A new theory about Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus suggests that the show could be a sequel to the highly acclaimed The Twilight Zone. If the theory proves to be true, fans can expect the show to expand its scope beyond its zombie-like dystopian world.
Here are the details on what the theory says.
Pluribus’ Carol Sturka and Twilight Zone connection explained
Apple TV’s latest sci-fi drama, Pluribus, features Rhea Seehorn as Carol Sturka. She is one of the very few people on Earth who hasn’t been affected by the infectious virus that takes over the human brain. The twist that the show brings is that this virus is actually a peace-loving entity, unlike the traditional flesh-eating creatures viewers have seen before.
According to a recent theory, there may be an explanation for why Carol remains unaffected by the virus. The idea draws on the fact that she shares her last name with a character from Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone—William Sturka.
The theory points to the first season’s 14th episode, “Third From the Sun,” which airs on January 8, 1960. In that episode, William works in weapons research and fears the coming of a nuclear war. To protect his family, he abords a spacecraft and travels to a planet called “the third planet from the sun.” As it turned out, that planet was Earth, and the entire episode actually featured an alien species on their planet.
Many theorists speculate that Carol Sturka is William’s direct descendant, which makes her an alien. And since the virus appears to affect only humans, she could ultimately be safe from its effects. And with the parallelism of plotlines involving nuclear weapons, the theory becomes more convincing.
What makes it even more compelling is that Vince Gilligan, Pluribus’ writer and showrunner, has confirmed that the Twilight Zone character directly inspired Carol’s last name. While it hasn’t been confirmed yet, fans believe that the show could be a sequel to that episode.
However, one thing the theory fails to explain is how the other 12 people are also immune to the virus. Perhaps there is a possibility that they’re also survivors of the alien planet who are taking refuge on Earth. Or maybe it was just pure luck that they survived.
