There is one more reason why Pluribus is so intriguing. Apart from its widespread critical acclaim, what also stands out is its strong connection with the vintage TV show The Twilight Zone. Both of these shows are different from each other, but are still bound by a thread that holds a thematic connection.
Released on November 7, 2025, Pluribus was created by Vince Gilligan, who is famous for bringing Breaking Bad to the world. This post-apocalyptic series follows the plot of an author named Carol Sturka, who is out to protect the world from a bizarre virus that puts humans in a spot where they are all vigorously happy.
Created by Rod Serling, The Twilight Zone was in existence from 1959 to 1964. Each episode in this sci-fi series explores the plot of how people, after experiencing a transcendental event, find their situations to be changed, as well as an unforeseen ending.
Keep reading to find out more about the connection between these two shows.
The thread joining Pluribus and The Twilight Zone, explored
As pointed out by ComicBook.com, Pluribus reiterates the kind of stories that The Twilight Zone had narrated back in the day. The classic 60s TV show talked about stories where humans had to face reality as well as get an honest picture of life's agonizing truths. With these stories, the show used to explore human complexities through sci-fi language.
In fact, in a conversation with Apple TV, Vince Gilligan mentioned that the name behind the lead, Carol Sturka's surname in Pluribus, is referenced in the retro sci-fi series. There is a character in Rod Serling's show named William Sturka, in the episode "Third from the Sun."
Interestingly, both of these characters, even though they live in completely different situations, go through the same struggle. They both go through incredible changes in their surroundings, and both of them navigate it differently.
Even the narrative style of both of these shows is also of a similar kind. They do not divulge everything at once, but rather unravel things according to their own sweet time. This creates an unsettling feeling amongst the viewers, as they go through the journey of finding answers in an arduous way.
One main link between these two shows is that they use science fiction to address human complexities and experiences. In both of these stories, unexpected situations bring out truths that are hard to swallow. They also showcase the fact that just because something looks benign does not automatically mean it is free from harm.
In Pluribus, the virus provides a sort of escape for people from reality. Even though it may feel relieving, what it also does is take away people's autonomy. So the undercurrents of fear under the facade of serenity cut deep.
These are some of the pertinent reasons due to which Pluribus and The Twilight Zone have such a close connection. Even though these shows are created across different timelines, the core intent and urgency remain similar.
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Also read: All Pluribus Season 1 episodes, ranked from best to worst ratings