Ray "Scotch" Coulton

you literally can't spell Maisie without... ya know

pronounced "plur-won-bus" or " plur-on-a-bus"?

Though I will say that some astute folks have observed that the beat of the TV's theme song (which shows a signal's waves) matches what Manousos heard on the weird frequency(?)

I mean, definitely possible! But I remember the "We'd prefer to be vegetarians" line from E2 seemingly a throwaway, and that becoming a big thing. I'm 100% prepared to be wrong! :)

(SPOILERS)

Oh man, I loved when Carol had that look of relief after saying she didn't consent, but it was the almost tearful look on Manousos' face when he started watching Carol's video that hit me the hardest.

It could be possible that *that* is the "frequency" the joined are "tuned" to (I mean, this is all made up stuff, but so is everything else in this show so far). A conspicuous lack of cell phone use plus that signal... is it any more far-fetched than any other theories out there?

I personally think we'll discover, eventually, that cell towers disrupt the psychic link of the joined.
Recall at the end of E6 when Manousos revisited that mystery frequency?

... traditional telephone lines, and even global internet for those Zoom calls to happen. So, why not cell phones? At first I thought it was due to damage, or power conservation, or simply b/c the joined don't require it. So why keep everything else?

But remember in E1 when "Undersecretary Taffler" said all cellphones were down? Conspicuously there's been no cell phone use after the joining. But the joined still keep power & infrastructure going for satellite communications (it's the only way Carol could call Manousous from the plane)...

In dribs and dribs, the show has revealed what long-distance communication types are still available: landline phones, satellite phones (from the plane in E3), internet (at least where the immune live, based on Koumba's reference to his weekly Zoom meeting), and ham radios and the like.

OK, tin foil hats on, Pluribussers, I've got a wild theory, and it involves a moment from E1 and a moment from E6 that may be key to, if not reverting the joined, at least finding a way to slow them down... (SPOILERS obviously!)

I don't know if you've gotten through episode 6 yet, but based on some of the revelations from that, I think they probably aren't procreating anymore.

FWIW, I think it was a savvy move to not drag the cliffhanger out too long (slightly more than a week), and have the *real* gut punches not be the reveal or John Cena, but what Carol learns later in the episode (exclusion from the immune, the joined's ticking clock & limited conversion abilities)

To that point, here's a clue whose answer changes depending on where you are in the world, or what word reference you use:

Speaking aloud, I engage in gentler negotiation? (8 ... or 5-3)

(Note: the answer has only recently become a more popular variant of a widely used term)

Working on clues for Minute Cryptic, you have to be conscious of whether the answer's spelling is widely accepted in all major English-speaking regions of the world--so you won't see "clamor" or "clamour", for example.

Not sure if you've seen episode 6 yet, but I'll say that even if the joined had intended to do that at first, there's a complication as to why they likely won't

How to Solve Cryptic Clues *** FIRST: WHAT’S A CRYPTIC CROSSWORD? ***Unlike standard US crosswords, UK-based cryptic crosswords focus almost entirely on solving the tricky wordplay of each odd-sounding (or cryptic) clu…

Cory's Cryptic Clues - 7-Dec-25

CPR, oxygen saves agent (5)

• Answer tomorrow
• Solving tips: tinyurl.com/cryptic-clue

Yesterday's answer:
LINE OF SIGHT
(anag. of FLIGHT NOISE = "path between points")

I mean... it *could* just be something the writers missed... but even 2 weeks later, she still is forced to use landline or corded phones.

I didn't do a deep dive, but what quick Google results I got indicated global internet usage is a bigger power drain than cell use (specifically the networks themselves). Hmmm.

... Maybe cell phone towers transmit signals that disrupt how the joined telepathically communicate? Like... it's weird that all of those other services and communication methods have power devoted to them still, but NOT cell service. And this show likes to drop lines that later prove prophetic...

Yeah, I just noticed that too.

I also put together that other forms of communication exist--landline phones, radios, even satellite-based calls from planes. And also internet.

But conspicuously, no cell phone use (recall that was explicitly stated in E1).

So I'm wondering...

OK, I have a wild theory on why there's no operational cell towers (that we know of) in Pluribus. Happy to discuss.

Whoa. OK, now that I'm thinking of it... maybe that's what's happening? Radios are fine, satellite phone calls are fine, internet's fine... but no cell use. Very very interesting.

I suspect all of this is to serve certain plot points, but the brief Googling I did indicates internet use is more of a power draw globally than cell use.

Not sure what to make of it--either minor plot holes, or something yet to be revealed (like, cell signals disrupt the joined's connection?!?)

For Zoom calls to work in cities spread across the globe, power needs to be provided end-to-end, from cities to submarine data cables to other cities.

So, satellites still working, multiple internet regions have power... but no cell service?

First, we learn in E6 that Koumba & the other immune (minus Carol & Manousos) have biweekly Zoom meetings. Which implies... internet still works?

But no still no cell coverage, seemingly--though, recall Carol called Manousos from that plane in E3. That requires special antennae and/or satellites...

Thoughts on Pluribus following E6 (spoilers)
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So no cell phone service--presumably to conserve power and/or due to "joining night" damage(?). But landlines work? At least in the places where the immune live. But why? Some thoughts on that....

I've got an answer and a few thoughts on that, but depending on how far you are in the show, my reply may be spoilery (ha)

Pluribus star says his character's secret backstory is hidden in his name Our Flag Means Death's Samba Schutte explains how he and Vince Gilligan shaped Koumba Diabaté, and explains his radical choices in episode 6, "HDP."

Another great (and spoilery) interview with Samba Schutte (Mr. Diabate on Pluribus) that digs more into his so-far-unspoken and formative backstory. www.polygon.com/pluribus-kou...

A picture outside of a GAP store in a shopping mall

So Pluribus E7 is called "The Gap" and while I have a pretty good idea what that means, it'd be hilarious if it's just Manousos stuck here the whole time...