Pluribus episode 6 brings in a wild cameo to explain everything about the Others
In a surreal twist that combines humor with horror, John Cena makes a memorable cameo in the sixth episode of *Pluribus*, titled “HDP.” In this episode, Cena portrays a version of himself that has been assimilated into a global hive mind, losing his individuality in the process. This unique take on the beloved wrestler and actor presents him not as a superstar but as a spokesperson for a collective consciousness that has taken over the world. His character, while devoid of personal identity, retains the collective memories of the hive, including the quirky details from his role in *Peacemaker*. The episode takes a dark turn as Cena, in a video message to character Carol (played by Rhea Seehorn), explains the grim necessity of cannibalism among the Others—a group that cannot harm any form of life, including plants, and thus must resort to consuming human remains to survive.
The chilling revelation is that the Others have incorporated Human-Derived Protein (HDP) into their diet, with eight to twelve percent of the contents of their milk cartons derived from human corpses. This unsettling dietary choice arises from their inability to utilize traditional food sources or even pick fruit, leading them to rationalize cannibalism as a logical, if monstrous, solution to their caloric deficit. Cena’s character presents this information with an unsettling cheerfulness, complete with charts and stock footage, highlighting the absurdity of the situation. His line, “We’re John Cena,” delivers a mix of humor and horror, encapsulating the bizarre nature of the episode. The Others’ attempts to normalize their horrific practices serve as a commentary on the lengths to which beings will go for survival, even if it means desecrating the very bodies they once inhabited.
This episode of *Pluribus* stands out in a landscape of celebrity cameos in 2025 television, where actors often play exaggerated versions of themselves. While shows like Apple TV’s *The Studio* feature stars poking fun at their own personas, Cena’s portrayal of a cannibalistic hive mind member takes the cake for sheer strangeness. As viewers grapple with the implications of the Others’ actions, the episode raises questions about morality, survival, and the grotesque nature of their existence. With its blend of dark humor and unsettling themes, *Pluribus* continues to push boundaries, leaving audiences both entertained and horrified. New episodes are available for streaming on Apple TV every Friday, inviting fans to explore this unique and thought-provoking series further.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W32EcEAZ2w
If you had ”
John Cena
calmly explains cannibalism” on your 2025 bingo card, congratulations!
Pluribus
has made all your hyper-specific dreams come true. (Side note: Are you okay?)
That’s because Cena makes a cameo in
Pluribus
‘ sixth episode, titled “HDP.” He plays himself… kind of. This version of Cena isn’t really a wrestler or an actor. Instead, he’s a member of the global hive mind that’s taken over the world. He’s lost all individuality, but on the bright side, this means everyone in the hive mind has Cena’s memories of filming
Peacemaker
‘s opening dance intro, and that’s fun, right?
SEE ALSO:
‘Pluribus’ episode 6: What did Carol find in the warehouse?
Cena appears in a video message to Carol (Rhea Seehorn) from the Others, bursting into
Pluribus
in such a surprising manner I wondered if I’d stumbled on an unexpected John Cena meme compilation from 2015. Seriously, I half expected to hear the trumpets from his entrance theme blaring once he started talking.
But there’s no time for memes here.
Pluribus
‘ Cena has something serious to tell Carol about: cannibalism.
In Cena’s video message, he explains why the
Others have turned to cannibalism
and are mashing human body parts into their little milk cartons. The answer? They need to in order to survive.
See, the Others are unable to harm or kill any form of life, including plants. That means their food sources on Earth are limited. They can use the millions of tons of food that were processed before their arrival, but even that’s not enough to curb the caloric deficit facing the billions of members of the hive mind.
SEE ALSO:
‘Pluribus’ episode 6 reveals something huge about the virus
The solution? Adding human corpses to their diet. For the Others, anyone who dies of natural causes becomes part of their food source. Why bury a body and waste all that meat?
Because of this, eight to 12 percent of the liquid in the Others’ milk cartons is made up of Human-Derived Protein (HDP). Do the Others really want to eat this? No way, Hive Mind Cena tells Carol. They’ll also never force Carol to partake in HDP under any circumstances. Reassuring!
The Others present the cannibalism as efficient and logical, with the video message featuring helpful charts, stock footage, and many,
many
wipe transitions. (Which member of the hive mind was Cena’s video editor? Was it Cena himself, tapping into other members’ memories of using iMovie?) But their affable spokesman can’t deny the truth: This is monstrous, just like their invasion. The Others may try to treat it like it’s just an unfortunate part of life, but the fact remains that they haven’t just desecrated human minds by taking them over. Now, they’re desecrating bodies, too. All because they can’t, as Carol points out, “pick a fucking apple.”
As harrowing as the HDP twist is, it’s undeniably fun to watch Cena channel the cheery helpfulness of the Others. The line “We’re John Cena” alone had me cackling, both because it’s funny, and because I was so weirded out that cackling seemed like the best reaction.
With this appearance, Cena joins a crowded landscape of celebrities playing themselves on TV in 2025. Apple TV’s own
The Studio
is crammed with actors and directors poking fun at themselves, while new comedies like
Overcompensating
,
Adults
,
and
I Love LA
roped in the likes of
Charli XCX
, Julia Fox, Quenlin Blackwell, and Elijah Wood to play heightened versions of themselves.
But when it comes to sheer strangeness, you really can’t top alien virus hive mind John Cena explaining why drinking processed human body parts from a milk carton isn’t just okay, it’s necessary. The bar’s been set pretty high, so if your next celebrity cameo doesn’t feature at least one
Soylent Green
reference, take it back to the drawing board!
Pluribus
is now streaming on Apple TV, with a new episode every Friday
