Episode 4 of pluribus: “Please, Carol” Takes a Dark Turn

In the latest episode, things escalated even further, bringing tears, medical settings, and some intense moments. It was quite the ride.

Note: Spoilers for episode 4 ahead.

After the previous episode, titled “Grenade,” Carol (Rhea Seehorn) confronts her situation. She realizes she can’t keep pretending everything is perfect, so she goes to visit Zosia (Karolina Wydra) in the hospital, hoping to learn if there’s any way to undo what they’ve done together. Zosia tells her, “We want to help, but those kinds of questions… well, we can’t really answer.” Carol feels stuck and insists, “If it’s a no, just tell me.” She’s clearly frustrated and looking for a way out.

As she uncovers that Zosia is holding back crucial information, Carol starts scheming for answers. She sneaks into the hospital’s pharmacy, takes a couple of bottles of sodium thiopental, and tests a risky theory…

What Exactly is Sodium Thiopental?

Sodium thiopental, also known as pentotal, is an injectable barbiturate that works as an intravenous anesthetic. It impacts the brain by inhibiting certain neural activities.

After smuggling two bottles from the hospital, Carol creates a pretense of wanting to inject heroin and heads home. She anesthetizes herself and records her experience on video. Why? She wants to see the effects of the drug for herself. The footage reveals a side of Carol she possibly didn’t expect—she talks to herself for ages, weeps over loss, critiques Zosia harshly, and eventually drifts off to sleep.

Watching the tape, she becomes convinced that if sodium thiopental allowed her to be so candid, she could use it on Zosia to pry out the truths she needs.

Returning to the hospital, Carol adds the anesthetic to Zosia’s IV and prompts a conversation. As the drug begins to affect Zosia, Carol presses her, asking, “How do I reverse the bond? Just tell me how to go back to before. It’s heartbreaking you can’t give me that!”

However, rather than extracting the information she desperately wants, Carol’s risky actions only lead her into deeper chaos—leaving her with new complications and even more questions to unravel in the next episode.

If you’re keen for more insights into the conclusion of Episode 4, you might want to check out an interview with Karolina Wydra, where she reflects on the emotional weight of the final scene and hints at what lies ahead for pluribus.

The next episode is set to premiere on Friday on Apple TV.