Vince Gilligan Reveals He Has a Plan for How Pluribus Will End... At the Moment.
The creative mastermind could not have predicted that the Apple TV+ show would become a cultural phenomenon. “I am so grateful to the audience,” Gilligan says. “I did not foresee the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
Now that Season 1 of the popular program coming to an end—and Season 2 greenlit and underway—the creative team opened up about the viewer reception and whether it will shape the storyline of Pluribus.
On the Overwhelming Viewer Reception
One could easily to get sidetracked by the rampant praise and online debates regarding Pluribus. The creator is doing his best to avoid both.
“It feels like an endless supply of hot fudge sundaes and being tickled to death,” he says. “It's the greatest thing, but I hear about it through word of mouth, and that's on purpose. 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 disappear down 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 no escaping the overwhelmingly positive response to the series. The best he and his team can do is to acknowledge it humbly and try not to let it dictate the story of the show.
“We make no attempt to adjust our writing,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not influenced by online forums.”
“It's wiser to keep our heads down and working,” he chimes in.
A Pressing Query: Does the showrunner Know the Ending of Pluribus?
Given that the creative staff aren't taking cues by public opinion, does it imply they already know how Pluribus will finally conclude? In short yes… in a way.
“We have some compelling concepts about the ultimate destination,” he states. “however, we remain prepared to discard a good idea for a superior concept. This approach has served us in excellent shape on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We change course when we conceive of something superior and I expect we'll continue doing that.”
Then again, if plans fall through, Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to serve as a last resort.
“My recurring proposal is that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and that's where they've been all along,” Smith jokes, “though the idea hasn't gained traction.”
Of course, why not reference the classics?
“I'd love for Carol to awaken beside Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus is streaming now on Apple TV.
