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Vince Gilligan could not have predicted that his new science-fiction series would become a breakout success. “The viewers have been incredible,” he remarks. “It was unexpected the show being as widely discussed as it is, and it makes me thrilled beyond words.”

As the debut season of the acclaimed program wrapping up—and the next chapter already in development—the creative team opened up about the audience reaction and whether it will impact the narrative path of Pluribus.

About the Overwhelming Viewer Reception

Anyone might to get sidetracked by the rampant praise and fan theories about Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is doing his best to ignore the noise.

“It's like being constantly eating your favorite dessert and being laughing uncontrollably,” he describes. “It's wonderful, but I learn of it from others, and that's on purpose. Never in my life Googled myself, nor do I ever want to. It's quite the opposite. It's a rabbit hole I know I would disappear down and then I'd be never leaving the house from Home Depot and I'd be stuck in my living room.”

Despite trying to stay away, there’s no way to avoid the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to acknowledge it humbly and try not to let it dictate the story of the show.

“It is not our goal to adjust our writing,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The narrative we craft is not influenced by online forums.”

“Better to keep our heads down and working,” he chimes in.

The Central Mystery: Will the showrunner Have a Plan for the Ending of Pluribus?

So if Gilligan and his team aren’t being guided by public opinion, can we assume they already know how Pluribus will ultimately end? Essentially yes… in a way.

“We have some compelling concepts about how the story could conclude,” Gilligan reveals. “but we are always ready to abandon a decent plan for a better idea. That philosophy has guided us in excellent shape on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We throw stuff out when we get a better idea and I suspect we'll be doing that.”

Alternatively, if all else fails, executive producer Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to use as a backup.

“I keep pitching that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll pull back at the end and we're in there,” Smith jokes, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”

Then again, one could always use the classics?

“I want Carol to wake up in bed next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan adds, smiling.

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Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV+.