The creative mastermind never anticipated that the Apple TV+ show would emerge as a massive hit. “The viewers have been incredible,” Gilligan says. “I did not foresee the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
As the debut season of the acclaimed program wrapping up—and a second season already in development—Gilligan and his team recently discussed the audience reaction and whether it will influence the future direction of Pluribus.
Regarding the Overwhelming Viewer Reception
It would be easy to get swayed by the widespread acclaim and fan theories about Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is striving to ignore the noise.
“It feels like constantly eating your favorite dessert and being laughing uncontrollably,” he says. “It's wonderful, but I get wind of it through word of mouth, and that's on purpose. I have never searched for my own name online, nor do I ever plan to. It's not a lack of interest. It's a rabbit hole I know I would fall into and then I'd be pooping in a five gallon bucket from Home Depot and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”
In spite of trying to stay away, there’s it's impossible to ignore the immensely favorable 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.
“We don't try to adjust our writing,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The narrative we craft is not influenced by online forums.”
“We prefer to keep our focus on the work,” Gilligan adds.
The Central Mystery: Will the showrunner Have a Plan for the Conclusion of Pluribus?
So if the writers are not listening by public opinion, does it imply they have already decided how Pluribus will ultimately end? Essentially yes… sort of.
“We have some potential directions about where the show might end up,” Gilligan says. “however, we remain prepared to abandon a decent plan for a more brilliant plan. That philosophy has guided 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.”
On the other hand, if plans fall through, Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to use as a backup.
“My recurring proposal is 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 jokes, “though the idea hasn't gained traction.”
Then again, why not reference the classics?
“I want Carol to open her eyes next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus is currently available on the streaming service.
