The Showrunner Discloses He Has a Plan for How Pluribus Will End... At the Moment.
The acclaimed writer-producer never anticipated that Pluribus would emerge as a breakout success. “The viewers have been incredible,” he remarks. “I did not foresee the show being as widely discussed as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
With the first season of the popular sci-fi show coming to an end—and Season 2 greenlit and underway—the writers' room opened up about the fan response and whether it will shape the narrative path of Pluribus.
Regarding the Overwhelming Fan Response
One could easily to get sidetracked by the constant speculation and online debates about Pluribus. The creator is making a conscious effort to steer clear of all that.
“It feels like force fed something incredibly sweet and being in a state of bliss,” he explains. “It's amazing, but I hear about it through word of mouth, and that's on purpose. Never in my life looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever plan to. Not because I don't care. It's a deep trap I know I would disappear down and then I'd be pooping in a five gallon bucket from the hardware store and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”
In spite of his concerted efforts, there’s it's impossible to ignore the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The most practical strategy is to take it in stride and try not to let it influence the direction of the show.
“We make no attempt to change the plot,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The narrative we craft is not changed by audience chatter.”
“It's wiser to keep our heads down and working,” Gilligan concludes.
The Central Mystery: Does Vince Gilligan Have a Plan for the Ending of Pluribus?
Considering the writers aren’t being guided by audience theories, does it imply they already know how Pluribus will ultimately end? Essentially yes… with some caveats.
“There are some interesting ideas about the ultimate destination,” Gilligan says. “yet we stand ready to throw out a solid concept for a superior concept. That philosophy has guided us in well 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.”
Alternatively, if all else fails, director and writer Gordon Smith has a rather amusing idea to serve as a last resort.
“I constantly suggest that it's all in a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and we're in there,” Smith jokes, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Of course, why not reference the legendary finales?
“I want Carol to open her eyes beside Bob Newhart,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus is currently available on Apple TV+.
