The Showrunner Reveals He Has an Idea of How His Sci-Fi Series Might Finish... For Now.
Vince Gilligan did not foresee that his new science-fiction series would turn into a cultural phenomenon. “God bless the fans,” he states. “I was surprised by the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
As the debut season of the acclaimed sci-fi show wrapping up—and a second season greenlit and underway—the writers' room opened up about the viewer reception and whether it will shape the narrative path of Pluribus.
Regarding the Incredible Audience Reaction
It would be easy to get swayed by the rampant praise and audience predictions regarding Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is striving to avoid both.
“The experience is akin to an endless supply of hot fudge sundaes and being laughing uncontrollably,” he says. “It's amazing, but I get wind of it through word of mouth, and that's by design. Not once have I Googled myself, nor do I ever intend to. It's quite the opposite. It's a deep trap I know I would fall into and then I'd be pooping in a five gallon bucket from Home Depot and I'd never leave my living room.”
Regardless of his concerted efforts, there’s no way to avoid the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The best he and his team can do is to accept it graciously and try not to let it dictate the story of the show.
“We don't try to adjust our writing,” says Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not impacted by what people are saying.”
“Better to keep our heads down and working,” Gilligan adds.
The Big Question: Will the showrunner Have a Plan for the Conclusion of Pluribus?
Given that Gilligan and his team aren't taking cues by public opinion, does that mean they have mapped out how Pluribus will finally conclude? The answer is yes… in a way.
“There are some potential directions about where the show might end up,” Gilligan reveals. “yet we stand ready to discard a good idea for a superior concept. That philosophy has guided us in excellent shape on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We throw stuff out when we get a better idea and I imagine we will be doing that.”
Then again, if they hit a wall, director and writer Gordon Smith has a humorous idea to fall back on.
“My recurring proposal is that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and the characters are inside it,” he says humorously, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Alternatively, one could always use the iconic TV endings?
“I'd love for Carol to open her eyes beside Bob Newhart,” he jokes.
Pluribus is currently available on Apple TV.
