The 'Breaking Bad' Creator Shares He Knows How The Apple TV+ Show Will End... At the Moment.
The acclaimed writer-producer never anticipated that his new science-fiction series would become a cultural phenomenon. “The viewers have been incredible,” he remarks. “I was surprised by the show being as widely discussed as it is, and it makes me thrilled beyond words.”
As the debut season of the hit program coming to an end—and a second season officially in the works—Gilligan and his team recently discussed the viewer reception and whether it will impact the future direction of Pluribus.
On the Incredible Fan Response
Anyone might to get swayed by the rampant praise and online debates about Pluribus. He is striving to avoid both.
“It's like being constantly eating your favorite dessert and being tickled to death,” he says. “It's wonderful, but I hear about it from others, and that's by design. Never in my life Googled myself, nor do I ever plan to. It's quite the opposite. It's a bottomless pit I know I would get lost in and then I'd be living in squalor from Home Depot and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”
Despite his concerted efforts, there’s it's impossible to ignore the overwhelmingly positive response to the series. The most practical strategy is to accept it graciously and try not to let it influence the direction of the show.
“It is not our goal to adjust our writing,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not impacted by audience chatter.”
“It's wiser to keep our heads down and working,” Gilligan adds.
The Central Mystery: Will Vince Gilligan See the Conclusion of Pluribus?
Considering the creative staff aren’t being guided by fan response, does it imply they have already decided how Pluribus will finally conclude? The answer is yes… with some caveats.
“There are some compelling concepts about how the story could conclude,” Gilligan says. “but we are always ready to discard 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 throw stuff out when we get a better idea and I suspect we'll be doing that.”
On the other hand, if they hit a wall, director and writer Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to fall back on.
“I constantly suggest that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll pull back at the end and that's where they've been all along,” Smith jokes, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Then again, why mess with the legendary finales?
“I'd love for Carol to open her eyes beside Bob Newhart,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus is streaming now on Apple TV+.
