Pluribus Creator Explains Why Carol Changed Her Mind About Saving The World From The Others

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The team behind the story Pluribus explains why the main character keeps altering her strategy when dealing with the mysterious ‘Others’. After a strange signal from space transforms almost everyone into a calm, unified consciousness, Carol (played by Rhea Seehorn) remains unaffected. She desperately tries to reverse the change, and another person who shares her goals is traveling to meet her.

Carol feels relieved learning The Others won’t force her to join them. They need her stem cells to make a virus tailored to her, but they won’t perform any risky procedures without her permission due to their peaceful beliefs. Believing she’s safe, Carol decides to enjoy the breakdown of traditional ownership and relax.

Things get really interesting when I see Carol start a relationship with Zosia, one of the people connected to the hive mind. They actually leave town together, trying to escape Manousos! But then, she discovers the hive mind has been sneaky – they managed to use her frozen eggs to create new stem cells, completely going against what she wanted. That’s when she realizes she has to go back and finish the mission to save everyone.

The second season of Pluribus will likely explore what Manousos has discovered about the mysterious signal, and his and Carol’s efforts to reverse its effects on people. Recently, The Hollywood Reporter interviewed series creator Vince Gilligan and executive producers Gordon Smith and Alison Tatlock, who discussed Carol’s shifting motivations.

Everyone wondered if she was motivated by a desire to save the world, or simply to save herself, after a personal threat resurfaced in Big Sky, Montana. Gilligan acknowledged it was a valid point, and Smith explained that she believes the character now primarily wants to save herself, though she once genuinely wanted to save the world, before becoming disheartened and isolated.

The director and writer also described Zosia’s betrayal as a turning point, prompting Carol to think about the core issues with the group’s shared consciousness. You can read his complete statement below.

Being alone, without her usual support network, made it increasingly hard for her to continue. She felt completely drained, as if she were battling not only the person who came to assist her, but everyone in the world. This exhaustion, and Zosia’s revelation, served as a harsh wake-up call. The new threat didn’t make her feel overwhelmed by more danger, but rather forced her to see the people around her for who they truly were, shattering her previous illusions. It was a moment of clarity, and she finally began to see things realistically.

Tatlock explained that she thinks Carol genuinely wants to help the world, even if her motives aren’t entirely selfless. She questioned what true altruism even means, suggesting we all look out for ourselves to some degree. According to Tatlock, if Carol only saves herself and doesn’t help the world, she’ll likely end up very isolated. This season, Carol experiences intense loneliness when the rest of her group leaves town for weeks to avoid her.

The ending of Pluribus season 1 might make you think Carol only cares about herself, but it’s important to remember that almost no one willingly joined the hive mind. Still, her request for an atom bomb – potentially to protect herself from the hive – makes it unclear whether her plan to save the world is actually ethical.

Carol isn’t perfect, but the show explores many interesting ideas and topics. The next episode might also revisit the people who seem immune, including some who’ve chosen not to join ‘The Others’ – who might react differently if they hadn’t been given a choice. All episodes of Pluribus are currently available on Apple TV, and the creators are already working on a second season.

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2025-12-25 22:08