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Vince Gilligan could not have predicted that Pluribus would emerge as a cultural phenomenon. “God bless the fans,” he states. “I was surprised by the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”

Now that Season 1 of the popular series wrapping up—and a second season officially in the works—Gilligan and his team opened up about the audience reaction and whether it will shape the storyline of Pluribus.

Regarding the Incredible Fan Response

Anyone might to get distracted by the constant speculation and fan theories about Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is striving to steer clear of all that.

“It's like being constantly eating something incredibly sweet and being tickled to death,” he describes. “It's the greatest thing, but I get wind of it anecdotally, and that's on purpose. Never in my life searched for my own name online, nor do I ever want to. It's quite the opposite. It's a deep trap I know I would disappear down and then I'd be never leaving the house from the hardware store and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”

Despite his concerted efforts, there’s no escaping the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The best he and his team can do is to take it in stride and try not to let it influence the direction of the show.

“It is not our goal to tailor anything,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The narrative we craft is not influenced by audience chatter.”

“It's wiser to keep our focus on the work,” he chimes in.

A Pressing Query: Has the creator See the Ending of Pluribus?

Considering the creative staff aren't taking cues by public opinion, does that mean they already know how Pluribus will ultimately end? Essentially yes… sort of.

“We've developed some interesting ideas about how the story could conclude,” he states. “but we are always ready to throw out a solid concept for a superior concept. That philosophy has guided us in good stead on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We throw stuff out when we conceive of something superior and I expect we'll continue doing that.”

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

“I keep pitching that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and we're in there,” he says humorously, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”

Alternatively, why not reference the classics?

“My dream is Carol to open her eyes with Bob Newhart there,” Gilligan says with a smile.

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Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV+.