The Showrunner Shares He Knows How His Sci-Fi Series Might Finish... For Now.

The acclaimed writer-producer never anticipated that the Apple TV+ show would turn into a breakout success. “I am so grateful to the audience,” he states. “It was unexpected the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”

Now that Season 1 of the popular program coming to an end—and a second season already in development—the creative team recently discussed the audience reaction and whether it will influence the narrative path of Pluribus.

On the Tremendous Audience Reaction

Anyone might to get distracted by the rampant praise and fan theories regarding Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is making a conscious effort to steer clear of all that.

“The experience is akin to force fed something incredibly sweet and being tickled to death,” he explains. “It's amazing, but I get wind of it from others, and that's intentional. Never in my life Googled myself, nor do I ever want 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 his concerted efforts, there’s no way to avoid the overwhelmingly positive response to the series. The most practical strategy is to acknowledge it humbly and try not to let it alter the course of the show.

“We make no attempt to change the plot,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not impacted by audience chatter.”

“We prefer to keep our focus on the work,” Gilligan adds.

A Pressing Query: Does Vince Gilligan Have a Plan for the Ending of Pluribus?

Considering Gilligan and his team aren’t being guided by public opinion, can we assume they have mapped out how Pluribus will ultimately end? In short yes… in a way.

“We have some potential directions about the ultimate destination,” he states. “yet we stand ready to abandon a solid concept for a better idea. This approach has served us in good stead on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We scrap ideas when we conceive of something superior and I imagine we will be doing that.”

Then again, if plans fall through, Gordon Smith has a rather amusing idea to use as a backup.

“I constantly suggest that it's all in a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and the characters are inside it,” Smith quips, “but no one is buying it.”

Then again, one could always use the legendary finales?

“My dream is Carol to open her eyes beside Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.

Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV.