A beloved character's fate hangs in balance after ‘Pluribus’ Episode 4’s unexpected cliffhanger ending
Carol Sturka's (Rhea Seehorn) resistance to the hive mind takes a deadly turn in the 'Pluribus' Episode 4. Created by Vince Gilligan, Episode 3 of the sci-fi show ended on a jaw-dropping note, with Zosia (Karolina Wydra) getting injured after Carol detonates a hand grenade. Throughout the latest episode, Carol is seen thinking of ways to beat the hive-minds and also discovers the fact that they cannot lie. However, it's the cliffhanger ending that has fans on edge, casting serious doubt over Zosia's fate.
In the episode, Carol visits Zosia in the hospital, not just to apologize for injuring her, but to push for answers about the hive mind. Zosia admits the Joined now better understand what happened to them but refuses to explain how the infection could be reversed. Because Zosia cannot lie, her silence confirms to Carol that an antidote does exist. Determined to stay human and unwilling to join the hive, especially given her trauma from a forced conversion camp, Carol then becomes fixated on finding a cure, as per DM Talkies.
She gets Sodium Thiopental, the 'truth serum,' from the pharmacy and tests it on herself, recording her confessions. Under the drug, Carol admits she hates the always-smiling Joined and isn't actually romantically drawn to Zosia. She also confesses that she desperately misses Helen L Umstead (Miriam Shor). Seeing this raw honesty reminds Carol of how she wants to protect her flawed, painful humanity
But instead of stopping there, Carol crosses a line. She drugs Zosia under the guise of taking her outside, hoping the truth serum will force her to reveal the antidote. Instead, it only causes distress. The Joined are extremely sensitive to negativity, and Carol's pressure overwhelms Zosia, who is already recovering from injuries. The drug interacts dangerously with whatever hospital medications Zosia is on, triggering a cardiac arrest, proving how reckless and harmful Carol's actions have become.
Episode 4 of ends with a devastating moment in which Carol, desperate to protect her own agency, handcuffs herself to Zosia as the hive mind gathers to help. Misreading their intentions, Carol fears they're trying to take Zosia away and steal her chance to learn how to remain human. In reality, The Joined are responding to Zosia's heart attack.
Carol only allows them to intervene when she realizes they'll let Zosia die if that's what Carol wants, but the damage may already be irreversible. After so many accidents caused by Carol, Zosia may not survive this time, and the episode makes it painfully clear that our protagonist's need to protect herself now outweighs her concern for anyone else.