The Showrunner Shares He Has a Plan for How The Apple TV+ Show Will End... Currently.
The acclaimed writer-producer did not foresee that his new science-fiction series would emerge as a massive hit. “The viewers have been incredible,” he remarks. “I was surprised by the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
With the first season of the acclaimed series wrapping up—and a second season officially in the works—the creative team reflected on the viewer reception and whether it will shape the future direction of Pluribus.
Regarding the Incredible Viewer Reception
It would be easy to get sidetracked by the rampant praise and online debates surrounding Pluribus. He is making a conscious effort to ignore the noise.
“The experience is akin to constantly eating your favorite dessert 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 want to. It's not a lack of interest. It's a deep trap I know I would disappear down and then I'd be never leaving the house from the hardware store and I'd never leave my living room.”
Despite Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no way to avoid the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The most practical strategy is to take it in stride and try not to let it alter the course of the show.
“We make no attempt to tailor anything,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not impacted by what people are saying.”
“Better to keep our heads down and working,” he chimes in.
The Central Mystery: Does the showrunner See the Finale of Pluribus?
Considering the creative staff aren't taking cues by audience theories, does that mean they have mapped out how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? In short yes… in a way.
“We have some potential directions about how the story could conclude,” he states. “but we are always ready to discard a solid concept for a more brilliant plan. That philosophy has guided us in excellent shape on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We throw stuff out when we conceive of something superior and I suspect we'll be doing that.”
On the other hand, if they hit a wall, director and writer Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to serve as a last resort.
“My recurring proposal is that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll pull back at the end and the characters are inside it,” he says humorously, “but no one is buying it.”
Alternatively, one could always use the classics?
“I'd love for Carol to wake up in bed beside Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus is streaming now on the streaming service.
