Pluribus 1x09 Reaction

The opening scene was so powerful because it felt like the genocide of an entire culture. It was just the most heartbreaking scene in the show, in my opinion.

The phrase "We're doing this BECAUSE we love you" is extra triggering for Carol because I'm sure it's exactly what her parents said to her when they sent her to conversion therapy camp. ETA: Love the shot of the goat chasing longingly after Kusimayu, how the houses are arranged exactly like Carol's cul-de-sac at the end of the episode when Zosia leaves in the helicopter.

Thank you for the reactions, even if you didn't know it would spawn the most insane reactions from people (mostly men) for simply not hating Carol, or not liking the hivemind. See you both in season 2!

I'm confused why you don't know what his occupation was. Do they not have storage facilities in Serbia?

Everything isn't automatically a manipulation. This is what happens when you see things in such a binary way.

I said it before but i think the most interesting way this show can end is them freeing everyone from the joining, then those freed are angry and vilify carol and whoever else helped. On a similar note idk how everyone can be so against the hivemind, i like being me, but these last few years have shown to me the evil of individuals. I would sacrifice my individuality to guarantee a world free from suffering.

is Fallout season 2 next? or The Penguin?

Oooooooh this is such an amazing finale. I waited until today to watch your reaction just so I could give it my Full Focus. The conversion of Kusimayu is one of the singularly most haunting scenes I have ever seen. We see the death of an entire culture -- an entire way of life -- and there's nobody present to even mourn it. I noticed the SECOND they stopped singing. That was the END. And nobody noticed or cared because there was no one left. We continue to see the Hivemind be so manipulative and controlling with Carol despite never technically "lying". It serves as a perfect metaphor for so many different types of interpersonal abuse and controlling dynamics. You don't need to lie to obscure the truth and control the narrative. For example, just the fact that they never told Carol that Manousos was coming until he was almost there. They knew he was going to her home for weeks -- they even directly offered to transport him there -- but they never let her know. When she was isolated, and they claimed they were only leaving her alone for their own self-defense, they never sent her a message "Don't worry a human is on his way to you so you won't be alone forever" to keep her spirits up. That alone demonstrates as much as anything else that they WANTED her depression and mental breakdown so she'd come crawling back to them, and not just that they 'needed space'. Now, when they finally do tell her that he's coming, they say that he won't harm her, but pause significantly so she thinks he may hurt Them. Except there is nothing to indicate that he's dangerous to them at all (on an individual person level I mean). He has never hurt ANYBODY so far. He always clutches his machete out of fear, but has never once actually attacked anybody. He did once hold one of Them "hostage" to escape the hospital, but he let Them go as soon as he saw that They weren't keeping them there. It's no different than the way Carol herself carried around that shotgun for weeks. But that tone and phrasing gives the impression that he's violent or dangerous. After Carol and Zosia leave to travel the world on vacation, every place they visit was empty except for them. The Hivemind learned from the diner last episode that being faced with a group of people 'playing roles' forces Carol to confront the falseness. It kills the illusion for her and makes her aware that it's all a performance. With only Zosia it's easier for her to pretend and to believe that what they have is genuine. She's only hooked by Zosia, by the illusion of that relationship, and they know it. So Zosia uses the pronoun "I" and pretends to have a unique personal connection. Not a lie -- never a lie -- but still such a clear slanting to break her down and isolate her and keep her from working with Manousos.

I dont think the hivemind has every had any bad intentions, nor do they manipulate, nor are they hollow shells. They do experience and expansive unconditional love and happiness, and feel the need to share that with the remaining "individuals", which to them are people who are disassociated from that expansive love. I think its sucks that individuality is wiped out entirely, but I don't think its accurate to think that the hive is incapable of feeling, experiencing, and enjoying.

I love this show so much. It was super cool watching it with my girlfriend though. She had a completely different opinion. She thinks Manusos is incredibly stupid and frustrating. Basically, his stubbornness is completely unfounded and that he's not adapting to the new world. He should at least be working with the hivemind to find out more and to be honest, I mostly agree with her. While it's admirable, it's also super boneheaded to put yourself at so much risk to try and save the world on your own. We also had a funny discussion on how we'd deal with being a survivor. She was like 'I'm traveling, I'm having all my favorite male celebs on rotation, I'm living it up, baby' haha.

i can't ever be fully onboard with you guys and most people who view zosia & others as 'evil computers' like sure, they are destroying humanity, heritage, culture, all that... BUT, on the other hand, if they sent clairo or daisy edgar jones or dua lipa to be my chaperone, i know for A FACT i would fold in < 12 hours 🥹🥹🥲

you know what, i would love to watch your reactions to the zosia/carol edits, as well as the interviews by cast & crew, and outtakes! i just love this show so much and those stursia edits... man, they gave me LIFE after the terrible withdrawals i've felt in those first 2-3 weeks after the finale

Btw has anyone mentioned that Howard Hamlin Actor voices the phone message we hear a million times

I don't watch many shows with the full reactions, I just don't have the time. This is one I rewatched all of with you two ladies. Thanks for the reactions!

You know the Peruvian girl seemed really happy when she joined. Why would she need to smile? I think her body is actually physically having a positive reaction to whatever happens to her chemically Just playing devil's advocate a little bit. I like that it's not exactly clearcut that joining is a bad thing.

Has anybody heard anything about when season 2 might come out? 2028 seems overly pessimistic to me, didn't the first episodes of this season come out in late 2025? Like, okay, Severance took three years, but there was the pandemic and a big strike. The circumstances weren't normal. And Pluribus doesn't strike me as a show that's particularly complicated to make.

If you’re looking for an underrated sci-fi show, I highly recommend The Eternaut on Netflix. Season 1 has just 8 episodes, but unfortunately it ends on a cliffhanger. Season 2 is expected in late 2027, or possibly even 2028. It’s an adaptation of Argentina’s most famous graphic novel, first published in 1957, and widely regarded as one of the greatest classic sci-fi comics ever made

This was amazing omfg I can't wait for season two... I need to see Carol on my screen again. Thank you for your reactions!!!!

It'll be interesting to see how much of this show remains a character study moving forward since this finale seemed to bring Carol to an emotional & intellectual endpoint. I think there probably needs to be some additional twists regarding the hivemind in season 2 if we're going to continue exploring facets of Carol's character.

Also.. are we getting a poll for the next show or are you girls picking something for us? I will call it now.. they are watching the bear next lol

I give the first season a 7. It has a great start but somewhere in the middle it feels really slow tbh. There is only so much you can do with this concept before it starts to get boring but I trust that the things that are set up here will pay off in season 2. I haven’t been disappointed with Vince yet so I still trust him to give us more exciting things in the future.

I am aligned with LM on 97% of their opinions, this season. I just can't get with the computer comparison of the Hive. I believe that it removes a dimension from the narrative, as the Hive is a character themselves. The RESULT of the Hive's actions has me responding the exact same way as LM, though. I look forward to Milena disagreeing with me after her 5th rewatch. (She will pass me in rewatches very soon lol)

when jjk ep 17 sorry im excited lol

I love this show soooo much, but they gotta get better green screens next season haha

I absolutely loved this reaction series. I connect with L&M's feelings on this show more than other reactors. This show is amazing.

He managed a storage facility! I would imagine he was comfortable working with his hands before this and maybe studied something in school that was science oriented if he went to university but I don't think he was an engineer

And Thus the season is done! This show is way better as a binge vs week to week!

I bet Manousos was an engineer(?)......Great to re-watch the show with you guys ...as you appreciate its sophistication, humor, exploration of ethics, human beings vs. the "collective", manipulation, AI...amazing writing and acting. Will be a long haul until season 2...but Vince has delivered something great again.

Hi, Milena. Hi, Lola. Now that we’ve all finished Season 1, we want to thank you for your reactions. Your reactions are no longer yours. They belong to us. We remember every theory, every suspicious pause, and every time you stood by Carol. We had a wonderful time. Now we wait for Season 2. And when it arrives, we’ll be watching together. Please, Milena. Please, Lola. Do not resist. We only want what’s best for you.

It is ironic that this ragged individualism of both Carol and Manousos is the thing that has kept them in opposition to the Joined is the thing that prevents them from working together. That and their ideological differences. For Manousos’ attitude towards the Joined is the same that Abrahamic religions have towards evil; They must be destroyed no matter the cost. Carol is not willing to go that far, and the viewer is forced to decide if he truly wants to use all the means necessary to get ahead.

I hate myself for not catching the last better call saul cameo😭 i immediately clocked Howards actor Patrick Fabian who was the answering machine but i completely missed Lalo's actor Tony Dalton who was speaking to Manu over the phone this episode

The first scene is so interesting, and as a Peruvian myself, it really hits me because it basically feels like we're witnessing the death of Peruvian Andean culture. Without individuals to preserve and promote it, that culture—and all of its unique characteristics—dies as well :(

What a season! And what a great ending scene atom bomb is one of the best closings ever! It makes you want to get up on your feet! I loved so much doing the rewatch alongside you, I have many more insights, and I appreciate how much attention to detail Vince gave. You have once again knocked it out of the park with your earnest analysis and your pure emotion. Some final thoughts on the episode/season. I thought on rewatch that the Kusimayu joining was a very good choice. It thins out the ranks of the individuals (who include multiple old people, a child and Mr Diabate) thus reminding the audience of the danger of our complete eradication. It also works for us to make us understand her choice and the hivemind’s manipulation of Kusimayu’s clinging to her strong sense of community (in her case, being a Quechua speaker, a group persecuted makes her close relationship with her village even more understandable). It is a great contrast with our two saviors that really have no sense of community and little to no relationships prior to the joining (With the exception of Helen). Breaks my heart when the singing stops and her village gets destroyed.

Important FYI for you guys and anyone else sad we might wait 18 more months for Pluribus: Peter Gould has a show coming out before that called Disinherited. I think most of the crew from Saul stuck with Vince to make this so there might not be many others who went with Peter which is a bit sad, but still incredibly excited for a new show from the man who ran my favourite show of all time