The 'Breaking Bad' Creator Shares He Has an Idea of How Pluribus Will Conclude... Currently.
The acclaimed writer-producer did not foresee that his new science-fiction series would turn into a cultural phenomenon. “I am so grateful to the audience,” he remarks. “I did not foresee the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me thrilled beyond words.”
As the debut season of the hit program reaching its finale—and a second season already in development—Gilligan and his team opened up about the fan response and whether it will influence the narrative path of Pluribus.
On the Incredible Audience Reaction
It would be easy to get sidetracked by the constant speculation and online debates about Pluribus. He is doing his best to ignore the noise.
“It feels like constantly eating hot fudge sundaes and being tickled to death,” he describes. “It's the greatest thing, but I learn of it through word of mouth, and that's on purpose. Not once have I Googled myself, nor do I ever plan to. Not because I don't care. It's a bottomless pit I know I would get lost in and then I'd be pooping in a five gallon bucket from the hardware store and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”
In spite of Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no escaping the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The best he and his team can do is to acknowledge it humbly and try not to let it influence the direction of the show.
“We don't try to adjust our writing,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The narrative we craft is not influenced by what people are saying.”
“We prefer to keep our noses to the grindstone,” Gilligan adds.
A Pressing Query: Does the creator Have a Plan for the Conclusion of Pluribus?
Given that Gilligan and his team aren't taking cues by public opinion, can we assume they have mapped out how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? The answer is yes… with some caveats.
“We've developed some potential directions about where the show might end up,” Gilligan says. “but we are always ready to abandon a solid concept for a superior concept. This approach has served us in good stead on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We throw stuff out when we get a better idea and I suspect we'll be doing that.”
Then again, if all else fails, executive producer Gordon Smith has a humorous idea to serve as a last resort.
“My recurring proposal is that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll reveal the snow globe and we're in there,” Smith quips, “though the idea hasn't gained traction.”
Of course, why not reference the classics?
“I want Carol to open her eyes next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV.
