There are few people in the television business as consistently great as Vince Gilligan. His résumé is stacked with some of the best shows ever created. Pluribus is his latest offering and, even though there’s only been one season so far, there are signs that it could be a major hit.
Pluribus has already claimed several accolades, but it now needs to show consistency across its whole lifespan. It’s expected to last at least three seasons, and has the chance to be Gilligan’s best work if it maintains the strength it has already shown.
Gilligan Has Done It Again with Pluribus
For many people, Breaking Bad was the best television series ever created. Then, when it ended, creator Vince Gilligan came out with the prequel series Better Call Saul, which was at least on a par with the original. Aside from the intricate plotting and immaculate attention to detail in both series, Gilligan showed his prowess in creating complex characters that felt completely real.
After Better Call Saul ended, Gilligan decided to turn his attention to a completely different genre. Instead of the crime-based offerings people were used to, Pluribus is a sci-fi series about an alien virus that turns humanity into a peaceful hive mind. However, there are a few people who are immune to this, with Rhea Seehorn’s Carol Sturka being one of the people fighting against it.
After just one season, the series has already picked up a range of accolades. It was nominated in 18 categories at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards and has already won various awards from other institutions. Seehorn’s performance has been widely praised, and the star has won numerous awards already, including the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series.
Past Series Will Be Tough to Top
Even if Pluribus eventually becomes regarded as a better series than Breaking Bad, it may be hard for it to top the cultural impact that Gilligan’s crime drama had. The series detailing Walter White’s rise from a chemistry teacher to a criminal mastermind will always be a benchmark upon which modern dramas are judged. It’s hard to think of such a memorable character arc in any other series ever created.
On top of that, Breaking Bad became a franchise that existed beyond the original series. It led to a spin-off film and a prequel series that helped expand its universe and add more depth to the original. It has been kept alive in the mainstream long after its conclusion thanks to casino games UK players have discovered, like Breaking Bad Roulette, which uses the iconic graphics of the show. There are also Breaking Bad-themed slots such as Breaking Bad: Mega Fire Blaze. For Pluribus to have the same impact, it may need to expand into a wider franchise of its own.
Pluribus Could Be a Masterpiece
A second season of Pluribus is officially in the works, and Gilligan has a plan for it to last around three to four seasons in total. This will give the creator plenty of time to take viewers on a new journey, and one that’s vastly different to what was seen before in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.
The fact that Gilligan has gone for a completely different genre means that Pluribus can exist outside of the Breaking Bad world and avoid comparisons to it. It’s too early to call it a masterpiece, but there’s also a strong chance that it will be. Gilligan’s track record speaks for itself, and it would be unwise to bet against him doing it again.
