When Carol Mourns Everyone

Pluribus Reaction and Theories (S1:E7 “The Gap”)

Carol, this article has spoilers up to Episode 7. Please don’t read it yet if you haven’t watched Season 1, Episode 7 (The Gap). Our feeling for you have not changed, Carol, but after everything that’s happened, we just need a little space.

Carol visits an empty museum in Episode 7 (Photo by Dannie Jing on Unsplash)

At the close of Pluribus episode 7, titled The Gap, I initially thought Carol broke. We have just followed her for 45 days as she navigates her world in complete isolation. In a grand gesture of desperation leading up to the last scene, she writes an extravagant message begging for the hive’s return.

Carol has had a complete breakdown and the hive has won. At least that’s what a viewer might think initially.

After some careful thought, I see the episode differently.

1. Carol’s mourning changes to not just mourning Helen, but mourning all individuals.
2. Carol starts to accept her loss and the reality of an Earth without Individuals
3. Carol celebrates Helen and all individuals who have been lost to the hive by visiting social places, like restaurants, tourist traps, and museums.
4. Finally, we see a glimmer of hope and new type of strategy as she focuses on a Georgia O’Keeffe painting. We wonder if she has actually surrendered or is this a new strategy?

Mourning for Helen; Mourning for Every Person

Throughout the first episodes of the season, Carol has been cycling through the stages of grief, not just for Helen’s loss, but the loss of all individuals on earth.

As Carol moves through the stages of grief, she starts to accept the reality that she is alone.

While in previous episodes, we see Carol honoring and mourning her beloved Helen, this episode is different. Carol is not mourning the loss of one person anymore. She is mourning (and then accepting) the loss of all individuals.

As she moves through the stages of grief, she starts to accept the reality that she is alone. We’ve seen her go through shock, denial, negotiation, and sadness. Now we see acceptance.

Her acceptance doesn’t mean she’s done fighting the hive. It just means her anger is no longer in control, clouding her judgment.

We see her mourn every individual and finally start to feel acceptance. She starts to become more comfortable with the uncomfortable feeling of being alone.

Carol’s Pilgrimage to Honor Every Person

Carol mocks signs that say things like “relax” but now takes the time to mourn the individuals who might have enjoyed them. (Photo by Saptarshi Ghosh on Unsplash)

Carol starts her pilgrimage at the golf course. The absence of her chaperone is felt here, as well as all locations. Carol is truly alone and she is actively working through the idea of living in isolation.

Carol’s then visits the Giggling Springs Spa, a tourist trap which looks quite pleasant. Our gaze rests on the “Relax” sign, which is a reference of her mocking similar signs with Helen. As someone who previously expressed distaste at tourist attractions, Carol appears to appreciate soaking in the spa.

We then see Carol at the Georgia O’Keeffe museum. It should be a social activity, so her isolation is palpable, even in a normally quiet space. As she walks through the museum, she appreciates the art created by one individual. The entire museum honors one individual and the art she created.

The absence of her chaperone is felt here…. Carol is truly alone and she actively working through the idea of living in isolation.

After the museum, Carol visits an upscale restaurant. The food honors her memory of Helen, but visiting the restaurant is something more. Carol feels the loss of Helen, but also every individual who would have been the staff and other guests. Viewers also see the absence of a musician to play the piano.

Breaking of the Glass

Carol breaks glass, symbolizing breaking away from the old life and learning to accept her new reality (Photo by Egor Vikhrev on Unsplash)

The breaking of the glass at a wedding celebration in some cultures signifies the breaking away from an old life and starting a new one.

After her pilgrimage honoring all individuals, Carol takes her golf supplies, including a golf cart, and starts chucking golf balls at a building. The windows she smashes signifies a goodbye to the past. It illustrates her acceptance that she must continue on an earth without Helen and without individuals.

The breaking of the glass signifies the breaking away from an old life and starting a new one. Breaking the windows illustrates her acceptance that she must continue on an earth without Helen and without individuals.

It is a symbol of her acceptance, not of the hive, but of loneliness. She accepts the loss of the individuals in the world in its present state.

Come Back

Carol makes a grand gesture to the hive. She paints an enormous sign that can be seen from space. It simply says “come back.”

She begs the hive to come back. After being in isolation for so long, she longs for companionship.

It looks like the hive got exactly what it wanted, a change of heart. But did it?

A Quiet Moment with the Bella Donna

After her pilgrimage, the destructive release of breaking glass windows, and the apparent surrender to the hive, Carol pauses in her living room. We see Carol having a quiet moment of reflection while looking at the Bella Donna.

The scene is understated. It’s just Carol and the Bella Donna painting.

As her quiet gaze lingers, we wonder what Carol is thinking.

Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings often emphasize the solitude and vastness of an individual’s own perspective. But this particular painting is special because it showcases the Bella Donna flower.

The Bella Donna flower is beautiful and alluring while also being poisonous. It looks like a fragile flower, but it attracts flies to it’s inner core.

In small amounts, Bella Donna was historically used by women to look more attractive because it dilated the pupils, imitating a look of love and vulnerability.

As Carol has a few moments alone before the hive returns, her eyes shift. There is hope that maybe she has a plan.

The Reunion

We end the episode with Zosia’s heartfelt return. Carol is broken and crying. She hugs Zosia and is shaking with happiness that the hive has returned. Carol has surrendered.

It’s true that Carol missed Zosia. It’s also true that Carol is struggling with loneliness and isolation, but the reunion is deceptive. It looks like Carol has broke and the hive has won, but we are left with a glimmer of hope.

Even if Carol doesn’t have a plan, perhaps she has a new strategy.