"The most haunting image from the season finale of Apple TV's Pluribus comes early in the episode, and in some ways it's relatively innocuous: A baby goat, crying out after being released from its pen. Earlier, the goat had been receiving cuddles from young Kusimayu (Darinka Arones), one of the few remaining humans unconnected with the Joining. But once Kusimayu becomes part of the great hive mind, she walks away from the goat as if it means nothing to her."
"Over the course of its first brilliant season, Pluribus has been so packed with huge ideas about society and the individual. When the show premiered, all we really knew about the premise was that Carol ( Rhea Seehorn) was the most miserable woman in the world, and she was going to "save the world from happiness." Now, with nine episodes' worth of hindsight, we know how accurate that description really is - while also truly understanding its existential threat."
"Over the course of the episode, Manousos notably makes significant progress in understanding the frequency which might be keeping the hive mind connected (8.613 MHz, doncha know), but Carol doesn't offer to help. Instead, after Manousos disrupted the Joining harshly enough to trigger their flight instincts, Carol chooses to go on a romantic vacation with Zosia (Karolina Wydra), her Joined of choice."
A baby goat is released and cries out as Kusimayu, newly part of the Joining, walks away indifferent. The Joining functions as a hive mind that delivers intoxicating belonging while erasing individual empathy and attachments. Carol is portrayed as a deeply unhappy figure determined to resist enforced happiness and preserve human autonomy. Manousos uncovers a possible maintaining frequency, identified as 8.613 MHz, but Carol refuses to assist. Carol pursues a romantic vacation with her Joined companion Zosia, and the Montana visit evokes past relationships while raising urgent questions about loyalty, choice, and existential threat.
Read at Consequence
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]