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Rhea Seehorn (“Better Call Saul”) stars as Carol in Vince Gilligan’s (“Breaking Bad”) new psychological sci-fi thriller series “Pluribus,” premiering Friday, Nov. 7, on Apple TV+. Rhea Seehorn stars in “Pluribus”
Cover Story Breaking sad: Gilligan, Seehorn return for new collab ‘Pluribus’ By Dana Simpson Twenty years ago, the name Vince Gilligan elicited very little response from the average television viewer. Those who did recognize the name were more than likely “X-Files” fans who remembered it from 127 sets of opening credits for the show, all of which indicated that Gilligan was an executive producer between 1996 and 2002. All of that changed as of 2008, however, and now Gilligan’s name is synonymous with his finest creation, “Breaking Bad,” as well as its legally inclined spinoff, “Better Call Saul.” And although it has been 12 years since the end of former series and three years since the finale for the latter, Gilligan is still very much in the business of making good television. He is also still in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Gilligan’s newest project,
“Pluribus,” premieres Friday, Nov. 7, on Apple TV+. Kept very much a mystery, “Pluribus” sees the reunion of Gilligan and Rhea Seehorn, the latter of whom portrayed Jimmy McGill’s (Bob Odenkirk, “Nobody,” 2021) ex-wife and one-time business partner Kim Wexler in 61 episodes of “Better Call Saul.” According to an interview between Seehorn and Polygon reporter Jake Kleinman, Gilligan approached Seehorn during “Better Call Saul” and after filming eventually wrapped, asking if the actress would be interested in a genre-bending project with a sci-fi bent. Seehorn, of course, accepted the offer. “He came to me as ‘Saul’ was ending, and said, ‘Well, I wrote something for you, if you’re interested,’ which is classic Vince,” Seehorn recalled to Polygon. “When I stopped crying, I was like, ‘Yes, I’m interested.’ But he said,
‘I’m not ready to show it to you.’ And I said, ‘That’s okay. I’m on board.’” Seehorn had very little idea what Gilligan had planned for the series, but she knew she wanted to be a part of it — a feeling many fans of the writer/ producer have shared since his days with “The X-Files.” Upon learning the new show would be rooted in Gilligan’s sci-fi/uncanny origins, Seehorn noted her delight, both for her involvement and for the uniqueness of the project itself. “I was so excited when Vince told me there was a sci-fi element to it, and that it’s more psychological sci-fi, less space sci-fi,” Seehorn shared with Polygon, noting, “It’s the kind of show that, even if I wasn’t in it, it would be my type of show, because it engenders conversations about, like, ‘What do you think about that? What would your position be, should you find yourself here?’”
With just four trailers, a phone number (202-8083981) and an indication that the series follows the most miserable person on Earth, who must save the world from happiness, to provide series clues as of writing, many are asking why the marketing is so cryptic? Isn’t promotional material meant to entice and provide information so the viewer can know what they are tuning in for? Seehorn has a simple answer for that, too. “Vince is asking you to experience this as it comes,” the actress says. “He’s playing with our preconceived notions about not just where we think the story is going to go, but what we would do in a certain situation.” So what will you do? Will you call the number or wait to tune in for the premiere? “Pluribus” begins Friday, Nov. 7, on Apple TV+.