New TV drama Pluribus sees a mysterious virus turning most of the world into a hive mind, and according to creator Vince Gilligan, that event is different to what happens in The Walking Dead and and The Last of Us for one key reason.
Pluribus reunites Better Call Saul mastermind Vince Gilligan with that show’s breakout star Rhea Seehorn.
But it couldn’t be more different, being a high-concept sci-fi series where Seehorn plays an author untouched by the mind virus, who takes it upon herself to save humanity.
At a Pluribus event hosted by Apple and Empire, both showrunner and star participated in a Q&A about the first two episodes, during which they dropped hints about the central mystery, and revealed why it’s different to similarly themed shows.
Your viewpoint should shift as Pluribus progresses
During their discussion, the subject of whether you should want to be part of the hive mind arose, as while the virus dispenses with free will and individuality, it also wipes out pesky problems like crime and war. And Gilligan believes that there isn’t a simple answer:
“When you watch The Walking Dead, when you watch The Last of Us – really great shows – there’s no question about it, you don’t want to be zombie. You don’t want to be a mushroom person. But in this show, the point of the set-up is that back-and forth, potentially, for you the audience to say ‘OK, this is really bad, you’d lose your individuality.’
“But then maybe in an episode or two you’re thinking ‘I don’t know, there’s a lot to be said for this.’ But then an episode later ‘No, maybe not so much.’
“It’s up to you guys, you could firmly be on Team Zosia or Team Carol right form the get-go and not change. But a delightful thing for me is that people would watch this and [have] their viewpoint shift as the episodes progress. But that’s entirely up to the viewer.
Why Vladimir Putin puts Vince Gilligan off the mind virus
Gilligan is referring to Seehorn’s character Carol – who’s immune to the virus, and very much against it – and Karolina Wydra’s Zosia, who succumbed to it, and operates as Carol’s guide.
When asked which side she would pick, given the choice, Seehorn says: “We had in-depth conversations in the crew and the cast about the stuff that this would bring up. The philosophical questions that folded into another question and another question. For me the idea that I could never be – not just independent thought – but I couldn’t be surprised by independent thought ever again. There’s no belly laugh ever again, because comedy is somebody surprised me, right? Then that’s not joy. Then I backtrack and that’s very selfish of me. I’m Team Carol with reluctance.”
Wydra concurs, saying: “I think I would be the same. As much as I wish part of that world was here – the goodness, no suffering, no prejudice, peace on earth, there’s no crime, we could communicate telepathically – that could be really fun. But you’d have to give up your individuality – that would be really, really hard.”
While Gilligan makes it three-for-three, referencing a character who reacts to his immunity and new-found power by forming a harem: “I’d wanna be as chill as Mr. Diabate. That guy is living the dream. I think I’d be freaked out. I think I’d be more like Carol. You’d want to be Mr. Diabate, but then you’re with all the lovely ladies, and then you’re thinking ‘Vladimir Putin’s in there somewhere!’ You get that in your head and it’s not living the dream anymore.”
Doveva essere il primo robot umanoide russo. È finito faccia a terra: il video