The 'Breaking Bad' Creator Shares He Knows How Pluribus Will Conclude... Currently.
The acclaimed writer-producer never anticipated that Pluribus would turn into a cultural phenomenon. “The viewers have been incredible,” he states. “I did not foresee the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
With the first season of the hit series coming to an end—and the next chapter greenlit and underway—the creative team reflected on the fan response and whether it will shape the future direction of Pluribus.
Regarding the Overwhelming Viewer Reception
One could easily to get distracted by the constant speculation and audience predictions surrounding Pluribus. He is making a conscious effort to ignore the noise.
“It's like being force fed your favorite dessert and being tickled to death,” he describes. “It's amazing, but I hear about it anecdotally, and that's on purpose. I have never looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever want to. It's not a lack of interest. It's a bottomless pit I know I would fall into and then I'd be living in squalor from the hardware store and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”
In spite of Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no way to avoid the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The most practical strategy is to take it in stride and try not to let it dictate the story of the show.
“We don't try to change the plot,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not changed by online forums.”
“Better to keep our noses to the grindstone,” Gilligan adds.
The Big Question: Will Vince Gilligan Know the Ending of Pluribus?
Considering the creative staff are not listening by public opinion, does that mean they already know how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? The answer is yes… in a way.
“We have some potential directions about how the story could conclude,” Gilligan reveals. “but we are always ready to discard a decent plan for a better idea. This approach has served us in well on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We throw stuff out when we conceive of something superior and I expect we'll continue doing that.”
On the other hand, if all else fails, director and writer Gordon Smith has a humorous idea to use as a backup.
“I keep pitching that it's all in a snow globe, and that we'll reveal the snow globe and that's where they've been all along,” Smith jokes, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Of course, why not reference the iconic TV endings?
“My dream is Carol to wake up in bed with Bob Newhart there,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus is currently available on the streaming service.
