Rhea Seehorn and Karolina Wydra in Pluribus Episode 8
If there's one show that swooped in and controlled our minds, it's Pluribus. Created by Vince Gilligan, the series, set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, follows romantasy novelist Carol Sturka , who finds herself suddenly isolated after an alien virus transforms the remainder of humanity into a peaceful, content hive mind.
Granting all of her wishes and desires, the Joined seek to assimilate her and other immune individuals into their collective. Fighting against their control, Carol goes on a journey of self-exploration as she navigates this bizarre new world. A series that has earned an assortment of monikers, including black comedy, post-apocalyptic drama, and psychological thriller, Pluribus proved itself to be a uniquely character-based series. Through the lens of Carol, Gilligan created a world of eccentric personalities for her to interact with. We're here to discuss the best characters of Pluribus. While number one is a given, the rest of the spots are up for debate. 11 Xiu Mei As we learned, the virus spared a range of individuals, including the woman from Beijing, Xiu Mei. As one of the English-speaking unaffected, Xiu joined Carol in Bilboa. Appearing calm, Xiu seemed acclimated to the new hivemind-dominated world, perhaps because she had her family beside her. But that all changed during Carol's fit of anger. When her family suffered seizures, Xiu was visibly shaken and immediately ready to cut ties with Carol. Portrayed by Sharon Gee, she is unwilling to join Carol's brigade and eager to remain in the good graces of the Collective. With her husband by her side, she offered no resistance to the new world order. Though initially willing to hear Carol out, she ultimately was reluctant to rock the boat. Though we only met her once, she made an impact with a pretty dashing blazer. Now, was that from her wardrobe, or was that a hivemind request? Either way, I'll take one. 10 Otgonbayar As we learned early on, Carol was not alone. She was one of 13 people unaffected by the virus, but only one of six who spoke English. When Carol requested a meeting of the English-speaking immune survivors, it included the man from Mongolia, Otgonbayar. A calm, non-confrontational man, Otgonbayar simply listened to Carol as the others berated her. So, that's one pro in the box for Otgonbayar. The con is that he lacks the personality that some of his peers have. Portrayed by Amaraa Sanjid, Otgonbayar is truly just there for a good time, certainly not a long time. After seeing Zosia's paralysis at the hands of Carol, Otgonbayar cut his losses and ran with his family by his side. His main reason was her lack of emotional control, which makes sense. Though he appeared in only one episode, he was a nice guy. 9 Larry Kless Unlike a big star cameo to come, this guest spot allowed an award-winner to take on a silly bit role. In Episode 4, Jeff Hiller appeared as Larry Kless, a member of the Joined. Following the explosion at Carol's house, Larry is among those who help repair her home. Carol selects him as the volunteer to experiment with how the hivemind interacts with questions regarding her books and relationship with Helen. He goes beyond the call of duty, comparing her work to Shakespeare, a shared opinion with the rest of the Joined. Though when pressed, he reveals Helen's true feelings about Carol's writing, leaving her profoundly upset. Hiller's cameo was a jovial, fun exploration of the greater hivemind mythology and lore. In an interview with Decider, Hiller revealed that he was initially told that when he read, he would be"Carol's father" and would be talking about Carol's mother. He joked about being thought of as old enough to play Seehorn's father, but it was all a ploy for secrecy. 8 Laxmi Equally pessimistic, but grasping the world in a very different manner, Laxmi is one of the unaffected. An English-speaking Indian woman, Laxmi agrees to meet with Carol and the other unhiveminded. She instantly clashes with Carol, setting up Laxmi as an antagonist in her story. With a variation of her family a major part of her life, Laxmi is fine with the new status quo, objecting to anything that will disrupt it. She feuds with Carol, blaming her for the death of her grandfather during one of her outbursts, though Carol is quick to remind her that it's not really him, just as her son, Ravi , is not actually a surgeon. Laxmi instantly distances herself from Carol, but she is quick to pick up the phone when bad things happen. First, after Zosia's cardiac arrest, Laxmi is on the phone to scold Carol for making the Collective cry, questioning her mental stability in the process. Then, after Manousos causes another seizure, Laxmi instantly blames Carol, despite her being innocent this time. Though she's a loving and caring individual towards her family, her actions are selfish. Menik Gooneratne portrays her as a no-nonsense woman unafraid to say what's on her mind. Though we don't know what the future holds, chances are that if Carol wants to save the world with a bomb, Laxmi will most certainly stand in her way. 7 Kusimayu One of the most fascinating characters of the series is Kusimayu. A Peruvian woman who was among the unaffected, Kusimayu joins Carol at the council as one of the English-speaking immune. Though she is joined by her family in hivemind form, Kusimayu is unlike the others, as she's open to the idea of joining the hivemind. Believing they have created a better world, she doesn't fear the Others as much as Carol does. When she witnesses Carol causing the seizures, she immediately distances herself from her, becoming the catalyst for her next step. A calm and peaceful woman, Kusimayu eventually decides to join the hivemind. In her village, the arrival of the sealed package is treated like a sacred ritual. Kusimayu is presented with a metal container, instructed to inhale its vapor, and is immediately sent into violent convulsions like the others before her. The experiment succeeds, and Kusimayu becomes the first immune individual to convert into the Others. Played by Darinka Arones, Kusimayu is a key cog in the next portion of the story. As the only formerly immune person to transition, how she further reacts will be informative for everyone who was not part of The Joining. 6 John Cena Like Josh Holloway on The Paper, John Cena’s cameo on Pluribus was simply brilliant and completely unexpected. Appearing in the sixth episode, Cena plays a version of himself. Serving as a companion to Koumba Diabaté, Cena appears in the form of an instructional video that explains to Carol why the Collective is consuming the liquid made from human remains. A wonderfully juxtaposed scene, Cena's presence proves that even in a post-Joining world, celebrities are still actively selling products! Before Cena's cameo, Pluribus welcomed Albuquerque mayor Tim Keller to play himself. During his appearance, Carol recognizes him as one of the individuals repairing her house after the grenade explosion. After calling him out, the mayor thanks her for her vote. Like Cena, it's a bit part that brings some levity to the darkness. Cena's connection to this universe may afford further appearances and could even open the door to other celebrities who may still be alive."We just thought, 'Who better than John Cena to make palatable the idea of eating human flesh, you know?'" Gilligan told Deadline. We agree! 5 Helen Umstead Though she is relegated mostly to flashback moments, Helen Umstead is one of the most important characters in Pluribus. As Carol's partner and manager, Helen was her perfect foil. Comparatively, Helen is less pessimistic and much freer. She finds joy in life, and, in turn, is the one who pushes Carol to find the sparks of happiness alongside her. As her manager, she has Carol's best interests at heart, though she can separate work from pleasure. In the flashbacks, we see the couple's incredible bond, especially in Norway. Though Carol never showed the same affection, it was evident that their love was real as she fought to save Helen during her seizure from the virus. Played by the incomparable Miriam Shor, Helen is a significant character who, even in death, is a crucial part of the action. Because Carol is alone and isolated, Helen opens up important personality and character traits in Carol that we need. As much as the Collective tries to push happy memories onto Carol, the grief and loss still weigh heavily. The Norway scene was a moment when we saw Carol let her guard down ever so slightly, thanks in part to Helen. Shor is phenomenal in the part, so with the potential of flashbacks to further informative moments, expect more from her in the future. 4 Koumba Diabaté Lovingly known as"Casanova McBoner" to Carol, Koumba Diabaté is a gentleman who knows what he wants. And what he wants is everything. Luckily for him, he can have at it thanks to the new world order. As one of the immune, the Mauritanian man is the epitome of charisma, something Carol is not. Unlike the other unaffected, Diabaté has taken full advantage of the new situation and the hospitality surrounding him. That means he has a harem of women at all times, as well as access to Air Force One to serve as his private transportation. Seemingly unwilling to give up the life of luxury, Carol eventually finds him living lavishly in Las Vegas. Though he's seen her tapes and knows why the Collective consumes human remains, Diabaté finds the practice logical and necessary, even if disturbing. Though he is aligned with Carol about not wanting to become Joined, he couldn't be further from her, making him an intriguing character. In the dark comedy, Diabaté is one of the fabulous comic reliefs. Played by Samba Schutte, he is the optimist of the bunch. Rather than fight the powers, Diabaté leans into them. He and Carol, though through different tactics, have very similar approaches to testing the hivemind's willingness to provide happiness. The lengths he goes, though, is luxury over violence. Schutte is fantastic in the role, bringing a bit of levity in the necessary moments. If the world is going to end, might as well go out on a high! 3 Manousos Oviedo Though we may not have seen him do as much as other characters in Pluribus’s first season, Manousos Oviedo is one of the most integral players in the series. Discovered 33 hours into the Joining, Manousos was not in the original tally told to Carol. As one of the individuals who does not speak English, he and Carol do not get on well when they first interact over the phone. Though that phone call prompts him to become eager to learn just who Carol is, as they may be on the same page. It’s eventually revealed that he is hiding away in his storage facility and consistently refuses the Collective's services. He spends much of his time focusing on his theories via the radio and his timer, picking up on one mysterious patterned signal labeled “8.613.0?” Subscribe to the newsletter for deeper Pluribus insights Hungry for more Pluribus character analysis and theories? Subscribe to the newsletter to unlock deeper dives into motivations, casting insights, scene breakdowns and creator context for Pluribus and similar TV dramas - curated for thoughtful fans. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Setting out on a mission to abandon isolation and seek Carol, nothing will stop him — not even a Joined woman in his mother’s body or a terrifying tree of thorns. When the Others extract him after he passes out from his injuries, he angrily accuses them of theft over aid. And yes, he demands a full hospital bill! By the time he reaches Carol, their interaction goes precisely as expected. Their spat, though comical, displays that even with the same mission in mind and sense of isolation, they’re worlds apart. That is, until Carol discovers the Collective has access to her stem cells through her eggs, which they need to convert her. Our cliffhanger shows us that Carol and Manousos are on the same page to save the world, with an atomic bomb in a box. Though we only see one side of him, Manousos is a fiercely determined and independent individual. Stubborn, if you will. Yet, there’s something remarkably fascinating in him. His mission of solo solidarity is noble. Pus, Manousos is just like us with his Duolingo-like language learning. Would we be so inclined to do so to save the world? We can only hope we’re as powerful. Played by Carlos Manuel Vesga, it’s clear we’ve got an entire Season 2 to learn more about him, as he’ll likely be Carol’s ally. We can only hope the translator app continues to play a big part in their dynamic, because it’s comedy gold. 2 Zosia Oh, how we adore Pirate Lady. Zosia serves as Carol’s faithful chaperon. A Polish woman sent by the Others to monitor Carol, Zosia is selected, in part, because of her physical resemblance to Carol’s character, Raban. That is, the character's original intention when Carol first imagined her. As the happiness ambassador, Zosia must deal with Carol’s mood swings and ever-changing desires. Yet, she gets the job done. If that also means spilling the guts of the hive mind, revealing the Collective’s principles — shared living, rejection of ownership, noninterference with animals — she ends up giving Carol the ammunition she needs. But do you fault her? It’s part of her presence to maintain Carol’s happiness. Due to the nature of Zosia’s role, she is literally at the whim of Carol. If that means she gives her a seizure or nearly kills her with a grenade, Zosia takes it on the chin. Zosia is a calm, thoughtful individual, and that’s what makes her utterly terrifying as an antagonist. She’s not a villain, but in this story, she’s not there on a hero's journey. Played by Karolina Wydra, Zosia is one of the most dynamic and fascinating characters in the series, a perfect foil to Seehorn’s Carol. Their relationship is easily the most unique on television, especially in the science fiction genre. Whether you were familiar with Wydra’s work prior to Pluribus or not, this series has elevated her to the next level.
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