Is it easier for us to find the positives in something we considered bad or to narrow down the positives of something we loved?

I'm Glenn Weldon on the latest pop culture happy hour plus episode, Aish and I discuss the challenges of criticism.

You can listen to all our plus bonus episodes and support our work by signing up for pop culture happy hour plus at plus dot npr.org slash happy.

The new and highly anticipated Apple TV series Pluribus from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan

asks a simple question. What if a proud misanthrope suddenly found herself

truly alone? Pluribus stars Ray Seahorn, a Gilligan veteran from Better Call Saul, in a

tour-to-force performance as a miserable Romanticy author who escapes an event that swallows

practically everyone on earth. It's a creepy, lonely, darkly funny look at loss

and what makes us human. I'm Glenn Weldon. And I'm Linda Holmes. And today we're talking about

Pluribus on Pop Culture Happy Hour from NPR. This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe.

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Joining us today is our co-host, Aisha Harris. Hello, Aisha.

Hello, Linda, and I can assure you I have not been taken by these, whatever this is, this virus. I am me.

Absolutely. You are you. I am me. Glennis Glenn and I'm so glad.

So as Pluribus was approaching its premiere, Apple was very cagey concerning its premise, but with the first two episodes available, we are going to talk about that premise as it's revealed up to that point.

Ray Sehorne plays Carol Sturka, a romanticist author who's bored by her latest book tour and no longer proud of her work.

She dislikes almost everything,

in fact, except her beloved wife, Helen, who was played by Miriam Shore. She's also her agent.

Best book tour. What is that? Is that like Best stomach cancer? You endure it. You do not toast it.

Oh, how I hate all those paying customers showering me with love and respect.

And why don't I have to make so much money? Where? How do you bear it?

...