Pluribus

The finale was definitely a roller coaster, and I loved the callbacks.

• I was terrified the attempt to join the Peruvian girl was going to fail, but glad it didn't go that direction
• Apparently the goat was just a goat. Man, I've seen Jurassic Park too many times.
• In episode 8, when Carol and Zosia were talking outside, there were two airborne planes visible in the background. Could have just been IRL air traffic during filming, but now it seems those planes were the hive and likely ferrying the custom viruses for the other immune.
• Loved the ongoing live translation gag with the phone
• Carol's reaction to and view of Manounous seems to be very similar to the other immune's attitude toward Carol (at least until the end)
• Carol refusing all of Manounous's op-sec was both hilarious and wise. Like, of course she wouldn't get in a van with a complete stranger wielding a machete.
• Now we know what Manounous was looking for when he was scanning and logging the radio frequencies
• Laxmi calling again just to bitch at Carol and Carol anticipating it.
• Goddamn Manounous is tenacious. The sheer force of will to get things done and learn what he needs to learn to accomplish his goals. I'm just kind of jealous.
• After Carol leaves with Zosia and the rest of the hive, I thought for sure it was going to be a dream sequence
• It was expected but still heartbreaking when Carol and Zosia split up because, despite their relationship, Zosia is still compelled by the hive's imperative. And Carol rightly feels violated and betrayed.
• The build up of hearing the helicopter at the end had all kinds of theories brewing:
• Carol coming back after splitting with Zosia (confirmed but not as expected)
• When it came into view hauling cargo, I thought Manounous had the hive bring him equipment to build a radio tower so he could broadcast his anti-hive signal
• When we see Zosia piloting it and Carol along side her, I have no idea what the cargo would be
• "Would you give me a nuclear bomb?" Apparently very much yes.

Lingering Questions

• Why only landlines? They explicitly stated cell phones would no longer work, but why? They seem to be keeping all the rest of the infrastructure up and running (water, sewer, power, landlines, etc).
• How does the hive knows who's calling? Yes, caller ID exists. But Carol calls from random phones and they always know it's her. I guess the drones saw her setting Manounous up in the neighbor's house and noted that phone number for him?
• Are the joined still operating refineries for all the jet-setting they do, or is there just a lot of aviation fuel stockpiled?

Can't wait to see where season 2 goes, and I hope this series isn't going to suffer from the 2 year gap between seasons that's becoming sadly common with streaming shows.