Vince Gilligan Shares He Knows How Pluribus Will End... At the Moment.
The acclaimed writer-producer did not foresee that the Apple TV+ show would become a cultural phenomenon. “I am so grateful to the audience,” he remarks. “I did not foresee the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me thrilled beyond words.”
With the first season of the hit program coming to an end—and the next chapter officially in the works—Gilligan and his team opened up about the viewer reception and whether it will impact the future direction of Pluribus.
On the Overwhelming Viewer Reception
One could easily to get distracted by the constant speculation and fan theories regarding Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is doing his best to ignore the noise.
“It feels like constantly eating something incredibly sweet and being in a state of bliss,” he says. “It's wonderful, but I hear about it anecdotally, and that's intentional. 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 disappear down and then I'd be living in squalor from the hardware store and I'd never leave my living room.”
Despite Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no escaping the immensely favorable response to the series. The most practical strategy is to acknowledge it humbly and try not to let it alter the course of the show.
“It is not our goal to tailor anything,” says Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not changed by audience chatter.”
“It's wiser to keep our heads down and working,” Gilligan concludes.
The Big Question: Does the showrunner Have a Plan for the Conclusion of Pluribus?
Considering Gilligan and his team aren't taking cues by fan response, does that mean they already know how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? The answer is yes… sort of.
“We've developed some potential directions about how the story could conclude,” Gilligan reveals. “but we are always ready to throw out a solid concept for a more brilliant plan. This approach has served us in well on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We throw stuff out when we find a more perfect path and I expect we'll continue doing that.”
On the other hand, if all else fails, Gordon Smith has a humorous idea to use as a backup.
“I keep pitching that it's all in a snow globe, and that we'll pull back at the end and the characters are inside it,” he says humorously, “though the idea hasn't gained traction.”
Of course, why mess with the iconic TV endings?
“I want Carol to open her eyes beside Bob Newhart,” he jokes.
Pluribus is streaming now on the streaming service.
