Minority Mindset

The first season of Pluribus ends with Carol Sturka realizing she’s been living in a fantasy with her new partner, Zosia. Carol figures out that no matter how firmly she refuses to join Zosia’s group, they’ll always find a way around her objections. The method Zosia and the others are using to try and convert Carol was actually hinted at way back in Season 1, Episode 3, “Grenade,” within a single line of dialogue revealing details about Carol’s history.

Matthew Stover, who wrote the novelization of Revenge of the Sith, recently shared behind-the-scenes details about the film in a new, expanded edition of his book. This deluxe release provides fresh insight into beloved scenes and how they came to be.

What makes the story of Pluribus interesting is that it’s an alien invasion story without traditional aliens or an invasion, as we typically think of it. The transforming force, referred to as “the Others,” doesn’t physically alter people like in Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Instead, it’s a subtle, almost undetectable signal or virus. After the initial shock of nearly everyone on Earth becoming part of a single, unified consciousness – all wearing the same serene smile – it’s difficult to see the Others as malicious or even as outsiders. They’re actually quite friendly, fulfilling desires and offering a vision of a peaceful, harmonious world, even if it can’t last. Essentially, they present a compelling case – who wouldn’t want happiness?

Watching Pluribus is initially confusing – it’s hard to figure out what the show is truly about. Then, you start to notice Rhea Seehorn’s incredible range of emotions, and you wonder how many different ways she can express longing and disgust. Finally, you’re left wondering where the story about Carol Sturka and the Others is headed. While the cliffhanger bomb from the first season finale creates a lot of mystery, even bigger questions emerge when thinking about the second season – questions about the powerful entity that gave Carol the weapon and what its motives are.

With his new Apple TV show, Pluribus, creator Dan Gilligan is trying something different. The show—a unique, end-of-the-world story about a woman trying to save humanity from a strangely cheerful virus that connects everyone’s minds—is full of possible meanings. It’s the kind of show that invites deep analysis: the main character, Carol Sturka (played by Rhea Seehorn), could be seen as a symbol of grief, loneliness in the digital age, humanity versus AI, or even depression—and the possibilities don’t stop there. Gilligan intentionally avoids providing easy answers. He wants viewers to interpret Pluribus in whatever way resonates with them. He’s thrilled when people share their own unique understandings of the show, often discovering interpretations he hadn’t even considered.