Vince Gilligan Shares He Has a Plan for How His Sci-Fi Series Will End... Currently.
The creative mastermind never anticipated that Pluribus would become a cultural phenomenon. “The viewers have been incredible,” Gilligan says. “It was unexpected the show being as widely discussed as it is, and it makes me thrilled beyond words.”
As the debut season of the hit sci-fi show coming to an end—and the next chapter already in development—Gilligan and his team recently discussed the viewer reception and whether it will shape the storyline of Pluribus.
On the Incredible Viewer Reception
It would be easy to get sidetracked by the widespread acclaim and audience predictions surrounding Pluribus. The creator is making a conscious effort to avoid both.
“It's like being an endless supply of hot fudge sundaes and being tickled to death,” he explains. “It's the greatest thing, but I learn of it through word of mouth, and that's intentional. Not once have I 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 disappear down and then I'd be living in squalor from Home Depot and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”
Despite Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s it's impossible to ignore the extremely enthusiastic 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 change the plot,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not influenced by what people are saying.”
“We prefer to keep our noses to the grindstone,” he chimes in.
The Central Mystery: Has Vince Gilligan See the Ending of Pluribus?
Given that the writers aren't taking cues by public opinion, does it imply they have already decided how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? Essentially yes… with some caveats.
“We have some potential directions about how the story could conclude,” Gilligan says. “however, we remain prepared to throw out a decent plan 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.”
Alternatively, if they hit a wall, director and writer Gordon Smith has a rather amusing idea to use as a backup.
“I keep pitching that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll pull back at the end and that's where they've been all along,” he says humorously, “but no one is buying it.”
Then again, one could always use the classics?
“My dream is Carol to open her eyes beside Bob Newhart,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV.
