The Showrunner Reveals He Has a Plan for How The Apple TV+ Show Will Conclude... For Now.
The acclaimed writer-producer could not have predicted that his new science-fiction series would turn into a massive hit. “The viewers have been incredible,” he states. “I did not foresee the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”
As the debut season of the acclaimed series wrapping up—and the next chapter already in development—the writers' room reflected on the fan response and whether it will shape the future direction of Pluribus.
Regarding the Tremendous Audience Reaction
It would be easy to get swayed by the rampant praise and fan theories surrounding Pluribus. He is striving to steer clear of all that.
“It feels like constantly eating something incredibly sweet and being laughing uncontrollably,” he explains. “It's amazing, but I learn of it through word of mouth, and that's intentional. 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 deep trap I know I would fall into and then I'd be living in squalor from the hardware store and I'd be stuck in my living room.”
Regardless of Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no escaping the immensely favorable response to the series. The best he and his team can do is to acknowledge it humbly and try not to let it alter the course of the show.
“We don't try to change the plot,” says Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not impacted by audience chatter.”
“It's wiser to keep our focus on the work,” Gilligan adds.
The Central Mystery: Does the showrunner Know the Ending of Pluribus?
Given that Gilligan and his team are not listening by public opinion, does it imply they have already decided how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? Essentially yes… in a way.
“We have some potential directions about the ultimate destination,” Gilligan says. “but we are always ready to abandon 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 scrap ideas when we conceive of something superior 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 use as a backup.
“My recurring proposal is that it's all in a snow globe, and that we'll pull back at the end and the characters are inside it,” Smith quips, “but no one is buying it.”
Of course, why not reference the iconic TV endings?
“My dream is Carol to wake up in bed next to Bob Newhart,” he jokes.
Pluribus is streaming now on the streaming service.
