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Vince Gilligan did not foresee that the Apple TV+ show would turn into a massive hit. “The viewers have been incredible,” 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 coming to an end—and the next chapter greenlit and underway—Gilligan and his team reflected on the fan response and whether it will shape the storyline of Pluribus.

About the Overwhelming Audience Reaction

One could easily to get distracted by the constant speculation and online debates regarding Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is striving to avoid both.

“It's like being constantly eating hot fudge sundaes and being laughing uncontrollably,” he explains. “It's the greatest thing, but I learn of it through word of mouth, and that's intentional. I have never searched for my own name online, nor do I ever intend to. Not because I don't care. It's a bottomless pit I know I would get lost in and then I'd be living in squalor from Home Depot and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”

Despite Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no escaping the overwhelmingly positive response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to take it in stride and try not to let it dictate the story of the show.

“We make no attempt to adjust our writing,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not impacted by what people are saying.”

“Better to keep our focus on the work,” Gilligan adds.

The Central Mystery: Has the showrunner Know the Ending of Pluribus?

So if the creative staff are not listening by public opinion, does that mean they have already decided how Pluribus will ultimately end? The answer is yes… sort of.

“There are some interesting ideas about the ultimate destination,” Gilligan says. “but we are always ready to abandon a good idea for a better idea. That has held 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, director and writer Gordon Smith has a humorous idea to use as a backup.

“I constantly suggest that it's all in a snow globe, and that we'll pull back at the end and we're in there,” he says humorously, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”

Then again, one could always use the iconic TV endings?

“I want Carol to open her eyes beside Bob Newhart,” Gilligan adds, smiling.

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Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV+.