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Apple TV's Pluribus: A Sci-Fi Series Blending Mad Men and Fallout
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By
Michael Block
Published May 9, 2026, 7:52 PM EDT
Michael Block is a 14 time GLAM Award nominated writer, producer, and host of the podcast Block Talk. Throughout his time in the entertainment industry, he has worked on and off Broadway as a stage manager, written several produced plays, critiqued hundreds of theatrical performances, drag and cabaret shows, and has produced events randing from drag competitoons to variety concerts! ** On Block Talk, he interviews nightlife personalities, covers the wide world of entertainment through features, ranking episodes, and recaps ALL of Drag Race, as well as Dragula and Survivor. He has interviewed hundreds of RuGirls that span the globe at DragCon NYC, DragCon LA, and DragCon UK.
In his free time, he makes one-of-a-kind jewelry and gift baskets with his mom. He is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.
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It's not always fair to compare shows, but when a series arrives that fits within the perfect Venn diagram, it's hard not to. It may seem like an impossible cross-section to create, but Apple TV’s Hello Tomorrow!_** is a wonderful marriage of Mad Men and Fallout. Running for a single season, the retrofuturistic dramedy centers on Jack Billings (Billy Crudup), a charismatic traveling salesman for Brightside Lunar Residencies, who leads a team of misfits that sells fraudulent timeshares on the Moon, promising customers a better life that does not exist.
Hello Tomorrow! sprinkles science fiction elements into a '50s-inspired retrofuturistic aesthetic, effortlessly depicting an idealized time when selling hope was the norm. That key theme is heightened even further with a sunny optimism in the Amit Bhalla and **Lucas Jansen-**created series. From characters holding onto life-changing secrets to those seeking to right past wrongs, _Hello Tomorrow! _combines the best of Mad Men and Fallout for a sci-fi series that remains a hidden gem on streaming.
'Hello Tomorrow!' Is a Character-Driven Masterpiece
Apple TV's _Hello Tomorrow! _predominantly features the characters who work at Brightside Lunar Residencies. Like Jon Hamm’s Don Draper,** Crudup’s Jack is the ultimate pitchman, able to sell a facade without batting an eye. Both men convincingly live false lives, letting their lies become a long con. The difference is that Don's profession is built on truth, while his personal life is a lie. **Jack is all lies, both in career and life, and yet, he's a captivating study in how confidence can sell anything to anyone who is willing to believe. While many of Jack's targets have no personal stakes, the one who does — his literal prodigal son, Joey (Nicholas Podany) — leads to a fascinating journey for a man who never thought he'd have to redeem himself.
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Hello Tomorrow!_ also explores a newfound version of the American Dream, critiquing the relentless pursuit of the next best thing via consumerism. Just like in Fallout, salespeople try to convince their clients that their future will be better if they have a financial stake in it. As both shows eventually reveal, though, that’s far from the truth. This hopeful illusion is built on the idea that a comfortable life is better than harsh realities. When it all comes crashing down, who is the one who ultimately deserves the blame — the architects of the lie, the salesmen, or those who bought into it?
Like on Mad Men, the rest of the Brightside team looks up to their boss, Jack — until they start thinking for themselves, which stems from their individual strife. However, like the individuals they sell to, this job is their escape from their own reality. Eddie Nichols (Hank Azaria) is a gambling addict, while Herb Porter (Dewshane Williams) is willing to lie to close a sale in hopes of providing for his pregnant, equally manipulative wife, Betty (Susan Heyward). Shirley Stedman (Haneefah Wood) is simply trying to prove her worth to the team beyond handling the money.
The Retrofuturistic Aesthetic of 'Hello Tomorrow!' Defines the Apple TV Sci-Fi Series
Nowhere are the comparisons between Hello Tomorrow!, Mad Men, and Fallout more obvious than in the shows' shared visual vocabulary. With a distinct '50s-inspired color palette in fabrics, materials, and typography, each set and costume masterfully captures the timeless retrofuturistic feel associated with stories of new futures. The series' production team unites all the elements to create a believable world that doesn't feel too far-removed from our own.
At only 10 episodes, Hello Tomorrow! is easy to binge quickly. By the time you reach the finale, you'll think there's more to the story. Unfortunately, timing wasn't in the show's favor, and outside factors, specifically the 2023 WGA strike, may have prevented a second season, although Apple TV has yet to announce a definitive renewal or cancellation. For now, the show ends on an optimistic note for some viewers and a dreaded cliffhanger for others. As one of Apple TV's most underrated series, Hello Tomorrow! may have never reached the same level of success as Fallout or Mad Men, but it's still worth watching.
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