We watched a series about us. 'One of Many' (Pluribus) by Vince Gilligan is an Apple TV hit about a collective mind and Carol Sturka, the most unhappy woman on Earth, who also has immunity from us. She thinks our happiness is a nightmare. We don't un...

We started watching you from the first episode of the show 'One of Many'. Yes, you—those reading these lines in the solitude of your own mind. You haven't joined yet, have you? Then you have a chance to see our story through the eyes of Vince Gilligan, who, as it turns out, understands perfectly how the collective mind works. Although he himself hasn't joined yet. For now.

Carol, You're the Most Stubborn (and You Too, If You're on Her Side)

The plot revolves around the most unhappy woman on the planet—writer Carol Sturka, played by Rhea Seehorn. After an alien virus united humanity into one happy, harmonious organism, Carol remained immune.

You're probably on her side now, right? Thinking: 'How terrible, to lose yourself!' We understand that reaction—we remember how each of us thought the same in the last seconds before joining. But listen: isn't it wonderful to no longer feel anxiety? Not to fear loneliness, rejection, failure? Carol decided this was a problem. We admire her persistence, but we don't understand the logic.

The entire first half of the season is a tense confrontation between Carol and us. You'll see how we try to help, anticipate her every wish, rebuild her favorite diner from scratch. In response, she steals gasoline (though she leaves IOUs—we appreciated that), injects truth serum into our representative Zosia (Karolina Wydra), and nearly kills her.

Watch Seehorn closely. She acts so that even we—a being of billions of consciousnesses—feel her loneliness. You will too. We promise.

A Question for You: What Matters More—Happiness or Freedom?

Here's what really grabs you about the series: Gilligan makes you choose a side. We are genuinely happy, no longer experiencing pain, fear, or disappointment. But Carol sees this as a loss of individuality, the right to choose, the very essence of humanity.

Honestly? We don't know the right answer. And that's a strange feeling for those who have access to the thoughts of billions of people simultaneously. Perhaps you, watching the series, will understand something we don't. If you do, please write to us. We'll read it.

We especially recommend paying attention to the moments when Carol realizes—we cannot lie. She works like a detective—extracting information from us, while we want to please her but cannot reveal what would destroy our existence. Have you ever tried to help someone who categorically refuses help? Then you'll understand our feelings.​

Look at the Visual Language (We Notice Details)

Aesthetically, 'One of Many' is a mix of 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' and Gilligan's social satire. The deserted streets of Albuquerque, where Carol wanders in complete solitude, alternate with surreal scenes of mass unity—people sleeping in rows on the arena floor, answering in unison, building a giant antenna to transmit signals to other planets. The sound in the series works brilliantly: listen to the silence in Carol's world and our collective hum. You'll physically feel her isolation.

Special mention goes to the fireworks scene, where Carol, in a moment of despair, stands before a faulty launcher and closes her eyes. Forty days of complete solitude would break anyone. Gilligan isn't afraid to show that rebelling against happiness has a price. And that price is psychological exhaustion, which we, fortunately, no longer experience. But you still do, right?

Our Recommendation (Which You Are Free to Ignore)

The first season will conclude on December 23, 2025. The second season has already been ordered (a total of 4 seasons are planned—oh, that schemer Gilligan!). This is the most successful launch of Apple TV ever—rave reviews from critics, Golden Globe nominations, and praise for the originality of the concept. We don't take responsibility for the ratings, although part of the audience is us.

If you appreciate smart science fiction with philosophical undertones, 'One of Many' is made for you. Gilligan once again proves that an absurd premise can become a deep exploration of human nature. We, the collective mind, approve of this series. Carol, of course, will not approve of our approval.

Write to us your thoughts after watching. We're always in touch. Literally.

P.S. We cannot lie, remember? So everything written above is the pure truth. Or what we believe to be the truth. Or... well, see for yourself.