🔗 Share this article

The acclaimed writer-producer did not foresee that his new science-fiction series would turn into a breakout success. “The viewers have been incredible,” he states. “It was unexpected the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me deliriously happy.”

With the first season of the acclaimed sci-fi show wrapping up—and a second season already in development—Gilligan and his team reflected on the fan response and whether it will shape the narrative path of Pluribus.

On the Tremendous Audience Reaction

One could easily to get sidetracked by the widespread acclaim and online debates about Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is making a conscious effort to avoid both.

“The experience is akin to constantly eating hot fudge sundaes and being laughing uncontrollably,” he describes. “It's the greatest thing, but I hear about it from others, and that's on purpose. I have never Googled myself, nor do I ever intend to. It's quite the opposite. It's a bottomless pit I know I would fall into and then I'd be living in squalor from Home Depot and I'd be stuck in my living room.”

Regardless of his concerted efforts, there’s no way to avoid the immensely favorable response to the series. The best he and his team can do is to take it in stride and try not to let it dictate the story of the show.

“It is not our goal to change the plot,” says co-executive producer Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not changed by online forums.”

“Better to keep our noses to the grindstone,” Gilligan concludes.

The Central Mystery: Has the creator Have a Plan for the Finale of Pluribus?

So if the writers are not listening by fan response, does that mean they have mapped out how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? In short yes… sort of.

“We have some interesting ideas about where the show might end up,” he states. “however, we remain prepared to discard a good idea for a better idea. This approach has served us in good stead on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We scrap ideas when we get a better idea and I imagine we will be doing that.”

Then again, if all else fails, executive producer Gordon Smith has a rather amusing idea to fall back on.

“I keep pitching that everything takes place within a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and the characters are inside it,” Smith quips, “but no one is buying it.”

Alternatively, one could always use the classics?

“I want Carol to wake up in bed next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.

---

Pluribus is streaming now on the streaming service.