Is this the “perfect ending” for Pluribus? Carol theory sparks debate

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The latest episode of the Apple TV series Pluribus just came out, and while the finale is still weeks away, one fan believes they’ve predicted the ideal way to conclude Carol’s storyline (played by Rhea Seehorn). This prediction has led to a lot of discussion among viewers.

Pluribus, the new TV show created by Vince Gilligan (the mind behind Breaking Bad), is just as captivating as his earlier work. This post-apocalyptic sci-fi series, reminiscent of Severance in its unique style, centers around a virus that turns people into a surprisingly friendly, collective consciousness.

The story revolves around Carol, a writer who’s seen better days and is one of the few people unaffected by a deadly virus. In the fifth episode, titled ‘Got Milk,’ Carol starts looking into the virus’s strange collective intelligence, and what she finds is terrifying.

Because the Apple TV series leaves a lot unexplained, fans are coming up with their own theories about how it all fits together. One popular idea suggests the most impactful ending would be a surprisingly bitter discovery for the character Carol.

Pluribus “perfect ending” theory explained

After the latest episode of Pluribus, Hollywood insider Daniel Richtman suggested a surprising ending: Carol achieves her goal, but unintentionally unleashes an even greater disaster on the world.

I envision a satisfying conclusion for Pluribus where Carol manages to stop the threat, but temporarily becomes one of them in the process. Another of the twelve humans then completes the plan, restoring everything to normal. Once Carol returns to herself, she discovers that The Others weren’t quite what everyone thought…

— Daniel Richtman (@DanielRPK) November 27, 2025

He suggested a fitting conclusion for the story Pluribus: Carol discovers a way to defeat the antagonists, but is temporarily transformed into one of them. Ultimately, another of the twelve human characters executes the plan, restoring everything to how it was.

As Carol turns around, she understands The Others were telling the truth, and that joining their way of life was the right choice. The series concludes with her regretting her previous actions, thinking, ‘Oh no… what have I done?’

This surprising turn of events is typical of the complex moral themes Gilligan enjoys exploring. It’s reminiscent of science fiction stories like Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Mist, which make you wonder if simply going back to the way things were – with all our imperfections – is actually a good outcome.

Richtman’s concept has been well-received, but some are wondering how long it can stay engaging before reaching a conclusion. One person commented, “It’s a good story, but the challenge will be keeping it interesting until it wraps up.”

Honestly, one fan said it would be the perfect ending, and another chimed in saying it would be absolutely amazing – like, totally ‘fire’! It really felt like everyone agreed that’s exactly where the story should go.

Most viewers of Pluribus believe the finale will unfold differently, considering what we’ve learned about the Apple TV series and where it’s headed.

Many viewers feel this idea is overly simplistic, contradicts Vince Gilligan’s known views on artificial intelligence, and isn’t practical considering the show is intended to last for several more seasons.

Although Pluribus was initially ordered for two seasons, the show’s creator, known for Breaking Bad, expressed hope that it would go on longer. He mentioned they have a strong sense of how the story should ultimately conclude.

In the writers’ room, it’s crucial for me to be open to new ideas. If someone suggests a stronger ending, we’ll definitely use it.

During the show’s launch, Gilligan admitted he hadn’t tried ChatGPT, jokingly explaining that he hadn’t been forced to by any urgent need.

He later told the publication that while Pluribus might seem like it’s about AI, he actually started developing the show about ten years ago, before AI was as prominent a topic.

He pointed out that while the term ‘artificial intelligence’ existed long before ChatGPT, it hadn’t received the same level of public attention until recently.

Gilligan didn’t dismiss the idea, admitting many viewers were drawing that conclusion. He also explained he preferred not to define the show’s meaning for the audience.

When people think AI or COVID-19 are the main focus, they’re usually mistaken. It’s great if someone does see a connection to current events, but that’s not really what it’s about.

Pluribus fans debate ending concept

Fans are skeptical that Pluribus will follow the path suggested by Richtman’s concept, and these are some of the reasons why.

Some viewers believe the show’s central irony is Carol finally understanding how much she appreciated her life before the virus – something she didn’t realize then.

One viewer pointed out the character’s journey involves realizing how good things were before the virus hit, which is ironic because she previously said she disliked that life. She’s now desperately trying to return to what she once rejected.

One viewer pointed out that the plot point didn’t align with the show’s overall theme. They also mentioned Carol was already struggling with unhappiness before the central events of the story. Ultimately, the core of the show isn’t about solving a mystery, but rather Carol’s journey to define happiness for herself.

You know, I’ve been thinking about Carol, and it’s hitting me that she’s starting to see how good things actually were before. Like, she’s realizing her writing really meant something to people. And those trips she took with Helen? They weren’t just trips, they were genuinely special times. It’s like she’s finally getting that now.

“She’s spent too much of her life unhappy, and is only realizing because she lost it all.”

One person commented that because the show is so clearly against AI and laziness, doing that would be a strong rejection of that idea.

It’s still possible things will work out well. Even if ‘Them’ seems perfect, I believe our unique qualities and the connections they create are ultimately more important.

One fan estimated that ‘Pluribus’ will likely run for at least three or four more seasons, arguing it’s too soon to guess how the story will end. They also suggested the show’s creator, Vince, and the writing team probably haven’t decided on an ending yet.

People are sharing their ideas about how Pluribus will end, and one person believes the world will thank Carol for saving everyone. However, because of what happened, everyone will be an individual again, leaving Carol alone and content with her actions.

Someone else suggested it will be hard to fit everything into the remaining episodes, and that a lot of time has been spent on setting things up. They think the main character will likely find a partner, they’ll prepare to carry out a plan, but then Zosia will unexpectedly arrive, ending the story.

Right now, this is all just a theory, and that’s what makes it interesting! The sixth episode of Pluribus will be available on Apple TV on December 5th. In the meantime, you can read about a creepy idea about a collective consciousness, what makes Pluribus different from shows like The Walking Dead and The Last of Us, and check out other new shows coming to streaming this month.

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2025-11-28 15:50