Pluribus Episode 4 “Please, Carol” Recap - Zosia’s Fate & Carol’s Plan

Episode 4 starts with nine minutes of silence, and I absolutely loved that choice. For me, those quiet moments made the Paraguayan man feel like the most stubborn and determined person in the whole show. He keeps scanning radio frequencies like he’s hoping someone else out there is still thinking freely. I was intrigued by how systematic he was, and I’m guessing he was checking for any other active resistance cells. I think it makes sense he believes the hive might eventually find a way to reach him unless he becomes fully independent.

What really stood out to me was how he ate the dog food with more and more resolve every time Carol called him. I liked that detail because it showed how much he wants to be left alone. I really liked that small sugar-packet “appetizer” too, it just said so much about his mindset without a single word spoken. And when he wrote an apology letter to his customers, I personally felt like he hasn’t given up on someday returning to normal life.

I enjoyed this episode so much that the scenes with him felt like they flew by. I always end up surprised when the episode ends, and I personally wonder why they’re so short because I need more.

Carol’s Plan and the Interrogation

This episode pushed Carol in a direction that felt smart and desperate at the same time. I think the writers finally gave her space to use logic and problem-solving skills instead of acting on pure emotion, and I appreciate that. I love a protagonist who actually thinks, and Carol did exactly that here.

Her choice to interrogate Zosia was dark, and honestly, I like when the show goes there. Zosia was injured, medicated, and already recovering from shrapnel wounds, so Carol choosing her wasn’t the safest move. I had a feeling something bad would happen because of the drugs mixing with whatever Zosia was already taking. For me, the moment Carol tested the truth serum on herself was one of the wildest scenes. That line—“Why she gotta be so goddamn f*ckable?”—coming out on video shocked me so much I had to pause. And the way sober Carol just sighed and said, “okay, enough, it works”—I still laugh thinking about it.

I personally agree with Carol’s intrusive thought there, and I also think Carol and Zosia look cute together. I really feel like the writers planted a seed hidden inside a joke. Carol has been carrying feelings she doesn’t want to admit, and this drug basically yanked them out of her.

Even with all that chaos, I still think Carol’s plan was pretty solid for a sci-fi horror protagonist. I personally wondered if she could’ve dragged Zosia into a vault or a locked room the hive couldn’t instantly reach. For a second, I even thought she’d stop the elevator and inject her there to buy time.

Trauma and Truths About the Hive

The interrogation opened up Carol’s trauma. That backstory explained her hatred for the hive perfectly. The hive talks about being “cured” and “happy” in the same tone conversion camps used, and I really understand why that messes her up. I loved how that context amplified her fear of losing herself.

Carol asked sharp questions about the hive, and I appreciated how she used everything she learned in earlier episodes. The hive’s responses created a bigger picture. Their perfect recall—like remembering Helen ate cotton candy four times—made them feel less human and more like one organism. I love how the hive keeps gassing Carol up with those over-the-top compliments too. It reminds me of how AI sometimes over-compliments users, and it actually made me laugh.

Helen not liking Bitter Chrysalis was rough, but I think it mattered. It showed honesty, and it became the perfect way for Carol to test whether the hive can lie. I still think the hive will eventually learn how to lie. And I personally think Carol missed one huge question: what the hive’s actual end goal is?!

Zosia’s Collapse and the Hive’s Shift

When Zosia’s heart stopped, I gasped. At first I thought she was passing out, not dying. I realized Carol must’ve either given her way too much of the drug or it clashed with her injuries and medication. But part of me wonders whether the hive stopped her heart to prevent the information from spreading. The scene left me unsure which explanation was true.

Seeing the hive lose its constant smile terrified me. This was the first time the hive looked nearly hostile, and I couldn’t tell if they were angry at Carol or about to attack.

The crowd surrounding Carol and chanting “Please, Carol” honestly made my skin crawl. I was shocked watching Zosia die like that, and the way the hive reacted made the whole moment even heavier. I think this episode is setting up a bigger arc about freeing Zosia later this season, and I really hope they follow through.

Final Thoughts and Small Details I Loved

I thought this episode was so good, and I believe it stands right next to the pilot as the best of the season. I really don’t understand people who think the show is boring. I’m so entranced while watching that time feels like it disappears.

I loved the cameo from the real mayor of Albuquerque. It was so random and perfect.

I also think the Paraguay storyline adds depth to the world. The idea that he keeps checking radio frequencies tells me he’s still hoping for human contact. And I really think he’s scared the hive might infect him someday, which explains why he’s pushing himself to survive without relying on anyone.

By the time the credits rolled, I was left wanting more—again. I personally need to learn how ham radios work now. And as an introvert, I totally get why the hive’s constant attentiveness would drive someone up the wall.

I absolutely loved this episode and already can’t wait for the next one.