The Showrunner Reveals He Has a Plan for How Pluribus Might Finish... At the Moment.
The acclaimed writer-producer did not foresee that his new science-fiction series would emerge as a breakout success. “I am so grateful to the audience,” Gilligan says. “I did not foresee the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
With the first season of the acclaimed series wrapping up—and a second season officially in the works—the creative team reflected on the fan response and whether it will impact the narrative path of Pluribus.
On the Incredible Fan Response
It would be easy to get swayed by the rampant praise and audience predictions surrounding Pluribus. He is doing his best to avoid both.
“It feels like an endless supply of hot fudge sundaes and being laughing uncontrollably,” he explains. “It's amazing, but I get wind of it anecdotally, and that's on purpose. Not once have I looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever intend to. It's quite the opposite. It's a deep trap I know I would disappear down and then I'd be living in squalor from the hardware store and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”
In spite of his concerted efforts, there’s it's impossible to ignore the immensely favorable response to the series. The most practical strategy is to acknowledge it humbly and try not to let it alter the course of the show.
“We make no attempt to change the plot,” says Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not influenced by audience chatter.”
“We prefer to keep our focus on the work,” Gilligan adds.
The Big Question: Does the showrunner See the Finale of Pluribus?
So if Gilligan and his team aren't taking cues by audience theories, does it imply they have mapped out how Pluribus will ultimately end? The answer is yes… in a way.
“There are some interesting ideas about the ultimate destination,” Gilligan reveals. “yet we stand ready to discard a decent plan for a better idea. That has held us in good stead on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We scrap ideas when we get a better idea and I suspect we'll be doing that.”
On the other hand, if plans fall through, executive producer Gordon Smith has a rather amusing idea to serve as a last resort.
“I constantly suggest that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and we're in there,” Smith quips, “but no one is buying it.”
Of course, one could always use the legendary finales?
“My dream is Carol to awaken next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV+.
