The 'Breaking Bad' Creator Reveals He Has a Plan for How His Sci-Fi Series Will End... For Now.
The creative mastermind did not foresee that the Apple TV+ show would emerge as a breakout success. “The viewers have been incredible,” he states. “It was unexpected the show being as widely discussed as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
With the first season of the acclaimed series wrapping up—and a second season already in development—the writers' room reflected on the viewer reception and whether it will shape the narrative path of Pluribus.
Regarding the Overwhelming Fan Response
One could easily to get distracted by the widespread acclaim and online debates about Pluribus. The creator is striving to ignore the noise.
“It's like being constantly eating hot fudge sundaes and being laughing uncontrollably,” he describes. “It's wonderful, but I learn of it from others, and that's by design. I have never searched for my own name online, nor do I ever intend to. It's not a lack of interest. It's a rabbit hole I know I would get lost in and then I'd be never leaving the house from Home Depot and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”
Regardless of his concerted efforts, there’s no escaping the immensely favorable response to the series. The most practical strategy is to accept it graciously and try not to let it dictate the story of the show.
“We don't try to tailor anything,” says co-executive producer Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not influenced by audience chatter.”
“Better to keep our focus on the work,” Gilligan adds.
The Central Mystery: Does the showrunner Have a Plan for the Conclusion of Pluribus?
So if the writers aren't taking cues by audience theories, does it imply they have mapped out how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? Essentially yes… with some caveats.
“We've developed some interesting ideas about where the show might end up,” Gilligan says. “yet we stand ready to discard a good idea for a more brilliant plan. That has held us in excellent shape on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We change course when we get a better idea and I suspect we'll be doing that.”
Alternatively, if plans fall through, director and writer Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to use as a backup.
“I keep pitching that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and that's where they've been all along,” he says humorously, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Of course, one could always use the classics?
“My dream is Carol to wake up in bed next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus is currently available on the streaming service.
