The Showrunner Shares He Has a Plan for How The Apple TV+ Show Might Finish... For Now.
The acclaimed writer-producer never anticipated that his new science-fiction series would emerge as a breakout success. “The viewers have been incredible,” he states. “I was surprised by the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me thrilled beyond words.”
Now that Season 1 of the popular series wrapping up—and the next chapter officially in the works—the creative team recently discussed the audience reaction and whether it will shape the narrative path of Pluribus.
About the Overwhelming Fan Response
It would be easy to get swayed by the widespread acclaim and fan theories surrounding Pluribus. The creator is doing his best to ignore the noise.
“It feels like constantly eating your favorite dessert and being tickled to death,” he describes. “It's wonderful, but I learn of it through word of mouth, and that's by design. Not once have I searched for my own name online, nor do I ever intend to. It's quite the opposite. It's a deep trap I know I would disappear down and then I'd be living in squalor from the hardware store and I'd never leave my living room.”
Despite his concerted efforts, there’s no way to avoid the overwhelmingly positive response to the series. The best he and his team can do is to accept it graciously and try not to let it dictate the story of the show.
“We make no attempt to tailor anything,” says co-executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The narrative we craft is not changed by online forums.”
“Better to keep our focus on the work,” he chimes in.
The Central Mystery: Will the creator Know the Conclusion of Pluribus?
So if Gilligan and his team are not listening by public opinion, does it imply they have already decided how Pluribus will finally conclude? The answer is yes… with some caveats.
“We've developed some compelling concepts about where the show might end up,” he states. “but we are always ready to discard a good idea for a better idea. That has held 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 they hit a wall, Gordon Smith has a rather amusing idea to serve as a last resort.
“I constantly suggest that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll reveal the snow globe and that's where they've been all along,” he says humorously, “but no one is buying it.”
Alternatively, why mess with the iconic TV endings?
“My dream is Carol to open her eyes with Bob Newhart there,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus is streaming now on Apple TV+.
