Vince Gilligan’s new sci-fi masterpiece Pluribus is his latest collaboration with actor Rhea Seehorn, who starred in Gilligan’s previous TV series Better Call Saul. This time around, Seehorn plays the central hero of Gilligan’s show, Carol Sturka, who is one of just 13 people immune from joining the hive mind at the heart of its unsettling premise.
The reasons for Carol’s immunity to the apocalyptic virus in Pluribus become increasingly clear throughout season 1, although we’re bound to find out more in subsequent episodes of the show. However, there’s no mistaking the reason why Vince Gilligan named his latest protagonist Carol Sturka, in particular.
In a recent interview alongside Rhea Seehorn on Apple TV, Gilligan revealed that his inspiration for the character’s first name came from Carol Burnett, the legendary comedian who previously appeared in Better Call Saul, and has now joined the cast of Pluribus, too. Meanwhile, the surname Sturka is taken directly from one of the greatest sci-fi shows of all time.
Rhea Seehorn’s Carol Sturka In Pluribus Is Named After A Twilight Zone Character
When Rhea Seehorn asked Vince Gilligan where the name Carol Sturka came from, he revealed that it was lifted from the name of a character in surely the most influential sci-fi TV series ever made. “Specifically I got it from an episode of The Twilight Zone called ‘Third from the Sun’,” Gilligan explained.
In the episode he’s referring to, a scientist by the name of Will Sturka who attempts to escape a nuclear holocaust with his family. The episode’s characterization of Will clearly left an impression on Gilligan. There are clear similarities between his predicament in the episode and Carol’s in Pluribus.
In fact, this episode of The Twilight Zone will make a profound impression on anyone who sees it. Likewise, Seenhorn’s Emmy-worthy performance in Pluribus does justice to the origins of her character’s name.
The Twilight Zone Is Vince Gilligan’s Favorite TV Show
In the same interview with Seehorn on Apple TV, Vince Gilligan also confirmed what many fans had long suspected about his feelings for the seminal sci-fi series from which he got Carol Sturka’s name. “I love The Twilight Zone,” he admitted. “Maybe my favorite TV show.”
His love of the classic show is one of many reasons why Gilligan’s Pluribus has received such good reviews. Various reviewers have noted its stylistic and thematic similarities to The Twilight Zone.
Pluribus Is Massively Influenced By The Twilight Zone In General
In fact, Pluribus is enormously influenced by The Twilight Zone in general. As well as Carol Sturka’s name, it takes its lead from several storylines in the 1960s TV shows, not just the plot of “Third from the Sun”. Gilligan’s series references several of the best Twilight Zone episodes, including “To Serve Man” and “Number 12 Looks Just Like You”.
If we study both The Twilight Zone and Pluribus carefully, we might even spot clues as to where Gilligan is going next with his new show. For fans of classic sci-fi mysteries, homages don’t come much bigger or better than this one.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
