The 'Breaking Bad' Creator Reveals He Has a Plan for How His Sci-Fi Series Will End... Currently.
The creative mastermind did not foresee that the Apple TV+ show would become a cultural phenomenon. “The viewers have been incredible,” he states. “I was surprised by the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
As the debut season of the hit series reaching its finale—and Season 2 already in development—the creative team recently discussed the viewer reception and whether it will shape the future direction of Pluribus.
On the Incredible Fan Response
One could easily to get swayed by the constant speculation and online debates about Pluribus. The creator is making a conscious effort to steer clear of all that.
“It feels like force fed something incredibly sweet and being laughing uncontrollably,” he describes. “It's the greatest thing, but I get wind of it from others, and that's by design. Not once have I looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever intend to. It's not a lack of interest. It's a rabbit hole I know I would disappear down and then I'd be pooping in a five gallon bucket from Home Depot and I'd never leave my living room.”
Regardless of Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no way to avoid the overwhelmingly positive response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to accept it graciously and try not to let it dictate the story of the show.
“It is not our goal to adjust our writing,” says Alison Tatlock. “The narrative we craft is not influenced by what people are saying.”
“We prefer to keep our focus on the work,” Gilligan adds.
The Big Question: Does Vince Gilligan Know the Conclusion of Pluribus?
Considering Gilligan and his team aren't taking cues by fan response, can we assume they have mapped out how Pluribus will ultimately end? In short yes… sort of.
“We have some interesting ideas about how the story could conclude,” Gilligan reveals. “but we are always ready to discard a decent plan for a better idea. That philosophy has guided us in well on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We scrap ideas when we find a more perfect path and I imagine we will be doing that.”
Then again, if plans fall through, executive producer Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to serve as a last resort.
“My recurring proposal is that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll reveal the snow globe and the characters are inside it,” Smith jokes, “though the idea hasn't gained traction.”
Then again, why mess with the classics?
“I'd love for Carol to open her eyes with Bob Newhart there,” he jokes.
Pluribus is streaming now on Apple TV.