The 'Breaking Bad' Creator Shares He Has an Idea of How His Sci-Fi Series Will End... For Now.
The acclaimed writer-producer could not have predicted that his new science-fiction series would turn into a cultural phenomenon. “God bless the fans,” he remarks. “It was unexpected the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
With the first season of the hit program reaching its finale—and a second season officially in the works—the writers' room reflected on the fan response and whether it will influence the narrative path of Pluribus.
About the Tremendous Viewer Reception
Anyone might to get sidetracked by the rampant praise and online debates regarding Pluribus. He is doing his best to avoid both.
“It's like being force fed something incredibly sweet and being tickled to death,” he says. “It's wonderful, but I get wind of it anecdotally, and that's by design. Not once have I Googled myself, nor do I ever plan to. Not because I don't care. It's a deep trap I know I would disappear down and then I'd be never leaving the house from Home Depot and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”
Despite Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no way to avoid the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to accept it graciously and try not to let it influence the direction of the show.
“We make no attempt to adjust our writing,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not impacted by what people are saying.”
“It's wiser to keep our noses to the grindstone,” Gilligan concludes.
The Big Question: Does Vince Gilligan Know the Ending of Pluribus?
So if the creative staff aren’t being guided by fan response, does that mean they have mapped out how Pluribus will finally conclude? The answer is yes… in a way.
“We've developed some interesting ideas about where the show might end up,” Gilligan says. “yet we stand ready to abandon a solid concept for a superior concept. That has held us in good stead on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We change course when we get a better idea and I imagine we will be doing that.”
Alternatively, if plans fall through, 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 zoom out in the finale and that's where they've been all along,” he says humorously, “but no one is buying it.”
Then again, why mess with the legendary finales?
“My dream is Carol to open her eyes beside Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus is streaming now on Apple TV.