapor”.
Pluribus is off to a powerful start
With two episodes out and more to come, Pluribus has already established itself as one of Apple TV’s most promising originals. Add Hideo Kojima to the list of its early fans, and you’ve got a crossover of sci-fi visionaries rooting for the same story.
The next episode airs Friday. Don’t blink.
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