#205 - Pluribus 1.04 to 1.06 - "Please, Carol" - "Got Milk" - "HDP"

This week, the Geeks take a look at the middle three episodes of "Pluribus" season 1. This is where we see Carol playing amateur detective, trying to figure out a way of getting more truth out of the hive mind and finding out what their mysterious milk-like nutrition is actually made of. Note: At the time this episode is being released, the 2026 Emmy Awards were very recent. Rhea Seahorn won for Best Actress, and show creator Vince Gilligan won for Best Writing (both for the 1st episode, "We Is Us"). - How is the hive mind being manipulative? How much are they lying despite claiming that they can't lie? - When the hive mind praises Carol's writing, are they actually telling her their version of the truth, just sucking up, manipulating her, or all of the above? - In what ways is Carol's situation so different from the other 12 unaffected people, and how does that make her harder to manipulate? - What major issue does one Geek have with Manousos's introduction? - When the hive mind chants to Carol at the hospital, "Please, Carol," is that the hive *being* freaked out by her, the hive trying to freak Carol out, or a little of both? And, what exactly does, "Please, Carol" mean, since it's not obvious that it's a complete thought? - What is impressive about Carol's efforts to investigate the hive's motivations & secrets but both impressive & frustrating about her attempts to convey those things to the other unjoined? - In what ways does Carol continue to be low-tech? - Is there any greater symbolism involved in Carol having a handcuff stuck on her wrist for a few episodes? - Is there any significance to there being three types of "milk" that the hive members are constantly drinking? - What are the bad & good aspects of the big reveal...spoilers...that the hive members are eating Human Derived Protein (dead people)? - With John Cena being a former wrestler, what did Preston (a huge wrestling fan) think of Cena's interesting & unexpected cameo in episode 6? - How well is Carol's forced solitude portrayed? - What are the Geeks' differing views as to why Carol cried in the bathroom in Las Vegas and about who failed at something? - Is there anything more to be read into the moment that Diabate copies Carol when she makes a sandwich out of the four or five different items he makes her for breakfast? - Out of the 13 unaffected, Carol is one of only two people not satisfied with the new world situation and the only American. Is there any greater meaning behind the show's almost-sole hero being American, or is that just a natural result of the show being written by an American and produced in America? - How did the hive mess up in trying to appease Manousos? - And, what else are the Geeks watching on TV lately? Listen now for the answers to these and other life sustaining questions as we consume the middle three episodes of..."Pluribus." Please rate or review us wherever you listen to podcasts. You can leave comments on individual episodes via the Spotify & GoodPods apps. Our e-mail address is [email protected]. Royalty-free music used in this episode comes from Pixabay.com.