The creative mastermind did not foresee that his new science-fiction series would become a massive hit. “I am so grateful to the audience,” he states. “It was unexpected the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”
As the debut season of the popular program wrapping up—and Season 2 already in development—the writers' room recently discussed the audience reaction and whether it will shape the future direction of Pluribus.
Anyone might to get distracted by the rampant praise and audience predictions about Pluribus. He is making a conscious effort to steer clear of all that.
“It's like being an endless supply of your favorite dessert and being laughing uncontrollably,” he describes. “It's amazing, but I get wind of it from others, and that's by design. I have never looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever intend to. It's not a lack of interest. It's a deep trap I know I would disappear down and then I'd be never leaving the house from the hardware store and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”
Regardless of Gilligan’s best intentions, there’s no way to avoid the extremely enthusiastic response to the series. The most practical strategy is to take it in stride and try not to let it influence the direction 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.”
“We prefer to keep our noses to the grindstone,” he chimes in.
So if the writers are not listening by public opinion, does that mean they have already decided how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? The answer is yes… with some caveats.
“We've developed some potential directions about how the story could conclude,” Gilligan says. “yet we stand ready to abandon 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 change course when we conceive of something superior and I suspect we'll be doing that.”
Then again, if they hit a wall, director and writer Gordon Smith has a rather amusing idea to use as a backup.
“My recurring proposal is that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll pull back at the end and we're in there,” Smith jokes, “though the idea hasn't gained traction.”
Alternatively, why mess with the iconic TV endings?
“I'd love for Carol to open her eyes beside Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.
Pluribus is currently available on Apple TV.
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