# Pluribus (New Vince Gilligan show on AppleTV) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, apple\ **Created:** [November 7, 2025, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659 "2025-11-07T12:10:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 29
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/561 "2025-12-06T08:55:52Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > Patrick Fabian is great, that’s why. The collective knows it. I’d have chosen him over John Cena. That would ruin the joke / characterization. John Cena is a funny guy to deliver exposition because of course Mr. Diabate is playing with his favorite celebrities and having John Cena teach him wrestling moves. Having him on hand to deliver an informative video about eating people makes perfect sense and is pretty funny too. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/562 "2025-12-06T10:32:37Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > How did they know she was calling? Our technology still exists, so things like Caller ID would still work. You have maybe a few dozen phone numbers for the humans you’re still interacting with, so any phone call from literally any other number is Carol, somewhere in the world, trying to stir up some shit. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/563 "2025-12-06T10:38:30Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Having him on hand to deliver an informative video about eating people makes perfect sense and is pretty funny too. And Cena seems to be making an actual career out of scenes like that. A huge, yet gentle and friendly guy, explaining things that are just utterly absurd, but with a tone of genuine belief on his part. You really believe that he doesn’t _want_ to be eating people, but gosh darn it, there’s just no other way. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/564 "2025-12-06T11:31:20Z")
Good. Much as liked hearing Fabian’s long message again, I did not need him to say “if you’re the Vegas, guy, press 1”, “If your Manuosos, press 2” and finally, “If you’re Carol, stay on the lline” I really fell for the idea they left town to Carol could sleuth and tell everyone “It’s people!” when it turns out to be apple juice. Apparently from apples that have bonked people on the head. But otherwise, it’s people. Okay. Google maps won’t even give me info on walking, driving and apparently there are no scheduled flights from Paraguay to New Mexico. Hopefully word gets out he can dial 0, press 2 and set up an F-35 Uber. And all the shiny, happy people (must have healthy Zosia) will all be there too. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/565 "2025-12-06T16:11:58Z")
I’m still very much enjoying the show, but it is now entirely as a character study and not in any way a sci fi show. It’s more like The Leftovers were the plot gimmick is just a set up and not the actual point of the show. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/566 "2025-12-06T16:26:23Z")
I think that’s probably the right way to think of this show and The Leftovers. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/567 "2025-12-06T16:44:00Z")
My hope and expectation was that it would be both. I’ll take the one. It is just a shift in expectation. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/568 "2025-12-06T16:51:39Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > My hope and expectation was that it would be both. I’ll take the one. Honestly I think I’d be willing to watch Rhea Seehorn react to a newspaper she’s reading, so I’m mostly good with it 🙂. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/569 "2025-12-06T22:14:13Z")
Can you get stem cells from sperm? because I’m thinking Diabate might not be long in the survivor column. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2025, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/570 "2025-12-06T22:33:14Z")
Combine his harvested sperm with her egg and you created a stem cell. One that will be immune if it is genetic but not the same as either of them. Don’t think that would stop the show from doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/571 "2025-12-07T08:03:37Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > He strikes me as a “rule follower” (He was leaving IOUs for the owners of the lockers he was breaking into). There are likely unused vehicles and vessels of all sorts he can choose from, but will his ethics allow him to exploit those and other resources? Both Manousos and Carol have very strict opinions and principles that defy being altered by circumstances. I suspect they will both have to start breaking (bad) from those attitudes. Well put. I think Manousos is becoming the most interesting character, mostly because of what we DON’T know about him. Carol is Carol, and she’s still the main character of course. I wonder if Zosia will be changed when she returns? And if she’s separated from the hive-mind, whether or not she still speaks English. One thing I do enjoy about this show is that the characters are from all over the world, not just the U, S and A. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/572 "2025-12-07T09:10:01Z")
We know his mother was a bitch. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/573 "2025-12-07T09:34:31Z")
That was pretty funny actually. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/574 "2025-12-07T09:37:25Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I’m still very much enjoying the show, but it is now entirely as a character study and not in any way a sci fi show. It’s more like The Leftovers were the plot gimmick is just a set up and not the actual point of the show. The Leftovers is my favorite series of all time. I loved the way it built to sheer craziness by the end. Pluribus to me feels like it has shade of that show among many others. But you’re right; the focus is on the character study more than the Sci-fi. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/575 "2025-12-07T10:48:03Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > We know his mother was a bitch. > [@Biffster](#): > > That was pretty funny actually. I liked that line more because it sort of crystalized in one instant moment how the Others aren’t the people they were before. I know we already saw this with Carol and the Ravi-as-gynecologist scene, but with Manousos and his mother it felt more powerful and personal. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/576 "2025-12-07T11:08:46Z")
Manuosos is a good character but not a good Paraguayan. 1. His accent is not the Guarani-Inflected Spanish of the Paraguayan dialect. 2. He uses word like “Cabrona” that may be from the Mexican or even Colombian vocabulary but are not used (as far as I know) in Paraguay. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/577 "2025-12-07T11:27:52Z")
Maybe he’s an immigrant to Paraguay from (presumably based on the actor) Colombia? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/578 "2025-12-07T11:58:58Z")
Yeah, I read somewhere (maybe deep upthread) that this character’s backstory was written around the actor, and that he’s a Colombian working in Paraguay. We’ll see if/how the show confirms it. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/579 "2025-12-07T14:04:46Z")
What doesn’t make sense is that Manousos would have been able to hide his existence. I assumed he had no living relatives, but his own mother would know if he was part of the collective or not. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659/580 "2025-12-07T14:09:43Z")
He didn’t hide his existence, though it took them a day or so to figure out that he didn’t die in the initial wave during which many millions died. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659.md?page=28) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluribus-new-vince-gilligan-show-on-appletv/1024659.md?page=30)