The Showrunner Shares He Has a Plan for How Pluribus Might Finish... Currently.
Vince Gilligan did not foresee that his new science-fiction series would turn into a breakout success. “God bless the fans,” he states. “It was unexpected the show being as widely discussed as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”
With the first season of the acclaimed series reaching its finale—and the next chapter greenlit and underway—the creative team recently discussed the audience reaction and whether it will shape the narrative path of Pluribus.
About the Incredible Fan Response
One could easily to get swayed by the rampant praise and audience predictions about Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is making a conscious effort to avoid both.
“The experience is akin to an endless supply of your favorite dessert and being in a state of bliss,” he explains. “It's the greatest thing, but I get wind of it through word of mouth, and that's on purpose. Not once have I searched for my own name online, nor do I ever want to. It's quite the opposite. It's a bottomless pit I know I would disappear down and then I'd be living in squalor from Home Depot and I'd be stuck in my living room.”
In spite of Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no way to avoid the immensely favorable response to the series. The best he and his team can do 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. “Our storytelling is not changed by online forums.”
“Better to keep our heads down and working,” he chimes in.
The Big Question: Will Vince Gilligan Have a Plan for the Ending of Pluribus?
Given that the writers aren't taking cues by audience theories, does it imply they already know how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? In short yes… sort of.
“We have some compelling concepts about where the show might end up,” he states. “however, we remain prepared to discard a good idea for a better idea. This approach has served us in well on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We scrap ideas when we find a more perfect path and I imagine we will be doing that.”
Alternatively, if they hit a wall, director and writer Gordon Smith has a humorous idea to use as a backup.
“I constantly suggest that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll reveal the snow globe and the characters are inside it,” Smith quips, “but no one is buying it.”
Then again, why not reference the legendary finales?
“My dream is Carol to awaken with Bob Newhart there,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus is currently available on Apple TV.
