For viewers trying to unravel the mysteries of Vince Gilligan’s new Apple TV+ series, Pluribus, the actress behind the enigmatic Zosia offers a key insight. Karolina Wydra, who plays the calm and collected representative of the show’s global hive mind, says that at its heart, the sci-fi thriller is a deep and relatable story about human nature.
The series presents a world transformed by an extraterrestrial “happiness virus” that has bound nearly all of humanity into a blissful, peaceful collective known as “the Joined” or “the Others.” Wydra’s character, Zosia, acts as a guide and companion to Rhea Seehorn‘s Carol Sturka, a cynical fantasy romance author who is one of only a dozen people immune to the virus.
In a recent interview, Wydra explained that creator Vince Gilligan didn’t set out to write a heavy-handed political allegory. Instead, he was driven by a compelling character idea. “To be honest, when we asked him those questions, he just said that an idea came to him and he ran with it,” Wydra shared. “He wasn’t trying to think of all these political topics to write about; he just had an idea. So, for me, it’s about human nature.”
The Core Question of ‘Pluribus’
Wydra’s comments get to the core of what makes Pluribus more than a typical alien invasion story. The show uses its high-concept premise to explore fundamental questions about the human experience. Wydra, a self-described sci-fi fan, pointed out that the genre’s power lies in posing difficult, thought-provoking questions to its audience.
“It brings up questions: ‘How would people behave if this happened, and what would the world look like?’” she said.
The show directly asks whether a life without suffering, prejudice, or worry is worth the cost of losing one’s individuality and free will. In the world of Pluribus, the Joined live in a state of constant serenity, but they have lost their personal identities and the full spectrum of human emotions. This creates a central conflict that is more philosophical than physical, pitting collective peace against individual freedom.
Is the Show About Artificial Intelligence?
With technology and AI being dominant topics in modern society, many viewers have drawn parallels between the show’s hive mind and the rise of artificial intelligence. When asked about this, Wydra acknowledged that great art often inspires these conversations, whether intended or not.
“Are there similarities to AI? Are there similarities to what’s happening politically? Even if the intention is not there, great art brings up these questions for us to go, ‘Huh, isn’t it interesting how this is on par with what’s happening [in real life]?’” she observed. “Life is imitating art, and art is imitating life.”
This connection, however, is one interpretation among many. Her co-star, Rhea Seehorn, has previously insisted that the series is not meant to be a direct commentary on AI. The show’s creator, Vince Gilligan, conceived the idea years before the COVID-19 pandemic and has described Pluribus as his “twist on a post-apocalyptic zombie tale,” with the key difference being that the transformed people are genuinely happy and retain all their faculties.
The Challenge of Playing a Global Hive Mind
Portraying Zosia presented a unique acting challenge for Karolina Wydra. Her character is not a single individual but a vessel for the consciousness of billions. To prepare for the role, Wydra had to project an unshakable sense of peace and contentment, creating a stark contrast to Seehorn’s volatile and grieving Carol.
“I did a lot of body work to feel content and at peace so that Zosia wasn’t affected by whatever Carol was throwing at her,” Wydra explained. She described Zosia as someone who deeply believes in the Joining’s cause. “Zosia has to believe so deeply in ‘our’ cause and that our biological imperative needs to be shared. She believes the Joining needs to be experienced because it’s so good and so blissful.”
This meant that on set, Wydra had to remain emotionally detached, which she found difficult. “It was really challenging at times to watch somebody have their emotional journey and not be able to go on it,” she admitted. “I just had to trust that what I’m doing is not too robotic and find that sweet spot that ‘the Others’ live in.”
A Role That Required Real-Life Skills
The nature of the hive mind means that Zosia can tap into the knowledge and skills of every person on the planet. This concept translated into some thrilling practical experiences for Wydra during filming. Her character is seen performing complex tasks with effortless precision, such as flying a C-130 military transport plane and operating an excavator.
Wydra revealed that she actually learned to perform many of these actions herself. “I got to taxi the C-130, for real,” she said. After a day of rehearsal with pilots who explained the plane’s controls, they trusted her to maneuver the massive aircraft. “It’s just really incredible. I’ll never get to do that again, you know?”
She approached these scenes with the idea of muscle memory. “These people have muscle memory of being the best of the best at it, so when you get on an excavator… you just go in and you do it effortlessly without looking. It’s just a feeling that you’ve done this millions of times, so it lives in you.”
A Dream Job with Vince Gilligan
Landing the role of Zosia was a full-circle moment for Karolina Wydra, who has long been a fan of Vince Gilligan’s work. She recalled being a “die-hard fan” of Breaking Bad and had always dreamed of working with the creator. However, after not receiving an audition for Better Call Saul, she had let that dream go.
The audition for Pluribus came as a surprise. At the time, Wydra didn’t have an agent or manager, and the casting directors had to search to find her. She initially hesitated to audition but decided to take the chance. The opportunity became even more surreal when, during the process, Gilligan told her he had spoken to Bryan Cranston about her, having worked with the Breaking Bad star on Sneaky Pete.
“To be where I am today, I get emotional about it,” Wydra said. “It’s beyond my wildest dreams — being employed by Vince Gilligan, holy shit.”
The Mystery of Zosia’s Loyalties
A key moment in the early episodes of Pluribus comes at the end of the second episode, when Zosia prepares to leave with another immune survivor, Koumba Diabaté, but pauses to look back at Carol. This moment highlights the ongoing mystery of the hive mind’s nature and Zosia’s specific role.
Wydra described that look as a moment of complexity for Zosia. “Zosia loves Diabaté as much as she loves Carol. She loves them both equally,” she explained. While the Joined have a “biological imperative” to share their gift of happiness, Wydra suggested that in that moment, there might also be a “longing to be with Carol.” This subtle conflict hints that there may be more layers to the hive mind than initially meet the eye.
The first two episodes of Pluribus are now streaming on Apple TV+, with the third episode set for release on November 14, 2025. The first season will run for nine episodes, concluding on December 26, 2025.
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