Did Pluribus Episode 8 Just Reveal the True Origin of the Alien RNA?

Episode 8 of Apple TV's 'Pluribus' finally stops teasing and actually answers two big questions: where the Alien RNA came from, and what The Others are trying to do with all this borrowed humanity. The hour also hangs a lot of that on Carol and Zoisa getting... closer, which is its own complicated thing.

Carol and Zoisa hit reset

The episode, 'Charm Offensive,' picks up with Carol reaching out to Zoisa the simplest way possible: she writes 'Come Back.' And Zoisa does, apparently willing to look past Carol's earlier outburst. From there, they spend the day together, hopping from place to place while Carol keeps pushing for real answers.

How The Others talk (and why they do not drown in noise)

First up, communication. Carol asks how The Others speak to each other, and Zoisa says it is tied to electromagnetic activity in human bodies. It is involuntary, like breathing, and even they do not fully understand the mechanics. Later, during a massage, Carol digs into what it feels like for a collective consciousness to give and receive at the same time. Zoisa explains that they are aware of everything happening around the world, but they do not actually feel it, because feeling all of it would be unbearable.

The telescope, the star, and the mystery planet

That night, Zoisa sets up a telescope and points Carol to a specific star: Kepler-22. That, she says, is where 'it' came from — 'it' being the Alien RNA that kicked off this whole mess. Then she brings up a planet you cannot see through the scope: Kepler-22b. That is the name The Others use for it because they do not know what it is actually called. Zoisa sketches it in broad strokes: roughly twice Earth's radius, and possibly a water world.

'One enormous ocean.'

Zoisa does not claim to know what the people there are like — if 'people' is even the right word. But they are grateful for the RNA and intent on paying that gift forward.

So what is the plan?

The Others want to broadcast. The idea is to share the 'gift' — plus everything they have learned on Earth — with other beings out in space using a giant antenna. Read between the lines and you land on a pretty reasonable takeaway: some other species probably created the Alien RNA and sent it here. Why they did that is still a black box.

• Episode: 8 ('Charm Offensive')
• Carol writes 'Come Back'; Zoisa returns and spends the day with her
• The Others communicate via human-body electromagnetic activity; it happens unconsciously, like breathing
• They are globally aware but do not feel everything, because it would be unbearable
• Zoisa points to star Kepler-22 as the source of the Alien RNA
• She describes Kepler-22b — The Others' placeholder name — as a planet about twice Earth's radius, potentially one massive ocean
• They do not know what the inhabitants are like there
• The Others plan to 'pay it forward' by beaming the gift and their Earth knowledge into space via a giant antenna
• Implication: a different species sent the RNA; motive still unknown

There is only one episode left this season, so expect at least a couple of straight answers — or one last curveball — in the finale. 'Pluribus' wraps up on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, on Apple TV.