The Showrunner Discloses He Has a Plan for How His Sci-Fi Series Might Finish... At the Moment.
The acclaimed writer-producer never anticipated that Pluribus would turn into a massive hit. “The viewers have been incredible,” he states. “I was surprised by the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”
Now that Season 1 of the hit series reaching its finale—and a second season greenlit and underway—the creative team recently discussed the fan response and whether it will influence the narrative path of Pluribus.
On the Incredible Viewer Reception
It would be easy to get swayed by the widespread acclaim and audience predictions about Pluribus. The creator is doing his best to ignore the noise.
“The experience is akin to constantly eating hot fudge sundaes and being in a state of bliss,” he describes. “It's wonderful, but I hear about it from others, and that's by design. Not once have I looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever want to. It's quite the opposite. It's a rabbit hole I know I would fall into and then I'd be never leaving the house from Home Depot and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”
In spite of trying to stay away, there’s it's impossible to ignore the overwhelmingly positive response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to accept it graciously and try not to let it alter the course of the show.
“We don't try to tailor anything,” says Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not influenced by what people are saying.”
“We prefer to keep our noses to the grindstone,” Gilligan adds.
A Pressing Query: Does Vince Gilligan See the Finale of Pluribus?
So if the writers are not listening by public opinion, does it imply they already know how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? The answer is yes… in a way.
“We have some compelling concepts about where the show might end up,” he states. “yet we stand ready to abandon a decent plan for a superior concept. That philosophy has guided us in excellent shape 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.”
On the other hand, if all else fails, director and writer Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to serve as a last resort.
“I constantly suggest that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll pull back at the end and that's where they've been all along,” Smith jokes, “though the idea hasn't gained traction.”
Of course, why mess with the legendary finales?
“My dream is Carol to wake up in bed beside Bob Newhart,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV.
