Different stories depict apocalyptic events in various ways. Some focus on humanity’s last efforts to prevent global destruction, while others take place in a post-apocalyptic world. Between these extremes, there are stories where people gradually accept their inevitable fate as seen in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.
Don’t Look Up, and Dr. Strangelove are other examples. The Netflix limited series Carol and The End of the World, created by Dan Guterman, fits squarely into this category. It follows Carol, the protagonist, as she goes through her final months on Earth before an enormous mystery planet brings everything to an end.
A slow, surreal journey through the final days of humanity (Photo: Carol and The End Of The World/Bardel Entertainment)When time is running out, every connection matters
In this period, she reconnects with family, forges new friendships, and seeks meaning in her life. The series doesn’t follow a rigid storyline; instead, it meanders, with episodes that sometimes feel slow.
However, this is intentional, and when combined with stunning animation and soothing voice acting, the show creates an oddly calming yet unsettling experience.
Carol’s Reason for Joining ‘The Distraction’
Carol leads a solitary life. Her parents, Bernard and Pauline, have an unconventional relationship with their caregiver, Michael. Her sister, Elena, chooses to travel the world in the final days before everything ceases to exist.
Interestingly, this kind of three-way relationship involving a character’s parents and their caregiver has appeared in other films or series. Moving back to Carol, she is an introvert who prefers to keep to herself. She strongly believes in repaying her debts, even though the world is about to end.
One night, she steps out of her comfort zone to socialize and meets a man named Eric, who shares a similar energy with her. Their connection leads to intimacy, but the following day, Carol discovers that Eric is a divorcee with a child.
When he begins treating her as if she is his new wife, she feels overwhelmed and abruptly leaves. Later, Eric attempts to persuade her into marriage, but she declines. Her parents depart for a cruise to spend their last days at sea.
Meanwhile, Carol’s car breaks down outside an Applebee’s, leaving her with no choice but to take the train. While waiting at the train station, Carol notices a woman dressed in professional attire, which is unusual given that people have abandoned the concept of proper clothing and hygiene due to the approaching apocalypse.
Carol, who still values routine and cleanliness, becomes intrigued by this stranger and discreetly follows her into a massive building. Once inside, Carol loses sight of her and begins searching different floors, only to find chaos in most of them.
Eventually, she reaches a level filled with employees working on computers. The moment she steps into this office, she is immediately recruited as an admin assistant.
She has no understanding of what the company does or why these people continue working as the world nears its end, yet she finds an odd sense of belonging and, for the first time, does not run away from discomfort. Instead, she chooses to stay and embrace the job.
Did the Mystery Planet Destroy Earth?
The series finale of Carol and The End of the World plays out mostly through the eyes of Kathleen, the head of HR. A wave of mass hysteria spreads through The Distraction, and Kathleen suspects Carol of being responsible.
The strange twin employees in the office demand that someone be punished, prompting Kathleen to build her case. She is frustrated by the fact that Carol has humanized The Distraction, altering its once-mechanical workforce. Previously, from senior management to janitorial staff, employees functioned like automatons.
Searching for meaning in the shadow of impending doom (Photo: Carol and The End Of The World/Bardel Entertainment)But Carol’s presence changed that, encouraging them to see one another as individuals. Kathleen attributes this change to a series of small moments—the office funeral, personalized workspaces, and more.
However, she firmly believes that Carol’s biggest offense was turning the abandoned Applebee’s into a communal gathering spot, leading to the disorder. The contradictions within this situation make it particularly intriguing.
The world is on the verge of annihilation, and many people have begun fulfilling their unachieved desires. However, individuals like Carol, Donna, and Luis do not find purpose in reckless abandon. They need structure to make sense of their remaining days.
The Distraction (deliberately named in an obvious manner) provides this structure, and they immerse themselves in it without question. Eventually, they start believing the organization serves a greater purpose, which is not true.
Despite how seriously the upper management presents it, The Distraction exists solely to divert people’s attention from the impending catastrophe. As employees realize they are neither being paid nor engaged in meaningful work, they begin improvising, finding joy in their mundane routine even as the apocalypse looms.
Though many appreciate The Distraction’s founders for giving them this outlet, that does not mean it should replicate the capitalist systems of the past. At this stage, nothing is at stake, and nobody stands to gain from adhering to the structures that existed before the mysterious planet appeared.
People initially seek a nine-to-five routine to cope with their situation, but if genuine friendships have formed, there is no reason to exhaust themselves with imaginary jobs. They should embrace the time they have left. After all, the world is ending.
As Carol and The End of the World draws to a close, Kathleen comes to this realization and decides to abandon the rigid work structure, choosing instead to join Carol’s group and spend her remaining days in happiness. Whether the mystery planet collides with Earth remains unclear.
A news clipping mentions that its gravitational pull is beginning to affect the planet’s day and night cycle. However, by this point, everyone has found some form of fulfillment, making survival or destruction irrelevant.
The final moments of the series depict cloud patterns shifting around Earth due to the approaching planet. This is an ominous sign, indicating that extinction is inevitable. Still, the comfort lies in knowing that the characters we have followed through ten episodes have accepted their fate on their terms.
