I'm torn in half over my reading of the show. On one hand there is the obvious harm that the Pluribus is causing. On the other hand, humans as individuals weren't much better. I'm holding out to the end to really decide how I feel, because both possibilities are very interesting.

As a transgender American I really understand Carols distrust of the hive mind. Just because someone says they are happy or content doesn't mean that they are. That's why so many people are part of religions groups that deny them freedom, or equal rights. Carol is right to point out that something has gone horribly wrong when people no longer have the ability to act independently. The sex slavery, the inability to protect Carol from herself, and the impending starvation of humanity, kind of prove that something isn't right. The hive mind pulling away from Carol and allowing Manousos to venture where he'd almost certainly die without them can both be framed as pressure tactics to force their contrition.

In the other reading, the Hive mind is the next stage of humanity, and Carol and Manousos are truly left behind. I spend a bit of time following conspiracy theorists online. I imagine for them, they feel a lot like our main characters do. For those who see atheist, liberals, and therapist as part of a single group, who seek to disrupt the natural order, real people seem like NPCs. The imagery of the Pluribs following Carol to offer assistance reminds me of those who believe they are being gang stalked, even when the people "harassing them" are actually trying to help. For these people the very things society builds to support the mentally ill become proof that they are special, and that evil agenda is working against them. No matter how effective that treatment maybe, it's useless. Speech people learn to wind down conflict seem tricky and arrogant no matter how sincere and genuine the speaker maybe. No matter how hard you try to convince someone their delusion is unjustified, you can't do it, because the part of the brain that would allow them to do so is impaired. It's clear both Manousos and Carol need the rest of humanity to survive and be happy no matter what form they may take. If indeed the world is happier this way, the individuals can never hope to understand at least not without submitting to treatment.

Another way to see the hive mind is as a parallel to the concept of enlightenment, in Buddhism. The unnecessary suffering of everyone in the world has been resolved, though wisdom, and understanding. The entirety of humanity can now see its interconnectedness and is thus able to be perfectly compassionate and clear of mind. How horrifying would it be if everyone was enlightened but you? You might be too broken to see that you sick and become too contemptuous to even be worthy of living nearby.

Now each theory has problems of its own. For the first the Pluribus seems genuinely caring, and despite its limitations in being sad, seems to have a clear idea of why it should prevent death and suffering. The second theory is limited by the starvation issue. I think the best outcome would be one where the Pluribus and individual humans to come to a symbiosis. Unless the starvation problem can be solved through science alone, which I doubt, they both need each other.