The question “Is Pluribus related to Breaking Bad?” has been trending since the new Apple TV+ series debuted in early November 2025. Fans immediately drew connections between the two shows because of their shared creator, Vince Gilligan, and familiar New Mexico setting. But despite these surface similarities, Pluribus is not connected to Breaking Bad in story, characters, or universe. It represents a bold new direction for Gilligan — one that leaves behind crime drama for a more philosophical brand of science fiction.
What Is Pluribus About?
Pluribus is a newly released science fiction drama created and directed by Vince Gilligan, best known for his work on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. The show premiered on November 7, 2025, on Apple TV+, launching its first two episodes with a confirmed second season already in production.
The story takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a familiar landscape for Gilligan’s storytelling. However, the premise is completely different from the world of meth labs and moral decay. In Pluribus, humanity undergoes a mysterious transformation — a global event that links people into a collective consciousness. The world becomes united in an artificial state of bliss, but one person remains unaffected. The protagonist, played by Rhea Seehorn, must navigate this eerie utopia and uncover why she alone has retained her individuality.
This is not a dystopian thriller in the traditional sense. Instead, Gilligan explores themes of free will, identity, and what it truly means to be human when individual thought becomes obsolete.
How Pluribus Differs from Breaking Bad
Fans naturally associate Gilligan with Breaking Bad, one of television’s most acclaimed dramas. However, Pluribus takes a strikingly different creative path:
- Genre Shift:
Breaking Bad was a grounded crime drama rooted in moral realism. Pluribus, on the other hand, is a cerebral science-fiction story about consciousness and collective emotion. - Tone and Style:
While Breaking Bad thrived on tension, danger, and grit, Pluribus leans toward mystery, atmosphere, and psychological reflection. Its tension is internal rather than violent. - Themes:
Breaking Bad examined power, greed, and corruption. Pluribus asks questions about unity, happiness, and autonomy — what happens when people lose the ability to think independently. - Visual Approach:
Although both shows use the desert landscape of New Mexico, Pluribus presents it through a surreal, luminous lens. It’s the same place, but seen through an entirely new reality.
Why People Thought Pluribus Was Connected to Breaking Bad
The confusion is understandable. Several elements immediately triggered speculation:
- Vince Gilligan’s Return: Fans saw Gilligan’s name attached to another Albuquerque-based series and assumed a shared universe.
- Rhea Seehorn’s Casting: The actor, who played Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul, returns as the lead in Pluribus. This led many to think it might be a continuation or alternate timeline.
- Visual Parallels: Early teasers showcased the same wide-angle desert shots and long silences that became trademarks of Gilligan’s past work.
- Cryptic Marketing: The show’s initial tagline — “One of us isn’t happy” — had that darkly ironic tone fans associate with Breaking Bad.
However, once the show premiered, it became clear that these were stylistic nods, not narrative links. Pluribus stands alone, both conceptually and thematically.
Confirmed Details About Pluribus
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Creator | Vince Gilligan |
| Platform | Apple TV+ |
| Premiere Date | November 7, 2025 |
| Setting | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Genre | Science Fiction Drama |
| Lead Actor | Rhea Seehorn |
| Number of Seasons | Two confirmed |
| Main Premise | Humanity merges into a single collective consciousness after a mysterious global event. |
| Tone | Philosophical, emotional, and suspense-driven rather than violent or action-heavy. |
These facts reinforce that Pluribus is not designed to extend the Breaking Bad universe, but to redefine Gilligan’s storytelling identity altogether.
Creative Evolution of Vince Gilligan
For over a decade, Gilligan has been synonymous with morally complex television. Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul shaped the modern prestige-TV landscape with their intricate storytelling and psychological realism. But Pluribus marks a clear turning point in his career.
Gilligan has expressed his desire to explore new genres, free from the constraints of the crime narrative that made him famous. Pluribus is his answer — a leap into the speculative, using science fiction as a lens to question human nature rather than depict moral collapse.
Despite the shift, fans can still recognize his unique touch: slow-burn tension, layered character writing, and cinematic precision. It’s the evolution of a storyteller, not a departure.
Reception So Far
Since its premiere, Pluribus has drawn significant attention from both critics and fans. Viewers praised the show’s originality, calling it “hauntingly relevant” and “emotionally intelligent.” The pacing and structure remind audiences of Gilligan’s earlier works, but the themes of collective happiness and individuality offer something entirely new.
Rhea Seehorn’s performance has also been highlighted as one of the most powerful aspects of the show. She portrays a woman wrestling with the loss of humanity around her, bringing both subtlety and intensity to the role.
Although Pluribus is only in its first season, it has already been renewed, signaling Apple TV+’s confidence in Gilligan’s vision.
So… Is Pluribus Related to Breaking Bad?
In short:
- Yes, the two share creative DNA — the same writer-director, similar setting, and returning collaborators.
- No, there’s no story, character, or timeline connection between them.
Think of Pluribus not as an expansion of the Breaking Bad universe, but as the next chapter in Vince Gilligan’s artistic journey. It’s built on the same foundation of meticulous storytelling but ventures into an entirely new thematic world.
Final Thought
For fans wondering, “Is Pluribus related to Breaking Bad?” — the answer is simple: it’s spiritually familiar but narratively separate. If you loved Gilligan’s storytelling craft, Pluribus is worth your time for entirely new reasons.
Stay tuned, share your thoughts, and let us know — do you prefer Gilligan’s world of crime or consciousness?