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Vince Gilligan never anticipated that Pluribus would become a breakout success. “I am so grateful to the audience,” he states. “It was unexpected the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”

Now that Season 1 of the popular program coming to an end—and a second season greenlit and underway—Gilligan and his team recently discussed the audience reaction and whether it will shape the narrative path of Pluribus.

On the Tremendous Viewer Reception

Anyone might to get sidetracked by the rampant praise and audience predictions about Pluribus. He is doing his best to ignore the noise.

“It's like being an endless supply of your favorite dessert and being tickled to death,” he explains. “It's wonderful, but I hear about it anecdotally, and that's by design. I have never searched for my own name online, nor do I ever plan to. Not because I don't care. It's a deep trap I know I would get lost in and then I'd be living in squalor from the hardware store and I'd be stuck in my living room.”

In spite of his concerted efforts, there’s it's impossible to ignore the immensely favorable response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to accept it graciously and try not to let it dictate the story of the show.

“We don't try to tailor anything,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The narrative we craft is not impacted by audience chatter.”

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

A Pressing Query: Will the showrunner See the Conclusion of Pluribus?

Considering the writers aren’t being guided by public opinion, does that mean they already know how Pluribus will ultimately end? Essentially yes… with some caveats.

“We have some compelling concepts about where the show might end up,” he states. “but we are always ready to abandon a solid concept for a more brilliant plan. That has held us in excellent shape on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We throw stuff out when we find a more perfect path and I suspect we'll be doing that.”

Alternatively, if plans fall through, Gordon Smith has a rather amusing idea to fall back on.

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

Then again, one could always use the classics?

“I want Carol to awaken with Bob Newhart there,” he jokes.

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Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV.