The relationship between Carol and Zosia on Pluribus is a major focus of the show’s first season. In a recent interview, star Rhea Seehorn shared her thoughts on this complex dynamic. She explained Carol’s feelings are a mix of real emotion and deep suspicion after a period of extreme loneliness.
The show’s creator, Vince Gilligan, intentionally leaves the truth of their relationship open for viewers to decide. The Season 1 finale is set to release soon, bringing more answers about Carol’s story.
Why Carol is Drawn to Zosia
Carol’s connection with Zosia starts from a place of deep pain and isolation. After the loss of her wife, Helen, Carol was left completely alone for 40 days. This intense loneliness broke down her defenses.
“She was really broken by this isolation period… and not just because of how long she was alone, but [because of] the horrible existential crisis of thinking, ‘This will be forever. This will be the rest of your life,’” Seehorn explained.
In this fragile state, Zosia arrives. The Others, the hive mind controlling most of humanity, specifically chose Zosia because she looks like the romantic hero from Carol’s own novels. This makes Zosia instantly familiar and attractive to Carol. Their first moments together are emotional, with Carol holding onto Zosia desperately.
The Mix of Kindness and Manipulation
As their relationship grows, Carol enjoys romantic moments with Zosia. They play games, get massages, and go on hikes. In one scene, Carol says her favorite sound is a train horn. Zosia then uses the hive mind’s power to make a passing train honk exactly then.
The Others even rebuild Carol’s favorite diner from her past, down to the same server. This gift makes Carol happy, but it also makes her suspicious.
“She remembers what was great about it, and comes away, realizes, this is manipulative,” Seehorn says. “This is all part of a ploy, but at the same time, it is an act of kindness. It was a loving thing to do. Are those two things mutually exclusive?”
Carol is constantly wondering if the kindness is real or just a strategy to get her to join the hive mind.
The Big Question: Are Zosia’s Feelings Real?
A key moment in their relationship is their first kiss in Episode 8, “Charm Offensive”. The scene is passionate, but it comes with big questions. Is Zosia, as part of the collective, truly developing her own feelings for Carol? Or is the hive mind using memories of Carol’s late wife, Helen, to perform the perfect romance?
Seehorn and Gilligan both want the audience to wrestle with this question. The show does not give a simple answer.
“I want people to have their own experience of what comes up for them, and have their own opinions of what it is,” Seehorn said. She listed the possibilities: “Is it that Zosia is finally pulling away from that collective mind… becoming an individual?… Is she falling for real for Carol? Or is the collective mind full of memories… about who Helen was and what Carol likes, and to make her happy, they perform for her?”
Gilligan agrees, stating his goal is for the audience to decide for themselves: “Is this true love, or is it artifice?”
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Carol’s Constant Internal Battle
Despite the comfort she finds, Carol never fully lets her guard down. Throughout the tender moments with Zosia, she is also adding notes to a whiteboard, listing reasons not to trust the Others. Her mind is at war.
“There’s another part of her though, the whole time, going, ‘Don’t be stupid. Don’t be stupid. This can’t be real,’” Seehorn describes.
Carol struggles with what defines real love. If the person comforting her is part of a group that loves everyone the same, does that love mean less? Is her need for unique, individual love a personal flaw, or a reasonable demand? This internal conflict is central to her character as she balances her desperate need for connection with her fierce desire to remain an individual.
When to Watch the Season Finale
The Pluribus Season 1 finale will provide the next chapter in Carol’s journey.
- Release Date: December 24, 2025.
- Streaming Service: Apple TV+.
The series has already been renewed for a second season.
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