Pluribus Episode 6 recap: introducing the mystery of HDP

Apple TV's Pluribus is back to its regular schedule after last week's Thanksgiving episode. Carol discovered a dark secret in the closing minutes of last week's episode, and it seems that the Vince Gilligan series separates itself from the other sci-fi shows by revealing that the "secret" might not have been that secret after all.

The sixth Pluribus episode begins where the previous one ended, with Carol in the warehouse. A startled Carol films what she saw and rushes back home. She initially plans to send what she filmed through the post, but decides against it and leaves Albuquerque to visit Las Vegas. The episode also introduces the mysterious process of human-derived protein (HDP).

"Carol shares a horrific discovery and learns new truths in the process. Mr. Diabaté lives life to the fullest in Sin City."

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Pluribus Episode 6 recap:

Here are some of the major events in Pluribus Episode 6, "HDP":

• Carol is horrified

The sixth episode opens where the previous episode ended: Carol in the warehouse. She discovers frozen, dismembered parts of dead humans, revealing them to be the food source for the hive-mind. This revelation confirmed the fan theory that many had ever since the fifth episode ended.

This revelation makes viewers believe that the hive-minded people are cannibals who were lying to the survivors until now. A disturbed Carol films the revelation and returns home to post it. But a suspicious Carol decides against it and leaves her home to meet a fellow survivor in person.

• Koumba Diabaté returns

Samba Schutte's Koumba Diabaté was last seen in the closing minutes of Pluribus Episode 2, "Pirate Lady", where he expressed a desire to travel to Sin City. Now, in the sixth episode, we see the Frenchman having a time of his life in the luxurious suite of the Westgate Hotel in Las Vegas. Unlike other survivors, Koumba has been friendly with Carol, and this episode expands on their bond.

• HDP

As Carol tries to play what she filmed to Koumba, the latter guesses correctly that she was going to play a clip of the hive-mind processing the human remains for food. He reveals that he already knew that and plays a news announcement about what she saw in that shutdown plant. The hive-minded people use the remains to extract in a process dubbed "HDP" (human-derived protein).

This scene is the highlight of the episode, as the man who reads the announcement is none other than John Cena, whose involvement was a secret.

• The reason behind immunity is revealed

The reason why Carol was against this hive mind was her time in the conversion therapy camp. She saw the hive-minded people as trying to stamp out her identity as a queer person. However, this episode reveals not only the reason why she and other survivors are immune but also one key factor. Firstly, she learns that the virus couldn't adapt to her and the other survivors' bodies.

Thus, the hive-minded people found a way to turn them: through a painful procedure involving the extraction of the survivors' stem cells and customizing the virus for them. But, here's the key thing: they can't turn the survivors without their explicit consent. After confirming these two details, she informs the hive-minded people through phone that she does not consent, retaining their individuality.

• Manousos is back

Meanwhile, the episode cuts to Paraguay, as Manousos Oviedo gets a VCR through the courier. He plays the VCR, and we see Carol talking about the possibility of undoing "the Joining" and the hive-minded people being unable to lie. Carol filmed this clip back in Pluribus episode 4, "Please, Carol", and she hasn't filmed what she learned in this episode.

Thus, Manousos starts his car and begins to drive somewhere, probably to meet Carol.

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Pluribus Episode 6 is currently streaming on Apple TV. Catch it soon.