The Showrunner Discloses He Knows How Pluribus Might Finish... For Now.
The acclaimed writer-producer never anticipated that the Apple TV+ show would emerge as a breakout success. “I am so grateful to the audience,” Gilligan says. “I was surprised by the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me thrilled beyond words.”
As the debut season of the popular program wrapping up—and the next chapter already in development—the creative team opened up about the audience reaction and whether it will influence the storyline of Pluribus.
About the Tremendous Audience Reaction
Anyone might to get swayed by the widespread acclaim and online debates about Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is striving to ignore the noise.
“It's like being an endless supply of something incredibly sweet and being tickled to death,” he says. “It's wonderful, but I learn of it through word of mouth, and that's intentional. Never in my life Googled myself, nor do I ever intend to. It's quite the opposite. It's a bottomless pit I know I would disappear down and then I'd be pooping in a five gallon bucket from Home Depot and I'd never leave my living room.”
Despite Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no way to avoid the immensely favorable response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to accept it graciously and try not to let it influence the direction of the show.
“We don't try to change the plot,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not influenced by audience chatter.”
“It's wiser to keep our heads down and working,” Gilligan adds.
The Big Question: Does the showrunner Know the Finale of Pluribus?
So if Gilligan and his team are not listening by audience theories, does that mean they have mapped out how Pluribus will finally conclude? The answer is yes… sort of.
“We have some interesting ideas about where the show might end up,” Gilligan says. “but we are always ready to throw out a solid concept 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 change course when we get a better idea and I expect we'll continue doing that.”
Alternatively, if all else fails, executive producer Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to serve as a last resort.
“I constantly suggest that it's all in a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and that's where they've been all along,” he says humorously, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Then again, 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 can be watched on Apple TV.
