The Showrunner Shares He Has an Idea of How The Apple TV+ Show Will Conclude... For Now.
The acclaimed writer-producer never anticipated that Pluribus would turn into a massive hit. “The viewers have been incredible,” he states. “I was surprised by the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
As the debut season of the popular sci-fi show reaching its finale—and Season 2 greenlit and underway—the writers' room opened up about the audience reaction and whether it will shape the narrative path of Pluribus.
About the Overwhelming Fan Response
It would be easy to get swayed by the constant speculation and online debates about Pluribus. The creator is doing his best to avoid both.
“It feels like constantly eating your favorite dessert and being tickled to death,” he explains. “It's wonderful, but I learn of it through word of mouth, and that's on purpose. Never in my life searched for my own name online, nor do I ever plan to. It's not a lack of interest. It's a deep trap 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 be stuck in my living room.”
In spite of Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no way to avoid the immensely favorable response to the series. The best he and his team can do is to take it in stride and try not to let it alter the course of the show.
“We don't try to change the plot,” says Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not impacted by online forums.”
“It's wiser to keep our focus on the work,” Gilligan concludes.
The Big Question: Has the creator Have a Plan for the Finale of Pluribus?
Considering Gilligan and his team are not listening by public opinion, does it imply they already know how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? The answer is yes… with some caveats.
“We've developed some compelling concepts about where the show might end up,” he states. “but we are always ready to abandon a solid concept for a better idea. This approach has served us in good stead on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We throw stuff out when we conceive of something superior and I expect we'll continue doing that.”
On the other hand, if they hit a wall, executive producer Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to serve as a last resort.
“I keep pitching that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and that's where they've been all along,” Smith jokes, “but no one is buying it.”
Then again, why mess with the classics?
“I'd love for Carol to awaken with Bob Newhart there,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus is currently available on Apple TV+.
