The 'Breaking Bad' Creator Shares He Has a Plan for How Pluribus Will Conclude... For Now.
The creative mastermind did not foresee that the Apple TV+ show would turn into a cultural phenomenon. “The viewers have been incredible,” he remarks. “I was surprised by the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
With the first season of the hit series reaching its finale—and a second season already in development—the writers' room opened up about the fan response and whether it will impact the storyline of Pluribus.
On the Incredible Viewer Reception
One could easily to get swayed by the rampant praise and audience predictions regarding Pluribus. The creator is doing his best to avoid both.
“The experience is akin to force fed hot fudge sundaes and being tickled to death,” he explains. “It's wonderful, but I get wind of it through word of mouth, and that's on purpose. Not once have I looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever want to. It's not a lack of interest. It's a rabbit hole I know I would fall into and then I'd be never leaving the house from Home Depot and I'd be stuck in my living room.”
In spite of his concerted efforts, there’s no way to avoid the overwhelmingly positive response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to acknowledge it humbly and try not to let it influence the direction of the show.
“We make no attempt to adjust our writing,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not impacted by audience chatter.”
“It's wiser to keep our heads down and working,” Gilligan adds.
The Big Question: Has the showrunner See the Finale of Pluribus?
Considering the creative staff aren’t being guided by public opinion, can we assume they have already decided how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? In short yes… sort of.
“We've developed some potential directions about where the show might end up,” Gilligan says. “but we are always ready to throw out a solid concept for a more brilliant plan. That philosophy has guided us in excellent shape on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We scrap ideas when we get a better idea and I expect we'll continue doing that.”
Alternatively, if plans fall through, Gordon Smith has a humorous idea to serve as a last resort.
“I keep pitching that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll reveal the snow globe and we're in there,” he says humorously, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”
Alternatively, why not reference the classics?
“My dream is Carol to open her eyes beside Bob Newhart,” he jokes.
Pluribus can be watched on the streaming service.
