The Showrunner Shares He Has an Idea of 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 emerge as a breakout success. “I am so grateful to the audience,” Gilligan says. “It was unexpected the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
Now that Season 1 of the acclaimed program wrapping up—and a second season already in development—the creative team opened up about the fan response and whether it will influence the narrative path of Pluribus.
Regarding the Incredible Fan Response
One could easily to get distracted by the constant speculation and audience predictions regarding Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is doing his best to ignore the noise.
“The experience is akin to force fed hot fudge sundaes and being tickled to death,” he describes. “It's amazing, but I hear about it through word of mouth, and that's on purpose. I have never looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever plan to. It's not a lack of interest. It's a rabbit hole I know I would fall into and then I'd be living in squalor from the hardware store and I'd never leave my living room.”
Despite Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no escaping 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 co-executive producer Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not impacted by what people are saying.”
“It's wiser to keep our focus on the work,” he chimes in.
The Central Mystery: Does the showrunner See the Ending of Pluribus?
So if the writers aren’t being guided by public opinion, does it imply they already know how Pluribus will ultimately end? In short yes… in a way.
“We've developed some compelling concepts about how the story could conclude,” Gilligan says. “however, we remain prepared to throw out 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 throw stuff out 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 pretty funny idea to fall back on.
“I constantly suggest that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and we're in there,” Smith jokes, “but no one is buying it.”
Alternatively, why not reference the legendary finales?
“I want Carol to open her eyes next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV+.
