Pluribus’ Rhea Seehorn Gave Me Her Take On Carol And Zosia’s Surprising Turns In Episode 8, And Now I Feel Guilty

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Be warned: major spoilers ahead for the next-to-last episode of Pluribus‘s first season! This applies if you’re watching on Apple TV.

After seeing the eighth episode of Pluribus, “Charm Offensive,” I’ll always think of train horns differently. A character, Carol, describes the sound as the loneliest in the world. Interestingly, Carol isn’t alone anymore, having connected with Zosia, the being she chose to be with. They grew very close, so much so that Zosia started referring to themself as an individual again and shared more about what they’re trying to achieve.

More Pluribus Exclusives

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  • How Does Sex With Pluribus’ Others Work? One Star Left Me Cackling With His Thoughts: ‘There’s No Judgment, Right?’
  • I Didn’t Get Why Pluribus’ Manousos Traveled The Durién Gap By Foot Instead Of Taking A Boat, But The Actor Gave Me A Logical Explanation
  • I Had To Ask Pluribus’ Star About That Bubbly And Racy Hot Tub Scene: ‘Never Been In a Hot Tub With Six Naked Women In My Life’

The developing romance between the two characters is sweet, and Zosia’s first kiss feels unexpected yet plausible. However, Carol consistently documented negative information about the group on her whiteboard after every interaction, and constantly had to remind herself that they survive by consuming human remains, which made it difficult for her to connect emotionally.

Rhea Seehorn spoke with TopMob before a recent episode, partly to discuss the awards buzz surrounding her work on Pluribus – which quickly led to nominations from both the Critics Choice Association and the Golden Globes. I asked her how deceptive Carol’s behavior towards Zosia really was, expecting her to say Carol is solely focused on ultimately destroying the hivemind. However, Seehorn surprised me by saying:

It’s also fair to ask how much the characters are simply being manipulative to achieve their goals. Vince and the show’s creators enjoy leaving things open to interpretation – I’ve heard many different theories, and they all make sense – but I personally don’t think Carol is masterfully planning several steps ahead right now. I believe she was genuinely hurt by being isolated.

It’s frustrating to feel like I’m being manipulated into sympathizing with Carol, especially when I thought her reconnection with the Others was fueled by frustration and rage. It seems I misjudged how fragile she actually is. I’m going to attribute that to the confusing timeline – we simply didn’t see enough of what she was going through during her time alone.

Although Seehorn’s interpretation of her character might differ slightly from the writers’ vision, I doubt the creator would allow her to portray Carol in a way that clashes with his core ideas. Carol is clearly aware of all the reasons she shouldn’t trust the aliens, but it seems like her desire for connection and affection is proving stronger. The fact that the Others enjoy her books also suggests why she might be willing to accept things as they are, at least until Manousos arrives.

Rhea Seehorn explained that the character was deeply affected by a long period of being alone.

She wasn’t just struggling with being alone for over a month, but with a deeper fear – the idea that this isolation would never end and she’d die alone. She was terrified of being completely cut off from other people, imagining a lonely end watching TV. It’s clear she’s deeply hurt and realizing how much she needs connection and companionship. She’s grasping at anything to avoid facing how awful that alternative is.

It might seem ideal to spend all day watching The Golden Girls, but actually having friends like Rose, Blanche, Sophia, and Dorothy would be even better. While that seems obvious, Carol struggles with vulnerability and letting people in. However, even for her, something as extreme as an alien invasion forcing humanity to the brink would definitely change things.

As Seehorn suggested, Zosia might be manipulating Carol, understanding how difficult her isolation has been. We don’t know yet whether Zosia wants Carol to simply join their group, or if she needs Carol’s help with their large radio antenna project to contact other planets. Even though they are unable to lie or harm others, they are still capable of being harmful and acting with bad intentions.

Just one episode remains in the 2025 season! Let’s hope Carol can navigate the finale without another major emotional crisis. Watch the Season 1 finale on Apple TV this Friday, December 26th. And we wish you and Carol a very Merry Christmas!

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2025-12-20 03:09