Post by Rook on Mar 29, 2012 6:32:32 GMT -5
The basic premise behind this series is best described by its inspirations from other media. The world itself is a parallel of our own with the small exception that some people have certain powers. All the powers are subtle and capable of keeping a low profile in a manner similar to the movie Push to the point where it could be believed that such powers exist in the real world under everyone’s noses (in direct contradiction to X-Men style super powers.)
The story starts ‘modern day.’ The hitman is going about his daily life, being all badass and lonely when he bumps into someone who recognizes him. The gypsy who gave him the curse/gift powers had some prophecy about it, so he fixates on the girl. Turns out the prophecy involves more than just him and the girl he bumps into (Riley) is key to some great shift between good and evil. The hitman, along with Riley and a motley crew of characters take down the evil kingpin and save the world.
I also want the show to be punctuated with awesome fight scenes and violence.
It's a bit shakey I know. That's why I requested help, because it needs work. This show is designed with an ending, it's not an episodic that will have episodes written until we run out of ideas or people run out of interest. I want it to end and I don't want the ending to be written as we go. That's the kind of thing that ruins shows like the new Battlestar Galactica. I want the end to make sense according to how we've written the beginning and middle. Below is the outline so far.
Season 1
Establish the principle characters, the hitman, Riley, Brannigan and 'The Nemesis.' Lay foundation for Brannigan trying to get the hitman's trail as well as the hitman's realization that Riley can both recognize him and is the woman in the prophecy he received. In this season, more than any other, the 'anonymous' aspect is played up the most. At this point the plot arc itself has not yet grasped hold of the characters and isn't forcing their actions as much, which gives us more freedom to explore the hitman's plight. The season needs to start out light hearted and funny. People have to get in to how cool it would be to not have to deal with the consequences of their actions. By the end of the season the honeymoon needs to be over, the sheen that is the joy of anonymity will have given way to the hopelessness and loneliness that being alone in a world full of people brings, especially after generations of it. The season ends with him kidnapping Riley, to set up season two. It takes the entire season of nagging flashbacks / memories for him to realize what's going on.
Season 2
Because of the newly remembered prophecy the hitman first decides to simply kill Riley in a field somewhere. Somewhere along the line he has a change of heart and instead seeks guidance of the same fortune teller that put him in this spot to begin with. Riley gets dragged along as hostage. Though it's not fully realized until halfway through the season that Riley's capable of muting powers Brannigan picks up on it immediately and follows their trail. The majority of this season will be the hijinx between the Hitman and Riley as she attempts to escape many times. Eventually they come to an uneasy alliance. This season ends with them pulling up to the Fortune Teller's house / vardo / whatever.
Season 3
The hints that need to have been dropped since Season 1 that The Nemesis is an even worse guy than just being a mobster all come out when Brannigan catches up to the duo at the Fortune Teller. They come to the conclusion that the Nemesis has to be stopped. This season is going to focus far more on the Nemesis than other seasons have in the past, to help bring these conclusions. When the Hitman is delivered an order to take out Riley at the end of the season the Hitman has to make a decision. The gypsy makes it clear that to save Riley he’ll have to die.
Season 4
There should be some tension at the beginning of this season as to whether the hitman’s going to sacrifice himself for Riley or preserve himself and side with the Nemesis. Once it’s clear whose side he’s on (hint: not the Nemesis) an all out war begins with the Nemesis trying to take out our heroes and our heroes systematically taking out his organization. In the end it comes down to heroes vs. the Nemesis’s hideout.
Season 5
Grand finale. With his criminal organization crippled and the enemy at his steps much maneuvering and parley and attempted backstabbery happens. Of course, in the end, he's out maneuvered and killed by Hitman.
NOTE Season 5 is the least developed and probably the most important besides season 1 (which will need to grab the viewing base.) I don’t actually have an ending. I’m up in the air if I want it to have a happy ‘the death of the hitman just means the end of his powers so that now he can be a normal person and all the romantic tension built up between Riley and the Hitman (similar to the Mal / Inara relationship if even a bit more distant) can finally be acted upon’ or a ‘the hitman dies, but his sacrifice made the world a better place’ bittersweet ending. Or something different, or a mix. I really don’t know.
I'll keep this thread updated as discussion and work on the outline proceeds.
The story starts ‘modern day.’ The hitman is going about his daily life, being all badass and lonely when he bumps into someone who recognizes him. The gypsy who gave him the curse/gift powers had some prophecy about it, so he fixates on the girl. Turns out the prophecy involves more than just him and the girl he bumps into (Riley) is key to some great shift between good and evil. The hitman, along with Riley and a motley crew of characters take down the evil kingpin and save the world.
I also want the show to be punctuated with awesome fight scenes and violence.
It's a bit shakey I know. That's why I requested help, because it needs work. This show is designed with an ending, it's not an episodic that will have episodes written until we run out of ideas or people run out of interest. I want it to end and I don't want the ending to be written as we go. That's the kind of thing that ruins shows like the new Battlestar Galactica. I want the end to make sense according to how we've written the beginning and middle. Below is the outline so far.
Season 1
Establish the principle characters, the hitman, Riley, Brannigan and 'The Nemesis.' Lay foundation for Brannigan trying to get the hitman's trail as well as the hitman's realization that Riley can both recognize him and is the woman in the prophecy he received. In this season, more than any other, the 'anonymous' aspect is played up the most. At this point the plot arc itself has not yet grasped hold of the characters and isn't forcing their actions as much, which gives us more freedom to explore the hitman's plight. The season needs to start out light hearted and funny. People have to get in to how cool it would be to not have to deal with the consequences of their actions. By the end of the season the honeymoon needs to be over, the sheen that is the joy of anonymity will have given way to the hopelessness and loneliness that being alone in a world full of people brings, especially after generations of it. The season ends with him kidnapping Riley, to set up season two. It takes the entire season of nagging flashbacks / memories for him to realize what's going on.
Season 2
Because of the newly remembered prophecy the hitman first decides to simply kill Riley in a field somewhere. Somewhere along the line he has a change of heart and instead seeks guidance of the same fortune teller that put him in this spot to begin with. Riley gets dragged along as hostage. Though it's not fully realized until halfway through the season that Riley's capable of muting powers Brannigan picks up on it immediately and follows their trail. The majority of this season will be the hijinx between the Hitman and Riley as she attempts to escape many times. Eventually they come to an uneasy alliance. This season ends with them pulling up to the Fortune Teller's house / vardo / whatever.
Season 3
The hints that need to have been dropped since Season 1 that The Nemesis is an even worse guy than just being a mobster all come out when Brannigan catches up to the duo at the Fortune Teller. They come to the conclusion that the Nemesis has to be stopped. This season is going to focus far more on the Nemesis than other seasons have in the past, to help bring these conclusions. When the Hitman is delivered an order to take out Riley at the end of the season the Hitman has to make a decision. The gypsy makes it clear that to save Riley he’ll have to die.
Season 4
There should be some tension at the beginning of this season as to whether the hitman’s going to sacrifice himself for Riley or preserve himself and side with the Nemesis. Once it’s clear whose side he’s on (hint: not the Nemesis) an all out war begins with the Nemesis trying to take out our heroes and our heroes systematically taking out his organization. In the end it comes down to heroes vs. the Nemesis’s hideout.
Season 5
Grand finale. With his criminal organization crippled and the enemy at his steps much maneuvering and parley and attempted backstabbery happens. Of course, in the end, he's out maneuvered and killed by Hitman.
NOTE Season 5 is the least developed and probably the most important besides season 1 (which will need to grab the viewing base.) I don’t actually have an ending. I’m up in the air if I want it to have a happy ‘the death of the hitman just means the end of his powers so that now he can be a normal person and all the romantic tension built up between Riley and the Hitman (similar to the Mal / Inara relationship if even a bit more distant) can finally be acted upon’ or a ‘the hitman dies, but his sacrifice made the world a better place’ bittersweet ending. Or something different, or a mix. I really don’t know.
I'll keep this thread updated as discussion and work on the outline proceeds.