Apple TV’s Excellent 9-Part Sci-Fi Is The X-Files’ Best Spiritual Successor

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As a huge sci-fi fan, I always think of The X-Files when people talk about the best TV shows ever made. It was truly ahead of its time, taking that familiar ‘case-of-the-week’ cop show format and then throwing in these incredibly imaginative, often bizarre, sci-fi and supernatural stories. Mulder and Scully quickly became legends, so when I heard they were rebooting the show, I was definitely a bit cautious – like a lot of other fans, I think!

Science fiction television has evolved since the 1990s, with shows like The X-Files paving the way. However, few have matched The X-Files‘ ability to take a complicated idea and explore it fully in a single episode, all while keeping the characters engaging and a sense of underlying mystery. The new series, Pluribus, is one of the first to come close to recapturing that magic.

Pluribus Feels Like An Episode Of The X-Files The Lasts An Entire Season

As a huge sci-fi fan, I just finished watching Vince Gilligan’s new series, Pluribus, and it’s really stuck with me. It centers around Carol, a pretty cynical and sarcastic writer who discovers she’s somehow immune to this virus that’s swept the globe. This virus doesn’t make people sick, though—it connects everyone into a single, blissfully happy hive mind. She’s one of the few people not connected, and she’s immediately suspicious. The hive mind starts trying really hard to win her over, and honestly, the attempts are often…awkward and don’t quite land. It’s a fascinating premise and I’m hooked!

The Apple TV+ show Pluribus became a fast hit, and it’s clear why. The performances are outstanding, especially from Rhea Seehorn, who delivers some of her best work since Better Call Saul. While the show offers a fresh take on science fiction, it also cleverly taps into the feel of classic X-Files episodes – in fact, the entire first season has a distinctly *X-Fileslike vibe.

Both Pluribus and The X-Files focus more on developing their characters than on driving a complex plot, and this is actually a strength. Both shows deliberately keep their main mysteries vague, maintaining a sense of suspense by concealing details and the reasons behind characters’ actions. This approach encourages viewers to connect with the characters and their stories, rather than simply being entertained by plot twists.

It’s no surprise the shows feel alike, given that Vince Gilligan was a writer and producer on The X-Files, even contributing to an episode that played a role in the creation of Breaking Bad. Gilligan is known for creating shows that are shocking, well-written, and emotionally powerful, and Pluribus represents a great return to science fiction for him after focusing on crime thrillers for a while.

Pluribus Vs. The X-Files Could Become The 2020s’ Best Sci-Fi Showdown

Although Pluribus and The X-Files share similarities, their futures could follow parallel paths. If the second season of Pluribus focuses on its main characters becoming more involved in a larger conspiracy – much like The X-Files did – both shows have the potential to become major science fiction hits of the 2020s.

Although the two shows share some similarities, a key difference inevitably invites comparison. Mulder and Scully are a famously compelling detective pair, with a dynamic that captivated audiences. Carol, on the other hand, has faced criticism for not being very relatable, which makes it harder for viewers to fully support her compared to the beloved partnership of Mulder and Scully.

A reboot of The X-Files could draw on familiar elements, but relying too heavily on nostalgia might discourage new viewers. Pluribus, as a completely original story, has an advantage. Therefore, it’s crucial that Pluribus gets enough episodes to build an audience comparable to The X-Files. Fortunately, Apple TV has a good track record of supporting new shows, which is a positive sign for Pluribus’s potential.

Pluribus vs. The X-Files
Title Seasons Year Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Rating Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating
The X-Files 11 1993 74% 85%
Pluribus 1 2025 99% 67%

Despite seeming quite different, The X-Files and Pluribus have similar reactions from critics and fans. The X-Files maintained high ratings on Rotten Tomatoes for its first eight seasons, but season nine received a very low score of only 22%, bringing the show’s overall average down. If Pluribus keeps performing well and the new X-Files series can recapture what made the original so popular, both shows have the potential to become leaders in sci-fi streaming.

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2026-04-04 22:09