Vince Gilligan Shares He Has an Idea of How His Sci-Fi Series Might Finish... At the Moment.
The creative mastermind did not foresee that Pluribus would become a breakout success. “God bless the fans,” Gilligan says. “I did not foresee the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
Now that Season 1 of the popular sci-fi show reaching its finale—and Season 2 greenlit and underway—the writers' room recently discussed the audience reaction and whether it will impact the future direction of Pluribus.
About the Overwhelming Audience Reaction
It would be easy to get sidetracked by the rampant praise and fan theories about Pluribus. The creator is making a conscious effort to ignore the noise.
“It's like being force fed something incredibly sweet and being in a state of bliss,” he explains. “It's amazing, but I learn of it anecdotally, and that's on purpose. Never in my life looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever plan to. It's quite the opposite. It's a rabbit hole I know I would get lost in 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 Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no escaping the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The most practical strategy is to accept it graciously and try not to let it alter the course of the show.
“It is not our goal to adjust our writing,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not impacted by what people are saying.”
“Better to keep our noses to the grindstone,” he chimes in.
A Pressing Query: Has the showrunner Know the Conclusion of Pluribus?
Given that the writers aren't taking cues by fan response, does it imply they have mapped out how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? In short yes… sort of.
“There are some potential directions about where the show might end up,” Gilligan says. “however, we remain prepared to throw out a solid concept for a more brilliant plan. That philosophy has guided 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 they hit a wall, director and writer Gordon Smith has a rather amusing idea to serve as a last resort.
“I constantly suggest that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and we're in there,” he says humorously, “but no one is buying it.”
Alternatively, one could always use the iconic TV endings?
“I'd love for Carol to awaken next to Bob Newhart,” he jokes.
Pluribus is currently available on Apple TV.
