Pluribus episode 3 reveals more about the hive mind, and it seems like it itself is manipulated

With a new episode of Pluribus comes some new information about the hive mind that has connected all the people of the world together, and now they have become one entity. While they are trying to figure out how to make Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn), the miserable protagonist of the show, a part of them, Carol is trying to figure out how to make everything normal.

She isn't really a scientist, so figuring something out that came from space, was decoded by scientists, and was spread by humans, well, it sounds a bit difficult. However, she did figure out a little bit about the hive mind in the latest episode during a scene that plays close to the ending.

When she and Zosia (Karolina Wydra) were drinking and the latter tried to explain herself. She reveals that they are saving people; they needed saving. The hive mind implies that Carol is among such people and doesn't know it yet. However, after this conversation, it appears that the hive mind is itself manipulated.

What did Zosia say to Carol?

A still from Pluribus. (Image via Apple TV)

For the first time, Carol properly invited Zosia into her home, and they had drinks while having a chat. However, Carol cannot have a normal conversation when she knows she isn't really talking to an individual but one of the tiny pieces of the hive mind in Pluribus.

So, this conversation in Pluribus takes a wild turn when Zosia explains what one would do if someone were drowning in water. And she herself answers that by saying that one would save the drowning person.

To that, Carol gets offended, as she doesn't think that she is drowning or anything. However, it seems like she is working hard on her anger management skills, because this time, she managed not to give the remaining people of the world a seizure.

What does this mean for the story of Pluribus?

One thing is clear: there is someone who has planned everything carefully before sending that signal, which turned out to be the recipe for this 'happiness pandemic.' And this alien entity, whoever or whatever it is, has designed this hive mind to think like this for sure.

As of now, the situation seems impossible in Pluribus. Carol will likely have to adjust to these people connected to the hive mind. Though she doesn't want to be with them, especially with the knowledge that they want her to join them.

The good thing is, they haven't figured it out, and they themselves don't know how long it will take them. This is also a hope for Carol because, as one fan theory notes, there are no original thoughts to solve a new problem. And every problem that already exists, Carol's situation here certainly isn't one of them, as it became a problem after the 'Joining.'

So, maybe the hive mind will never figure it out, even if it thinks that it may take them some weeks or months.