Pluribus Episode 5’s ending left viewers on a cliffhanger by not revealing what Carol Sturka finds under the tarp. Considering her reaction, it is reasonable to assume that she discovered something terrifying. But what is it really? While the next episode is still more than a week away, fans are speculating about her discovery.
Here’s what some of the theories suggest.
Theories about what Carol found under the tarp in Pluribus Episode 5
Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus Episode 5, “Got Milk,” aired ahead of schedule on November 26, 2025. The episode showcased Carol’s continued efforts to reverse the infection that has taken over the world. However, in the process, she upsets the Others, the hive mind beings, with her aggressive behavior. As a result, they abandon her and move to an undisclosed location.
Later in the episode, Carol finds empty milk cartons that the Others seemingly consume. She visits the factory where they package the drinks and discovers that one of the ingredients is a white, powdery substance. She then traces the ingredients to a storage facility.
Carol ventures deep into one of the storage units, where she finds shelves full of unknown items covered with tarps. When she lifts one of the tarps, she is horrified by what she sees. Unfortunately, the episode ends without revealing what she discovers.
Here’s where theories come in. One theory suggests that the storage unit is holding the corpses of humans who died during the conversion, including the millions who died when Carol unknowingly triggered their deaths after she yelled at the Others. Since the show never revealed what ultimately happens to the bodies, this remains a possibility. If the speculation is accurate, why are they preserving the corpses?
The theory is that the Others are using the bodies as a source of nutrition. This means the white powder she found earlier could be made of human bones or other parts of the body. The Others have claimed not to kill any living being, so they can survive only for a certain period before losing health. Since they have the bodies available, it is possible that they have found a way to use them as an energy source.
Another theory suggests that the Others secretly dug up Helen’s body from Carol’s yard and placed it in the storage vault. However, given that the wild wolves tried to dig in the same spot, seemingly attracted by the corpse’s smell, it is unlikely that the Others removed her body. Nonetheless, most theories agree that the contents under the tarp involve humans in some way.
Episode 6, titled “HDP”, will air on Friday, December 5, 2025, on Apple TV.
