The Showrunner Reveals He Knows How His Sci-Fi Series Will End... At the Moment.
The acclaimed writer-producer could not have predicted that his new science-fiction series would turn into a breakout success. “God bless the fans,” he states. “I did not foresee the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me thrilled beyond words.”
Now that Season 1 of the acclaimed sci-fi show reaching its finale—and Season 2 already in development—the writers' room recently discussed the audience reaction and whether it will impact the future direction of Pluribus.
About the Overwhelming Audience Reaction
One could easily to get distracted by the rampant praise and online debates surrounding Pluribus. He is making a conscious effort to avoid both.
“The experience is akin to an endless supply of something incredibly sweet and being tickled to death,” he says. “It's amazing, but I get wind of it from others, and that's by design. Not once have I looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever intend to. It's not a lack of interest. It's a bottomless pit I know I would disappear down and then I'd be living in squalor from the hardware store and I'd be stuck in my living room.”
Regardless of his concerted efforts, there’s no way to avoid the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The best he and his team can do is to accept it graciously and try not to let it dictate the story of the show.
“We don't try to tailor anything,” says Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not influenced by online forums.”
“We prefer to keep our heads down and working,” he chimes in.
The Central Mystery: Will Vince Gilligan Have a Plan for the Finale of Pluribus?
Given that the creative staff aren't taking cues by audience theories, does that mean they have mapped out how Pluribus will ultimately end? The answer is yes… with some caveats.
“We've developed some interesting ideas about where the show might end up,” Gilligan reveals. “yet we stand ready to throw out a good idea for a superior concept. That has held us in excellent shape on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We scrap ideas when we conceive of something superior and I imagine we will be doing that.”
On the other hand, if they hit a wall, Gordon Smith has a rather amusing idea to use as a backup.
“I constantly suggest that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll reveal the snow globe and we're in there,” he says humorously, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Of course, why mess with the legendary finales?
“I'd love for Carol to awaken next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus is currently available on Apple TV+.
