After a gripping two-episode premiere, the sci-fi drama Pluribus continues its weekly rollout on Apple TV+. The story of Carol Sturka, the world’s most miserable person in a world forced into happiness, deepens with the upcoming third episode.
The new chapter, titled “Grenade,” is set to premiere on Friday, November 14, 2025. Following its double-bill debut on November 7, the show will release one new episode each Friday, building toward its first season finale on December 26.
The Story So Far
Pluribus introduces a world transformed by “The Joining,” a global hive mind event. A mysterious cosmic signal was decoded as a blueprint for RNA, which was then recreated in a lab. An accident allowed this new pattern to escape, spreading like a virus and linking nearly all of humanity into a single, content, and optimistic consciousness.
Rhea Seehorn stars as Carol Sturka, a historical romance author and one of only thirteen people immune to this transformation. She finds herself utterly alone, grieving the loss of her partner, Helen, who died during the transition. Everyone else, including over seven billion people, is now part of the collective, and their primary goal seems to be making Carol happy—a state she fiercely resists.
Episode 2’s Game-Changing Ending
The second episode, “Pirate Lady,” ended with a critical revelation. Carol traveled to Bilbao to meet a small group of other uninfected survivors. However, she discovered that their philosophies clashed; while Carol wants to fight to restore free will to humanity, some of the others have made peace with the hive mind’s control.
The most significant moment came when Carol’s anger caused a massive “glitch” in the hive network. Her raw, negative emotions momentarily severed millions of connections, leading to global chaos and proving that her individuality has a direct and destabilizing power over the collective.
The episode concluded with Carol preventing another survivor from taking Zosia, a hive-controlled vessel who has been acting as Carol’s companion. This act of defiance suggested that Carol may have discovered a key strategy to challenge the hive’s authority.
What to Expect in Episode 3
Titled “Grenade,” the third episode is expected to explore the immediate consequences of Carol’s actions in Bilbao. The story will likely move from personal grief toward a larger conflict as Carol begins to understand and potentially weaponize her unique ability to disrupt the hive.
The creator of the series, Vince Gilligan, known for Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, has stated that the show is designed to make viewers think. He shared his inspiration, saying:
“I got interested in the idea of a world in which everyone was nice. What would the world be like if everybody got along? There’s probably a bit of wish fulfilment in the idea.”
The series has been described as a slow-burn character study, taking its time to observe Carol’s experience in this strange new world. Critics have noted that the show offers a reflection on society’s condition, presenting a different kind of apocalypse that examines the limits of human satisfaction and freedom.
How to Watch
Pluribus is streaming exclusively on Apple TV+. New episodes typically become available on Thursday evenings in the Americas, ahead of their official Friday release date. For example, Episode 3 should be available by 9:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 13.
The first season will have a total of nine episodes. Apple TV+ has already renewed the series for a second season, showing strong confidence in Vince Gilligan’s latest project.
Also Read: Pluribus Episode 2: Carol Discovers a Critical Flaw in the Hive’s Perfect World
