The 'Breaking Bad' Creator Shares He Knows How His Sci-Fi Series Will End... At the Moment.
Vince Gilligan never anticipated that his new science-fiction series would turn into a cultural phenomenon. “The viewers have been incredible,” he states. “I did not foresee the show being as talked about as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
Now that Season 1 of the hit sci-fi show wrapping up—and the next chapter greenlit and underway—Gilligan and his team opened up about the viewer reception and whether it will shape the future direction of Pluribus.
On the Overwhelming Viewer Reception
Anyone might to get distracted by the constant speculation and online debates regarding Pluribus. The creator is doing his best to steer clear of all that.
“It feels like constantly eating something incredibly sweet and being in a state of bliss,” he explains. “It's the greatest thing, but I learn of it from others, and that's on purpose. I have never Googled myself, nor do I ever intend to. Not because I don't care. It's a bottomless pit I know I would disappear down and then I'd be pooping in a five gallon bucket from the hardware store and I'd never leave my living room.”
In spite of trying to stay away, there’s it's impossible to ignore the immensely favorable response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to acknowledge it humbly and try not to let it alter the course of the show.
“We make no attempt to adjust our writing,” says writer and executive producer Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not influenced by audience chatter.”
“We prefer to keep our focus on the work,” he chimes in.
The Big Question: Has the creator See the Finale of Pluribus?
So if the writers aren't taking cues by public opinion, does that mean they have already decided how Pluribus will ultimately end? In short yes… sort of.
“We have some interesting ideas about the ultimate destination,” Gilligan says. “yet we stand ready to discard a good idea for a superior concept. That philosophy has guided us in well on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We throw stuff out when we get a better idea and I suspect we'll be doing that.”
On the other hand, if they hit a wall, executive producer Gordon Smith has a humorous idea to fall back on.
“I keep pitching that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and that's where they've been all along,” Smith jokes, “but no one is buying it.”
Then again, why not reference the classics?
“I'd love for Carol to open her eyes next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus is currently available on Apple TV+.
