Coffee Klatch - Pluribus

Join us for a relaxed Coffee Klatch—good coffee, good company, and thoughtful conversation. In light of the dystopian fiction we’ve read over the years, we’ll chat about themes sparked by the new Apple TV series Pluribus—power, individual liberty, and social dynamics—but no homework required. Haven’t seen the show? No problem at all—come socialize, meet fellow liberty-minded folks, and enjoy an easygoing discussion.

Update Jan 9, 2026
I asked DeepSeek for some discussion questions. We're gonna need some pretty strong coffee.
:-/
JS

Excellent choice. *Pluribus* is a rich text for discussion. Here are 7 discussion questions designed to move from plot and theme to deeper philosophical and genre connections.
### **Discussion Questions for *Pluribus***
**1. The Cost of Unity vs. the Chaos of Self:** The Pluribus system offers perfect social harmony at the expense of individual consciousness. Is the trade-off presented as ultimately fair? Does the show suggest there is a necessary, or even noble, amount of conflict and suffering inherent to being an individual self?
**2. Memory as Identity:** The characters who "awaken" are rebuilt from memory fragments. If our memories can be selectively edited, restored, or lost, what remains that constitutes a continuous "self"? Is the show arguing that identity is more of a collage than a linear narrative?
**3. The Aesthetic of Control:** The world of the Integrated is clean, quiet, and orderly. Visually and tonally, it mirrors many classic dystopias (*Brave New World*, *The Giver*). Why do you think dystopian fiction so often equates total control with minimalist, sterile beauty? Is there a seductive quality to this peace that makes the rebels' choice harder to justify?
**4. The "Virus" of Human Nature:** The resistance believes individuality and emotion are innate human traits that will always re-emerge, like a virus the system can't cure. Does the show side with this view? Or does it present Integration as a possible, if tragic, next step in human evolution?
**5. Genre Echoes: From *1984* to *Severance*:** *Pluribus* clearly draws on a dystopian tradition. Which predecessor does it feel most connected to—the psychological horror of *Severance*, the bureaucratic nightmare of *1984*, the hedonistic control of *Brave New World*, or the memory manipulation of *Total Recall* or *Eternal Sunshine*? What does it add to this tradition?
**6. The Ethics of Awakening:** The rebels work to "awaken" Integrated individuals without their consent, plunging them into profound existential pain and danger for a "greater cause." Is this a morally justifiable act? How does this compare to the System's act of Integrating people, potentially without full consent, for *its* "greater cause"?
**7. The End Goal: Revolution or Niche?** What is the ultimate objective of the resistance? Is it to destroy Pluribus and return *everyone* to individual consciousness, knowing it will restore a world of conflict, art, and love? Or is it simply to carve out a protected space for the "awake" to exist, making them a perpetual fringe group? What does the show's ending suggest is more realistic, or more desirable?