The Showrunner Reveals He Knows How His Sci-Fi Series Will Conclude... Currently.
The creative mastermind did not foresee that the Apple TV+ show would become a breakout success. “I am so grateful to the audience,” Gilligan says. “I was surprised by the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”
Now that Season 1 of the popular program reaching its finale—and the next chapter already in development—the writers' room recently discussed the viewer reception and whether it will shape the storyline of Pluribus.
About the Tremendous Viewer Reception
One could easily to get sidetracked by the rampant praise and fan theories surrounding Pluribus. The creator is doing his best to avoid both.
“It's like being force fed something incredibly sweet and being tickled to death,” he explains. “It's wonderful, but I learn of it from others, and that's by design. Not once have I looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever want to. It's not a lack of interest. It's a rabbit hole I know I would get lost in and then I'd be never leaving the house from the hardware store and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”
Despite trying to stay away, 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 dictate the story 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 noses to the grindstone,” he chimes in.
The Big Question: Does the showrunner See the Conclusion of Pluribus?
Considering the writers aren’t being guided by fan response, can we assume they have already decided how Pluribus will ultimately end? In short yes… sort of.
“We've developed some potential directions about how the story could conclude,” Gilligan says. “however, we remain prepared to throw out a solid concept for a more brilliant plan. This approach has served us in excellent shape on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We scrap ideas when we find a more perfect path and I suspect we'll be doing that.”
Alternatively, if all else fails, Gordon Smith has a humorous idea to use as a backup.
“My recurring proposal is that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and the characters are inside it,” he says humorously, “though the idea hasn't gained traction.”
Alternatively, one could always use the iconic TV endings?
“I want Carol to awaken with Bob Newhart there,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus is currently available on Apple TV+.