The Showrunner Reveals He Knows How Pluribus Might Finish... Currently.
The creative mastermind never anticipated that his new science-fiction series would turn into a breakout success. “The viewers have been incredible,” he states. “It was unexpected the show being as widely discussed as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
As the debut season of the hit sci-fi show wrapping up—and the next chapter greenlit and underway—the writers' room recently discussed the audience reaction and whether it will impact the future direction of Pluribus.
On the Overwhelming Viewer Reception
One could easily to get distracted by the constant speculation and online debates surrounding Pluribus. He is making a conscious effort to avoid both.
“It feels like constantly eating something incredibly sweet and being laughing uncontrollably,” he says. “It's amazing, but I hear about it from others, and that's intentional. Never in my life Googled myself, nor do I ever plan to. Not because I don't care. It's a bottomless pit I know I would disappear down and then I'd be pooping in a five gallon bucket from Home Depot and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”
Despite Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no way to avoid the overwhelmingly positive 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 change the plot,” says Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not changed by audience chatter.”
“We prefer to keep our heads down and working,” Gilligan concludes.
A Pressing Query: Does the creator See the Ending of Pluribus?
Considering Gilligan and his team aren't taking cues by public opinion, does that mean they have mapped out how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? Essentially yes… sort of.
“We have some potential directions about where the show might end up,” Gilligan says. “however, we remain prepared to discard a decent plan for a better idea. This approach has served us in good stead on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We throw stuff out when we conceive of something superior and I expect we'll continue doing that.”
Alternatively, if they hit a wall, executive producer Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to serve as a last resort.
“I constantly suggest that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll pull back at the end and that's where they've been all along,” Smith quips, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Of course, why not reference the legendary finales?
“I'd love for Carol to awaken next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV+.
