The Showrunner Reveals He Knows How His Sci-Fi Series Will End... Currently.
The acclaimed writer-producer could not have predicted that the Apple TV+ show would become a breakout success. “God bless the fans,” he states. “It was unexpected the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”
As the debut season of the hit series coming to an end—and Season 2 already in development—the creative team recently discussed the audience reaction and whether it will shape the storyline of Pluribus.
Regarding the Tremendous Audience Reaction
One could easily to get swayed by the rampant praise and audience predictions surrounding Pluribus. The creator is striving to steer clear of all that.
“The experience is akin to constantly eating something incredibly sweet and being laughing uncontrollably,” he explains. “It's wonderful, but I learn of it anecdotally, and that's by design. Never in my life searched for my own name online, nor do I ever plan to. It's quite the opposite. It's a bottomless pit I know I would fall into and then I'd be pooping in a five gallon bucket from Home Depot and I'd be stuck in my living room.”
Regardless of Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no way to avoid the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The most practical strategy is to acknowledge it humbly and try not to let it dictate the story of the show.
“We don't try to adjust our writing,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The narrative we craft is not impacted by online forums.”
“Better to keep our focus on the work,” Gilligan concludes.
The Central Mystery: Has Vince Gilligan See the Finale of Pluribus?
So if the writers aren't taking cues by public opinion, can we assume they have mapped out how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? Essentially yes… with some caveats.
“We have some potential directions about how the story could conclude,” Gilligan reveals. “yet we stand ready to abandon a good idea for a better idea. That philosophy has guided us in good stead on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We scrap ideas when we find a more perfect path and I suspect we'll be doing that.”
Then again, if all else fails, Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to serve as a last resort.
“I keep pitching that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll reveal the snow globe and that's where they've been all along,” Smith jokes, “though the idea hasn't gained traction.”
Of course, why mess with the iconic TV endings?
“I'd love for Carol to wake up in bed with Bob Newhart there,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus is currently available on Apple TV+.
