The Showrunner Shares He Has an Idea of How The Apple TV+ Show Might Finish... Currently.
Vince Gilligan did not foresee that the Apple TV+ show would turn into a breakout success. “I am so grateful to the audience,” he remarks. “It was unexpected the show being as widely discussed as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”
With the first season of the hit series coming to an end—and Season 2 already in development—the creative team reflected on the viewer reception and whether it will influence the future direction of Pluribus.
On the Overwhelming Audience Reaction
Anyone might to get sidetracked by the widespread acclaim and online debates regarding Pluribus. He is making a conscious effort to ignore the noise.
“It feels like force fed something incredibly sweet and being in a state of bliss,” he says. “It's the greatest thing, but I learn of it from others, and that's on purpose. I have never looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever plan to. It's not a lack of interest. It's a bottomless pit I know I would fall into and then I'd be never leaving the house from the hardware store and I'd never leave my living room.”
Despite his concerted efforts, there’s no way to avoid the immensely favorable response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to accept it graciously 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. “The narrative we craft is not impacted by audience chatter.”
“It's wiser to keep our noses to the grindstone,” Gilligan concludes.
The Central Mystery: Has the showrunner Have a Plan for the Ending of Pluribus?
Considering the writers aren’t being guided by fan response, does that mean they have mapped out how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? In short yes… in a way.
“We've developed some potential directions about where the show might end up,” he states. “however, we remain prepared to discard a good idea for a more brilliant plan. This approach has served us in good stead on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We scrap ideas when we find a more perfect path and I expect we'll continue doing that.”
Then again, if plans fall through, director and writer Gordon Smith has a rather amusing idea to serve as a last resort.
“I keep pitching that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll pull back at the end and the characters are inside it,” Smith jokes, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Alternatively, one could always use the legendary finales?
“My dream is Carol to awaken next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus is streaming now on Apple TV+.
