Pluribus Star Addresses Villain Status

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Beware – spoilers ahead for the first two episodes of Pluribus! Karolina Wydra, who plays Zosia in the new sci-fi series, has discussed whether her character is truly a villain. Zosia appeared in episode 2 as a go-between for Carol and the collective consciousness humanity has become. Despite being friendly, the main character treats her with hostility throughout the episode.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, actress Wydra discussed whether her character, Zosia, could be seen as a villain in Pluribus. She highlighted the core conflict between Zosia and Carol: Zosia represents a collective mindset, while Carol champions individual freedom. Wydra explained that whether Zosia is truly ‘evil’ depends entirely on how you look at it and what you believe.

It’s a really complicated situation, and honestly, it’s fascinating. From what I understand, Zosia truly believes they need to spread the virus – it’s almost like it’s built into who they are. She wants people like Carol, who resist, to understand and join them. It might seem wrong to want to spread a virus, but they genuinely think what they’re going through is a valuable experience. The thing is, Zosia understands Carol’s perspective, but Carol doesn’t understand theirs. So, whether Carol is the ‘hero’ really depends on how you look at it – she’s fighting for the right to be different, which is a strong point. Both sides have really compelling arguments, and it’s hard to say who’s ‘right’ because it all comes down to perspective.

Vince Gilligan, the creator of the show, has established that Carol is the central hero in the ‘Pluribus’ storyline, meaning the members of the hive mind are the villains. But as Wydra explains, joining the collective isn’t necessarily a bad thing for those involved – it’s a natural drive, and they believe this shared consciousness is actually beneficial for humanity.

Apple

Honestly, the idea of everyone sharing one mind terrifies me, especially when I think about what it cost. I’ve learned that almost a billion people died during the Joining, and that includes someone I loved – my girlfriend, Helen. It’s made me determined to fight against this hive mind. Even though it’s brought a kind of peace, I believe losing what makes each of us unique isn’t worth it. It just feels… wrong.

Zosia hasn’t directly hurt Carol, but their conversations are filled with clashing beliefs. The story’s main character constantly wonders if the collective consciousness, where everyone lost their individual freedom, can still be considered human. Because of this, she sees Zosia as the antagonist.

Pluribus has seven episodes remaining to fully develop the complex relationship between its main characters, Carol and Zosia. The show also needs to delve deeper into the workings of the hive mind and the implications for the thirteen individuals who aren’t affected by the virus. Finally, it will continue exploring the core ideas and beliefs that were introduced in the first two episodes.

Considering Wydra’s careful and thoughtful style, it appears that Pluribus will likely still show understanding towards her and the group, even though Carol is the main character. While it’s impossible to know exactly where the story will go, the show will definitely keep examining how these opposing beliefs set the stage for the large-scale, worldwide adventure that’s about to begin.

New episodes of Pluribus arrive Fridays on Apple TV+.

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2025-11-11 18:18