‘Pluribus’ Becomes Apple TV’s Most-Watched Show, With Lesbian Lead Carol At The Center
Just seven episodes in, the slow-burn sci-fi mystery has outpaced ‘Ted Lasso’ and ‘Severance’ to become Apple TV’s biggest show.
Featured image by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
It’s official! Pluribus has become the most-watched show in Apple TV history, marking a major milestone for the sci-fi drama just weeks before its first season concludes.
Apple confirmed the news following the release of episode seven, announcing that the Vince Gilligan-created series has now surpassed every other title on the platform, including Ted Lasso, Severance, The Morning Show, and Slow Horses. Apple does not release exact viewership numbers, and it has not clarified how the record was calculated. Still, the company’s decision to publicly tout the achievement has to mean something…right?!
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The announcement arrived in a manner consistent with the show’s unnerving tone. Apple shared a clip from the most recent episode showing Carol Sturka, played by Rhea Seehorn, setting off fireworks in an otherwise empty neighborhood. Over the footage appeared the message: “Congratulations, Carol.”
Pluribus stars Seehorn as Carol, a lesbian romance novelist living in a near future where a global hivemind has absorbed nearly the entire population. Carol is among a small group of people who are immune to the hive, leaving her isolated.
Earlier this year, Apple announced that the show had already become its biggest drama series launch ever, surpassing Severance season two. Pluribus was previously renewed for a second season under Apple’s original two-season commitment.
The show marks another high-profile collaboration between Gilligan and Seehorn, who previously worked together on Better Call Saul. Gilligan has said the project was conceived specifically for Seehorn.
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“I wrote this show for her. I love her so much,” Gilligan told GamesRadar+. “We got to know her and enjoyed writing for her on Better Call Saul – so much so that I created this show just for her. I knew she would be good in it; I knew she was someone I could confidently count on and place a bet on in terms of making her the star of a TV show… I thought it was long past time for her to be a star.”
That confidence has been reflected in early awards recognition. Seehorn has already earned a Golden Globe nomination for Pluribus before the first season has finished airing.
The first season will end with its ninth episode on December 26. While a second season is in development, production is expected to take a few years, with estimates placing its return in late 2027. Gilligan has suggested the story could run for approximately four seasons, though he has noted that the timeline largely depends on Seehorn’s availability and interest.
