One Way Pluribus’ Carol Is Already Reminding Me Of Walter White’s Heisenberg Era On Breaking Bad

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A quick warning: the following might reveal some minor plot points from the first season of Pluribus, which is available on Apple TV+.

Having been a big fan of both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, I was really excited for Vince Gilligan’s new show, Pluribus. I also knew I’d constantly be comparing it to his previous work while watching. It’s not just because all three shows are filmed in Albuquerque, either – the connection goes deeper than that.

Rhea Seehorn plays Carol, a character in a story vastly different from the intense crime dramas she’s known for. It’s not just that the plot is unpredictable; Carol is a successful author and one of the few people who still thinks for herself. Everyone else seems to have passively accepted a remarkably peaceful alien invasion. She’s definitely not happy about it, and she doesn’t even try to hide her unhappiness and disapproval.

Carol has a side to her that reminds me of when Bryan Cranston’s character in Breaking Bad was at his most powerful and intimidating. Let’s explore that aspect of her now.

Pluribus’ Carol Is A Miserable And Moody Person, But Rhea Seehorn Immediately Makes It Work

Even before the world fell apart, Carol Sturka seemed surprisingly cynical for a successful fantasy author adored by her fans. We’ve seen through flashbacks that she always had a pessimistic outlook, especially compared to her optimistic partner and manager, Helen (Miriam Shor). So, when Helen dies and a strange collective consciousness takes over the rest of humanity, Carol is uniquely positioned to be utterly miserable.

The show deliberately uses contrasting tones to create tension. Carol is presented as a strong, unyielding character who resists the subtle but powerful influence of ‘The Others.’ The fact that they can’t access her thoughts creates a central mystery and allows for an unusual storytelling approach. Interestingly, Carol is often abrasive and acts impulsively, even when it puts her at risk, while her opponents are consistently kind, supportive, and appear to genuinely care about her – though it’s clear they have hidden agendas.

This kind of character dynamic is rare because it’s usually difficult to root for someone intentionally unlikeable. Viewers typically connect with protagonists who are sympathetic and relatable. Rhea Seehorn joined Better Call Saul with this in mind, and her character, Kim Wexler, quickly became a central figure – arguably the fourth most important – in Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould’s series.

I might not have been so captivated by Carol’s sharp wit and attitude if Rhea Seehorn hadn’t delivered such a compelling performance in Better Call Saul. However, Walter White already established a pattern of complex, flawed characters, so I likely would have been drawn to her anyway.

Heisenberg Is One Of TV’s Most Adored Monsters, Despite Being An Egotistical Asshole

Beyond simply comparing the shows themselves, Walter White from Breaking Bad is often admired by fans in a way similar to Tony Soprano from The Sopranos – almost as if they’re greater heroes than traditional ones like Superman. However, if you focus just on Walt’s actions after he fully transforms into Heisenberg, it’s clear that he rarely does anything good, likable, or intended to win over the audience.

Walt becomes obsessed with building a powerful reputation and forgets the original, shaky reasons he started cooking meth. As Heisenberg, he destroys all his relationships and reaches a new low, becoming responsible for, and witnessing, the deaths of people he cares about, alongside many others.

More On Breaking Bad

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While Rhea Seehorn’s character didn’t have the same opportunity, Bryan Cranston was able to thoroughly establish Walter White as a kind, intelligent family man who usually acted rationally in the early seasons of Breaking Bad. The show carefully portrayed him as a loving husband, a good father, and a dedicated worker, making his later transformation and loss of those qualities all the more impactful.

By the time Walt famously proclaims himself as “the one who knocks,” he’s already gained a huge following, making it easy for viewers to accept his increasingly ruthless actions. This is especially true when compared to the even more formidable villain, Gus Fring. Once that threat is eliminated, it becomes obvious that Walt could do almost anything without losing the support of his fans.

I’m still not convinced Carol will ever become as ruthless as Walt. Yes, she did accidentally cause millions of deaths when she lost control, but she honestly didn’t realize what was happening at the time, and she’s been trying to make sure it never happens again. Honestly, that might be the most decent thing she’s ever done.

Carol will probably start to soften up as the first season of Pluribus progresses, but I hope she stays a bit tough to keep things interesting. We’ve made it this far without viewers completely disliking her, so I don’t think they should change her character now. We should all be thankful for Bryan Cranston and Rhea Seehorn, who can make even unlikeable characters endearing.

I’ve heard Vince Gilligan say he’d only revisit the world of Breaking Bad if he didn’t have other shows to focus on – meaning Pluribus would have to be finished. That’s a big reason I’m not rushing to see more stories about Walter White or Saul Goodman right now. But who knows what the future holds, so it’s not a definite ‘never’!

Pluribus streams new episodes on Apple TV every Friday.

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2025-11-24 02:39