When Happiness Becomes the Apocalypse: A Look at Pluribus

December 4th, 2025

For more than a century, filmmakers have imagined the end of the world through fire, ice, war, aliens, and every disaster in between. But a new television series turns the genre upside down by asking what happens when the thing we all chase—pure happiness—goes catastrophically wrong.

Created by Vince Gilligan, the celebrated mind behind Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Pluribus arrives on Apple TV with a premise that is as unsettling as it is original:
“The most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness.”

It’s a bold idea wrapped in an even bolder genre mashup—a blend of dystopia and end-of-the-world storytelling, but with a twist that feels both unsettling and strangely poetic.

The series follows best-selling author Carol Sturka, played with quiet intensity by Rhea Seehorn, as she navigates an Earth transformed by an apocalyptic event rooted not in fear or destruction—but in uncontrollable joy. It’s impossible to discuss the plot in detail without giving away its surprises, yet the show stays true to its logline: the world is collapsing because people are simply too happy.

While it carries the trappings of sci-fi and dystopian storytelling, Pluribus is ultimately a character-driven meditation on human nature. The explosions are emotional rather than literal. The revelations are philosophical rather than scientific. The show leans into introspection, inviting viewers to reconsider what truly gives life meaning—identity, love, independence, connection.

These quiet, contemplative moments are where Gilligan’s writing shines. They’re tender and strange and unexpectedly moving, leaving the audience with more questions than answers.

And audiences are definitely paying attention. With only six episodes released so far, Pluribus has already become Apple TV’s most-streamed drama of all time. A second season is already in development, promising more mysteries and more emotional upheaval.

It’s worth asking why a story like this resonates so deeply right now. What does it reveal about our collective anxieties—or our collective hopes—that a world-ending wave of happiness feels both terrifying and plausible?

Whatever the reason, Pluribus is prompting viewers to rethink what apocalypse stories can be—and what happiness itself really means.

By Christine Burright for Pass the Popcorn on KVNO’s Arts Today.