The 'Breaking Bad' Creator Discloses He Knows How Pluribus Will End... For Now.
The creative mastermind could not have predicted that his new science-fiction series would become a cultural phenomenon. “The viewers have been incredible,” Gilligan says. “I was surprised by the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me thrilled beyond words.”
With the first season of the hit series coming to an end—and a second season greenlit and underway—the writers' room recently discussed the viewer reception and whether it will influence the storyline of Pluribus.
On the Incredible Fan Response
It would be easy to get distracted by the widespread acclaim and fan theories regarding Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is striving to ignore the noise.
“It's like being constantly eating hot fudge sundaes and being tickled to death,” he describes. “It's the greatest thing, but I get wind of it through word of mouth, and that's by design. Not once have I searched for my own name online, nor do I ever want to. It's not a lack of interest. It's a bottomless pit 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 trying to stay away, 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 make no attempt to change the plot,” says co-executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The narrative we craft is not impacted by audience chatter.”
“We prefer to keep our heads down and working,” Gilligan concludes.
The Central Mystery: Does Vince Gilligan Know the Ending of Pluribus?
So if the writers are not listening by fan response, does it imply they have already decided how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? Essentially yes… in a way.
“We've developed some interesting ideas about the ultimate destination,” he states. “but we are always ready to discard a good idea for a superior concept. That philosophy has guided us in well on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We change course when we find a more perfect path and I suspect we'll be doing that.”
Alternatively, if all else fails, executive producer Gordon Smith has a rather amusing idea to serve as a last resort.
“My recurring proposal is that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll pull back at the end and the characters are inside it,” Smith quips, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Then again, why not reference the iconic TV endings?
“I want Carol to open her eyes next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus is currently available on Apple TV.
