The 'Breaking Bad' Creator Reveals He Has an Idea of How His Sci-Fi Series Might Finish... For Now.
The acclaimed writer-producer never anticipated that the Apple TV+ show would turn into a cultural phenomenon. “I am so grateful to the audience,” he states. “It was unexpected the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me thrilled beyond words.”
As the debut season of the popular series reaching its finale—and a second season greenlit and underway—the creative team reflected on the viewer reception and whether it will shape the future direction of Pluribus.
Regarding the Tremendous Viewer Reception
One could easily to get swayed by the widespread acclaim and fan theories surrounding Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is doing his best to avoid both.
“The experience is akin to an endless supply of your favorite dessert and being tickled to death,” he explains. “It's wonderful, but I hear about it through word of mouth, and that's on purpose. Not once have I searched for my own name online, nor do I ever plan to. It's quite the opposite. It's a bottomless pit I know I would disappear down and then I'd be pooping in a five gallon bucket from Home Depot and I'd be stuck in my living room.”
Despite Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no way to avoid the overwhelmingly positive response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to take it in stride and try not to let it dictate the story of the show.
“It is not our goal to adjust our writing,” says Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not changed by online forums.”
“It's wiser to keep our focus on the work,” he chimes in.
The Central Mystery: Does Vince Gilligan Know the Conclusion of Pluribus?
Given that the writers aren’t being guided by fan response, does it imply they have mapped out how Pluribus will finally conclude? In short yes… in a way.
“We have some interesting ideas about where the show might end up,” Gilligan reveals. “yet we stand ready to throw out a solid concept for a better idea. This approach has served us in excellent shape on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We throw stuff out when we find a more perfect path and I suspect we'll be doing that.”
Then again, if plans fall through, executive producer Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to fall back on.
“I keep pitching 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,” Smith jokes, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Then again, one could always use the iconic TV endings?
“My dream is Carol to wake up in bed beside Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus is streaming now on Apple TV.
