Ep. 3: Pluribus Can't Be Bleat

In Episode 3 of the "Excommunication" podcast, Scott Roeben and Melissa Vegas tackle Apple TV+'s buzzy sci-fi series "Pluribus." The conversation begins with some behind-the-scenes "production meeting" feedback about their own podcast habits before shifting into a deep dive on the show, which imagines a mysterious signal that merges the consciousness of nearly every human on Earth into a single hive mind.

Scott and Melissa explore the premise through the perspective of Carol, one of the few people immune to the phenomenon, and discuss how the series blends familiar apocalyptic tropes with fresh ideas about identity, free will and collective intelligence. They examine the show's central themes, including whether the hive mind represents a benevolent evolution of humanity or something more sinister, and debate the moral questions raised by a world where individuality disappears but violence and conflict vanish with it.

The episode also touches on the relationship between Carol and her hive-mind guide Zosia, the ethical implications of consent in a shared consciousness, and the broader parallels between the show's premise and the rise of artificial intelligence. Scott and Melissa share their favorite and least favorite episodes, discuss the Las Vegas-set installment that features the Westgate, and speculate about what the remaining immune characters might mean for the story's future.

As with any "Excommunication" podcast episode, the discussion frequently veers off course into pop culture tangents, language debates and humorous disagreements about everything from zombie storytelling to podcast structure. The result is a free-flowing conversation that reflects the dynamic between two exes who still enjoy arguing about television, ideas and the strange directions a good show can take.