Rhea Seehorn has responded to a recurring criticism about her character in Pluribus ahead of the second season premiere. The audience points out that Carol is a difficult protagonist to empathize with. The actress argues that the unlikable label is frequently applied to female characters, limiting their depth. Carol navigates grief, the loss of her career, and an apocalypse, so her attitude is a logical response.
The NPC Behavior Engine: when kindness is a narrative 'bug' 🤖
Vince Gilligan, the series creator, explains that the contrast between Carol and the infected is a key dramatic choice. The infected display a programmed and artificial kindness, similar to an NPC with predetermined dialogues. Carol, on the other hand, operates with a code of raw and unfiltered emotional responses. This character design creates narrative friction by pitting authentic and painful humanity against a simulation of empty cordiality.
We demand female protagonists in the apocalypse: make them nicer to the zombies! 😅
The audience's complaint is understandable. In a collapsed world where monsters smile at you unsettlingly, what you need is a heroine with a always radiant attitude. One who offers you tea and words of encouragement while fleeing from hordes of infected. Carol, with her grief and frankness, clearly didn't read the empathetic apocalyptic protagonist manual. She prefers to survive rather than smile. A character flaw, no doubt.