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Vince Gilligan could not have predicted that the Apple TV+ show would become a breakout success. “The viewers have been incredible,” he remarks. “It was unexpected the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”

As the debut season of the popular sci-fi show reaching its finale—and a second season officially in the works—the creative team reflected on the fan response and whether it will shape the storyline of Pluribus.

On the Tremendous Viewer Reception

It would be easy to get sidetracked by the widespread acclaim and online debates surrounding Pluribus. The creator is doing his best to steer clear of all that.

“It's like being constantly eating your favorite dessert and being in a state of bliss,” he explains. “It's amazing, but I hear about it through word of mouth, and that's intentional. Not once have I looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever want to. It's not a lack of interest. It's a bottomless pit I know I would fall into and then I'd be pooping in a five gallon bucket from the hardware store and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”

Regardless of his concerted efforts, there’s no escaping the overwhelmingly positive response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to accept it graciously and try not to let it alter the course of the show.

“We don't try to change the plot,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not impacted by audience chatter.”

“We prefer to keep our noses to the grindstone,” he chimes in.

The Central Mystery: Will Vince Gilligan See the Ending of Pluribus?

Considering Gilligan and his team aren’t being guided by fan response, does that mean they have mapped out how Pluribus will finally conclude? Essentially yes… with some caveats.

“There are some interesting ideas about the ultimate destination,” Gilligan reveals. “but we are always ready to discard a solid concept for a superior concept. This approach has served us in good stead on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We change course when we get a better idea and I suspect we'll be doing that.”

Alternatively, if they hit a wall, Gordon Smith has a humorous idea to serve as a last resort.

“My recurring proposal is that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll pull back at the end and that's where they've been all along,” Smith jokes, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”

Of course, why mess with the legendary finales?

“I'd love for Carol to wake up in bed beside Bob Newhart,” he jokes.

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Pluribus can be watched on the streaming service.