Fans of *Pluribus*, it’s official: Just as the duneship Mercator navigates Wycaro’s slipsand, the relationship between Carol (Rhea Seehorn) and Zosia (Karolina Wydra) has embarked on its journey.

In episode 8, “Charm Offensive,” Carol shares an intense kiss with Zosia, essentially kissing the other 7 billion members of the *Pluribus* hive mind. This intricate moment is laden with yearning and complexities for Carol. “I think it’s incredibly intricate,” Seehorn shared with Mashable regarding Carol’s thoughts during the kiss. “There is a degree of self-deception. There are some coping strategies at play. She’s incredibly vulnerable.”

Director Melissa Bernstein and showrunner Vince Gilligan reminded Seehorn of how the Others’ exit from Albuquerque affected Carol. Throughout episodes 5 to 7, she remained nearly entirely isolated, with only wild coyotes and a brief conversation about cannibalism with Mr. Diabaté (Samba Schutte) for company. “She was genuinely affected by the loneliness she endured,” Seehorn stated.

Confronted with endless isolation, the Others’ desire to please Carol appears comforting. In “Charm Offensive,” Carol and Zosia engage in croquet, enjoy a couple’s massage, and hike together, watching a train. When Carol expresses her affection for train horns, Zosia taps into the hive mind to prompt the conductor to sound the horn. Temporarily disregarding the alien virus, this feels romantic, just like the Others recreating Carol’s favorite diner, enabling her to revisit her most cherished day as a writer.

Despite the Others’ attempts to woo her, Carol is aware they’re manipulating her strings, albeit out of concern. They selected Zosia as Carol’s “chaperone” due to her likeness to Wycaro’s ideal romantic hero Raban, making her more appealing. “Even during the diner scene, she’s conscious that this is manipulative, but it also represents a remarkable act of kindness,” Seehorn remarked.

Regarding the kiss scene, Seehorn mentioned, “Karolina also has the challenging role in this dynamic. Are [the Others] being manipulative? Why do they want to kiss Carol? Are their emotions genuine?” Wydra enjoyed the nuance, hoping viewers experience a pull between supporting Carol and Zosia’s romance. “I want people to question, ‘Wait a minute, is Zosia beginning to distance herself from the collective, allowing her individuality to shine, and is she truly falling for Carol?'” Wydra told Mashable.

The intent to please Carol led to a significant choice in the kiss scene: who would take the lead. “By the time we reached the kiss, we experimented with who was leaning into whom,” Seehorn explained. “Ultimately, they had Zosia lean toward me, in part because she perceives the hurt and desperation Carol experiences, and the isolation she feels.”

*Pluribus* is currently streaming on Apple TV. The Season 1 finale is set to air on Dec. 26.