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The acclaimed writer-producer could not have predicted that Pluribus would become a cultural phenomenon. “The viewers have been incredible,” 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 sci-fi show wrapping up—and a second season greenlit and underway—the creative team reflected on the fan response and whether it will influence the future direction of Pluribus.

On the Overwhelming Fan Response

One could easily to get swayed by the constant speculation and fan theories about Pluribus. The creator is doing his best to ignore the noise.

“It feels like force fed your favorite dessert and being laughing uncontrollably,” he explains. “It's amazing, but I learn of it from others, and that's intentional. Not once have I looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever plan to. It's quite the opposite. It's a deep trap I know I would disappear down and then I'd be never leaving the house from the hardware store and I'd be stuck in my living room.”

In spite of trying to stay away, there’s it's impossible to ignore the extremely enthusiastic 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 change the plot,” says co-executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The plot we develop is not influenced by what people are saying.”

“It's wiser to keep our focus on the work,” Gilligan concludes.

The Big Question: Will the showrunner See the Finale of Pluribus?

Considering the writers aren't taking cues by public opinion, can we assume they already know how Pluribus will finally conclude? The answer is yes… sort of.

“We have some compelling concepts about where the show might end up,” he states. “yet we stand ready to discard a decent plan for a more brilliant plan. That philosophy has guided us in good stead 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.”

Alternatively, if they hit a wall, director and writer Gordon Smith has a pretty funny idea to serve as a last resort.

“I keep pitching that the entire story is inside a snow globe, and that we'll pull back at the end and that's where they've been all along,” Smith jokes, “but nobody's taking me up on that.”

Then again, why mess with the iconic TV endings?

“I want Carol to open her eyes next to Bob Newhart,” Gilligan says with a smile.

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Pluribus is streaming now on Apple TV.