I have a Pluribus question: Whats going on with the animals?
In the intriguing world of Vince Gilligan’s new sci-fi series *Pluribus*, the absence of animals raises significant questions about the implications of the show’s central concept: “the Joining.” As viewers are drawn into this eerie narrative, they witness a nearly hive-minded human race, where the protagonist, Carol (played by Rhea Seehorn), navigates a landscape devoid of familiar fauna. With an estimated 8.7 million species on Earth, the conspicuous absence of animals—from beloved pets to wild creatures—leaves audiences pondering the fate of the animal kingdom in this dystopian setting. The show hints that the “psychic glue” connecting humans originated from alien technology tested on animals, suggesting that the Joining may have profound effects beyond just humanity.
In episodes two and three, the plot thickens as we learn that Joined humans have released all zoo animals into the wild, a move that has led to chaos and danger, as noted by characters Koumba Diabaté and Xiu Mei. The absence of pets and the fate of domesticated animals remain unresolved mysteries. Are they roaming freely, perhaps in a newfound paradise, or have they been adversely affected by the Joining? The series also introduces a vegetarian ethos among Joined humans, who claim they cannot purposely end life, raising further questions about their relationship with animals. As Koumba learns, the Joined prefer a vegetarian lifestyle, mourning the loss of any creature killed for food while still accommodating the dietary needs of non-Joined humans. This moral quandary about life and death in a world where human and animal consciousness may be intertwined adds layers of complexity to the narrative.
As *Pluribus* unfolds, theories abound among fans regarding the fate of animals. Some speculate that the giraffe’s disregard for Xiu Mei’s attempts to shoo it away indicates that not all animals are part of the Joining, suggesting a stark divide between Joined humans and the animal kingdom. With new episodes streaming every Friday on Apple TV, viewers are left eager for answers about the fate of Earth’s creatures and the broader implications of the Joining. Will Gilligan clarify whether the animals are indeed part of this hive mind, and what that means for the natural order? As the series progresses, it promises to explore these themes, making *Pluribus* a thought-provoking commentary on humanity’s connection to the animal world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMBaOd4PRDM
We’re a few episodes into
Pluribus
,
Vince Gilligan’s trippy new Apple TV sci-fi series, and I have questions: Where have all the animals gone? And are they Joined too?
As Carol (Rhea Seehorn) understandably drinks her way through the sudden creepy hellscape that is an almost entirely hive-minded human race, she’s not bothered by a pesky mosquito, comforted by a stray dog, or able to ride a horse into the sunset.
SEE ALSO:
‘Pluribus’ episode 3: Can you actually stay at that ice hotel?
The
total number of species on Earth is estimated at 8.7 million
(including plants), yet in
Pluribus
, there’s not a golden lion tamarin, Irish wolfhound, or Egyptian tortoise to be seen. What’s going on here?
Are animals affected by the Joining?
Considering that
the “virus”-like “psychic glue” connecting humanity
began with alien technology being decoded, tested on animals, and transferred to humans with a lab rat bite in episode 1, it remains to be seen how the animal kingdom is dealing with what’s known as “the Joining.” If, as was explained in episode 1, “We is us,” does that include all creatures, great and small, on Earth?
We still don’t know who developed the sequence, or whether all animals have been affected by the virus dusting we saw in episode 1, which turned most of the remaining humans, but the rat does appear to experience the same type of temporary paralysis Joined humans do when Carol upsets them. On the other hand, in episodes 1, 2, and 3, we don’t see any animals joining the ranks of mind-connected humans teaming up to do the same task, and not one of Carol’s neighbours has a pet aimlessly hanging around looking for food.
However, we do learn a few things in episode 2 about what happened to some animals after the Joining.
Joined humans let all animals out of zoos.
In Carol’s non-Joined human summit aboard Air Force One, Koumba Diabaté (Samba Schutte) mentions that “all zoos are empty.” Xiu Mei (Sharon Gee), who lives near Beijing Zoo, says that the Joined humans were the ones to empty the zoos. “They let loose all the animals,” she says, explaining that she tried to shoo a giraffe from eating a tree outside her place, but it paid her no mind. “Apparently, when it came to the lions and the tigers, they suffered quite a few maulings,” Koumba adds.
My question is, where did they all go? Are they all back in their natural habitats, devouring each other and restoring the circle of life or what?
As for pets, I see not one dog or cat or hamster in
Pluribus
. In the episode 2 summit, Mei defiantly says she did not “give away” her dog, without explaining further, but Koumba says, “All dogs are off their chains.” Is there some kind of dog paradise where our four-legged friends are making a sweet, sweet home for themselves and allowed to go for walkies whenever they damn well like? Are dogs more individual than humans at this point? Could dogs walk
us
?
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Joined humans “can’t purposely end life,” and they’re all vego.
Then there’s the whole vegetarianism of the Joining. In episode 2, in the opulent long lunch in what looks like Tuscany, it’s clear that animals killed before the Joining are being preserved (or cooked for non-Joined humans) — Koumba is served chicken, Carol is given salmon. Later in the episode, Carol is offered bacon and eggs. In episode 3, when Carol’s local supermarket is entirely restocked in a matter of minutes by Joined humans, that includes the meat sections.
But in episode 2’s lunch, we learn that Joined humans do not kill animals — when Koumba says he asked for lobster, Zosia (Karolina Wydra) explains, “We searched a wide radius, but the only lobster currently available is live.” When asked by fellow non-Joined human Lakshmi (Menik Gooneratne) whether the Joined are vegetarian, Zosia responds, “That would be our preference, yes,” and further explains killing insects is also off the table. “We can’t purposely end life. It’s not in our nature,” she says.
Is this because animals share the same “psychic glue” as humans? Or is there something more afoot here?
Koumba further inquires what would happen if he caught a fish or killed a chicken, and Zosia tells him, “We would mourn the passing of all these creatures,” but also would cook them for him if asked.
There are some on
Reddit posing theories about the state of animals
in
Pluribus
, including one theory that the giraffe didn’t listen to Mei because it’s not part of the Joining. This theory goes for the lions and tigers too, as Koumba mentioned human maulings — this suggests these animals at least aren’t part of the harmonious hive mind. Hopefully Gilligan sheds some light on the state of our free-roaming animals in episodes ahead.
Pluribus
is now streaming on Apple TV, with a new episode every Friday.
