Is Pluribus in the Breaking Bad Universe? Vince Gilligan & His New Sci-fi Show Set the Record Straight

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Vince Gilligan‘s new show, Pluribus, is receiving incredible praise from both critics and viewers. Currently holding a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the series centers around Carol (played by Rhea Seehorn), a disillusioned woman who believes humanity needs unhappiness and is trying to prevent world peace. While the unique and thought-provoking premise is a refreshing take on the usual apocalyptic story, many viewers are curious to know if the show shares a universe with Gilligan’s previous hit, Breaking Bad.

It’s understandable why people are wondering if there’s a connection between Vince Gilligan’s new show, Pluribus, and his previous work, Breaking Bad. For fourteen years, from 2008 to 2022, he was the creative force behind Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and El Camino. He’s become known for gritty crime dramas about drugs and the legal world. While Pluribus is a return to science fiction, fans are still searching for hidden links and Easter eggs that would tie it to Breaking Bad, despite there being no real connection. This obsession with finding those links highlights a bigger issue in television: the tendency to overanalyze and connect everything to existing universes.

Pluribus’ Easter Egg Does Not Mean It’s Connected to Breaking Bad

Fans have noticed connections between Pluribus, Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saul because Rhea Seehorn, who played Kim Wexler, appears in both Pluribus and Better Call Saul, and all three shows are filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. However, a closer look reveals a plot hole: if the shows shared a universe, Kim Wexler and the character Carol from Pluribus would have to be secret twins who never knew about each other, despite living in the same city. This alone suggests Pluribus exists in its own separate world. Furthermore, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul are grounded in realism, while Pluribus embraces fantastical ideas. The show’s premise—a recipe based on alien signals that alters DNA to create universal happiness and connection—clearly sets it apart as something more imaginative and less realistic.

While it’s a minor point, some interesting connections between the shows Pluribus and Breaking Bad have emerged. In a Pluribus episode, a character flies on an airline called “Wayfarer.” This is the same name as the flight number from a tragic plane crash in Breaking Bad. The creator of Breaking Bad had hinted at Easter eggs for fans, and this detail has led many to believe the two shows might exist in parallel universes.

The idea of a parallel dimension is interesting, and not entirely impossible. However, it’s unlikely that characters like Walter White and Saul Goodman exist in the world of Pluribus. Any references to things like blue meth are just for fun, not meant to be taken seriously or investigated. The fact that all three shows are filmed in the same location – Albuquerque – is largely due to the creator, Vince Gilligan, liking the area. He originally envisioned Breaking Bad taking place in Southern California, but Sony Pictures suggested New Mexico because of a generous tax incentive. While Gilligan was worried about Albuquerque being too familiar, he decided to film Pluribus in locations that weren’t featured in Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul.

Universe Connections Have Ruined the Art of Television Writing

It’s common for viewers to try and find connections between shows created by the same people, but what drives this habit? Wouldn’t it be nice if people could simply enjoy a show for what it is, instead of constantly searching for hidden meanings or connections? The popularity of superhero movies and TV shows, particularly the Marvel and DC universes, has likely contributed to this trend. These franchises have made it commonplace to analyze how each story fits into a larger narrative, and even to wonder if a larger narrative exists at all.

It’s becoming increasingly common – even with lots of new and good TV shows – to feel like you need to do ‘homework’ to keep up. In the past, you only needed to remember previous seasons of a single show to understand what was happening. While knowing details from another show might have been helpful occasionally, it was rare, and usually only for spin-offs. But the idea of a creator having two very different shows set in the same universe would have seemed strange just a few years ago. For example, Damon Lindelof’s shows like The Leftovers and Watchmen weren’t really connected to Lost in most viewers’ minds, because each show was strong enough on its own.

As a fan, I’ve noticed this trend and I worry about what it means for writers. It seems tough when they’re trying to create something fresh, especially after having success with previous work. What really excites writers, I think, is coming up with completely new concepts and exploring different paths. But if everything has to tie into what came before, will we even get truly original stories? I know a lot of writers would probably feel a lot better if they knew audiences were excited about new ideas, instead of always wanting more of the same.

Pluribus Is Better Off Distancing Itself From Breaking Bad

One of the main issues with how people are judging Pluribus is that they’re comparing it too much to the past. Fans are hoping for something like Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul – shows widely considered masterpieces, and ones they know creator Vince Gilligan excels at. While Gilligan’s signature style is present in all three shows, Pluribus is actually quite different in its approach. This new direction makes some viewers uneasy because it’s not what they expect.

Gilligan first became known for science fiction, starting with The X-Files, and his return to the genre demonstrates his range as a writer. Pluribus is a remarkably unique show, and if the first two episodes are any indication, it’s on track to become a television classic. The show proves that writers don’t need to be limited by a single genre or the success they’ve already achieved. Interestingly, this mirrors a struggle the character Carol faced before the show’s dramatic events unfolded. She felt trapped writing historical romances that didn’t fulfill her, while the story she truly wanted to tell – one that showcased her broader talents beyond the emotional intensity of her existing series – remained unfinished.

Following up shows like Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul presents challenges for Pluribus, and the creator’s acknowledgement of this is significant. However, being separate from the stories of Walter White and Saul Goodman actually allows Pluribus to develop freely, avoiding constant comparisons. It doesn’t need to fit into pre-existing expectations; it can forge its own path, much like its central character, Carol.

New episodes of Pluribus premiere every Friday on Apple TV.

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2025-11-08 18:41