The Showrunner Reveals He Has a Plan for How His Sci-Fi Series Will End... For Now.
The creative mastermind did not foresee that his new science-fiction series would turn into a massive hit. “The viewers have been incredible,” Gilligan says. “I did not foresee the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
As the debut season of the acclaimed program coming to an end—and a second season greenlit and underway—Gilligan and his team reflected on the audience reaction and whether it will influence the narrative path of Pluribus.
Regarding the Overwhelming Fan Response
It would be easy to get distracted by the constant speculation and fan theories about Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is making a conscious effort to ignore the noise.
“It's like being an endless supply of your favorite dessert and being laughing uncontrollably,” he explains. “It's the greatest thing, but I get wind of it anecdotally, and that's intentional. Never in my life looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever plan to. It's quite the opposite. 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 trying to stay away, there’s no escaping the immensely favorable 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 co-executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not influenced by what people are saying.”
“We prefer to keep our noses to the grindstone,” he chimes in.
The Big Question: Will the showrunner See the Finale of Pluribus?
So if Gilligan and his team aren't taking cues by audience theories, 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 where the show might end up,” Gilligan reveals. “yet we stand ready to abandon a good idea for a more brilliant plan. 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 get a better idea and I expect we'll continue doing that.”
Alternatively, if plans fall through, executive producer Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to serve as a last resort.
“I constantly suggest that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and the characters are inside it,” Smith quips, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Then again, why not reference the iconic TV endings?
“My dream is Carol to wake up in bed next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus is currently available on Apple TV+.
