The 'Breaking Bad' Creator Shares He Knows How His Sci-Fi Series Might Finish... Currently.
The acclaimed writer-producer did not foresee that Pluribus would become a massive hit. “The viewers have been incredible,” Gilligan says. “I was surprised by the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”
As the debut season of the hit series coming to an end—and the next chapter officially in the works—the writers' room opened up about the audience reaction and whether it will shape the storyline of Pluribus.
On the Overwhelming Viewer Reception
It would be easy to get swayed by the constant speculation and audience predictions about Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is striving to avoid both.
“The experience is akin to constantly eating something incredibly sweet and being laughing uncontrollably,” he explains. “It's amazing, but I get wind of it anecdotally, and that's intentional. Never in my life 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 disappear down and then I'd be living in squalor from the hardware store and I'd be stuck in my living room.”
Despite Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s it's impossible to ignore the overwhelmingly positive response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to accept it graciously and try not to let it alter the course of the show.
“It is not our goal to adjust our writing,” says Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not influenced by what people are saying.”
“Better to keep our focus on the work,” Gilligan concludes.
The Big Question: Will the showrunner See the Ending of Pluribus?
So if the creative staff aren’t being guided by audience theories, does it imply they have already decided how Pluribus will ultimately end? In short yes… in a way.
“We have some potential directions about the ultimate destination,” he states. “but we are always ready to abandon a good idea for a superior concept. That has held us in excellent shape on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We change course when we find a more perfect path and I expect we'll continue doing that.”
Alternatively, if plans fall through, executive producer Gordon Smith has a rather amusing idea to serve as a last resort.
“I keep pitching that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and that's where they've been all along,” Smith quips, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Alternatively, why not reference the classics?
“I want Carol to wake up in bed next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus can be watched on the streaming service.
