Vince Gilligan Shares He Has an Idea of How His Sci-Fi Series Will Conclude... For Now.
Vince Gilligan did not foresee that the Apple TV+ show would become a breakout success. “God bless the fans,” Gilligan says. “I was surprised by the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me thrilled beyond words.”
With the first season of the hit sci-fi show reaching its finale—and the next chapter greenlit and underway—the writers' room reflected on the fan response and whether it will impact the future direction of Pluribus.
Regarding the Overwhelming Viewer Reception
It would be easy to get distracted by the rampant praise and fan theories about Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is making a conscious effort to ignore the noise.
“It feels like an endless supply of hot fudge sundaes and being tickled to death,” he explains. “It's the greatest thing, but I learn of it anecdotally, and that's by design. Not once have I looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever plan to. It's not a lack of interest. It's a bottomless pit 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.”
Regardless of trying to stay away, there’s no way to avoid 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 don't try to tailor anything,” says Alison Tatlock. “The narrative we craft is not impacted by what people are saying.”
“It's wiser to keep our focus on the work,” Gilligan concludes.
A Pressing Query: Does the showrunner See the Conclusion of Pluribus?
So if the writers aren't taking cues by fan response, does it imply they already know how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? Essentially yes… in a way.
“We've developed some interesting ideas about how the story could conclude,” he states. “yet we stand ready to throw out a decent plan for a more brilliant plan. That has held us in well 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.”
Alternatively, if plans fall through, executive producer Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to use as a backup.
“I keep pitching that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and we're in there,” Smith quips, “but no one is buying it.”
Of course, one could always use the legendary finales?
“I want Carol to open her eyes with Bob Newhart there,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus is streaming now on Apple TV.
