"If everyone in the world were suddenly part of a hive mind, and you weren't, how would that make you feel? In the series, cynical but likable romantasy author Carol (Rhea Seehorn) can't believe that this mysterious shared consciousness is real, much less ethical. What makes all of this work is, of course, Gilligan's clever and grounded writing, paired with Seehorn's unique talents."
"Mild spoilers ahead. In short: The hive mind is extremely blissful and happy. This is the defining feature of Pluribus, and sets it apart from a zombie-ish hivemind or an alien replacement hive mind like Invasion of the Body Snatchers. There's not a robotic shared voice coming from the newly telepathically linked human race."
Pluribus imagines a sudden global shared consciousness that links people into a blissful hive mind while leaving some individuals unconnected. Carol, a cynical but likable romantasy author played by Rhea Seehorn, cannot accept that the shared consciousness is real or ethical. The hive mind projects extreme bliss and calm, distinguishing it from zombie-like or alien replacement hive-mind tropes that feature robotic voices or hostile assimilation. The premise evokes a Star Trek parallel, recalling The Original Series episode "The Return of the Archons," where a controlling computer god called Landru unifies citizens into a contented "body."
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