What is Kepler-22b? Pluribus Episode 8 gives the planet a darker meaning

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From the start of Pluribus, we’ve understood the alien virus originated on the planet Kepler-22b. But the latest episode, number 8, reveals more about where this hive mind comes from – and the details are truly frightening.

The new series from Vince Gilligan starts with scientists detecting a signal from outer space – a unique RNA sequence sent by aliens. Trying to replicate this sequence leads to a rapidly spreading outbreak.

Before long, the entire world became a single, peaceful, and constantly happy collective consciousness. However, 13 people, including the main character, Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn), mysteriously remained unaffected.

After feeling the strain of being alone for weeks, Carol finally gave in and asked the hive mind to reconnect with her. Shortly after, Zosia (Karolina Wydra) arrived at her home. Now, Carol is changing the way she deals with the Others. Be warned – spoilers follow!

What is Kepler-22b?

Kepler-22b is an exoplanet – a planet orbiting a star outside our solar system – that was discovered in 2011 by NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope. It was one of the first planets found in the ‘habitable zone’ around a star similar to our Sun (Kepler-22), meaning it could potentially have liquid water.

This planet is about 640 light-years away in the Cygnus constellation. What’s exciting about it is that it orbits its star at just the right distance – not too hot, and not too cold – potentially allowing liquid water to exist on its surface.

Although this doesn’t prove there’s life, it means life could exist there, which is exciting for scientists. Kepler-22b orbits its star every 290 days and is about 2.4 times wider than Earth, classifying it as a “super-Earth.”

Even though Kepler-22b seems like a potentially habitable planet, many mysteries still surround it. We don’t know if it’s covered in water or has a dense, gaseous atmosphere. It’s simply too far away for our telescopes to get a clear look at its surface or what it’s made of.

Scientists believe the planet’s surface temperature could be similar to Earth’s, or much hotter, depending on its atmosphere. There’s ongoing discussion about whether conditions there could support life.

Kepler-22b’s intriguing combination of the unknown and established science has made it a popular setting for science fiction. A prime example is the HBO series Raised by Wolves, which features the planet as the new home where humans try to rebuild society after leaving Earth.

Pluribus Episode 8 exposes the hive mind’s true goal

In Episode 8, ‘Charm Offensive,’ Carol learns from Zosia that the Others are constructing a massive antenna – potentially as large as the continent of Africa, or even bigger – with the intention of spreading the virus to another planet.

This revelation casts a dark shadow on their reasons – even if they initially seem well-intentioned, their primary aim has always been to proliferate. Furthermore, a conversation between Carol and Zosia hints that this viral outbreak could have begun centuries before anyone was aware of it.

Zosia and Carol spend time together doing various things, and eventually, Zosia shows Carol the planet Kepler-22b using a telescope. This sparks a lot of questions from Carol.

“What are the people on Kepler-22b like?” she wondered. Zosia replied that they’d likely never find out, as the planet was too distant. However, she added that they felt affection and gratitude towards the inhabitants nonetheless.

“We want to pass on this kindness to others, whenever the opportunity arises,” she explained. When Carol asked her to clarify, Zosia said, “We need to share what we’ve received with anyone else who might need it.”

Carol wonders how they’ll manage this, and the scene shifts to her at home, where she’s covering her whiteboard with fresh details about the hive mind.

In addition to the details about Kepler-22b, she mentioned they are constructing a large antenna and using a massive amount of energy to transmit signals into space.

If Kepler-22b also received this kind of boost before us, Earth might just be the newest in a long line of planets that have benefited for thousands, or even millions, of years. Each advanced civilization develops a way to share this advantage and then passes it on to the next.

So, the Others aren’t actually malicious; their seemingly kind actions are simply tools they use to achieve their goals. They could easily have wiped out cultures, identities, or even whole species, just as they did with Earth’s populations.

The big question heading into the finale is whether Carol and Manousos can work together to solve the problem. Episode 9 might show if they’re able to stop the signal, or if it’s already too late to prevent what’s about to happen.

Okay, so I’ve been watching Pluribus on Apple TV – I’m up to episode 8 now, and it’s seriously gripping! If you’re checking it out, be warned, it gets pretty dark – they really delve into this creepy idea of a collective consciousness and, uh, let’s just say they consume people. Also, the show features the Darién Gap, and trust me, it’s as dangerous as they say. Don’t go in expecting some huge Shyamalan-style twist at the end though – it’s more straight-forward horror than that.

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2025-12-19 14:19