Pluribus is a sci-fi dark comedy drama series created by Vince Gilligan. The Apple TV+ series is set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and follows Carol Sturka, an author who discovers that she is immune to an extraterrestrial virus that has infected nearly the entire global population. Pluribus stars Rhea Seehorn, Karolina Wydra, Carlos Manuel Vesga, Miriam Shor, Samba Schutte, Peter Bergman, and Max Reeves. While Pluribus is unlike any other series ever made, there are some similar elements that can be found in other shows. So we put together a list of shows with similar elements to Pluribus.
Maniac (Netflix)
Maniac is a psychological dark comedy-drama miniseries created by Patrick Somerville. Based on the Norwegian TV series of the same name, the Netflix series is set in a retro-futuristic New York City, revolving around two strangers who participate in a mysterious experimental pharmaceutical trial that promises to solve all their problems. Maniac stars Emma Stone, Jonah Hill, Justin Theroux, Sonoya Mizuno, Gabriel Myrne, and Sally Field.
Why It’s Similar? Maniac and Pluribus are both character-driven dramas set in peculiar environments where our protagonists experience life-changing events.
The Leftovers (HBO Max)
The Leftovers is a supernatural mystery thriller drama series co-created by Damon Lindelöf and Tom Perrotta. Based on Perrotta’s 2011 novel of the same name, the HBO series is set in a small community three years after a global event known as “Sudden Departure,” which saw 2% of the entire global population suddenly disappear. It revolves around community members as they try to come to terms with their loss but struggle to move on. The Leftovers stars Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman, Christopher Eccleston, Liv Tyler, Chris Zylka, Margaret Qualley, and Ann Dowd.
Why It’s Similar? The Leftovers is an amazing character drama, much like Maniac and Pluribus, and like Pluribus, its plot revolves around a global event that leaves our central characters forever changed.
Severance (Apple TV+)
Severance is a sci-fi psychological mystery thriller series created by Dan Erickson. The Apple TV+ series revolves around a group of employees of Lumon Industries, a giant biotechnology company that invented a procedure that can sever memories. A few Lumon Industries employees were severed and their memories of their personal and professional lives are kept separate, but things get complicated when they begin to question the nature of their work. Severance stars Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, Jen Tullock, Dichen Lachman, Michael Chernus, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, Patricia Arquette, and Sarah Bock.
Why It’s Similar? If you love the tense drama, hint of dark comedy, thrilling mysteries, and brilliant story in Pluribus, then you will absolutely love this other Apple TV+ series.
The Big Door Prize (Apple TV+)
The Big Door Prize is a comedy series created by David West Read. Based on M.O. Walsh’s 2020 novel of the same name, the Apple TV+ series is set in the idyllic small town of Deerfield as a mysterious machine appears at the local general store that tells people’s true “Life Potential.” It revolves around the local people, as their lives are forever changed because of the machine. The Big Door Prize stars Chris O’Dowd, Gabrielle Dennis, Damon Gupton, Josh Segarra, Sammy Fourlas, Djouliet Amara, and Ally Maki.
Why It’s Similar? Both The Big Door Prize and Pluribus are set after an inexplicable event, and they revolve around a person as everything around them changes.
The X-Files (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video)
The X-Files is a sci-fi mystery thriller drama series created by Chris Carter. The Fox series follows FBI special agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, who investigate complicated cases that have never been solved. Their main goal is to determine if paranormal entities exist or not, but this is made even more complicated because of their opposing personalities. The X-Files stars David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Robert Patrick, Annabeth Gish, and Mitch Pileggi.
Why It’s Similar? If you didn’t already know, Vince Gilligan, who created Pluribus, was also a writer on the hit paranormal procedural drama series The X-Files, and many of the critics think that the experience Gilligan acquired in the writer’s room of The X-Files has helped him in creating Pluribus.
3 Body Problem (Netflix)
3 Body Problem is a sci-fi fantasy mystery thriller drama series co-created by David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo. Based on the Chinese novel series by Liu Cixin, the Netflix series revolves around a group of scientists as many in their community are mysteriously dying but they soon discover an apocalyptic threat that is heading to Earth. 3 Body Problem stars Jovan Adepo, John Bradley, Rosalind Chao, Liam Cunningham, Eiza Gonzalez, Jess Hong, and Marlo Kelly.
Why It’s Similar? Both 3 Body Problem and Silo feature an alien invasion of Earth but unlike other show both of these sci-fi series show their alien invasion in an unique and intriguing way.
Silo (Apple TV+)
Silo is a sci-fi dystopian drama series created by Graham Yost. Based on the Silo trilogy of novels by Hugh Howey, the Apple TV+ series is set in a dystopian future when people live in a giant silo underground as a massive community where the biggest law is that you can’t say that you want to go outside because the outside is poisonous. The story revolves around engineer Juliette Nichols who takes over as the Sheriff after the previous Sheriff decides to go outside. Silo stars Rebecca Ferguson, Rashida Jones, David Oyelowo, Common, Tim Robbins, Harriet Walter, Avi Nash, Rick Gomez, Chinaza Uche, Shane McRae, and Remmie Milner.
Why It’s Similar? As I said before that Pluribus is unlike any other series but Silo has that air of suspense we all love in the Vince Gilligan series.