The Showrunner Shares He Knows How The Apple TV+ Show Will Conclude... At the Moment.
The creative mastermind did not foresee that his new science-fiction series would turn into a cultural phenomenon. “God bless the fans,” Gilligan says. “I was surprised by the show being as widely discussed as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”
With the first season of the acclaimed series wrapping up—and Season 2 already in development—the creative team opened up about the fan response and whether it will influence the narrative path of Pluribus.
On the Overwhelming Viewer Reception
It would be easy to get sidetracked by the widespread acclaim and audience predictions about Pluribus. The creator is making a conscious effort to avoid both.
“It's like being constantly eating something incredibly sweet and being in a state of bliss,” he explains. “It's wonderful, but I hear about it from others, and that's by design. Never in my life 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 pooping in a five gallon bucket from Home Depot and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”
In spite of his concerted efforts, there’s no way to avoid the overwhelmingly positive response to the series. The best he and his team can do is to accept it graciously and try not to let it influence the direction of the show.
“It is not our goal to change the plot,” says co-executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The narrative we craft is not changed by what people are saying.”
“We prefer to keep our heads down and working,” Gilligan adds.
The Big Question: Has the creator See the Ending of Pluribus?
Considering Gilligan and his team aren’t being guided by audience theories, does it imply they already know how Pluribus will finally conclude? In short yes… with some caveats.
“We've developed some compelling concepts about the ultimate destination,” he states. “yet we stand ready to discard a decent plan for a better idea. This approach has served us in excellent shape on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We scrap ideas when we get a better idea and I imagine we will be doing that.”
Then again, if all else fails, Gordon Smith has a humorous idea to fall back on.
“I constantly suggest that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and we're in there,” Smith jokes, “though the idea hasn't gained traction.”
Of course, why mess with the classics?
“I'd love for Carol to awaken beside Bob Newhart,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus is currently available on Apple TV+.
