The Showrunner Shares He Has a Plan for How Pluribus Will Conclude... Currently.
The acclaimed writer-producer could not have predicted that his new science-fiction series would emerge as a cultural phenomenon. “I am so grateful to the audience,” he remarks. “I did not foresee the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me thrilled beyond words.”
Now that Season 1 of the popular program coming to an end—and the next chapter greenlit and underway—Gilligan and his team reflected on the fan response and whether it will shape the narrative path of Pluribus.
About the Overwhelming Fan Response
Anyone might to get distracted by the widespread acclaim and fan theories surrounding Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is doing his best to ignore the noise.
“The experience is akin to force fed something incredibly sweet and being in a state of bliss,” he describes. “It's the greatest thing, but I get wind of it anecdotally, 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 pooping in a five gallon bucket from Home Depot and I'd never leave my living room.”
Despite Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no way to avoid the extremely enthusiastic 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.
“It is not our goal to adjust our writing,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The narrative we craft is not impacted by online forums.”
“We prefer to keep our noses to the grindstone,” Gilligan adds.
The Central Mystery: Has the showrunner Know the Ending of Pluribus?
Given that Gilligan and his team aren't taking cues by audience theories, can we assume they have mapped out how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? In short yes… with some caveats.
“We have some interesting ideas about where the show might end up,” he states. “yet we stand ready to throw out a decent plan for a superior concept. That philosophy has guided 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 expect we'll continue doing that.”
Alternatively, if they hit a wall, 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 reveal the snow globe and the characters are inside it,” Smith quips, “but no one is buying it.”
Then again, one could always use the legendary finales?
“I want Carol to open her eyes with Bob Newhart there,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus is currently available on Apple TV.
