That ‘Pluribus’ Cameo Was Exactly Who You Thought It Was

Pluribus dropped its fifth episode, “Got Milk,” ahead of schedule so that fans could obsess over Carol’s antics alongside the Thanksgiving holiday. And there’s an added treat for fans of Pluribus star Rhea Seehorn’s previous TV series with creator Vince Gilligan: a little cameo that ends up becoming a major part of the story.

“Got Milk” continues the fallout of last week’s “Please, Carol,” in which our sarcastic heroine pushed a little too hard to try to get information out of the hive mind by drugging and interrogating Zosia (Karolina Wydra). The result—mass sadness for everyone worldwide, as well as cardiac arrest for Zosia (who’s still recovering from Carol’s grenade in episode three)—is a bridge too far for the Others, and they decide it’s time to take a break from Carol.

The entire human population of Albuquerque departs at once, leaving Carol completely alone to fend for herself… although, of course, she can still use the hotline to summon assistance as needed. The difference is, instead of Zosia or another responsive voice on the other end, it’s a recording. A long-winded recording that explains while the world’s feelings for Carol haven’t changed—they’re so happy, and they want her to be happy too!—they just need a bit of space right now.

As TV Guide confirms, the even-tempered voice in Carol’s ear every time she dials the number is indeed Patrick Fabian, Seehorn’s Better Call Saul co-star himself. His casting was kept a secret from Seehorn until she was actually on set filming the scene, but as she told the outlet, she was able to keep it together without dissolving into “blooper take” mode.

“I don’t know which take they actually use, but I think if you got one of those psychologists or psychiatrists that study micro facial muscle changes, I’m pretty sure you could see me go, What? Patrick? But then I tried to cover and play the scene,” Seehorn said. “They called ‘cut,’ and I started laughing and ran out and said, ‘That’s Patrick! You got Patrick!’ And they said they’d been sitting on it for a long time, just to screw with me.” 

Prior to Pluribus, Gilligan created Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul; all three series are set in Albuquerque and use the same behind-the-scenes crew. But while Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul specifically take place in the same universe, Pluribus does not. So this type of cameo is probably the only thing we’ll ever get that comes close to a “crossover,” and it’s a fun way to wink at fans without pushing the connection.

“Let’s face it, even if it wasn’t an Easter egg from Better Call Saul, Patrick Fabian does have one of the all-time great voices that I would imagine that the Others would have voted as one of the most soothing voices to be on the outgoing message,” Seehorn said. “So I understand the decision.”

“Got Milk” is streaming now on Apple TV; most weeks, new episodes of Pluribus arrive Fridays.

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