Unraveling the Mind of Vince Gilligan

If there’s one guy who knows how to twist a character’s psyche, it’s Vince Gilligan. You might know him as the mastermind behind that little show called Breaking Bad, where a mild-mannered chemistry teacher morphs into a drug kingpin (talk about a glow-up!). But Gilligan doesn’t stop there; he’s also the creative genius behind Jimmy McGill, the lovable rogue who masquerades as Saul Goodman in Better Call Saul. Most recently, he’s taken a stab at something quirky with Carol Sturka—a romance author who finds herself in a world gone bonkers.

Meet Carol Sturka: A Reluctant Hero

Now, let’s talk about Rhea Seehorn, the actress who brings Carol to life. Unlike your average protagonist, Carol isn’t just hanging out with unicorns and sunshine; she’s a reluctant hero who took a bit of digging for Gilligan and Seehorn to fully understand. According to Seehorn, Gilligan told her one essential thing: “Carol’s a very reluctant hero.” Yep, this gal has seen better days, and her old tricks just aren’t cutting it anymore.

The Book Tour from Hell

The first half of Pluribus kicks off with Carol and her agent Helen (the fabulous Miriam Shor) embarking on what Carol considers nothing short of a torture session—a cringeworthy book tour. Our hero dismisses her own steamy pirate novels as garbage (what?!) and is as thrilled about her fans as a cat stuck in a vet’s office. But hold onto your hats, because things take a wild turn when a virus sweeps through humanity, turning everyone into a blissfully oblivious hive mind. And the one woman immune to this madness? You guessed it—the cranky yet courageous Carol Sturka!

Finding the Heart of the Hero

Seehorn mentions that it took a while for her and Gilligan to strike the right balance between Sturka’s grumpiness and her role as the straightforward heroine of the series. “We found her over the course of the episodes. We had to figure out who this person is in this new world,” Seehorn reflects, adding with a sigh, “The frustration is, ‘My God, does it really have to be me?’” You can practically hear her exasperated grunt from here!

A Show Worth Watching

Even though only three episodes of Pluribus have hit the airwaves on Apple TV, it’s already causing quite a stir. According to some folks at Den of Geek, it’s a “must-watch,” and the praise just keeps flowing like coffee on a Monday morning. With its off-kilter sci-fi twist, Pluribus serves up a deliciously captivating viewing experience.

Relatable Chaos

Seehorn nails it when she says that Carol’s journey is filled with both drama and comedy. “We’ve all been in situations where you feel like you’re the only one screaming that the barn is on fire and everyone’s like, ‘Just have a drink. What is your problem?’” Ain’t that the truth? Carol Sturka is the girl next door with a twist, just like Gilligan’s other characters: messy, human, and oh-so-relatable.

Don’t Miss Out!

The first three episodes of Pluribus are currently streaming on Apple TV. Grab your popcorn, settle in, and get ready for a wild ride with Carol!