Pluribus Its Season 1 finale dropped some big bombshells — some figurative, but one very literal.
The episode, appropriately titled “La Chica o El Mundo,” gives Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn) a choice. Does she save the world by joining forces with the Others’ archenemy Manausos Oviedo (Carlos-Manuel Vesga)? Or does she pursue romance with Zosia (Karolina Wydra), and therefore, with all the other 7 billion other guys that Zosia has a crush on?
‘Pluribus’ cast reveals Carol and Manaus’ tense meeting: ‘It says a lot about being human’
By the end of the episode, Carol chooses Manousos – but not before she sets off on a globe-trotting adventure with Zosia. So what changes his mind? Let’s break it down.
Others have found a way to connect with Carol.
In episode 6, Carol learns from Mr. Diabate (Samba Schutte) that others have figured out how to get immune humans into the hive mind. To transform someone like Carroll or Diabate, others would have to tailor the virus to their specific stem cells. To get the stem cells, they would have to insert a very large needle into the hip bones of immune humans. Since it is a painful process, it goes against the others’ inability to harm any living thing. They’ll need their target’s consent, and guess what? carol is very happy No To give it. Easy solution, right? She can go jet-setting with Zosia and enjoy the happiness that brings him, without being a part of any forced mind-set.
Don’t miss our latest stories: Add Mashable to Google as a trusted news source,
However, Carroll underestimated the tenacity of others. One of their key drivers is the biological need for publicity, so it’s natural that they won’t stop trying to find a way to bring Carol along with them. By the Season 1 finale, he has found it. They don’t need to collect stem cells from Carroll’s hip bone. They’ve already got access to eggs she froze years ago. Now, Carol has one month left before the others can join her in the hive mind.
Rhea Seehorn reacts to that big ‘Pluribus’ kiss: ‘There’s some intentional confusion’
Carol says, “If you loved me you wouldn’t do this.”
“We have to do it because we love you,” Zosia replied. “Because I love you.”
The switch to singular pronouns – something that Carol asked about in episode 8 – is particularly telling. Is this Zosia’s personality shining through? Or is this just another manipulation tactic on the part of the hive mind? My money is later, but then, Pluribus Thrives on the ambiguity of self versus collective.
Mashable Top Stories
Carol asks for – and gets – a nuclear bomb.
Remember when Carol found out that others would give her anything she asked, even a nuclear bomb? Well, in finale, she decides to test their gift giving skills.
Following Zosia’s revelation about stem cells, Carol returns home to Albuquerque, taking with her the once-promised nuclear bomb. This request is Carol’s biggest power play in a situation where she is otherwise powerless. But now that a nuclear weapon is headed his way, what happens next? She tells Manousos that she’s ready to “save the world” with him, but how does the bomb fit into that equation? Is Carol going to be aggressive? Or is this bomb more of an insurance policy, which it will trigger when others call with their modified viruses?
Rhea Seehorn on Carroll’s explosive ‘Pluribus’ final choice: ‘These people have crossed the line’
According to Rhea Seehorn, Carol is also unsure about her next step. “I actually think it’s more important to me, the way I wanted to play it, is that Carol is eager to ask for the biggest, most violent, threatening thing she can think of, before she even knows what she’ll do with it,” Seehorn told Mashable.
Has Manausos found a way to reverse the joining using radio frequencies?
While Carol is dealing with her conflicting feelings towards Zosia and the others, the Manusos are considering how to disrupt the joining. The key radio frequency appears to be: 8.613.0.
While searching for other survivors of the Joining, Manusos scrolled through endless frequencies of static. At 8.613.0 kilohertz, he heard a new sound: a strange, pulsating chatter.
It is likely that this is the frequency on which other people communicate. Finally, in Episode 8, Zosia explains to Carol that the hive mind is able to communicate “due to something to do with the body’s electromagnetic field. It could be said that we have a natural electrical charge.”
“So, like radio?” Carol asks.
Zosia says, “Something like that. But radio broadcasting is like talking. It’s conscious.” “Our communication is unconscious. Homeostatic. Like breathing.”
Manousos decides to test their connection to the 8.613.0 frequency by yelling at the others. His negative emotions cause his mind to wander around the world. When this happens, the output changes in frequency. It is no longer broadcasting a series of chatter, but a shrill sound – exactly the kind of sound you would expect to emanate from a panicked hive mind.
As the cry rings out, Manousos tries to drown out the noise and summons a member of the hive mind named Rick back into his body. The attempt failed, thanks to Carroll and his gun, but Manausos showed no signs of giving up.
Rhea Seehorn Explains Why ‘The Left Hand of Darkness’ Is So Important to ‘Pluribus’
Pluribus Turns out that while Carol was away with Zosia, Manousos went into full research mode. He has covered his tables in books about electricity, electromagnetic fields, crystallography and circuits. The book he is currently analyzing includes passages about radio transmitters, antennas, and current nodes and antinodes. These are the points at which there is no wavelength displacement or they are at their greatest displacement, respectively.
Basically, Manousos is working on electromagnetism being connected to the weakness of others. Will he be able to crack the code in Season 2? Or will Carroll’s bomb get there first?
Pluribus Season 1 is now streaming on Apple TV.