Apple TVPluribus Episode 7, ‘The Gap’, sees Manousos (Carlos-Manuel Vesga) making a pilgrimage to Carol (Rhea Seehorn), but getting there is no mean feat – especially when he has to cross the dangerous Darién Gap.
Up until now, Carol has been flying solo in her quest to find a cure for the virus. Her fellow immune humans aren’t in any hurry to turn the world back to normal (as we learned in Episode 6, they have regular Zoom meetups without her).
But Manousos has emerged as the only hope for Carol. They share the same view of the hive mind, and like his US counterpart, he refuses to partake in its offerings. He’s remained a bit of a mystery up until this point, but this all changes in Episode 7 of the Apple TV series.
We see him begin a perilous journey from his home in Paraguay to New Mexico (in an MG Midget, no less), and despite ominous warnings from The Others, he ventures into the Darién Gap on foot – completely alone.
Why is the Darién Gap so dangerous?
Apple TVThe Darién Gap is considered one of the most dangerous routes on earth due to its deadly wildlife, unforgiving terrain, extreme weather, and human threats. It’s a dense jungle with swamps, rivers, and mountains, meaning no roads, no reliable navigation markers, and no emergency services.
Geographically, the gap is a 66-mile stretch of undeveloped jungle connecting Colombia and Panama, serving as a natural barrier to the Pan-American Highway. The only safe way to cross it is by plane or boat, but Manousos decides to set his car ablaze and head into it by foot in Pluribus.
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Why? Because he doesn’t want help from The Others. That’s not for want of trying, with the hive mind telling him at the entrance, “The Darién is too dangerous. It’s over 100 kilometers to Panama, and there are no marked trails.”
Apple TVIf that weren’t enough, the forecast for that week is over 38 degrees with 98% humidity, and clean water is hard to come by. Dehydration aside, there are “quite venomous” snakes, spiders, and insects.
But what gets Manousos first are the chunga palms – a plant that is covered in sharp, flattened black spines that can grow up to 20 centimeters long. They’re covered in bacteria, with the hive mind warning that, “Even the smallest cut could lead to a fatal infection.”
When Manousos slips on a rock, he falls back onto the spines. To avoid infection, he holds his machete blade onto a fire and singes the wounds. However, the heat, his wounds, and lack of water cause him to pass out, with his final view being a helicopter coming down to save him.
Another danger of the gap not shown in the series is the armed groups, smugglers, and criminal networks that operate freely in the region. Even experienced hikers struggle to cross without injury, dehydration, or disorientation, and for many migrants moving through the area, the risks are far higher.
Heavy rainfall can turn paths into mudslides within minutes, and the thick canopy blocks GPS signals. Because governments have been reluctant to construct infrastructure through it due to the environmental difficulty, cost, and political tensions, the region has become a de facto no-man’s land.
The real story behind the Darién Gap
Creative CommonsThough Manousos opts to enter the Darién Gap to find Carol, the truth is thousands of migrants attempt to cross each year, risking their lives – and sometimes losing them – in the hope of reaching safety on the other side.
As revealed by the IFRC, the world’s largest humanitarian network, between 2018 and 2023, 258 people died in the Darién. Panama’s Institute of Forensic Medicine also reported that around 220 people who died while crossing the gap remain unidentified.
Jose Vicente Pachar, the director of the institute, said (via Newsroom Panama), “We have approximately 220 human remains that have been buried or interred in cemeteries, we are talking about almost complete bodies.”
He added that there are still “hundreds” of other bodies that will likely never be recovered due to the lack of accessibility.
People take this route for many reasons: collapsing economies, political turmoil, violent conflict, and the lack of safe or legal migration pathways. For many, it’s not a single issue but a combination of crises that forces them into the Darién Gap despite the extreme risks.
This was documented and presented in Echoes From the Jungle, which features images taken by photojournalist Federico Rios during his journey through Darién in 2022 and 2023 for the New York Times, as well as photos taken by IFRC and Red Cross staff.
Discussing the project, the IFRC wrote, “The harsh reality of the Darién jungle unfolds as we witness a woman, burdened with the weight of her small child, navigating through its unforgiving terrain… The relentless heat and stifling humidity only add to the exhaustion felt by the women, children, and men on the move.”
It went on to highlight how crossing the area can take days or even weeks depending on the time of the year. Exhaustion can soon set in, especially as water from streams or rivers can’t be relied on due to contamination, meaning they must carry their own supplies.
Zidane from Colombia is a short film producer, Red Bull competitor, freestyler, rapper, hairdresser, and baker – he’s also one of the many who braved the trek.
“We left my country because things were not going well there, there was no money, there was nothing,” he told the IFRC. “My [rapper] foundation had completed its cycle and I thought it was a good idea to leave, but since I didn’t have a passport, we decided to travel through the Darién jungle.”
A woman similarly made the difficult decision to cross, explaining that she does everything for her son Dylan. “Crossing the Darién is not easy. I don’t recommend it to anyone,” she explained.
Apple TV“The danger there is not the animals, it’s facing people who hurt you, who steal from you, who abuse both your body and the little you carry with you.”
The Red Cross continues to provide support to the migrants who cross the gap, supplying more than 29.7 million liters of safe water in 2023, as well as over 20,000 basic health care sessions, 2,000 first-aid services, and 24,500 maternal and child care services.
Its staff also facilitated more than 33,000 international calls so migrants could communicate with their loved ones. Those who make it through the jungle are given access support in camps where they’re provided with services to continue their journey as safely as possible.
For more on Pluribus, read about the woman who was hospitalized after a Pluribus ad, a theory about the “perfect ending” for Carol, and why you shouldn’t expect an M. Night Shyamalan style twist in the show.