There is safety and comfort in a normal routine. There’s even more safety when you’re not alone. In Pluribus, we saw Carol (Rhea Seehorn) trying to go it alone and ending up spiraling out.
At the end of episode 7 she asked for companionship again. She got her request granted, but now what? That’s the question answered in Pluribus season 1, episode 8, “Charm Offensive.”
Manousos in Panama
Before we jump back into life with Carol, our other survivor, Manousos (Carlos-Manuel Vesga), tried to go it alone. He’s on a mission to reach Carol. He believes in her goal of returning the world to normal. But he’s even more extreme in his distrust of the others and rejecting their help. But when he nearly died, they rescued him.
As he comes to in the hospital, he’s not willing to accept their help while conscious. He even asks for an itemized bill, promising to pay his full cost when he’s able, including the cost for taking an ambulance as his new ride.
While his health is improving, he gets under way again. Manousos is determined to reach Carol. He’s determined to return the world to normal. And he’s determined to do it his way—which might not be the same way as Carol. The question remains, does Carol feel as passionately about her mission.
Learning about the Others
Yes, Carol is still alarmed by the changes to the world. She’s still alarmed that they are using the dead for food. But Carol is also painfully lonely. And she’s a curious person. So, with Zosia (Karolina Wydra) back at her side, she begins asking questions.
Carol learns more about this new structure for The Others. While there are things Zosia still can’t explain, Carol begins to piece together more. They use trains to move food. They have plans to spread the message, and the virus or whatever this is, to more worlds. Carol finds that alarming and continues adding to her board.
But she also learns about their care and compassion. Zosia shows Carol how the Others all sleep as a community, together. Carol, who has been alone for a while, ends up staying and finding peace. That leaves her conflicted about her mission. She sees the possibility of living a peaceful life as one of the few independent thinkers in the world.
With the encouragement of Zosia, and others, she gets the push to continue her writing. They even rebuild a café where the spark of her career as a writer was born. It’s moving to Carol, but also a reminder this life is a fantasy for her, but not the reality she craves. That, too, leaves her torn. As she tells Zosia, she has to put the world right—even if it means she ends up back alone.
But after that painful admission leads to a night of passion, Carol returns to her writing. She finishes a chapter and hands it off to read. She’s freer now; able to do with her characters what she always wanted. And she finds a cheerful encourager in Zosia who, eventually, is able to share more of her authentic self before all this happened. It’s a beautiful moment, but it’s short-lived.
We see a glimpse that Carol could be happy. That she could find a contentment in this new reality that others have. But, as we close, Zosia tells her she’s about to have a guest. That means changes are coming.
Thoughts on Pluribus episode 8
I love the way this show is moving as it closes in on the finale. We saw Carol finally get to be truly alone, and we saw what it cost her. We see in this episode the closest things we’ve seen to her having happiness outside of those flashbacks earlier in the season. In fact, it’s arguable Carol feels even happier and freer in this week’s episode. That leaves her torn between her mission and honoring the memory of her wife, and the possibility of creating her best life. That puts Carol in a different place than when she made the videos that inspired Manousos.
He's coming. We’ll see them together in the finale. What will that meeting be like and what will it mean for them both. There’s a world of possibilities that will come to a head in the finale, and I’m excited to see where we go from here.
Pluribus streams Fridays on Apple TV. Check back next week as we dive deep into the season finale.