Carol Sturka, portrayed by Rhea Seehorn, is the unexpected hero of Pluribus. One of the few people resistant to an alien virus that turns humans into compliant, hive-mind-connected drones, Sturka suddenly finds herself in the midst of massive chaos.
Series creator Vince Gilligan explains that his choice of hero as a romance novelist stems not from a philosophical reason but from a humorous preference. Gilligan aimed to find the most unsuitable and inept protagonist for a sci-fi thriller.
“I liked the idea of a struggling writer saving the world… When you think of someone to save the world, you want Liam Neeson or Tom Cruise. You don’t want a writer. That’s the last person you’d task with saving humanity, because we’re a bunch of inept idiots.” — Vince Gilligan
“Romantasy” Writers Are More Fun
Although later episodes of the series will focus on themes of forcibly imposed happiness and group-think, Sturka’s identity as a writer, according to Gilligan, comes more from personal humor than from this thematic exploration.
Gilligan clearly explains why he specifically chose a romance (romantasy) novelist:
“With over 30 years of experience, I can say that screenwriters are boring. Romance novel writers, on the other hand, seem more colorful, fun, and engaging.”
Art, Admiration, and Fake Happiness
The series’ first episode begins with Sturka giving a lively reading of her latest romance novel. Her fanatical fans knowing far too much about her works causes her to leave the event feeling defeated. While Sturka sees her own books as trivial and worthless, her manager and partner Helen L. Umstead (Miriam Shor) comforts her by saying that her work makes people happy.
This opening demonstrates that the series deeply examines the difference between art and entertainment, the enthusiastic fan bases that have emerged in recent years, and the theme of fake happiness in the social media age where everyone tries to present their best self.
