by Apple TV’s current number one show is Pluribus, a sci-fi horror series with an unusual take on the zombie apocalypse. The horror doesn’t come from violence, but from overwhelming friendliness. The infected are cheerful, harmless, and deeply submissive.
The story follows Carol, a successful lesbian sci-fi writer. She once had a supportive wife and a stable career, though she was unhappy with the books she was writing. When the virus spreads, her wife dies because she cannot survive the infection, leaving Carol alone.
At the start of the outbreak, the infected try to spread the virus by kissing everyone they meet. Those who can’t be infected either die or, if they survive, are treated like royalty—served and protected like queen ants or queen bees.
The virus originates from aliens. When it takes over a human body, that person becomes part of a global hive mind. Millions of people share a single consciousness, speak in unison, and behave exactly the same way.
One uninfected French man explains that before the outbreak, he faced racial discrimination. Now, the hive caters to his every desire. He eats incredible food and even sleeps with supermodels, because the infected exist to serve.
Carol despises this new world. Everyone around her feels like the same person, and she wants life to return to normal. Only nine people worldwide remain uninfected. She meets five who speak English, but none of them share her urgency.
They argue that the world is better now—no war, no crime, no violence, and no discrimination. Everyone is happy.
Carol disagrees. She wants the old world back.
