Pluribus episode 4 reveals a game-changing hint about the Others
In the gripping fourth episode of *Pluribus*, titled “Please, Carol,” we see Carol Sturka, played by the talented Rhea Seehorn, take on the role of a determined detective, uncovering critical truths about the Others’ hive mind. The episode kicks off with a poignant conversation between Carol and Larry, one of the Others portrayed by Jeff Hiller. As Carol probes into her late partner Helen’s thoughts on her writing, she is confronted with painful revelations: Helen viewed Carol’s work as insubstantial, even going so far as to describe her unpublished novel, *Bitter Chrysalis*, as merely “fine.” This heart-wrenching dialogue not only serves to deepen Carol’s grief but also leads her to a significant discovery: the Others are incapable of lying, a fact that she quickly resolves to exploit.
Armed with this newfound knowledge, Carol shifts her focus to Zosia (Karolina Wydra), who remains hospitalized after the explosive events of the previous episode. In a bold move, Carol confronts Zosia about the possibility of reversing the Joining, the process that binds the Others together in a collective consciousness. When Zosia’s vague response hints at the potential for reversal, Carol’s instincts kick in. She resorts to an unconventional method—sodium thiopental, a barbiturate known as “truth serum.” In a humorous yet revealing scene, Carol tests the drug on herself, leading to an uninhibited display of emotions and even a confession about her attraction to Zosia. However, the plan takes an unexpected turn when Zosia experiences a cardiac arrest, leaving Carol with more questions than answers. Despite the setback, the panic from Zosia and the Others suggests that the Joining can indeed be undone, setting the stage for further investigation.
As the episode concludes, viewers are left on the edge of their seats, eager to see how Carol will continue her quest for the truth. With the stakes raised and the mystery of the Joining’s reversal still unsolved, *Pluribus* continues to deliver a blend of emotional depth and thrilling intrigue. The series, now streaming on Apple TV, promises to keep audiences engaged with new episodes released every Friday, making it a must-watch for fans of compelling storytelling and complex characters.
Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn) goes full detective mode in episode 4 of
Pluribus
. Armed with blunt questioning (but tragically no deerstalker hat or magnifying glass), she uncovers a major revelation: The Joining of the Others’ hive mind can be reversed.
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‘Pluribus’ episode 3: Can you actually stay at that ice hotel?
So, how did Carol find this out, and what does this mean going forward? Let’s break it down.
Carol learns that the Others cannot lie.
In episode 4, titled “Please, Carol,” Carol sits down for a frank chat with one of the Others named Larry (
Somebody Somewhere
‘s Emmy–winning Jeff Hiller). Throughout the scene, she asks him some tough questions about her relationship with her partner, Helen (Miriam Shor). What did Helen think of her
Winds of Wycaro
books? Did she think Carol’s unpublished novel
Bitter Chrysalis
was actually any good?
Drawing on the Others’ hive mind, which contains all of Helen’s memories, Larry reluctantly gives Carol some hard truths. Helen thought that Winds of Wycaro
was “harmless,” the literary equivalent of “cotton candy.” She also only thought
Bitter Chrysalis
was “fine.” In fact, she hadn’t even finished reading Carol’s draft.
The conversation with Larry is a painful one, with Carol picking away at her grief about Helen. Yet it’s also useful: Thanks to Carol’s insistence that Larry answer her, even if it’s an answer that will harm her, she learns that the Others are incapable of telling a lie.
She decides to use that discovery against Zosia (Karolina Wydra), still in the hospital following episode 3’s grenade explosion. Carol flat-out asks whether there’s a way to reverse the Joining. When Zosia waffles, telling Carol the Others “can’t answer questions like that,” Carol knows she’s onto something.
“Your non-answer is my answer,” Carol reasons. But how can she get Zosia to spill the Others’ secrets?
Carol uses sodium thiopental, aka “truth serum,” against Zosia.
The answer to Carol’s quandary? Drugs!
She raids the hospital stash for sodium thiopental, a barbiturate that serves as a general anesthetic. The drug lowers inhibition, making it a kind of “truth serum,” as evidenced by Carol’s test injection on herself. Within minutes, Carol loses any of her composed grouchiness. She begins dancing around her living room, sobbing about Helen, and even doing dramatic readings of the Wycaro
books. (She’s right,
these books
should
be a movie
.)
But most fascinating of all is when she reveals what she truly thinks of Zosia — that she’s “so goddamn fuckable.” If the sodium thiopental can get Carol to reveal her deep-kept secret that she’s attracted to one of the Others, then surely it can get Zosia to tell her how to reverse the Joining, right?
Not quite. A drugged Zosia manages to hold off on telling Carol the truth, instead going into cardiac arrest. But her panic, and that of all the Others begging Carol to stop, is proof enough that the Joining can be undone. The “how” remains a mystery, though. But don’t worry! After all her sleuthing in this episode, you can bet Detective Carol isn’t done with this case.
Pluribus
is now streaming on Apple TV, with a new episode every Friday.
