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Dhruv is a Lead Writer in Screen Rant's New TV division. He has been consistently contributing to the website for over two years and has written thousands of articles covering streaming trends, movie/TV analysis, and pop culture breakdowns.
Before Screen Rant, he was a Senior Writer for The Cinemaholic, covering everything from anime to television, from reality TV to movies.
After high school, he was on his way to become a Civil Engineer. However, he soon realized that writing was his true calling. As a result, he took a leap and never looked back.
It will be a while before Pluribus returns to Apple TV with another season. Till then, fans of the show must check out another post-apocalyptic drama based on a book that inspired one of Stephen King's most acclaimed stories.
Although many inventive post-apocalyptic shows have graced the small screens, only a few come close to being as creative and memorable as Pluribus. Using an extraterrestrial threat as a narrative device, the Vince Gilligan Apple TV show tells a hard-hitting story about what it means to be human in a hyper-connected world.
Considering how Pluribus only scratches the surface of the full scope of its ideas in season 1, it is hard not to look forward to its next installment. While waiting for Pluribus season 2, though, audiences have the opportunity to binge on another post-apocalyptic drama that only has one season and six episodes.
MGM+’s Earth Abides Is The Perfect Show To Watch While Waiting For Pluribus Season 2
Earth Abides, which premiered on MGM+ in December 2024, is based on George R. Stweart's seminal post-apocalyptic novel of the same name. Like Pluribus, Earth Abides adopts a familiar hook where a virus spreads across the globe, and the main character turns out to be one of the few immune individuals. Similar to Pluribus' Carol, Earth Abides' Ish (played by Alexander Ludwig) struggles to accept the new normal.
Even after he meets a few other survivors, he hopes to restore a version of the world he once knew. However, like Carol, he gradually realizes that the world is far too changed to be reclaimed to its previous form.
Although Earth Abides is far more grounded than Pluribus with its portrayal of a post-apocalyptic world, it also examines how culture and identity erode as more and more time passes by. Even its protagonist tries hard to hold on to his previously held beliefs and identities, but the new world constantly forces him to shed them.
Despite being more about rebuilding the world and less about reversing the spread of a virus, Earth Abides ultimately arrives at the same emotional crossroads as Pluribus. Like the Apple TV sci-fi show, it captures how a world-ending event is the perfect narrative device to address what it means to be human.
All Post-Apocalyptic Stories, Including Pluribus, Owe A Lot To George R. Stewart’s Earth Abides
The story in George R. Stewart's Earth Abides may seem a little too familiar now. However, when the book was first published in 1949, it was unlike any other addition to sci-fi literature. In hindsight, it serves as the foundational text for every movie, show, and book that revolves around world-ending events and their aftermath.
Even watching the MGM+ show feels like returning to the "original source code" of the genre where there are no fancy set pieces, relentless action sequences, or high-concept twists. Instead, there is a linear story that explores the decay of civilization and the human spirit's ability to thrive even in the harshest situations.
One Of Stephen King’s Best Books Was Also Inspired By Earth Abides
Interestingly, Stephen King, too, drew inspiration from Earth Abides before he started writing The Stand. In his book Danse Macabre, King reveals that he was reading "about an accidental CBW spill in Utah," which reminded him of George R. Stewart's Earth Abides. This initial spark of an idea led him to write The Stand in which "the world comes to an end, but everybody in the SLA is somehow immune."
Considering Earth Abides' influence on the post-apocalyptic genre, both Pluribus and Stephen King's The Stand may not have even seen the light of day if it wasn't for the book. Owing to this, viewers who love stories about the fragile intersection of human sociology and the indifferent power of nature must read Earth Abides and watch its TV adaptation.
English (US) ·