The 'Breaking Bad' Creator Discloses He Knows How Pluribus Will End... Currently.
The creative mastermind never anticipated that Pluribus would turn into a cultural phenomenon. “I am so grateful to the audience,” he states. “I did not foresee the show being as widely discussed as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
With the first season of the hit series reaching its finale—and Season 2 greenlit and underway—the creative team reflected on the viewer reception and whether it will shape the narrative path of Pluribus.
On the Tremendous Audience Reaction
One could easily to get swayed by the constant speculation and fan theories surrounding Pluribus. He is doing his best to steer clear of all that.
“It's like being constantly eating hot fudge sundaes and being laughing uncontrollably,” he says. “It's wonderful, but I learn of it through word of mouth, and that's on purpose. Not once have I searched for my own name online, nor do I ever intend to. It's quite the opposite. It's a deep trap I know I would get lost in and then I'd be never leaving the house from the hardware store and I'd be stuck in my living room.”
In spite of his concerted efforts, there’s no escaping the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The most practical strategy is to accept it graciously and try not to let it dictate the story of the show.
“It is not our goal to change the plot,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not influenced by audience chatter.”
“Better to keep our noses to the grindstone,” Gilligan adds.
A Pressing Query: Does the showrunner See the Ending of Pluribus?
Given that the creative staff are not listening by public opinion, can we assume they have already decided how Pluribus will ultimately end? Essentially yes… with some caveats.
“We have some interesting ideas about where the show might end up,” Gilligan reveals. “however, we remain prepared to throw out a good idea for a more brilliant plan. This approach has served us in well on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We change course when we find a more perfect path and I expect we'll continue doing that.”
Then again, if they hit a wall, 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 reveal the snow globe and we're in there,” he says humorously, “but no one is buying it.”
Then again, why mess with the classics?
“I want Carol to open her eyes next to Bob Newhart,” he jokes.
Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV+.
