Apple TV just made a last-minute release date change for Pluribus Episode 5. Vince Gilligan's new sci-fi series has gotten off to a blazing start on the Apple-owned streamer, telling the tale of the last woman on Earth who can feel anything other than pure joy. This eerie, almost X-Files-esque premise has been much celebrated by fans, ranking as one of the best-reviewed TV series of the year.
For many, Pluribus has become appointment viewing, with new episodes dropping every Friday. However, the series will shake things up for its upcoming fifth episode, as the U.S. heads into its Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
The official Apple TV X account shared that Pluribus Episode 5 will debut two days early on the service, coming on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, rather than Friday, November 28, as initially planned.
In the post, the streamer wrote an appropriately fourth-wall-breaking note, positing, "Hi Carol. We'll be seeing you a little bit earlier than normal this week:"
"Hi Carol. We'll be seeing you a little bit earlier than normal this week. Looking forward to Wednesday."
Pluribus stars Better Call Saul breakout Rhea Seehorn as Carol. After an alien virus leaves the world consumed by an unwavering feeling of joy, Carol remains as one of the few humans left on Earth who can feel the full spectrum of human emotions. Thus begins a globe-trotting adventure, as Seehorn's curmudgeonly author uncovers what is going on and how she can reverse the virus's effects. Outside of this week, new episodes of Pluribus drop every Friday through December 26.
Why Is Pluribus Episode 5 Coming Out Early?
Some fans may be confused on Wednesday night, turning on Apple TV to find that Pluribus Episode 5 is there and ready, a full two days before it was initially announced. However, there is a significant reason why this push makes sense.
This week is Thanksgiving in the U.S., meaning that families all over the country will come together on Thursday and spend the extended four-day weekend as a familial unit. So, why not make an event of the four days and give Apple TV subscribers something to watch over the long weekend?
Had Episode 5 been released on the same Friday it was originally planned, it might have been forgotten, as the events of the holiday would have taken attention away from it. Releasing it on Wednesday opens the door to the broadest possible audience seeing the new episode as it drops, serving as a perfect appetizer for the long weekend.
Hollywood has been doing this for years. Typically, the big movie releases coming out over the Thanksgiving weekend have followed the same pattern (Zootopia 2 is about to do it this year), dropping on Wednesday night instead of Friday. So, Pluribus doing the same thing just makes sense. The following week, the series will resume with new episodes dropping on Friday all the way through Boxing Day.
