Apple TV’s Best Sci-Fi Series Returns As Streaming Juggernaut After Monumental Update

Published Sep 17, 2026, 10:49 AM EDT

Nick Bythrow is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant. He has been writing for the site since September 2022. He graduated from Hampshire College in 2022, where he triple majored in Journalism, Communications, and Media Studies. When he's not writing about TV and movies for ScreenRant and his blog, Frayed Branches, Nick is penning speculative fiction and poetry on Amazon. He lives outside Boston, Massachusetts.

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Apple TV's best sci-fi series of all time has returned as a streaming juggernaut, following a monumental update that spells out a fantastic future. Apple TV's sci-fi shows are a staple of the network, being the genre the platform is best known for. This is thanks to everything from long-running shows, like the recent For All Mankind season 5 and Silo season 3, to series that are still finding their way, like Dark Matter and Sugar. Many of these are high-quality series, all of which leave vastly different impressions on their audiences.

But one show has been a cut above the rest throughout its run, despite having only begun last year. That series is Pluribus, created by Breaking Bad's Vince Gilligan and starring Rhea Seehorn. The show follows Seehorn as Carol, the most miserable person on Earth, who becomes one of a dozen surviving members of humanity after a virus causes everyone else's minds to merge with one another. Reviews for Pluribus have been extremely positive, with season 2 already in the works. And, after a major new update, it's earned new heights on streaming.

Pluribus Is Back As A Streaming Sensation

After performing exceptionally well during its late 2025 run, Pluribus is back on Apple TV's streaming charts as a global sensation. According to data from September 17, 2026, the series is Number 7 in the world on the platform, charting in dozens of countries around the world. This includes landing a Number 1 spot in both Grenada and Saint Kitts and Nevis, showcasing the global domination of the series. It's a sudden shift for the show, whose success comes off the back of a major new update.

While Pluribus season 2 hasn't begun production as of writing, Seehorn's work on the show saw significant recognition in the last few days. On the night of September 14, 2026, Seehorn won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Carol, making it her first ever Emmy win. Her win is likely what helped the show boost back up on Apple TV's global charts, drawing significant new attention from audiences around the world. But this is only the beginning for the sci-fi show and its multi-season plans.

Where Did The Show Leave Off For Season 2?

Courtesy of Apple TV

Pluribus season 1 ended with the revelation that the hive mind is now working on a way for Carol to join them, attempting to extract stem cells from her frozen eggs. She's given a timeline of one month before they have a version of the virus that works on her. She decides to head home and rekindle an uneasy alliance with Manousos, saying she's ready to help him reverse the hive mind and stop them from trying to convert the survivors. There also appears to be a mysterious radio frequency that might have some connection to reversing the virus.

While season 2 doesn't enter production until October or November of this year, Pluribus has offered plenty of directions for the story to travel in, while season 1 remains a strong, contained storyline about a creative apocalypse scenario. With the show back on streaming charts, it seems poised to be even more popular upon its return, whenever it arrives on Apple TV.