Vince Gilligan could not have predicted that Pluribus would emerge as a breakout success. “I am so grateful to the audience,” Gilligan says. “I did not foresee the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”
With the first season of the popular series wrapping up—and the next chapter already in development—the creative team recently discussed the viewer reception and whether it will impact the narrative path of Pluribus.
One could easily to get distracted by the rampant praise and audience predictions surrounding Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is making a conscious effort to steer clear of all that.
“It feels like an endless supply of hot fudge sundaes and being laughing uncontrollably,” he describes. “It's wonderful, but I hear about it anecdotally, and that's intentional. Not once have I Googled myself, nor do I ever intend to. It's quite the opposite. 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 never leave my living room.”
In spite of Gilligan’s best intentions, 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 alter the course of the show.
“It is not our goal to change the plot,” says Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not changed by audience chatter.”
“It's wiser to keep our focus on the work,” Gilligan adds.
Given that Gilligan and his team are not listening by fan response, does it imply they have mapped out how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? Essentially yes… with some caveats.
“We've developed some compelling concepts about the ultimate destination,” he states. “yet we stand ready to discard a good idea 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.”
Alternatively, if they hit a wall, Gordon Smith has a humorous idea to use as a backup.
“I constantly suggest that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and the characters are inside it,” Smith quips, “though the idea hasn't gained traction.”
Alternatively, why not reference the legendary finales?
“I want Carol to wake up in bed beside Bob Newhart,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV.
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