Pluribus episode 3's ending raises a big question about The Joining, but I don't want the answer to be as obvious as it seems

A close up of an unimpressed Carol in Pluribus episode 3

Pluribus throws a narrative grenade at viewers in the final scene of its third episode (Image credit: Apple TV/Sony Pictures Television)

Pluribus episode 3 has been released on Apple TV – and its ending raising a big question about The Joining and Carol's attempts to undo it.

Titled 'Grenade', the sci-fi drama's latest entry is pretty explosive in more ways than one. However, it's the episode's final scene that reveals something significant about The Others, aka the humans who succumbed to the mysterious viral-like entity in Pluribus' two-episode premiere. And, crucially, how Carol might be able to stop it.

Carol leaning out from the back row of a plane in Pluribus episode 3 — Beware, spoilers ahead! (Image credit: Apple TV/Sony Pictures Television)

The final scene of the episode sees Carol sitting in a hospital waiting room as she waits for news on Zosia. The latter is in surgery after she's injured by shrapnel from Carol accidentally priming a grenade – one 'gifted' to her by Zosia earlier in the 'Grenade' episode – that explodes seconds later.

Thankfully, Zosia will be alright after an unnamed DHL delivery driver successfully performs surgery on her. Remember, The Others are linked together by a 'psychic glue', so they collectively share the knowledge and expertise of every member. You can read more about all of that in my Pluribus' The Joining explained article.

Anyway, after said delivery driver informs Carol that Zosia will survive, the conversation quickly moves onto Carol asking why The Others would give her a hand grenade. After all, she was being sarcastic when she asked for it earlier in the Apple TV Original's latest chapter. However, while The Others were aware she might be joking about receiving one, they weren't 100% sure Carol was being sardonic, hence why Zosia gave one to her.

As the conversation progresses, Carol starts asking escalatory questions to see what The Others would be willing to give her if she asked for it. Items on her shopping list include an RPG launcher, tank, and nuclear weapon. It's not until she asks for the latter that her conversational partner doesn't immediately say "yes"; the DHL employee instead hesitating before asking "...why would you want one?".

A screenshot of a DHL delivery driver looking up and to his right while sitting down in Pluribus episode 3 — "...Would you...like an atom bomb?" (Image credit: Apple TV/Sony Pictures Television)

The long and short of the chat that follows is, ultimately, The Others would grant Carol's request and give her an atom bomb. Sure, they would weigh up the positives and negatives of doing so, and they wouldn't feel good about handing over a world-ending weapon to Carol. But, in the end, they wouldn't be able to utter one of the simplest words in any language: "no." As the DHL driver says "we'd move Heaven and Earth to make you happy, Carol".

This could have huge implications for the Apple TV series' plot moving forward. If The Others can't say no to The Old Schoolers – FYI, that's the term used by creator Vince Gilligan to describe the 13 humans who are immune to the virus – what's to stop Carol from asking them to find a way to reverse its effects? It's not within The Other's viral-based programming to turn down her requests so, if Carol realizes she has the power to force them to find a way to dissemble The Joining, they'd have to grant her request.

That said, I'd be furious if that was the answer to addressing the biggest mystery at the heart of one of the best Apple TV shows. Not only would it be an easy narrative cop-out, but it's also way too early for The Joining to be undone.

Considering we're just three episodes into Pluribus' two-season run – Gilligan believes it could last up to four seasons, but Apple only ordered two to begin with – there's simply no way that this is how Carol will overturn The Joining's effect on humanity. Given the numerous twists and turns in Gilligan's other critically-acclaimed shows in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, I'm confident it'll take more than Carol asking The Others to find a cure to permanently reverse The Joining.

I've placed my full faith in that being the case, Mister Gilligan, now don't let me down.

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As TechRadar's senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You'll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.

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