The Explosive Cliffhanger: How Studio Notes Transformed the ‘Pluribus’ Finale

CAUTION: The following discussion contains spoilers about the latest season finale of Pluribus, the popular science fiction series on Apple TV. If you haven’t seen it yet, make sure to catch up before proceeding. Ready? Let’s dive in.

The initial closing scene of the Pluribus season finale featured a subtle interaction between the lead character, Carol (portrayed by the talented Rhea Seehorn), and a mysterious ally.

“Our original ending was much more subdued,” shared screenwriter and executive producer Gordon Smith in a recent interview with The Ringer. Smith, who also directed the final episode, revealed that the initial plan was to conclude the season with a discreet agreement, akin to a secret handshake, between Carol and the character Manousos.

However, feedback from Sony and Apple executives prompted a revised ending that turned out to be nothing short of “explosive.” Studio executives felt that the original ending lacked impact and pushed for a more dramatic conclusion.

In the revised version of the season finale released on Christmas Eve, Carol finds herself in a helicopter piloted by Zosia (played by Karolina Wydra), the spokesperson for the hive mind known as “The Others.” Inside the cargo container is an atomic bomb, fulfilling a promise made by The Others in a previous episode to provide her with any weapon she desired, even an atomic bomb.

Upon receiving feedback from Apple and Sony executives that the conclusion didn’t quite fit the ambitious nature of Pluribus, showrunner Vince Gilligan acknowledged it as “a brilliant suggestion.” However, the revised ending came with a hefty price tag. Significant expenses were incurred for orchestrating a helicopter arrival in the cul-de-sac where Carol resides, a set that had been meticulously constructed to enable the production crew to work without disruptions from onlookers and logistical challenges of a real neighborhood.

A considerable portion of the episode depicted Carol seemingly developing feelings for Zosia as they traveled the globe together, engaging in couple activities like skiing and enjoying quiet moments by a fireplace. Despite appearing to fall for her hive mind representative, Carol ultimately decides not to support Manousos in his endeavor to restore normalcy to the world.

However, when Carol discovers that The Others have been scheming to assimilate her into their collective without her consent, she returns to Albuquerque with an atomic bomb in hand and teams up with Manousos, declaring, “You win, we save the world.” When Manousos questions the contents of the steel container, Carol straightforwardly responds, “Atomic bomb.”

This isn’t the first instance of studio intervention in an Apple TV series. Apple’s input on the acclaimed show The Studio led to the removal of planned celebrity appearances, and although the producers resisted initially, they ultimately dropped most of the desired guests. Executive feedback on The Problem with Jon Stewart resulted in the premature conclusion of the talk show due to concerns about specific topics that could potentially upset Chinese authorities, a crucial market for Apple.