🔗 Share this article

The acclaimed writer-producer never anticipated that his new science-fiction series would emerge as a cultural phenomenon. “God bless the fans,” he remarks. “It was unexpected the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”

Now that Season 1 of the acclaimed program reaching its finale—and the next chapter officially in the works—Gilligan and his team recently discussed the viewer reception and whether it will impact the storyline of Pluribus.

About the Tremendous Viewer Reception

It would be easy to get distracted by the widespread acclaim and online debates regarding Pluribus. The creator is striving to steer clear of all that.

“It's like being an endless supply of hot fudge sundaes and being in a state of bliss,” he describes. “It's wonderful, but I get wind of it anecdotally, and that's on purpose. Never in my life looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever plan to. It's not a lack of interest. It's a rabbit hole I know I would disappear down and then I'd be living in squalor from the hardware store and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”

Regardless of Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s it's impossible to ignore the immensely favorable response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to take it in stride and try not to let it dictate the story of the show.

“We make no attempt to change the plot,” says co-executive producer Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not changed by what people are saying.”

“We prefer to keep our noses to the grindstone,” Gilligan adds.

The Big Question: Will the showrunner Know the Finale of Pluribus?

So if the creative staff are not listening by fan response, can we assume they have already decided how Pluribus will finally conclude? Essentially yes… with some caveats.

“We've developed some interesting ideas about where the show might end up,” he states. “but we are always ready to abandon a good idea for a more brilliant plan. That has held us in well on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We change course when we conceive of something superior and I imagine we will be doing that.”

On the other hand, if they hit a wall, director and writer Gordon Smith has a rather amusing 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 we're in there,” Smith jokes, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”

Of course, one could always use the legendary finales?

“My dream is Carol to awaken with Bob Newhart there,” Gilligan says with a smile.

---

Pluribus is streaming now on Apple TV.