Pluribus Creator Intended to Riff Off Genre Headliners, But Perhaps Didn’t Expect This Connection

Scified EditorialsBy Scified Jan 19, 2026Comments

From the creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, expectations were notably high for the Apple TV+ release of Pluribus. The platform’s rising prestige for backing well-crafted stories while its contemporaries opt for quantity over quality only furthered the hype for November 2025-launched show.

Then, it landed, and the mysterious trailers started to make sense. With Pluribus, Vince Gilligan was setting you on the shoulders of one of the few humans not to be assimilated within an alien hive mind. The novelty of the story and its twists and turns have been praised by critics, and yet, the black comedy certainly has familiar elements.

Long before the show was fully revealed, Gilligan hinted at what was to come in his sci-fi post-apocalyptic story. He cited several classics of the genre in interviews. Yet, one of the starkest similarities in a certain episode perhaps slipped in unnoticed by the creator. Fans spotted the connection swiftly, though.

A Strong Start for a Creative New Setting

Image for Pluribus Creator Intended to Riff Off Genre Headliners, But Perhaps Didn’t Expect This Connection
Source: Unsplash

As mentioned, Pluribus earned praise across the board as it made its way through its opening season. Now commissioned for a second run, Apple TV will be hoping to build on the warm reception to the first run and hope that it continues to be as unique, appealing, and audacious going forward.

Seeing Gilligan’s previous works, it’d be fair to expect Season 2 to up the ante once again. Having laid the foundations of the world and the central characters, the pace can start to pick up with more major moments. So far, the main debate surrounding the show’s quality has been its pacing and whether it overstretched the plot.

Regardless of what side of the debate you fall on, Pluribus’ novelty in its premise and the quality of its execution can’t be denied. Given its inspirations, creating something unique was quite the feat. Gilligan has said that Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Twilight Zone, and The Thing were the big inspirations that aren’t subtly infused here.

The Other Possible Inspiration for a Certain Pluribus Moment

Image for Pluribus Creator Intended to Riff Off Genre Headliners, But Perhaps Didn’t Expect This Connection
Source: Pixabay

Science fiction has enjoyed a wild ride over the last decade or so, earning praise and huge budgets across just about all entertainment media. One of the most distinct and popular over this span has been the adult animated show Rick and Morty.

The show about a dimension-travelling, narcissistic grandfather has explored all kinds of sci-fi settings and stories across its seasons and into other forms of media. The franchise has expanded into comics, VR experiences, and even slot games. Now, slot sites include its official branded games like Rick and Morty Strike Back alongside The Walking Dead Cash Collect and Big Bass Splash.

Of all of the stories and different ways Rick and Morty have traversed the genre, for crossover fans with Pluribus, it was a Season 2 storyline that stood out. Here, Rick meets up with his old friend, a hive mind by the name of Unity, and they make the most of having an assimilated planet at their disposal. In Pluribus, a very similar situation arises with Carol and Zosia.

Naturally, the more storied sci-fi classics like Invasion of the Body Snatchers and John Carpenter’s The Thing are the best to cite as inspirations for Pluribus. Even so, there’s certainly a slice of Rick and Morty nestled in there, too.