Apple TV’s Best Sci-Fi Snuck Another ‘Better Call Saul’ Easter Egg Into the Finale, and You Didn’t Even Notice

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Rhea Seehorn lifting a lid and looking inside a container in Pluribus Episode 5.

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Editor's note: The below contains spoilers for the Pluribus Season 1 finale.

With Pluribus's opening season coming to a close, we're already poring over every minute detail to see if they missed anything in Apple TV's hit sci-fi show. Every scene presents the possibility of an overlooked detail, and several Easter eggs and references from Vince Gilligan's previous shows, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, have already been spotted by eagle-eyed viewers. They've even found a surprising voice cameo that eluded almost everyone on a first viewing of the finale, "La Chica o El Mundo."

Considering the brief nature of the cameo and how its context holds no relevance to the character this actor previously played in Better Call Saul, it makes sense why it wasn't figured out until now. However, this revelation is more than a fun detail; it's a testament to why Pluribus' slow burn is so enjoyable. Even if some fans claim the show is boring, there is always more than meets the eye, which should be expected in Gilligan's work by now.

'Better Call Saul's Tony Dalton Makes a Small Cameo in the 'Pluribus' Season 1 Finale

In the Pluribus finale, the aspect that inevitably produces the most tension is the arrival of Manousos (Carlos-Manuel Vesga) at Carol's (Rhea Seehorn) house in Albuquerque. While Carol struggles with her inner conflict surrounding her relationship with Zosia (Karolina Wydra) and the Others, Manousos gets to work immediately, dialing up the Others to demand a meeting with Zosia. Most viewers will have paid the most attention to the ominous idea of Manousos being left alone with someone Carol cares about, but some sleuths noticed that the Other that Manousos talks to over the phone is actually Better Call Saul's Tony Dalton.

While Dalton has recently been known for his role as Jack Duquesne, A.K.A. the Swordsman, in Hawkeye and Daredevil: Born Again, the actor gained mainstream notoriety for his performance as cartel enforcer Lalo Salamanca in Better Call Saul. In a way, the polite manners of the Others, mixed with an undertone of menace, are similar to Dalton's portrayal of Lalo as a smiling but ruthless criminal. But fans can be forgiven for not picking up on this cameo, given how brief it is.

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Tony Dalton's Cameo Emphasizes Vince Gilligan's Attention to Detail in 'Pluribus'

Carol (Rhea Seehorn) stands ina. museum in 'Pluribus'

A common critique amongst viewers of Gilligan's latest project is that it has taken too long to meaningfully advance the plot, often being labeled as too slow or, even worse, boring, which would explain the 67% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the show's 98% critics' score suggests that this critique is overlooking some of Pluribus's more subtle qualities. This isn't the first cameo from a star of Gilligan's other work, as Patrick Fabian, who played Howard Hamlin in Better Call Saul, cameos as the voice Carol hears when an automated message explains to her why the Others have left. Small details calling back to Gilligan's previous crime dramas have also appeared throughout the season, from a reference to Breaking Bad's tragically-fated Wayfarer airline to the use of the same Georgia O'Keeffe museum that Jesse (Aaron Paul) and Jane (Krysten Ritter) visit.

While some will argue that these kinds of inclusions are only meant to draw in previous fans of Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul, these Easter eggs reflect the attention to detail that Gilligan brings to every scene. Even when there is not a pivotal moment occurring on screen, there is still plenty to feast your eyes or ears on. In that sense, the scale of Gilligan's vision for Pluribus is closer to a nine-part film, rather than a narrative where each episode features a contained tale, and things like Dalton's cameo strengthen this perspective, as the world is filled with details that immerse the viewer even on a subconscious level.

There will no doubt be fans who would love to see Dalton or any of Gilligan's previous collaborators appear in Season 2 of Pluribus, and consider cameos like this as a potential stepping stone that at least confirms their existence in the show's world. However, this feels highly unlikely, and could even distract from the story Gilligan and the show's writers are trying to tell. If anything, this finale cameo should ultimately encourage viewers to go back and comb through every episode of Pluribus to see what else they might have missed.