The 'Breaking Bad' Creator Shares He Knows How Pluribus Might Finish... At the Moment.
The acclaimed writer-producer did not foresee that Pluribus would emerge as a cultural phenomenon. “God bless the fans,” he states. “I was surprised by the show being as widely discussed as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”
With the first season of the hit series reaching its finale—and a second season already in development—Gilligan and his team opened up about the fan response and whether it will impact the narrative path of Pluribus.
About the Overwhelming Viewer Reception
It would be easy to get distracted by the rampant praise and online debates surrounding Pluribus. He is striving to avoid both.
“It feels like constantly eating hot fudge sundaes and being tickled to death,” he says. “It's wonderful, but I learn of it through word of mouth, and that's on purpose. Not once have I looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever want to. It's quite the opposite. 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 be stuck in my living room.”
In spite of his concerted efforts, there’s it's impossible to ignore the overwhelmingly positive 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.
“It is not our goal to adjust our writing,” says Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not changed by online forums.”
“Better to keep our noses to the grindstone,” Gilligan adds.
The Big Question: Has the showrunner Know the Conclusion of Pluribus?
Considering the writers aren't taking cues by audience theories, does that mean they already know how Pluribus will ultimately end? In short yes… in a way.
“We've developed some potential directions about the ultimate destination,” Gilligan reveals. “but we are always ready to throw out 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 scrap ideas when we find a more perfect path and I expect we'll continue doing that.”
Then again, if all else fails, director and writer Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to use as a backup.
“My recurring proposal is that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll pull back at the end and we're in there,” Smith jokes, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Of course, why mess with the iconic TV endings?
“I'd love for Carol to open her eyes beside Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus can be watched on the streaming service.