Vince Gilligan Shares He Knows How His Sci-Fi Series Might Finish... At the Moment.
The creative mastermind could not have predicted that his new science-fiction series would turn into a breakout success. “The viewers have been incredible,” he remarks. “I did not foresee the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”
Now that Season 1 of the popular sci-fi show coming to an end—and a second season greenlit and underway—the writers' room recently discussed the fan response and whether it will influence the narrative path of Pluribus.
On the Overwhelming Fan Response
It would be easy to get sidetracked by the constant speculation and fan theories regarding Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is doing his best to ignore the noise.
“It feels like constantly eating something incredibly sweet and being laughing uncontrollably,” he describes. “It's wonderful, but I get wind of it anecdotally, and that's on purpose. Never in my life looked myself up on the internet, 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 never leaving the house from the hardware store and I'd never leave my living room.”
In spite of his concerted efforts, there’s no way to avoid the immensely favorable response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to take it in stride and try not to let it influence the direction of the show.
“We make no attempt to tailor anything,” says co-executive producer Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not influenced by what people are saying.”
“It's wiser to keep our focus on the work,” Gilligan concludes.
The Big Question: Will the creator Know the Finale of Pluribus?
Given that the creative staff are not listening by audience theories, can we assume they already know how Pluribus will finally conclude? The answer is yes… sort of.
“There are some interesting ideas about how the story could conclude,” Gilligan reveals. “however, we remain prepared to discard a good idea for a better idea. That philosophy has guided us in well on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We scrap ideas when we find a more perfect path and I imagine we will be doing that.”
Then again, if plans fall through, executive producer Gordon Smith has a rather amusing idea to use as a backup.
“I constantly suggest that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and that's where they've been all along,” Smith jokes, “but no one is buying it.”
Then again, one could always use the iconic TV endings?
“I want Carol to open her eyes next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus is streaming now on Apple TV+.
