Y&R’s Peter Bergman Stars in New Apple TV+ Series PLURIBUS—Soap Legend Goes FULL VILLAIN in Creepy Sci-Fi Thriller

PETER BERGMAN STARS IN DYSTOPIAN THRILLER WHERE HAPPINESS IS MANDATORY

TL;DR: Y&R legend Peter Bergman is starring in a brand new Apple TV+ series called Pluribus from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul creator Vince Gilligan, and the trailer has us HOOKED! Bergman plays what appears to be the United States president in a creepy sci-fi thriller about a virus that makes everyone happy—except romance novelist Carol Sturka, who’s immune. The series debuts November 7th, and Bergman‘s “cheerfully ominous” character promises to “fix” Carol whether she likes it or not.

Vince Gilligan’s New Apple TV+ Project

Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul creator Vince Gilligan has a brand new project ready to hit Apple TV+, and we couldn’t be more excited to check it out! Called Pluribus, it has a very special tie to The Young and the Restless and an intriguing premise that already has us hooked. According to Entertainment Weekly, the new series stars Rhea Seehorn as romance novelist Carol Sturka—who seems to be the only person immune to a new virus that makes everyone happy and optimistic! We know, it doesn’t sound terrible, but as in most sci-fi dramas, we’re guessing all is not as it seems! So Carol sets off to figure out what’s wrong and how she can cure the world of interminable happiness!

Peter Bergman’s Mysterious Role

That’s all intriguing enough, but then DiscussingFilm went and released the trailer and we were HOOKED! Because the first voice we heard was one very familiar to The Young and the Restless fans—and it belonged to Peter Bergman! Check out the trailer to hear what Bergman‘s mysterious character (who is possibly the United States president) has to say to Carol.Let’s just say that the rest of the world isn’t planning on letting Carol go about in misery. They’re going to figure out why she isn’t infected, and they’re going to “fix” it. At least, that’s what Bergman‘s cheerfully ominous character promises her in the trailer.

Jack Abbott Goes Dark

Y&R fans are used to seeing Peter Bergman as Jack Abbott—the charming, occasionally complicated, but ultimately good-hearted patriarch of the Abbott family. But in Pluribus, Bergman appears to be playing someone far more sinister. His character’s calm, cheerful delivery of what sounds like a threat (“We’re going to fix you”) is absolutely CHILLING.The contrast between Jack Abbott’s warmth and this character’s creepy optimism showcases Bergman‘s incredible range as an actor. Seeing him play what appears to be an antagonist—possibly even the villain—is going to be fascinating for soap fans who’ve watched him for decades on The Young and the Restless.

A World of Forced Happiness

The premise of Pluribus is brilliantly unsettling: What if everyone in the world was infected with a virus that made them perpetually happy and optimistic? It sounds like a utopia, but as Carol (the only immune person) discovers, something is deeply WRONG with this forced happiness.

The sci-fi thriller raises fascinating questions: Is happiness still meaningful if it’s not a choice? What happens when optimism becomes mandatory? And what lengths will an eternally happy society go to in order to eliminate the one person who refuses to smile? Bergman‘s character seems to represent the forces trying to maintain this false utopia by “fixing” Carol’s immunity. His cheerful promise to cure her of misery feels more like a threat than comfort, and that’s what makes this role so compelling.

When Can We Watch?

Pluribus debuts on November 7th on Apple TV+, giving Young and Restless fans the perfect opportunity to see Peter Bergman in a completely different role. This isn’t Jack Abbott navigating Genoa City family drama—this is Bergman playing what appears to be a powerful, potentially dangerous character in a dystopian thriller.

The series also stars Rhea Seehorn (best known for Better Call Saul), which means we’re getting incredible talent both in front of and behind the camera. Vince Gilligan’s track record speaks for itself—if Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul are any indication, Pluribus is going to be must-watch television.

The Bottom Line

Are you excited to check out the new series? And if you were trapped in a world of eternally happy people… would you want to join them, or stop them? You can decide for yourself and check out Peter Bergman‘s juicy new role when Pluribus debuts on November 7th on Apple TV+!The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS. Pluribus streams on Apple TV+ starting November 7th.

Think you’re one step ahead of the storyline? Share your theory at amber@soapoperamagazine.com and see it featured!