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In Vince Gilligan’s science fiction series Pluribus, a world-changing event leaves “the most miserable person on Earth” even more frustrated and alone than she already was, and her attempts to change everything back just make her more isolated. As a counterbalance to her rage and stubbornness, though, Gilligan and his writers offer a character who thrives in the new world order, turning it into a wish-fulfillment fantasy.
Pluribus episode 6, “HDP,” brings series protagonist Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn) back into contact with gracious gentleman hedonist Koumba Diabaté (Our Flag Means Death’s Samba Schutte), who provides her with important new information. Polygon sat down with Schutte for a spoiler-free look at his biggest scene from “HDP” — a James Bond fantasy that was a dream come true for both the character and the actor playing him. But we also had a separate spoiler-filled talk with Schutte about Mr. Diabaté’s secret backstory, the important choice he makes in “HDP,” and the secret to his relationship with Carol.
[Ed. note: Significant spoilers ahead for Pluribus episode 6.]
In Pluribus, most of humanity has been infected with an alien virus that’s joined them into a blissful pacifistic hivemind. Only a dozen or so seemingly immune “Originals” remain on the planet, but so far, Carol’s attempts to rally her fellow Originals against the Joined have only been met with bemusement, contempt, or in Diabaté’s case, gentle disagreement.
In “HDP,” Carol drives to Las Vegas to find Diabaté and deliver what she thinks is the final proof that the Joined are scary monsters — they’ve been consuming processed human corpses!!! He reluctantly admits that the other Originals are already aware of this bombshell, that they aren’t concerned, and that they’ve all been discussing it, via twice-a-week Zoom meetings they’ve chosen to exclude Carol from.
On top of all that, Diabaté tells her that the Joined now have a way to incorporate the Originals into the hivemind, but that he’s personally opted out, for now. We discussed that decision, and more about Diabaté, with actor Samba Schutte.
This interview has been edited for concision and clarity.
Polygon: The revelation that Diabaté doesn’t want to join the hivemind isn’t surprising, but it does contrast with what most of the Originals seem to feel. Where do you think that choice is coming from? Is there any more to it than just loving the fantasies he gets to live out?
Samba Schutte: I think it’s interesting, because this whole show is about how you deal with change. Some people are in denial, like Laxmi. Some people want to change, like Kusimayu, the Peruvian girl who just wants to become one of them. Carol wants to reverse it scientifically. Manousos wants to reverse it by killing them all. And Diabaté wants to embrace this change by saving the world from starvation.
I think there’s a part of him that’s a humanitarian, or he feels he’s the representative of humanity in a way, and not only because he’s flying Air Force One. I think he understands both sides of the coin — the point of view of the Others, and why they eat humans, and Carol’s point of view. So he plays the middleman. But I think he loves his new life way too much to sacrifice it. Clearly, he’s like, “Nice that you guys are asking, but no thanks.” Like Carol, he values his individuality. He values being his own person, and loving to learn that and embrace that. He does not want to lose his free will, does not want to give up the power, the control he has.
Diabaté shows a kindness to Carol that I think is a useful model for the audience, who may often be exasperated with some of her behavior, but might also want another human being to care about her. You’ve said you discussed his background with Vince Gilligan, and that he comes from poverty and privation. Where do you think his well of kindness comes from?
If you noticed in episode 2, when they’re on Air Force One, there’s a side of him that is very rational. He’s often coming up with these rational counterarguments to Carol’s point of view. In episode 2, it’s “Listen, isn’t this the world we all wanted, in a way? There’s no racism, there’s no discrimination.” He’s very valid in his arguments. Which drives Carol nuts, by the way. I remember acting with Rhea, and her acting notes in her script were just, “GAAAAH!” in every scene she does with me. [Laughs]
I love that dynamic between the two of us, where I’m like, “Yeah, I hear you, but at the same time, it’s not that bad.” So there’s a very rational side to him, and there’s a part of him that sees himself in her. I think there’s a side of him that doesn’t like being alone, the same as Carol. There’s a side of him that doesn’t want to be lonely. Hopefully, people who judged him in episode 2 will see that there’s this very human side to him. He wants to be an ally to Carol. He does not want her to be alone. He understands her loneliness. He sees it and really wants to help her cope with this new world.
How much of a backstory did you establish for him, with or without Vince?
What informed me a lot was just happenstance. When I got the audition, it was just dummy sides. Then, they called him Mr. Koumba, and I was like “Mr. Koumba? In Mauritania, Koumba is a woman’s name.” But I did the audition, and once I got the part, I told Vince, “I actually loved that you called him Mr. Koumba, because in my culture, the only way a man takes on a woman’s name is if his mother has passed away during childbirth. That informed me very much about who this guy is.” If you notice, he does not have family members like the other Originals. He’s surrounding himself with supermodels. So I think he came from a place of not having family around him, not having real people that he cares about.
Vince was like, [squeaky embarrassed voice] “Oh, I had no idea!” I’m like, “No, just embrace the compliment!” He’s like, “Okay, great!” I love that about Vince. We kept the name, because I thought it really informed who this guy was: He didn’t have a mother figure, he probably didn’t have any close family growing up. So of course now that he has this candy store, his desire as a child, he’s going to walk in and try to try everything, because finally he can. So that was a beautiful fluke that stuck in a beautiful way.
How is working on Pluribus different from working on Our Flag Means Death?
Our Flag was just a beautiful experience. I mean, to work with Taika [Waititi] and Rhys [Darby] and [show creator David Jenkins] and to play a pirate and be completely covered in dirt, and not care about what you look like [Laughs] was such a dream come true. But with Pluribus — I’ve been a huge fan of Vince’s for a long time. To come in and be welcomed as a family member — these people have been working together for 20-plus years, and you feel that when you’re on set. To be in a place where these people have so much experience together, but are so collaborative, it comes down from Vince down. Rhea, when she called me to welcome me to the show, she wanted to rehearse with me, she was very welcoming. I’ve never felt so embraced on a set.
And there was no kind of hierarchy. Everyone was super collaborative. And you see how that helps everyone bring their A game to every aspect, every department. And I’m playing a character that’s the 100 hundred percent complete opposite of Roach from Our Flag. Diabaté is dressed to the nines, and I got to choose all these amazing watches and jewelry, wear Super Bowl rings, fly on Air Force One, just play a character that’s so embracing of his opulence, and so effervescent and charming. That’s such a fun thing.
And to be able to make him from Mauritania was such a gift from Vince, to play someone from where I am actually from. I’ve not yet seen a character from Mauritania on an American TV show. So to be able to embrace that, and reference it, from the food I’m served to the names we drop here and there, that was just such a beautiful experience.
Pluribus episodes 1-6 are now streaming on Apple TV. New episodes arrive on Fridays.
