The Showrunner Discloses He Has a Plan for How The Apple TV+ Show Will End... Currently.
The creative mastermind could not have predicted that Pluribus would turn into a cultural phenomenon. “I am so grateful to the audience,” he remarks. “I was surprised by the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”
With the first season of the acclaimed program coming to an end—and a second season greenlit and underway—the creative team opened up about the fan response and whether it will impact the storyline of Pluribus.
On the Incredible Audience Reaction
It would be easy to get distracted by the widespread acclaim and audience predictions about Pluribus. The creator is making a conscious effort to steer clear of all that.
“It feels like force fed hot fudge sundaes and being tickled to death,” he says. “It's wonderful, but I hear about it from others, and that's on purpose. I have never searched for my own name online, nor do I ever plan to. It's quite the opposite. It's a rabbit hole I know I would get lost in and then I'd be living in squalor from the hardware store and I'd never leave my living room.”
In spite of trying to stay away, there’s no way to avoid the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The most practical strategy is to acknowledge it humbly and try not to let it influence the direction of the show.
“We make no attempt to change the plot,” says Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not influenced by what people are saying.”
“Better to keep our focus on the work,” he chimes in.
The Central Mystery: Does the creator Know the Finale of Pluribus?
Considering the creative staff aren't taking cues by audience theories, does that mean they have already decided how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? Essentially yes… with some caveats.
“We've developed some interesting ideas about how the story could conclude,” Gilligan reveals. “however, we remain prepared to discard a decent plan for a superior concept. This approach has served us in well on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We change course when we get a better idea and I expect we'll continue doing that.”
Alternatively, if all else fails, director and writer Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to fall back on.
“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, “though the idea hasn't gained traction.”
Then again, why mess with the legendary finales?
“My dream is Carol to wake up in bed with Bob Newhart there,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV.