The Showrunner Reveals He Knows How Pluribus Will End... At the Moment.
Vince Gilligan never anticipated that Pluribus would emerge as a massive hit. “I am so grateful to the audience,” Gilligan says. “I did not foresee the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
As the debut season of the acclaimed program reaching its finale—and the next chapter officially in the works—Gilligan and his team recently discussed the audience reaction and whether it will shape the storyline of Pluribus.
Regarding the Tremendous Audience Reaction
It would be easy to get distracted by the rampant praise and fan theories regarding Pluribus. He is doing his best to avoid both.
“The experience is akin to an endless supply of something incredibly sweet and being tickled to death,” he says. “It's the greatest thing, but I get wind of it anecdotally, and that's on purpose. Not once have I looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever plan to. It's quite the opposite. It's a rabbit hole I know I would fall into and then I'd be never leaving the house from the hardware store and I'd be stuck in my living room.”
Despite Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s it's impossible to ignore the immensely favorable response to the series. The best he and his team can do 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 changed by online forums.”
“Better to keep our heads down and working,” Gilligan adds.
A Pressing Query: Does Vince Gilligan Have a Plan for the Conclusion of Pluribus?
Given that Gilligan and his team aren't taking cues by fan response, can we assume they already know how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? In short yes… with some caveats.
“We've developed some compelling concepts about how the story could conclude,” he states. “yet we stand ready to discard a good idea for a superior concept. That philosophy has guided us in well 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, Gordon Smith has a rather amusing idea to fall back on.
“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, “though the idea hasn't gained traction.”
Then again, one could always use the legendary finales?
“I'd love for Carol to awaken beside Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV+.
