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The acclaimed writer-producer could not have predicted that his new science-fiction series would turn into a breakout success. “God bless the fans,” Gilligan says. “I did not foresee the show being as widely discussed as it is, and it makes me overjoyed.”

Now that Season 1 of the popular sci-fi show reaching its finale—and the next chapter greenlit and underway—the creative team recently discussed the viewer reception and whether it will shape the narrative path of Pluribus.

Regarding the Tremendous Audience Reaction

It would be easy to get distracted by the constant speculation and fan theories surrounding Pluribus. Gilligan, however, is striving to avoid both.

“It's like being an endless supply of hot fudge sundaes and being tickled to death,” he says. “It's wonderful, but I hear about it from others, and that's on purpose. Never in my life looked myself up on the internet, nor do I ever want 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 never leave my living room.”

Regardless of his concerted efforts, there’s it's impossible to ignore the overwhelmingly positive response to the series. The only approach for the writers is to take it in stride and try not to let it alter the course of the show.

“We make no attempt to change the plot,” says co-executive producer Alison Tatlock. “The narrative we craft is not influenced by audience chatter.”

“Better to keep our focus on the work,” he chimes in.

The Big Question: Does the creator See the Finale of Pluribus?

So if the writers are not listening by audience theories, does it imply they have mapped out how Pluribus will reach its endpoint? The answer is yes… sort of.

“We have some compelling concepts about where the show might end up,” he states. “but we are always ready to abandon a good idea for a superior concept. That has held us in well 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.”

Then again, if they hit a wall, director and writer Gordon Smith has a humorous idea to use as a backup.

“My recurring proposal is 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.”

Of course, one could always use the legendary finales?

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

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Pluribus is streaming now on the streaming service.