The Showrunner Reveals He Has a Plan for How The Apple TV+ Show Will End... Currently.
The creative mastermind never anticipated that the Apple TV+ show would emerge as a massive hit. “The viewers have been incredible,” Gilligan says. “It was unexpected the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
Now that Season 1 of the popular series reaching its finale—and the next chapter greenlit and underway—Gilligan and his team reflected on the fan response and whether it will shape the narrative path of Pluribus.
About the Tremendous Audience Reaction
Anyone might to get swayed by the constant speculation and audience predictions regarding Pluribus. The creator is doing his best to ignore the noise.
“The experience is akin to an endless supply of your favorite dessert and being in a state of bliss,” he explains. “It's amazing, but I learn of it through word of mouth, and that's intentional. Not once have I searched for my own name online, nor do I ever intend 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 living in squalor from the hardware store and I'd be stuck in my living room.”
Despite his concerted efforts, there’s no escaping the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to acknowledge it humbly and try not to let it alter the course of the show.
“We don't try to adjust our writing,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not impacted by what people are saying.”
“It's wiser to keep our heads down and working,” Gilligan adds.
A Pressing Query: Has the showrunner Know the Finale of Pluribus?
Considering the writers aren’t being guided by fan response, can we assume they have already decided how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? Essentially yes… with some caveats.
“We've developed some interesting ideas about where the show might end up,” Gilligan says. “but we are always ready to abandon a solid concept for a more brilliant plan. That philosophy has guided us in good stead on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We change course when we conceive of something superior and I imagine we will be doing that.”
Alternatively, if plans fall through, Gordon Smith has a rather amusing idea to serve as a last resort.
“I keep pitching that it's all in a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and we're in there,” he says humorously, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Then again, why mess with the classics?
“I want Carol to open her eyes next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus is streaming now on Apple TV+.
