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The acclaimed writer-producer never anticipated that Pluribus would emerge as a cultural phenomenon. “The viewers have been incredible,” he states. “It was unexpected the show being as widely discussed as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”

With the first season of the popular series coming to an end—and the next chapter greenlit and underway—the creative team opened up about the audience reaction and whether it will shape the narrative path of Pluribus.

On the Incredible Audience Reaction

It would be easy to get sidetracked by the constant speculation and audience predictions surrounding Pluribus. The creator is making a conscious effort to steer clear of all that.

“The experience is akin to force fed something incredibly sweet and being in a state of bliss,” he describes. “It's the greatest thing, but I learn of it through word of mouth, and that's intentional. I have never Googled myself, nor do I ever want to. It's quite the opposite. It's a bottomless pit I know I would disappear down and then I'd be living in squalor from Home Depot and I'd be stuck in my living room.”

In spite of Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no escaping the immensely favorable response to the series. The most practical strategy is to acknowledge it humbly and try not to let it influence the direction of the show.

“We don't try to tailor anything,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not impacted by online forums.”

“It's wiser to keep our noses to the grindstone,” Gilligan adds.

The Big Question: Will the creator Have a Plan for the Finale of Pluribus?

So if Gilligan and his team aren't taking cues by public opinion, does it imply they have already decided how Pluribus will finally conclude? The answer is yes… with some caveats.

“There are some potential directions about how the story could conclude,” Gilligan reveals. “however, we remain prepared to discard a decent plan for a better idea. This approach has served us in well 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 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,” he says humorously, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”

Of course, why not reference the iconic TV endings?

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

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Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV.