What is the meaning of the virus in Apple TV’s mindbending sci-fi Pluribus?

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Okay, so you know how everyone’s been talking about that weird signal from space? Well, about a year after it was detected, something crazy happened – everyone on Earth basically became connected, like they were all sharing one mind! It’s wild. But there’s one person who didn’t get the memo, and that’s Carol Sturka, this author who writes those fantasy romance novels and, honestly, seems pretty down on herself.

So, the idea behind this show is seriously cool. The creator, Vince Gilligan, started thinking about what would happen if someone lived in a world where everyone was just… nice. Like, always, constantly, and unbelievably nice to them. It’s a really interesting thought experiment, and it’s what kicked off the whole thing, as far as I understand it.

You likely have some questions, and we’re here to help. Consider us your direct connection to Davis Taffler, the Undersecretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation.

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What happened to everyone in Pluribus?

A strange phenomenon, nicknamed ‘code,’ swept through the population, transforming people into calm, robotic-like individuals connected by a shared mind – similar to the plot of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers, but without the malice. It initially spread through kisses, then via contaminated doughnuts at an Air Force base, and eventually through chemtrails. The transformation happens incredibly quickly.

Why did it happen?

So, that’s what everyone’s wondering. Davis Taffler, a representative of this focused new species, firmly states that no aliens are currently on Earth, and the signal they detected could have been present for thousands of years.

There’s no reason to believe this is true, and frankly, it doesn’t fit with the kind of stories Vince Gilligan usually tells. He’s already spent years working on The X-Files, so an alien invasion plot feels unlikely for him now.

What’s the purpose of the virus? It’s possible a more advanced civilization created it, hoping to improve the universe. Or perhaps they want all civilizations to conform to their way of life – a unified, collective existence – because they don’t value differences.

It’s not really about the details. What’s important is that Carol is among a very small group – only twelve people worldwide – who are immune (we meet some of them in episode two). You could also see this as symbolic: Carol was already lonely and disconnected from others even before the virus started spreading.

Her devoted fans, who love her lighthearted books, already acted like a close-knit group, so this new situation isn’t entirely different from her life before. The biggest change is that she’s now completely on her own, as her manager and partner, Helen, sadly died from the virus.

The story can also be interpreted as a metaphor for the dangers of uniformity. It suggests that the world is increasingly becoming dominated by a few large corporations, losing its individuality and becoming a bland collection of brands and slogans – similar to how Edgar Wright’s film The World’s End depicts the spread of identical pubs.

It often feels like people are losing their individuality, with similar styles, opinions, and ways of talking becoming increasingly common, especially with the rise of quick, superficial conversations online. It’s as if everyone is starting to blend together.

Man, when I first saw Invasion of the Bodysnatchers, it really hit me as a movie about how scared people were of communism. It felt like it was saying communism was a threat to everything Americans valued – like our freedom and the idea that we’re responsible for our own lives.

However, it was also seen as a warning about the dangers of blindly following authority, specifically referencing the damaging and often baseless accusations made during Senator McCarthy’s pursuit of communists.

Are people on Earth like the easily led crowds seen in recent events, blindly repeating slogans and ignoring evidence? Or are they the ones being harmed by a supposed harmful ideology, as claimed by figures like Piers Morgan and Elon Musk?

This show feels like a story for our times, reflecting on what community means after the pandemic. It’s tempting to romanticize connection, especially after being isolated in 2020, but the show realistically portrays how communities can also be challenging. At the same time, it beautifully illustrates the happiness that comes from people uniting around a shared goal. This balance – the push and pull of community – is what will likely make the show a lasting success.

With eleven players already safe from elimination, the game has become a clear divide: Carol versus everyone else. It makes you think about how much individuality can exist when everyone is so connected.

Feel free to see the show however you like, but it always comes back to this: what would it be like to live in a world where everyone is kind, you’re always safe, and everything seems perfect… except you’re utterly isolated?

Pluribus is available to stream on Apple TV.

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2025-11-08 23:51