Pluribus started off quite strong, it was an interesting concept that felt like it was mixing the world of slower narrative and filmmaking to explore the chaos of a single character. As the season progressed it continued to expand on the remaining world and how it was functioning, as the entity that had taken over mankind was operating, and Carol's attempts at finding answers that could potentially stop them. Much to the detest of others that had no interest in doing so. Carol being portrayed as the worst person to interact with, for anyone, is an interesting decision for the show and it works well. Having her be fundamentally broken and never really sure of what she wants, always rejecting others or making demands to appease her own interests. Naturally, though, with a story like this, it needs to move forward and find its broader narrative that jumps from the initial concept and actually moves.
This is where Pluribus started to lose me a bit, where it felt as if the show was being very intentionally slowly crafted but with a very specific intention in mind: finding someone for Carol. And that someone was the Zosia she grows an attraction to. There's a lot of context missing still regarding Carol's previous relationship with Helen, who died at the start of the outbreak. I think as the show progresses it almost paints a picture of Helen that was otherwise not entirely explained. Where Helen was often looking like the good one of the relationship and Carol was the problem, always pessimistic or just rude. Though I do have the question of whether the opposite was in fact the truth. Whether Carol became the miserable person she is as a result of Helen, put into a relationship with someone she relied too much on, told what to do and when and how. Turning her into someone bitter.
The show doesn't yet explore their past that much. We've seen little glimpses of it that took place earlier on in the show. But nothing that strengthen the idea of Carol that we have. Especially as she developed towards the end of the season and made some questionable moves. Carol is lonely, it's clear that she isn't good by herself. Perhaps that's a result of that relationship she had with Helen, where Helen made all the moves for her and Carol sort of just chugged along with it all. Now, finally free and alone, uncertain of which direction to take in a world of total freedom. Carol finds her feelings for Zosia somewhow, and even displays these acts of manipulation in attempt to turn Zosia into an individual, someone else that could fill the void for her. Zosia naturally being part of the entity struggles with the concept, wanting to help her but also not quite understanding the ability to be an individual and refer to herself as such.
I do like the concept of Carol falling into some old tricks, thinking she can delude herself into a life of peace. I think it's interesting to see this side of her character where perhaps she can be more kind and empathetic. And on the other hand there is the virus which has its intent on turning her into one of them somehow down the line. With its intent also being to ensure Carol's general well-being and happiness. Of course, willing to provide that by almost any means necessary. This is something we've seen with the other survivors which have exploited their kindness somehow, knowing what the agenda is anyway. I liked that we saw this moment of weakness to which she realises what she's doing and findings her footing again, remembering that the virus doesn't love her, it wants to make her join them, and it can use romance as a method of achieving that.
From the filmmaking side and pacing, I do think it's being done quite well. There is always something happening that adds to the story, and the slower pace also matches the world of Carol and the survivors where not much is really going on around them beyond their lives. It's a show that does rely a lot on still perspectives and shifting focus around to provide depth, emphasising certain objects within the frame that Carol has to interact with that provides more context into the scene and her intentions. I did enjoy the season and I have a ton of questions going into the second one, but I can't help but think the show did get a bit too much glorification as a result of us all being just so starved for good television and unique stories at the moment.
