'Pluribus' Shatters Records as Apple TV's Top Show, Spotlighting Complex Lesbian Lead Carol Sturka

Apple TV confirmed on December 16, 2025, that Pluribus has become its most-watched series ever, outpacing established hits such as Ted Lasso, Severance, The Morning Show, and Slow Horses following the release of episode seven. The platform announced this achievement through a promotional clip featuring lead character Carol Sturka, played by Rhea Seehorn, setting off fireworks in an empty neighborhood, overlaid with the message "Congratulations, Carol." Apple has not disclosed exact viewership metrics or the precise calculation method, but the public acknowledgment underscores the show's rapid ascent. Earlier in 2025, Apple noted Pluribus as its biggest drama launch, exceeding Severance season two.

The series, set in a near-future Albuquerque, New Mexico, centers on Carol Sturka, a lesbian romance novelist immune to an alien virus that has assimilated nearly the entire global population into a unified hivemind. This hivemind eliminates conflict, crime, and suffering but erases individual identities, leaving Carol and a handful of others isolated as the last holdouts of personal autonomy. Carol's character is portrayed as a flawed, no-nonsense figure—a heavy-drinking author of pirate-themed heterosexual romantasy novels—who navigates her nonconformity amid this transformed world.

Created by Vince Gilligan, known for Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Pluribus was specifically developed for Rhea Seehorn. Gilligan stated, "I wrote this show for her. I love her so much," highlighting their prior collaboration and his confidence in her as a lead. The show has already secured a second season under Apple's two-season commitment, with the first season concluding on December 26, 2025, via its ninth episode. Production for season two is slated for late 2027, potentially extending to four seasons depending on Seehorn's schedule. Seehorn's performance has earned a Golden Globe nomination prior to the season's end.

Within LGBTQ+ media circles, Carol Sturka has emerged as a compelling, morally ambiguous lesbian protagonist, resonating with audiences who appreciate nuanced queer characters. Reviewers note her as a "flawed lesbian hero," condescending and rude, whose negative energy disrupts the hivemind, yet she positions herself as humanity's potential savior. Autostraddle describes her contradictions—opposing conformity while expecting others to follow her lead—adding depth rather than undermining her heroism, particularly as the only white woman among immune survivors. Her queerness is woven into the narrative: pre-hivemind, she writes male leads despite initial plans for a female pirate, and the hive manifests Zosia, a companion resembling her fantasy lover drawn from her partner Helen's memories.

This portrayal aligns with a growing trend of complex lesbian leads in media, echoing characters from Yellowjackets, Love Lies Bleeding, and Bottoms. Critics argue it challenges male-dominated anti-hero tropes from shows like Breaking Bad and Succession, potentially ushering in more queer-centered prestige television. The series' trailer on Apple TV's YouTube channel emphasizes Carol's isolation, reinforcing themes of individuality and queer nonconformity. As one of few unaffected by the hive, Carol embodies the tension between personal identity—including sexuality and gender—and collective assimilation, making her a symbol for LGBTQ+ viewers valuing uniqueness.

Pluribus' success highlights streaming platforms' increasing investment in diverse, lead-driven stories from LGBTQ+ perspectives, with Carol's arc promising further exploration of resilience amid global change.