Rhea Seehorn Unpacks Carol’s Intimate Pluribus Scene
Rhea Seehorn delves into the emotional depth of Carol’s pivotal moment in Pluribus, revealing how loneliness and the search for connection shape her character’s choices.
Fans of Pluribus have been waiting for the moment when Carol and Zosia finally cross that line, and the latest episode delivered just that. Karolina Wydra, who plays Zosia, reckons the Stursia Nation will be chuffed, as the much-anticipated scene between her character and Carol (played by Rhea Seehorn) finally played out. The online buzz around their pairing—#Stursia, a blend of Carol’s surname Sturka and Zosia—has been building for ages, so you’d expect the cast to be just as excited about this on-screen spark.
But for Seehorn, Carol’s experience in that scene is far from straightforward. She describes it as one of the trickiest moments to film, given Carol’s long stretch of isolation. The loneliness isn’t just about being alone; it’s an existential weight that’s been wearing her down. Seehorn puts it plainly:
‘That’s probably one of the most complex moments that we filmed, because Carol has been very broken by this long period of isolation, which was not only lonely by itself – we see the mental toll it takes on her – but also it’s an existential crisis of loneliness, because it could go on forever,’
she says.
Beyond Chemistry: The Real Stakes
Seehorn goes on to explain that while there’s definitely a spark between Carol and Zosia, the situation is much bigger than just physical attraction.
‘She’s just going to die alone in her house one day if she doesn’t choose to reach out. Yes, there’s chemistry. I mean, these people knew what they were doing when they sent her what she thought of as a physical ideal specimen of a woman. But she’s been so broken down [and] in need of anybody, any kind of companionship, that I think [this] is much larger than any sexual tension. [Carol is] also in a space where she almost is trying to will herself into believing the delusion that maybe I can just have a relationship with this person and give in. Because what is the alternative?’
The show doesn’t hand out easy answers. Is Carol genuinely in love, desperate for company, or perhaps using Zosia as a stand-in for her late wife Helen, whose memories are still part of the hivemind? Even Carol isn’t sure, especially after The Others recreate her favourite old diner, the place where she first dipped her toes into writing.
Manipulation or Kindness?
Seehorn points out the blurred lines in Carol’s world:
‘It is both manipulative and kind at the same time, and Carol is trying to drill down on which one it is. In reality, the harder question is: what if it’s both, and how do we ever disentangle those two things in real life?’
The show keeps punters guessing, never letting things get too neat or tidy.
Wydra, for her part, sees the moment as a genuine breakthrough for Carol.
‘I think that moment is such a beautiful moment between them and for Carol. The moment of such isolation and the journey that she goes on – that finally she has this moment of feeling intimacy and coming together with someone in such an intimate way and connecting with someone.’
It’s a rare bit of warmth in a story that’s often pretty bleak.
What Comes Next?
With the series finale just around the corner, the big question is whether this new connection will last, or if Carol’s about to walk away from everyone—literally billions of people—at once. Pluribus is streaming now, and with the stakes this high, it’s anyone’s guess where things will land.
So, what’s your pick for the best show of 2025 so far?