Why did Gilligan make a writer the hero of the series ‘Pluribus’?

Vince Gilligan, after the stunning success of “Breaking Bad,” has returned with the series “Pluribus,” a work that has attracted attention from its very first episodes and has become one of the most debated and discussed series today.

In “Pluribus,” Gilligan has ventured into a genre change, advancing his story in a completely different atmosphere from “Breaking Bad.” In this series, events unfold in an apocalyptic setting, and this time, instead of a chemistry teacher, a wealthy writer is at the center of the story. Carol is a middle-aged, bestselling author of fantasy and romance novels who has amassed considerable wealth from her book sales and is admired by hundreds of thousands of people.

The series initially provides a brief introduction to Carol’s profession. She is a writer who must undertake promotional tours to introduce and advertise her books, traveling from city to city to sign copies. In front of cameras, she must appear happy and satisfied to ensure that the image conveyed by the media is flawless.

Although she dutifully signs books and takes photos with her readers, after these tasks are complete, she tells her driver that her work is meaningless. She is distant from her fans and even seems to detest them.

The director, to some extent, shows the audience an overview of the professional life of writers, especially authors of popular books. For them, writing is a form of business, and to sell books, one must not shy away from advertising and being visible.

Carol even pays attention to empty bookstore shelves and uses every opportunity to showcase and advertise her books. Being on the list of the top 20 bestselling authors is important to her, and even more so, she wants to be at the top of the list, not at the bottom. Not being on the bestseller list is a kind of failure for Carol.

A Coincidental or Conscious Choice?

But the question is whether Gilligan unconsciously placed the writer character at the center of his story, or if he had a specific purpose and intention behind it?

Gilligan is a director who is aware of the cultural and social mission of his profession and is keen to advance his story through cultural characters. If in “Breaking Bad” a chemistry teacher becomes the biggest methamphetamine producer, here a teacher, in an apocalyptic and utopian situation, is the only one who does not succumb to the virus of contentment.

Gilligan never acts by chance. If he has placed a writer at the center of the narrative in “Pluribus,” there is a clear and consistent thought pattern behind it, connected to his worldview. It is as if the only one who can stand against the chaos of media, the speed of information, and collective oblivion is the one who still writes.

In a situation where all Americans are afflicted by a virus that puts them in a state of contentment and happiness, Carol is the only one who has not contracted this virus and continues to resist the prevailing situation. Does her being a writer affect her not being afflicted by this widespread illness? It seems a positive answer must be given to this question, and given the clues the director provides regarding the profession of writing, this profession was not chosen without direction.

The writer in “Pluribus” is considered someone who does not easily surrender to existing conditions and whose decisions are based on awareness. A character with thought and reflection, whose decisions are not influenced by popular opinion, and who does not act until they reach a conclusion themselves.

A writer is someone who can make the world comprehensible, and comprehensibility is precisely what a society in crisis is deprived of. In the series, the writer symbolizes contemplation, memory, and meaning. This choice is entirely symbolic and conscious, not coincidental.

The Importance of Writers in Today’s World

In “Pluribus,” an individual is chosen who is inherently a narrator and must also interpret the narrative of society. From the director’s perspective, neither politicians, nor the media, nor the masses have the ability to narrate and mentally rebuild society; this task can only be accomplished by a writer. A writer who does not necessarily have to be an intellectual or different, even a fantasy genre writer would be capable of doing such a thing.

Gilligan makes writing a social, cultural, and even moral weapon. While the survivors of this virus seek to exploit the obedient and happy people around them, only the writer does not pursue such a thing and desires the return of a natural and normal state to society.

The enchantment of people and their excessive servitude to Carol is not a captivating or intoxicating act for her. She does not want to use people in this way, and this excessive service lacks meaning for her. Meaningfulness is more important than anything else for a writer, and a writer, with their critical thinking, understands more than anyone else that in a world where people live without meaning, nothing good is definable.

Gilligan has repeatedly spoken in his interviews about the crisis of meaning in the age of information, and the only one who can extract meaningful order from chaos is the writer. The writer is not a flawless hero; they face doubt, confusion, and weakness, but what distinguishes them is “awareness.”

By centering the writer, Gilligan has done an important job. In times when professions like writing are increasingly marginalized, and famous figures from other fields gain importance among people through the media power of social networks, the director of “Pluribus” consciously speaks of the importance of writers in society. These are individuals who usually have sharper eyes to observe society and sensitive antennae to understand social changes and developments.

Ultimately, by placing the writer at the heart of the crisis, Gilligan intelligently speaks about the forgotten role of the creators of meaning. Those who do not seek the adoration of the masses but rather a deeper understanding of the world. “Pluribus” is not just an apocalyptic story but an allegory of the times we live in; a time when, more than any other period, we need the voice of writers and true narrators.