Dive into a world of daring pirates and forbidden romance – because Apple just dropped a digital treat for fans of Vince Gilligan's new show, 'Pluribus'! Forget waiting for the next episode; you can now read a piece of the fictional book that's central to the series.
Following the premiere of 'Pluribus' on Apple TV+, the streaming giant has released an excerpt from Carol Sturka's (played by Rhea Seehorn) fantasy romance novel, 'Bloodsong of Wycaro.' This isn't just any excerpt; it's a taste of the guilty pleasure Carol herself writes in the show. You can download an 11-page chapter, along with a special letter from the author (well, a fictional version of her, penned by the actual writers, of course) directly from Apple Books. You can find it here: https://books.apple.com/us/book/bloodsong-of-wycaro/id6754341665.
So, what's 'Bloodsong of Wycaro' actually about? Think windswept dunes, spicefruit, and swashbuckling adventure. The book's description teases a tale of Captain Lucasia, commander of the duneship Mercator, as she journeys across the amaranthine sands of Wycaro. Her mission? To find a cure for a deadly illness decimating her crew. As she battles a treacherous storm, she's haunted by memories of Raban, the rogue who stole her heart before…walking the plank. Get ready for passion, betrayal, and a whole lot of sand! The description promises: "the only thing worse than finding yourself alone in the dark…is discovering you’re not alone."
But here's where it gets controversial... In the pilot episode of 'Pluribus,' Carol dismisses her own wildly popular series as "mindless crap," even comparing it to "a bad episode of Star Trek." Talk about self-deprecation! She later reveals that Raban, the male romantic lead, was originally intended to be a woman, hinting at inspiration from her real-life partner, Helen (played by Miriam Shor). It seems Carol yearns to be taken seriously as a writer, aiming to focus on her more 'serious' work, 'Bitter Chrysalis.'
And this is the part most people miss... Gilligan himself previously commented on Carol's (and perhaps, by extension, his own) relationship with fandom. He told Deadline that, despite her occasional grumbling, Carol loves her fans. But after a book signing or convention, she just wants to unwind and have a quiet moment. It's a sentiment many creators can probably relate to. This adds a layer of complexity to Carol's character, making her both relatable and a little bit prickly.
In 'Pluribus,' Seehorn's Carol is one of only twelve people on Earth immune to an extraterrestrial virus that transforms everyone else into a relentlessly optimistic hive mind. Talk about high stakes! This promotional move by Apple echoes a similar strategy used for their show 'Severance,' where they released the fictional self-help book 'The You You Are.' It's a clever way to immerse viewers in the world of the show and give them a little something extra to chew on between episodes.
New episodes of 'Pluribus' drop every Friday. Will you be downloading 'Bloodsong of Wycaro'? And more importantly, do you think Carol is being too hard on herself? Is 'mindless crap' sometimes exactly what we need? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
