The Showrunner Reveals He Knows How Pluribus Might Finish... For Now.
Vince Gilligan could not have predicted that the Apple TV+ show would become a breakout success. “I am so grateful to the audience,” he states. “It was unexpected the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”
Now that Season 1 of the popular series wrapping up—and Season 2 already in development—the writers' room opened up about the viewer reception and whether it will impact the future direction of Pluribus.
On the Incredible Viewer Reception
It would be easy to get distracted by the constant speculation and audience predictions regarding Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is making a conscious effort to steer clear of all that.
“The experience is akin to constantly eating hot fudge sundaes and being in a state of bliss,” he says. “It's the greatest thing, but I get wind of it anecdotally, and that's on purpose. I have never Googled myself, nor do I ever plan to. Not because I don't care. It's a deep trap I know I would fall into and then I'd be living in squalor 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 extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to take it in stride and try not to let it alter the course of the show.
“We don't try to change the plot,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The narrative we craft is not impacted by online forums.”
“It's wiser to keep our heads down and working,” Gilligan concludes.
The Big Question: Will the showrunner Know the Finale of Pluribus?
Given that the writers are not listening by fan response, can we assume they have mapped out how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? In short yes… with some caveats.
“We've developed some interesting ideas about the ultimate destination,” he states. “yet we stand ready to discard a decent plan for a superior concept. That has held us in well on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We throw stuff out when we conceive of something superior and I suspect we'll be doing that.”
Then again, if plans fall through, director and writer Gordon Smith has a humorous idea to use as a backup.
“My recurring proposal is that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll reveal the snow globe and we're in there,” Smith quips, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Alternatively, why mess with the classics?
“I want Carol to open her eyes with Bob Newhart there,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV+.
