🔗 Share this article

Vince Gilligan never anticipated that the Apple TV+ show would emerge as a massive hit. “God bless the fans,” he states. “I did not foresee the show being as passionately debated as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”

With the first season of the acclaimed program wrapping up—and a second season officially in the works—the writers' room reflected on the audience reaction and whether it will influence the future direction of Pluribus.

On the Incredible Viewer Reception

Anyone might to get swayed by the rampant praise and audience predictions about Pluribus. The creator is making a conscious effort to ignore the noise.

“It's like being force fed hot fudge sundaes and being tickled to death,” he says. “It's the greatest thing, but I learn of it from others, and that's by design. I have never looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever plan to. Not because I don't care. It's a bottomless pit I know I would fall into and then I'd be pooping in a five gallon bucket from Home Depot and I'd rarely emerge from my living room.”

Regardless of trying to stay away, there’s no way to avoid the immensely favorable response to the series. The best he and his team can do is to accept it graciously and try not to let it influence the direction of the show.

“We make no attempt to tailor anything,” says co-executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not impacted by audience chatter.”

“Better to keep our focus on the work,” Gilligan adds.

The Big Question: Does Vince Gilligan See the Finale of Pluribus?

Considering the writers aren't taking cues by fan response, does that mean they already know how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? Essentially yes… sort of.

“There are some interesting ideas about the ultimate destination,” Gilligan reveals. “but we are always ready to throw out a solid concept for a superior concept. 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 suspect we'll be doing that.”

Then again, if all else fails, executive producer Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to use as a backup.

“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,” he says humorously, “though the idea hasn't gained traction.”

Then again, why not reference the legendary finales?

“My dream is Carol to open her eyes next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.

---

Pluribus is streaming now on Apple TV+.