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Indeed, Pluribus has taken a daring leap, and fans are buzzing with excitement!
Warning: Major spoilers for Episode 8 of Pluribus ahead.
In Episode 8, titled “Charm Offensive,” the narrative took an unexpected turn. After enduring months of solitude, Carol found herself spending significant time with Zosia, portrayed by Karolina Wydra. This interaction wasn’t merely casual; it was strategic, as Carol sought to uncover the secrets of The Others and The Joining. Throughout Season 1, Carol’s mission to save the world has been her driving force. Yet, in a raw and touching moment, we witnessed a kiss between Carol and Zosia that seemed to alter everything.
Since Zosia’s introduction in Episode 2 of Vince Gilligan’s Apple TV series as Carol’s chosen “chaperone,” fans have speculated about a potential romance between the two, despite the evident complications. Zosia’s selection was no accident; she bears a resemblance to Raban, the protagonist in Carol’s novels originally conceived as a female character. The intention was clear: to sway Carol into trusting someone she might find irresistibly appealing. Carol herself accused Zosia of trying to distract her, labeling it as manipulative. Yet, despite this confrontation, the kiss that followed was undeniably powerful.
After Carol reaffirmed her commitment to fixing the world, even at the cost of loneliness, Zosia made a bold move. She approached Carol, initiating a tender kiss. The moment lingered as they locked eyes, and soon, Carol responded with fervor, leading to a passionate exchange filled with intensity and a hint of vulnerability. This steamy scene, complete with moans and a sultry lip bite, delighted fans who have long championed “Stursia”—the couple name merging Carol’s last name, Sturka, with Zosia. For those supporters, this episode was a cause for celebration.
Despite the joy from fans who’ve wanted to see Carol and Zosia together for weeks, there’s no denying that a romantic/sexual relationship between the two is mind-blowingly complex and concerning for many reasons. The most obvious? Zosia isn’t currently an individual. She’s the whole damn hive! Aside from the 13 immune humans, Zosia is every man, woman, and child who was on Earth when The Joining took place. That means that Zosia is Carol’s relatives. Heck, Zosia is, as Gilligan himself once noted, Vladimir Putin for goodness sake!
Another surprising, potentially troublesome detail that fans picked up on is the fact that Zosia was the one who initiated the kiss. On one hand, the hive likely used intuition and emotional intelligence to sense how troubled Carol was and thought that the affectionate, meaningful gesture was what she needed in that moment. As always, there are questions of consent when it comes to The Others doing anything in Pluribus‘ world. And while there’s a chance that Zosia’s individuality was seeping out during the kiss scene, it’s also very likely that — just as Carol clocked before the lip-lock — the hive was utilizing physical and emotional intimacy as a manipulation tactic. And, hey! Who’s to say all possibilities aren’t true?!
Following the crucial kiss scene, Zosia and Carol slept together, Carol wrote new Wycaro pages and made Raban a woman, and she and Zosia made breakfast together while Zosia shared memories from her life as a human — using the “I” pronoun to please Carol.
With Manousos set to arrive in the Pluribus Season 1 finale, we’ll have to wait and see if Carol would rather save the world or continue her partnership with Zosia. But whichever direction the show goes in next, there’s no denying Episode 8 holds one of TV’s most jaw-dropping, thought-provoking, brilliantly orchestrated kisses.
New episodes of Pluribus premiere Fridays on Apple TV.
