The Showrunner Discloses He Has a Plan for How The Apple TV+ Show Will End... For Now.
The acclaimed writer-producer could not have predicted that the Apple TV+ show would turn into a breakout success. “I am so grateful to the audience,” he remarks. “I was surprised by the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”
Now that Season 1 of the popular program wrapping up—and the next chapter officially in the works—Gilligan and his team recently discussed the viewer reception and whether it will impact the future direction of Pluribus.
Regarding the Tremendous Fan Response
It would be easy to get sidetracked by the rampant praise and audience predictions about Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is making a conscious effort to steer clear of all that.
“It's like being force fed hot fudge sundaes and being tickled to death,” he describes. “It's amazing, but I get wind of it anecdotally, and that's on purpose. Never in my life Googled myself, nor do I ever intend to. Not because I don't care. It's a bottomless pit I know I would get lost in and then I'd be living in squalor from the hardware store and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”
Regardless of his concerted efforts, there’s no escaping the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The best he and his team can do is to acknowledge it humbly and try not to let it influence the direction of the show.
“It is not our goal to tailor anything,” says co-executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The narrative we craft is not influenced by what people are saying.”
“We prefer to keep our noses to the grindstone,” Gilligan concludes.
The Big Question: Will the showrunner Know the Conclusion of Pluribus?
Considering the writers aren't taking cues by public opinion, can we assume they have mapped out how Pluribus will ultimately end? The answer is yes… with some caveats.
“There are some interesting ideas about how the story could conclude,” he states. “yet we stand ready to abandon a decent plan for a better idea. That philosophy has guided us in good stead 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 plans fall through, executive producer Gordon Smith has a humorous idea to use as a backup.
“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 nobody's taking me up on that.”
Alternatively, one could always use the legendary finales?
“I want Carol to awaken next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus is streaming now on Apple TV.
