Pluribus Episode 5 Release Date Moves Up—Fans Get It Sooner Than Expected

Apple TV+ just pulled a Thanksgiving-week curveball with Pluribus, and honestly, it makes sense. If you’re going to drop a mid-season episode, why not get it in front of people right as they’re bracing for travel, turkey, or both?

What changed

Pluribus Episode 5 is now arriving on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 — two days earlier than its original Friday, November 28 slot. Apple TV announced the tweak on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on November 24 with a wink to the show’s lead character.

"Hi Carol. We’ll be seeing you a little bit earlier than normal this week. Looking forward to Wednesday."

Why the move

Thanksgiving weekend in the U.S. is prime time for streaming marathons, and studios love nudging big releases a little earlier to catch that bump. Disney is doing the same thing theatrically with Zootopia 2, which opens on Wednesday of the holiday week. Apple’s doing the streaming equivalent here — giving subscribers something fresh to watch as the long weekend kicks in.

The schedule at a glance

• Episode 5 lands Wednesday, November 26, 2025 (moved up from Friday, November 28).
• The show’s normal weekly cadence is Fridays.
• After this week, that Friday pattern resumes and continues through Friday, December 26.
• Episode 5 is the mid-season mark.

Quick refresher on the show

Created by Vince Gilligan, Pluribus stars Rhea Seehorn as Carol, a writer who somehow keeps her full emotional range after an alien virus sweeps the planet and leaves almost everyone else stuck feeling only joy. Carol decides to go hunting for answers — and a possible fix — on a global trek that’s equal parts mystery and moral puzzle.

How it’s playing so far

Critics have been into the premise and the performances, with more than a few comparisons to The X-Files floating around. Episode 5 hitting early during the holiday lull is a smart way to keep that momentum humming.