‘Pluribus’ Episode 6 ending explained: Manousos embarks on a “dangerous trek” in “The Gap”
When the end credits roll on Pluribus Episode 6, fans will not only be buzzing with excitement for Episode 7, but likely wrestling with a few lingering questions…
Pluribus Episode 6 spoilers ahead.
Last week, Vince Gilligan’s hit Apple TV series wrapped with Carol (Rhea Seehorn) making a gasp-worthy discovery while investigating the mysterious milk that fuels the Others. Episode 6, “HDP,” picked up immediately after she lifted that tarp in terror, and revealed that she did, indeed, find frozen human bodies. *GASP!*
In wake of the troubling discovery, she headed to Vegas to break the news to Mr. Diabaté and learned (from guest star John Cena!) that the Others have been consuming Human Derived Protein (HDP) to survive a caloric crisis. Before Carol headed back to New Mexico, she learned another shocking, game-changing truth with help from Koumba. And before the episode ended, Pluribus turned its attention back to Manousos (Carlos-Manuel Vesga), who made some major moves of his own.
In the final minutes of Pluribus Episode 6, fans learned more about Manuosos, met a curious new character, and witnessed another thrilling cliffhanger. So who is the woman with Manuosos? Where Manousos is headed next? And what awaits in Episode 7, “The Gap”? We’ve got answers
Pluribus Episode 6 Recap: The Others Can’t Change Carol And Co — At Least For Now…
Before we dive into Pluribus Episode 6’s final act, let’s unpack the big reveal that Carol got in Vegas. Per Mr. Diabaté, the Others can’t change Old-Schoolers like Carol or the 11 others who were immune to the virus without their permission. HUGE IF TRUE! “The only way to make the virus work on us is to tailor it to our individual stem cells, but in order to obtain those stem cells, they must collect them from our bodies,” Mr. Diabaté told Carol on her way out of town. “It involves taking a large needle into hip bone…painful and very invasive. Something they cant do without our permission.”
After hearing the game-changing claim, Carol dialed 0, asked for confirmation, and stressed that she did not give consent to have stem cells collected from her body. The Others assured her that he wishes would be respected and her stem cells wouldn’t be collected. She left feeling substantially less burdened by her new reality, but is she completely out of the woods? While it may be a long shot, the flashback at the top of Episode 3 showed Carol chatting with Helen about having frozen her eggs. So could the Others potentially use them to get what they need to tailor the virus to her stem cells? Perhaps that’s still protected under Carol not giving consent, but we’ll have to wait and see.
Pluribus Episode 6 Ending Explained: What Is Manousos Doing With The Radio?
When we first check in with Manousos in Episode 6, he’s scanning radio frequencies and recording findings in his notebooks as we saw earlier in the series. While we’re not sure exactly what he’s doing, it’s easy to assume he’s searching for signs of life, answers to his many questions about this new world, and some key to potentially understanding the hive mind and the Others’ shared communication.
While nearly every radio signal that Manousos scans emits static, and thus, is of no use to him, he returns to 8.613.0 and hears a mysterious pulsing. He writes two question marks in his notebook beside the numbers, confirming that he doesn’t yet understand the potential lead. But perhaps the radio frequency holds the key to reversing the Joining…
Where Is Manuosos Going? Episode 7, “The Gap,” Has Fans Thinking He’ll Cross The Darién Gap
When Manousos’ assigned chaperone delivers him another plate of food in Episode 6, he goes outside to push it to the ground again and finds a package from Carol Sturka. He pops the VHS tape into his VCR and watches the first video Carol made for her fellow survivors. He learns there are 12 people like him, that the Others can’t lie, and that it’s seemingly safe to leave his office and navigate the world outside. So he heads home for the first time since the Joining began, nine days earlier, and starts packing a bag.
He gathers food from his cabinets, several items of clothing, a portable radio, several paper maps (of Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, New Mexico, Guatamala, and more), some cash, gasoline for his drive, and what appears to be a large knife or machete. But he also packs something yellow with a photo of a man and woman the following words on the cover: “¡Aprende mientras conduces! Horizontes en Inglés. Sueños con Fluidez. Produced by Josué” Carbono.”
For those wondering what Manousos packed, the words translate to “Learn while you drive! Horizons in English. Dreams with Fluency.” In other words, they’re resources to help Manousos learn English while driving. So where is he going while he brushes up on his English? The description for Pluribus Episode 7, “The Gap” is as follows: “Manousos begins a dangerous trek to meet Carol. Returning home from Las Vegas, Carol gets creative with her rebellion.” Based on the episode title and because we know that Pluribus filmed in Northern Spain, the Canary Islands, and specific outdoor locations including Bosque de los Tilos and Cubo de La Galga, fans think Episode 7 might find Manousous trying to cross The Darién Gap, a dangerous jungle in Panama that has no roads.
Who Is The Woman With Manousos? Is That Really Manousos’ Mother?
Before Manousos sets out on his journey, the chaperone we’ve seen visiting his office, bringing him food, and waving to him from the street appears outside his home. “We’re happy to see you. You must be hungry and confused. Can we answer any questions? Tell us, what we can do for you son?” she says.
In response, Manousos says, “Don’t call me son. You’re not my mother. My mother’s a bitch!” So is that woman truly Manousos’ mom?! We’re inclined to believe yes! Just as the Others sent Zosia (who resembled Raban, the lead character of her book) to Carol because it was “someone they thought she might like,” the Others likely sent Manousos the closest connection to him after the Joining. However, it sounds like he and his mom may not have had the best relationship, which likely made her newfound attitude even more concerning to him. (Sidenote: We also clocked what may be a photo of young Manousos and his dad?! in his apartment, which we’re mentally bookmarking for later. Fingers crossed we get more of his backstory.)
New episodes of Pluribus premiere Fridays on Apple TV.
