The Showrunner Shares He Has a Plan for How The Apple TV+ Show Will End... For Now.
Vince Gilligan did not foresee that Pluribus would turn into a breakout success. “The viewers have been incredible,” Gilligan says. “I was surprised by the show being as widely discussed as it is, and it makes me thrilled beyond words.”
As the debut season of the hit sci-fi show reaching its finale—and Season 2 greenlit and underway—the creative team reflected on the audience reaction and whether it will shape the future direction of Pluribus.
On the Incredible Fan Response
Anyone might to get sidetracked by the widespread acclaim and fan theories surrounding Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is striving to avoid both.
“It's like being an endless supply of something incredibly sweet and being tickled to death,” he describes. “It's amazing, but I learn of it from others, and that's intentional. Not once have I Googled myself, nor do I ever plan to. Not because I don't care. It's a deep trap I know I would get lost in and then I'd be never leaving the house from Home Depot and I'd be stuck in my living room.”
Regardless of his concerted efforts, there’s no escaping the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to acknowledge it humbly and try not to let it dictate the story of the show.
“It is not our goal to adjust our writing,” says Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not changed by what people are saying.”
“We prefer to keep our noses to the grindstone,” he chimes in.
The Central Mystery: Will the creator See the Ending of Pluribus?
Given that Gilligan and his team aren’t being guided by public opinion, does that mean they have mapped out how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? In short yes… sort of.
“We've developed some compelling concepts about how the story could conclude,” he states. “but we are always ready to discard a decent plan for a superior concept. This approach has served us in well on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We change course when we get a better idea and I imagine we will be doing that.”
Then again, if plans fall through, Gordon Smith has a rather amusing idea to use as a backup.
“I keep pitching that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll reveal the snow globe and the characters are inside it,” Smith quips, “though the idea hasn't gained traction.”
Alternatively, why not reference the classics?
“I want Carol to wake up in bed next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV+.
