The Showrunner Shares He Knows How His Sci-Fi Series Will End... For Now.
The creative mastermind could not have predicted that Pluribus would emerge as a breakout success. “God bless the fans,” he states. “It was unexpected the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me thrilled beyond words.”
With the first season of the acclaimed program reaching its finale—and Season 2 officially in the works—the writers' room recently discussed the fan response and whether it will shape the storyline of Pluribus.
About the Incredible Audience Reaction
Anyone might to get sidetracked by the widespread acclaim and fan theories surrounding Pluribus. The creator is making a conscious effort to avoid both.
“It's like being force fed something incredibly sweet and being in a state of bliss,” he describes. “It's the greatest thing, but I get wind of it through word of mouth, and that's by design. Never in my life Googled myself, nor do I ever want to. Not because I don't care. It's a rabbit hole I know I would disappear down and then I'd be living in squalor from Home Depot and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”
Despite his concerted efforts, there’s no escaping the overwhelmingly positive response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to accept it graciously and try not to let it dictate the story of the show.
“It is not our goal to adjust our writing,” says co-executive producer Alison Tatlock. “Our storytelling is not impacted by audience chatter.”
“We prefer to keep our focus on the work,” he chimes in.
A Pressing Query: Has the showrunner Have a Plan for the Conclusion of Pluribus?
Given that the writers are not listening by fan response, does it imply they have mapped out how Pluribus will ultimately end? The answer is yes… sort of.
“There are some interesting ideas about where the show might end up,” he states. “however, we remain prepared to abandon a good idea for a better idea. This approach has served us in well on Better Call Saul and on Breaking Bad even before that. We scrap ideas when we find a more perfect path and I expect we'll continue doing that.”
On the other hand, if they hit a wall, Gordon Smith has a rather amusing idea to fall back on.
“I constantly suggest that it's all in a snow globe, and that we'll zoom out in the finale and that's where they've been all along,” he says humorously, “but no one is buying it.”
Of course, why mess with the legendary finales?
“My dream is Carol to awaken beside Bob Newhart,” he jokes.
Pluribus can be watched on Apple TV.
