The early release aligns with the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in the United States. This period often brings altered entertainment schedules to accommodate increased family viewing. The show, created by Vince Gilligan, has been releasing new episodes every Friday. It will resume that pattern after this week and continue through Friday, December 26.

Pluribus stars Rhea Seehorn as Carol, a woman left emotionally intact after an alien virus infects humanity. The virus leaves nearly everyone else able to feel only joy. Carol, a writer, sets off on a global journey to uncover the virus’ origin and find a way to reverse its effects.

Hollywood studios often release major holiday weekend content earlier in the week to maximize viewership, and Pluribus Episode 5 follows this pattern. Disney is applying a similar strategy to Zootopia 2, which will also debut in theaters on Wednesday during Thanksgiving week. Apple TV moved up the Pluribus release to give subscribers something to watch during the extended holiday break.

Episode 5 marks the mid-season point of a series that reviewers have praised for its unique premise and strong performances, with many comparing it to The X-Files. Apple TV will resume releasing new episodes on Fridays after this week’s schedule change.