Hideo Kojima Hails Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus as an Absolutely Incredible Sci-Fi Triumph
Shock turned to euphoria as the reveal hit — a jaw-dropping moment already being hailed as absolutely incredible.
Vince Gilligan is back on TV with a new sci-fi series, and one of the loudest voices cheering him on is, of all people, Hideo Kojima. Yes, the Metal Gear and Death Stranding mastermind who also happens to be a laser-focused film/TV watcher. He just watched the first episode of Gilligan's Pluribus on Apple TV+, and he is all in.
Kojima loved the pilot (like, really loved it)
Kojima posted a rave after checking out episode 1 of Pluribus, which stars Better Call Saul MVP Rhea Seehorn:
"I finally got to watch the first episode of Vince Gilligan's long-awaited new series Pluribus! Oh my god - this is incredible. Absolutely incredible. It pulls you in right from the opening scene. Vince really is a genius! It's still too early to tell, but... could this be Vince Gilligan's take on Invasion of the Body Snatchers? Jack Finney's Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1955) was a meta reflection of Cold War-era fears - of invasion and totalitarianism. Could Pluribus be a satire of America today - of social media and division? Can't wait to see more."
What Pluribus is actually about
Gilligan's new show centers on a world where humanity is linked into a shared hivemind. Everyone is connected... except Rhea Seehorn's character, Carol, who somehow remains on her own. If your brain jumps to Invasion of the Body Snatchers, you are not wrong. That story (originally Jack Finney's 1955 novel) is the classic template for people being quietly replaced or absorbed, and it has been remade more than once for a reason. Kojima is basically wondering if Gilligan is using that DNA to poke at 2024 America: social media echo chambers, the pull of groupthink, the fear of losing yourself to the crowd.
Why Kojima weighing in matters
Beyond making games that feel like movies, Kojima has long been a sharp, sometimes surprising champion of film and TV. He calls the opening scene of Pluribus a grabber and flat-out labels Gilligan a genius. Coming from him, that praise carries some weight.
The early verdict and where to watch
Pluribus season 1 is streaming on Apple TV+ from November 7. And it is not just Kojima who is impressed — our reviewer called it "easily one of the year's best dramas."