'Pluribus' finale release date: When to watch episode 9 and preview

‘Pluribus’ finale release date: When to watch episode 9 and preview

December 21, 2025

“Pluribus,” Apple TV’s latest hit sci-fi show from the creator of “Breaking Bad,” only has one more episode to go — and its release date just got quietly moved up.

I had to triple-check this because Apple’s made no official announcement, but both the iPhone app and TV app say “Pluribus'” hour-long season 1 finale will air a few days ahead of schedule. Apple TV officially lists the finale’s premiere date as December 26, but as longtime Apple TV users know, the streamer’s series can sometimes show up early thanks to a glorious glitch — especially around major holidays. We saw the same thing happen with episode 5, which came out on Wednesday, November 26, ahead of its usual Friday slot because of Thanksgiving.

The series, which premiered on the streaming service on Nov. 7, reunites Gilligan with “Better Call Saul‘s” Rhea Seehorn, who plays Carol Sturka, a middle-aged, bestselling author of romantic fantasy novels and the last curmudgeon standing after a mysterious virus turns humanity into a hive mind of toxic positivity. It’s up to her to get to the bottom of what’s really going on and save the world in the process.

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Pluribus — A Christmas Carol | Apple TV – YouTube

In the short preview, Carol’s visited by a group of carollers, a bizarre turn given that we’ve seen zero evidence that the hivemind members still celebrate holidays. Whether this is a clip from the finale or something created to build hype ahead of the “Pluribus” season 1 finale is anyone’s guess. At the very least, it’s undeniably festive.

(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

New episodes usually hit Apple TV on Fridays, but because of Christmas, Apple’s decided to release “Pluribus” episode 9 on Wednesday, December 24. That’s the new premiere date listed on both the iPhone app and TV app.

Keep in mind, though: Since Apple TV tends to release new episodes at 9 p.m. ET the night before their premiere date, the “Pluribus” season 1 finale could drop as early as 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 23.

(Image credit: Courtesy of Apple TV Plus)

The hour-long “Pluribus” season 1 finale is titled “La Chica o El Mundo,” which translates to “The Girl or the World.” Per Apple TV, the episode 9 synopsis reads: “Season finale. Manousos arrives in Albuquerque and complications ensue. Carol visits the last best place on Earth.”

After episode 8 changed absolutely everything for Carol and answered one of the show’s biggest questions, we’ll finally see how her mind-boggling saga ends this week. Will she stick with her quiet life with Zosia (Karolina Wydra) and give up on fixing the world? Or get pulled back into the fight when staunch Hive resister Manousos (Carlos Manuel Vesga) comes knocking? We’ll just have to watch to find out.

In the meantime, stay tuned to Tom’s Guide for all things related to “Pluribus” on Apple TV, including release schedules, plot points, character details, and any news about a second season.

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