The 'Breaking Bad' Creator Shares He Has a Plan for How His Sci-Fi Series Might Finish... For Now.
Vince Gilligan never anticipated that his new science-fiction series would turn into a massive hit. “God bless the fans,” Gilligan says. “I was surprised by the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”
As the debut season of the hit program wrapping up—and a second season greenlit and underway—the writers' room recently discussed the audience reaction and whether it will impact the storyline of Pluribus.
On the Tremendous Viewer Reception
Anyone might to get swayed by the widespread acclaim and audience predictions about Pluribus. He is striving to steer clear of all that.
“It's like being an endless supply of something incredibly sweet and being tickled to death,” he describes. “It's amazing, but I learn of it from others, and that's by design. Never in my life Googled myself, nor do I ever want to. It's quite the opposite. It's a rabbit hole I know I would get lost in and then I'd be never leaving the house from the hardware store and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”
Despite his concerted efforts, there’s it's impossible to ignore the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The best he and his team can do is to acknowledge it humbly and try not to let it influence the direction of the show.
“It is not our goal to tailor anything,” says co-executive producer Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not changed by online forums.”
“Better to keep our focus on the work,” Gilligan adds.
A Pressing Query: Does Vince Gilligan Know the Conclusion of Pluribus?
So if the writers aren't taking cues by fan response, does that mean they have mapped out how Pluribus will ultimately end? Essentially yes… with some caveats.
“There are some compelling concepts about where the show might end up,” Gilligan says. “but we are always ready to throw out a solid concept for a superior concept. This approach has served us in excellent shape 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.”
On the other hand, if all else fails, Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to fall back on.
“My recurring proposal is that the entire story is inside 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.”
Alternatively, why mess with the iconic TV endings?
“My dream is Carol to open her eyes beside Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus is streaming now on Apple TV+.
