Carol and Zosia Are Cracking in ‘Pluribus’

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Warning! Spoilers ahead for Pluribus Season 1, Episode 8, “Charm Offensive.”

In the latest episode of Pluribus, Carol (Rhea Seehorn) is struggling to avoid becoming part of the hive mind and is desperately seeking a way out. While she doesn’t know Manousos (Carlos-Manuel Vesga) is coming to find her, she’s been finding comfort in spending time with Zosia (Karolina Wydra). A drugged camera recording revealed Carol is attracted to Zosia, which is causing her distress, and as their connection deepens, it seems a manipulative game is underway. This raises the question of whether Carol is being used, or if she’s the one doing the manipulating.

Carol Shows Subtle Signs of Cracking


Image via Apple TV

As Carol feels increasingly alone, Zosia is the only person she considers a friend. Remembering how badly her previous attempts to control Zosia went – nearly costing Zosia her life – Carol now tries to understand her instead. She asks Zosia about the hive mind, wondering if everyone shares the same feelings, where they rest, and how Zosia can communicate so quickly with the others, whether to dim the city’s lights or make a train whistle. These questions are leading to gentler, more open conversations, and a surprisingly real connection is beginning to grow between them.

Carol remains determined to prevent the merging and return the world to its former state, but she occasionally shows signs of uncertainty. For instance, when she discovers Zosia and the others are choosing to sleep on the floor of a stadium to conserve energy, she unexpectedly joins them. Lying there with them in the night, she seems to question her beliefs for the first time, wondering if what she’s fighting against is truly wrong.

Whenever Carol begins to doubt her decision, she grounds herself by writing down her observations on a hidden whiteboard. Adding “they eat people” to the list shows she’s desperately trying to believe it’s wrong, even though everything – and Zosia herself – appears calm and pleasant. Even with a thorough explanation of why they do this with the bodies of the deceased, Carol simply can’t accept it.

Carol sometimes suspects Zosia’s apparent concern is just a way to control people, and she considers fighting back using the same tactics. This idea becomes clearer when Carol genuinely expresses curiosity about the planet where “The Joining” originated – a place the hive mind calls Kepler 22b. They feel thankful for what they’ve done and want to offer this connection to others. Carol even writes down a plan to use her influence to send a message into space, but she remains skeptical. Despite her doubts, there are moments where she seems to question whether she’s doing the right thing.

The most impactful scene happens when Zosia takes Carol to a rebuilt diner – the same one where Carol began writing and found her creative spark. They even brought back her favorite waitress as part of the elaborate setup. Carol immediately sees through the manipulation and leaves, but later sleeps with Zosia and then unexpectedly writes a large portion of her new Wycaro book overnight. This suggests the manipulation may have worked on a deeper level, as Carol seems preoccupied or is at least acting like she is. After finally getting Zosia to share his feelings, Carol begins to consider if his way of life could actually appeal to her, with some adjustments. For the first time since the death of Helen, she feels genuinely happy.

Zosia is Being Reminded of Herself


Image via Apple TV

Carol and Zosia are becoming close, and it seems the feeling is mutual. However, Zosia isn’t an individual – she represents the collective consciousness of a hive mind. Initially, the hive mind used Zosia to befriend Carol, enjoying activities like drinks, games, and even a couples massage. But as their connection grows, Zosia – and the hive mind – starts helping Carol rediscover her own joy and reconnect with the pleasures of life.

There are small signs that Zosia’s seemingly unified consciousness isn’t complete. When she kisses Carol, it feels surprisingly personal, as if it’s Zosia’s own desire, not the result of the hive mind controlling her. Earlier, Carol asks Zosia to use “I” instead of “we” when speaking. Zosia finds this surprisingly difficult, and Carol is frustrated, remarking that with all of Zosia’s intelligence, she can’t manage to use a simple pronoun.

Zosia’s recent use of she/her pronouns might be the hive mind trying to satisfy Carol. This also makes us wonder if Zosia can truly separate herself from the hive mind’s control. When Carol encourages her to share personal details, Zosia remembers a fond childhood memory: an old man selling mango ice cream on her street. Carol hopes this memory will help Zosia regain her individuality. Although Zosia contains the knowledge and memories of everyone on Earth, the core of who she is still exists beneath it all.

Setting Up the ‘Pluribus’ Season 1 Finale


Image via Apple TV

The dynamic between Carol and Zosia is becoming increasingly strained, with both women showing signs of unraveling. It’s unclear who will fall apart first. Zosia’s journey is starting to echo the story of Dolores Abernathy from Westworld – an artificial being who gained consciousness. Like Dolores, who sought revenge after realizing her origins and mistreatment, Zosia might find herself on a similar path, which would be a compelling development.

Carol realizes time is slipping away, but she’s determined to uncover the truth and put a stop to whatever is happening. Though she remains committed to solving the mystery, she’s starting to let her guard down, especially with Zosia. They’re developing a close connection, filled with playful conversation and even romance. Carol is finding comfort in writing again, balancing her creative work with her ongoing investigation into the strange occurrences. As she grows closer to Zosia and enjoys a comfortable life, she’s beginning to wonder if fighting against this new reality is truly worth it. With Zosia’s support, she might just find herself accepting—and even enjoying—this new path.

Manousos is almost to Mexico, and it seems likely he’ll arrive just in time to snap Carol out of her current state. He’ll probably remind her that this new world isn’t built to last and that its inhabitants aren’t really individuals, highlighting what makes us human. Their meeting will be a major turning point for both of them, and it’s important to see how Zosia fits into the larger situation – both with the community and her connection to Carol.

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2025-12-19 19:25