Pluribus episode 6 brings in a wild cameo to explain everything about the Others
In the latest episode of *Pluribus*, titled “HDP,” John Cena makes a striking cameo that blends humor and horror in a way only science fiction can. In this surreal narrative, Cena portrays a version of himself stripped of individuality, now part of a global hive mind that has taken over humanity. This bizarre twist on his persona leads to a chilling yet oddly comedic explanation of why the Others, the hive mind’s collective, have resorted to cannibalism. Unable to harm any form of life, including plants, the Others face a dire caloric deficit. Their solution? To incorporate human corpses—specifically those who die of natural causes—into their diet, resulting in the unsettling Human-Derived Protein (HDP) content found in their milk cartons.
Cena’s video message to Carol (played by Rhea Seehorn) is as entertaining as it is disturbing. With the charm and enthusiasm that fans associate with him, Cena delivers a presentation that feels more like a corporate training video than a confession of cannibalism. He reassures Carol that they would never force her to consume HDP, while simultaneously presenting charts and stock footage to rationalize their gruesome dietary choices. The absurdity of the situation is heightened by Cena’s upbeat demeanor, which starkly contrasts the horrific implications of their actions. As Carol points out, their inability to “pick a fucking apple” has led to a monstrous solution, highlighting the dark humor that permeates the episode.
This episode not only showcases Cena’s comedic talents but also contributes to a growing trend in 2025 television, where celebrities play exaggerated versions of themselves. Shows like *The Studio* and *Overcompensating* feature stars poking fun at their personas, yet none quite reach the bizarre heights of Cena’s portrayal in *Pluribus*. The episode challenges viewers to reflect on the moral implications of survival at any cost, all while delivering a memorable performance that leaves audiences both laughing and unsettled. With new episodes airing every Friday on Apple TV, *Pluribus* continues to push the boundaries of genre storytelling, leaving fans eagerly anticipating what surreal twist will come next.
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
