# Pluribus

29 Hacker News commenters recommended Pluribus and 7 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 9 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Recommended for its philosophical take on AI and its strong, beautifully shot sci-fi storytelling. Critics find the pacing slow and some episodes padded with filler.

## Why people recommend it

- Excellent, sci-fi show overall (4 comments): "It is astoundingly good. A contender for the best show I've ever seen" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49177040)) "really it's an excellent show in general, just really good" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46433267)) "I also quite like Pluribus, it feels like actual sci-fi" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46167911))
- AI metaphor and parable (4 comments): "what a great metaphor it is for living surrounded by humans using AI to think and write for them" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47346747)) "I understood Pluribus as a metaphor for what AI is to us today" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49177086)) "I think it's still a very stimulating AI parable despite that." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47711440))
- Smart, philosophical, character-driven storytelling (3 comments): "Pluribus has no filler. Sure: the plot moves slowly, the cinematography is artsy and sedate, and it's all very character-driven. So what? It's beautiful." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46840987)) "very slow burning, philosophical kind of show which I found very smart" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46385388)) "Pluribus is a more interesting meditation." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46187352))
- Beautifully shot visuals (2 comments): "Pluribus has no filler. Sure: the plot moves slowly, the cinematography is artsy and sedate, and it's all very character-driven. So what? It's beautiful." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46840987)) "The show is shot very well." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46114274))

## What people warn about

- Forgettable filler across episodes (2 comments): "I liked the concept and what they did with it, but there's way too much forgettable filler that dilutes it into a slog" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47390884)) "There were several segments that were clearly just filler" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46840593))
- Bland, sanitized, unoriginal feel (2 comments): "Even Pluribus has that smug sanitized gloss." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46162049)) "They are bland and unoriginal." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48663608))
- Not worth watching for some (2 comments): "I regret watching that series, it was immensely disappointing." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46842719)) "Pluribus is not worth it, if you wondered." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46467662))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Halt and Catch Fire](https://hackerapproved.com/p/halt-and-catch-fire.md): 166 recommend
- [Babylon 5](https://hackerapproved.com/p/babylon-5.md): 86 recommend
- [Silicon Valley (TV series)](https://hackerapproved.com/p/silicon-valley.md): 52 recommend
- [Andor](https://hackerapproved.com/p/andor.md): 52 recommend
- [The Wire](https://hackerapproved.com/p/wire.md): 39 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Pluribus", https://hackerapproved.com/p/pluribus/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).