The Showrunner Discloses He Has an Idea of How His Sci-Fi Series Will End... For Now.
Vince Gilligan never anticipated that Pluribus would turn into a massive hit. “The viewers have been incredible,” Gilligan says. “I was surprised by the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me thrilled beyond words.”
As the debut season of the acclaimed series reaching its finale—and Season 2 greenlit and underway—the creative team opened up about the viewer reception and whether it will shape the future direction of Pluribus.
On the Tremendous Fan Response
Anyone might to get distracted by the rampant praise and audience predictions about Pluribus. The creator is doing his best to steer clear of all that.
“The experience is akin to an endless supply of hot fudge sundaes and being laughing uncontrollably,” he explains. “It's wonderful, but I learn of it from others, and that's on purpose. I have never looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever plan to. Not because I don't care. It's a bottomless pit I know I would get lost in and then I'd be pooping in a five gallon bucket from Home Depot and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”
Despite his concerted efforts, there’s no escaping the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to accept it graciously and try not to let it influence the direction of the show.
“We don't try to tailor anything,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not impacted by audience chatter.”
“It's wiser to keep our heads down and working,” Gilligan adds.
A Pressing Query: Does Vince Gilligan See the Conclusion of Pluribus?
So if Gilligan and his team aren’t being guided by audience theories, does it imply they already know how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? The answer is yes… in a way.
“We've developed some interesting ideas about how the story could conclude,” Gilligan reveals. “but we are always ready to throw out a good idea for a more brilliant plan. 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 get a better idea and I suspect we'll be doing that.”
Alternatively, if they hit a wall, director and writer Gordon Smith has a humorous idea to fall back on.
“I constantly suggest that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll reveal the snow globe and the characters are inside it,” he says humorously, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Then again, why not reference the iconic TV endings?
“I'd love for Carol to wake up in bed with Bob Newhart there,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV.
