Pluribus: Why Helen Died May Actually Be Because of Carol

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Okay, so after watching the Pluribus pilot, a pretty shocking idea has been brewing in my mind: could Carol be responsible for Helen’s death? The premiere had a lot on its plate – introducing us to a brand new world, a compelling cast of characters, and, of course, the core concept of this alien virus that essentially makes everyone blissfully happy. It was a big ask, but the episode definitely laid some interesting groundwork, and this Carol theory… well, it’s definitely got me thinking.

A key goal of this episode was to make viewers sympathize with Carol, the grumpy fantasy author played by Rhea Seehorn. She becomes the main character through which the show tells its mysterious, *X-Filesstyle story, as she’s one of the few people unaffected by the virus that makes everyone happy. However, her storyline begins with a difficult moment: the show’s creators quickly kill off her partner, Helen, right when their relationship is starting to develop.

A main sign of the Pluribus virus is a temporary, full-body shutdown – almost like a quick restart. It affects the immune system and causes this brief loss of function, regardless of what the infected person is doing or where they are located.

The sci-fi series begins with widespread disaster: planes fall from the sky, cities are engulfed in flames, and for a brief time, it seems like humanity is wiped out. The chaos is especially personal for Carol, who witnesses Helen become infected and fatally collapse while outside a building in Albuquerque. This tragic fall ultimately leads to Helen’s death.

The show doesn’t directly reveal how Helen died. Was it the virus, the fall, or – according to a recent fan theory – was Carol somehow responsible?

New episodes of Pluribus are released every Friday on Apple TV (with a special break for Thanksgiving). This series, created by Vince Gilligan of Breaking Bad, stars Rhea Seehorn as Carol, a woman in New Mexico who discovers a world changed by a virus that makes people feel only happiness.

How Carol May Have Accidentally Killed Helen in Pluribus

In the first episode of Pluribus, Helen collapses and immediately loses consciousness when aliens infect her. Unlike other victims who quickly recover after a brief period of disorientation, Helen doesn’t regain consciousness.

As a big fan, I remember people theorizing that what happened wasn’t directly caused by the virus at all, but by something Carol did. And the way Helen went – it was shocking. She just completely collapsed, falling forward right onto the concrete. It was a really impactful scene.

People initially believed the character died from injuries sustained in the fall, but that might not actually be what happened.

Many fans of Pluribus believe Helen’s fall wasn’t immediately fatal. They think she likely suffered a serious head injury instead.

Based on the way Helen was shaking after being struck by the Pluribus virus – the same virus that affected everyone else (you can learn more about Pluribus here) – it seemed she was still alive when she fell.

Ultimately, Carol’s response to Helen becoming infected might be what causes her own downfall. Carol wasn’t close to Helen when the virus struck; she was standing across the street, having just witnessed someone else in a pickup truck fall ill and crash.

When Helen fell, Carol immediately ran to her side, terrified. Not knowing if Helen was seriously hurt, Carol decided the best thing to do was drive her to the hospital – a decision that would quickly prove to be a mistake.

It’s well-known that people with head injuries shouldn’t be moved, particularly not as roughly as Carol is moving Helen.

Unable to lift Helen easily, she carefully placed her on a sandwich board and then gently slid the board, with Helen on it, into the back of a red truck she was assisting. Sadly, this is where Helen will probably die.

Medical experts agree that someone with a head injury like Helen’s shouldn’t be moved unless absolutely necessary. This is because injuries to the head can affect the spine, and moving the person could worsen the spinal injury. This could potentially damage nerves, leading to permanent issues like paralysis, or, as is a risk in Helen’s situation, even be fatal.

A head injury like Helen’s can cause a skull fracture and internal bleeding. Moving her too soon could have worsened the bleeding in her brain, which could be life-threatening without immediate medical attention.

If Carol had waited just a little longer, Helen probably would have woken up, though she would have become part of the virus’s collective consciousness. Instead, Helen died because Carol panicked and couldn’t reach emergency services.

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2025-11-25 19:06