The 'Breaking Bad' Creator Discloses He Knows How His Sci-Fi Series Will Conclude... At the Moment.
Vince Gilligan 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 passionately debated as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”
Now that Season 1 of the hit program coming to an end—and Season 2 greenlit and underway—Gilligan and his team recently discussed the fan response and whether it will impact the narrative path of Pluribus.
Regarding the Overwhelming Audience Reaction
One could easily to get distracted by the rampant praise and audience predictions about Pluribus. The creator is making a conscious effort to ignore the noise.
“It feels like an endless supply of hot fudge sundaes and being tickled to death,” he says. “It's the greatest thing, but I hear about it through word of mouth, and that's by design. I have never Googled myself, nor do I ever want to. It's not a lack of interest. It's a bottomless pit I know I would fall into 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 most practical strategy is to accept it graciously and try not to let it alter the course of the show.
“We don't try to change the plot,” says co-executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not impacted by audience chatter.”
“We prefer to keep our noses to the grindstone,” Gilligan adds.
A Pressing Query: Has the showrunner Have a Plan for the Finale of Pluribus?
Given that the creative staff aren’t being guided by public opinion, can we assume they have already decided how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? The answer is yes… sort of.
“There are some potential directions about the ultimate destination,” Gilligan says. “yet we stand ready to abandon a decent plan for a more brilliant plan. This approach has served us in good stead on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We throw stuff out when we conceive of something superior and I expect we'll continue doing that.”
Alternatively, if all else fails, Gordon Smith has a humorous idea to fall back on.
“I constantly suggest that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll reveal the snow globe and we're in there,” Smith quips, “though the idea hasn't gained traction.”
Then again, one could always use the iconic TV endings?
“I'd love for Carol to awaken beside Bob Newhart,” Gilligan adds, smiling.
Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV+.
