"It's up to interpretation": Pluribus star Rhea Seehorn reveals what Carol's rebellion against the Hive means

Rhea Seehorn as Carol Sturka in Pluribus, resisting the Hive (Image via Apple TV+)
Rhea Seehorn as Carol Sturka in Pluribus, resisting the Hive (Image via Apple TV+)

Vince Gilligan has detonated a metaphorical hand grenade of sorts with his latest hit: Pluribus. And in the middle of its Golden Globe and Critics' Choice nominations stands Rhea Seehorn (who plays the lead, Carol Sturka) and does something with a literal hand grenade that is best watched!

Seehorn laughs off real-world praise, but Carol Sturka has fans scrambling for meaning, and she is completely fine with that.

In her own words to Deadline,

“I think it’s up to interpretation. I’ve been having so much fun listening to what people think (...) they would be in any given scene or any given circumstance”

Well, that may not have quenched fans, but it sure looks like Seahorn is enjoying her new role on Pluribus and all the fans she has gained.


Does Carol's rebellion on Pluribus mean she is in denial?

Pluribus is Apple’s Trojan horse for a “happiness apocalypse,” and that's precisely why Carol Sturka is the Everywoman shoved into the center of it!

Seehorn says that she knew nothing about the show when Gilligan called, but said yes anyway. Because who says no to the guy behind Better Call Saul? The scripts arrived one at a time, so she discovered the plot the same way we are.

Carol’s rebellion isn’t out-and-out heroic either. It’s very human, which is why it hits. Instead of ascending into the Hive, she pulls away. Is she the only sane person in an infected society, even with around a dozen unaffected people? Or is she only clinging to human suffering because it’s familiar?

On Pluribus, we get no cheat sheets!

RELATED: Vince Gilligan reveals BTS moments of Episode 6

Seehorn says fans see themselves differently depending on the episode. Some are proudly Carol-coded; others would pick Hive life “for a bit.”


Carol is written to be chaotic on Pluribus

So, as we and the show have established by now, Carol isn’t a typical savior. She self-deprecates before anyone else can and recoils from compliments even when things were okay, and she had her lover (Helen) by her side.

Unfortunately, she mocks the very love she desperately wants. Actress Rhea Seehorn jokes that if Carol ever got a Golden Globe nomination, she’d pretend she didn’t care, just to beat people to the punch. On point, honestly.

Her vulnerability hits harder against the tonal swing, which goes from dark comedy to surreal montages. But through it all, Carol becomes our compass, even when she’s spiraling. She is just like us: thrown into a system that needs us to conform and even politely asks us not to question why.

And when it comes to the Season 1 finale, Seehorn promises:

“It’s bananas. (...) As far as the finale, I loved it. I was immediately, desperately needing Season 2.”

And the writers' room is already at work. Vince Gilligan says he can see the show running for at least 4 seasons, and it's not hard to see why.


Watch Pluribus on Apple TV+, and the season finale drops on December 26.

NEXT UP: Is John Cena in Pluribus? All about the wrestler’s role

Edited by Sohini Sengupta