Pluribus Episode 6 Implies We Might Be Cheering for the Wrong Character All Along

This article contains spoilers for Pluribus season 1, episode 6.

Vince Gilligan has once again crafted a story that complicates our idea of who deserves our sympathy. While the Breaking Bad creator has expressed a desire to write a genuinely heroic character, his latest protagonist, Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn), seems to blur the lines between heroism and danger.

In this episode, it becomes clear that the hive mind will face starvation within a decade due to its refusal to harm any living things, even plants. Meanwhile, Koumba Diabat (Samba Schutte) and other survivors are actively trying to communicate with the hive mind in an effort to prevent this catastrophe. Everyone is working togetherexcept for Carol and Manousos (Carlos Manuel Vesga), the isolated figure from Paraguay, who remains unaware of the ongoing efforts.

This positions Carol as the closest figure to a villain in the series. Her actions disrupt both the hive mind and the immune survivors, establishing her as a serious threat. Since episode 2, she has already shown a capacity for mass destruction, causing chaos whenever her anger flares. With the majority of the world opposing her, Pluribus seems to have tricked viewers into rooting for someone whose methods are deeply problematic.

Despite this, Carol is not inherently malevolent. Her goal is to restore humanity to a state she finds tolerable, echoing Gilligans tradition of morally ambiguous protagonists. Walter White (Bryan Cranston) wanted to secure his familys future, and Jimmy "Saul Goodman" McGill (Bob Odenkirk) sought recognition as a lawyer. Carol simply wants to save humanitybut like her predecessors, she is willing to disregard moral limits to achieve her goals.

Her immunity to hive mind conversion now gives her unprecedented freedom to act as she sees fit, making her unpredictably dangerous. The consequences of her impulsive and aggressive strategies are magnified by her ability to act without restraint, potentially endangering countless lives in pursuit of her objectives.

So who truly stands out as the series protagonist? While Carols disruptive presence dominates, the quiet and observant Manousos may represent the show's underappreciated lead. His detachment from the hive mind and methodical approach suggest he could emerge as the central figureor perhaps reveal unexpected depths that shift the narrative entirely.

Pluribus season 1 is currently streaming on Apple TV.

Author: Natalie Monroe