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Drama Spec Script 2015 – What is hot and what is not

Drama Spec Script 2015 – What is hot and what is not


UPDATED:
A brand new 2019 list has been posted.
Click here to access it.

Like every year, it is now time to review which TV shows are good to spec, and which are not.
Dedicated posts will be made respectively for the best comedies (half-hour) and the best dramas (one-hour).
As the title says, this post is all about the dramas.
In addition, you’ll also find (when available) a script for the corresponding show for educational purposes.
Canceled or dead shows have been removed since last season’s spec list.

NOTE:
Given Warner Bros’ rules for their fellowship, I have indicated with an asterisk (*) series that they will not accept specs for (mainly first-season shows).

Let’s do another quick recap of how the list works:
The shows are divided into five categories regarding their appeal to readers and how well they are known/read:
– Over-specced (shows that have passed their prime, try to avoid doing them)
– Mainstream (shows that have matured enough that they have become on-the-nose speccers–and a lot of people are speccing them)
– Wild Cards (soon, everyone will spec those, maybe you can get a head start)
– Outsiders (specs that will get you out from the pack)
– Gamblers (risky shows that could pay off, or bomb)

There is also a grade regarding the show’s longevity in relation to its speccability.
Meaning, how long can you keep your spec script fresh without having to throw it in the trash?
To do this, we will use the greatest grading system on Earth; stars:
★★★★★ – Excellent
★★★★★ – Very Good
★★★★★ – Average
★★★★★ – Fair
★★★★★ – Poor

And here we go.

Over-Specced

Re-tool your spec if you have one, but you probably shouldn’t bother beginning a new one for these shows.

American Horror Story (FX) *
Type: Serialized horror
Change of location, change of story.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – It’s Ryan Murphy.

Bones/Castle (FOX/ABC)
Type: Light police procedural
On their death bed.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Ten seasons later, do you really think you can out-write these shows?

CSI/Criminal Minds (CBS)
Type: Police procedurals
Are you kidding?
Longevity: ★★★★★ – You’re kidding.

The Following (FOX)
Type: Serialized police procedural
So much for limited series.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Hard to keep up with.

Game of Thrones (HBO) *
Type: Serialized fantasy drama
Oh, sweet summer child.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – The books, they are changin’.

The Good Wife (CBS)
Type: Legal procedural
Reverted all the changes it did last year. Doesn’t mean it’s a good choice.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – One more season to go after this one.

Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) *
Type: Medical procedural
Code blue.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – It’s dead, Jim.

Grimm/Once Upon A Time/The Vampire Diaries (NBC/ABC/The CW)
Type: Fantasy drama
It might seem odd to pair them together, but they now fit in the same fantasy category (although Once still has a bit more reach). In any case, they’ve all been done by now.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Won’t die soon, but the current plotlines will.

Hawaii Five-0/NCIS:LA (CBS) *
Type: Police/Action procedural
There are better action procedural choices out there.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Not that many twists and turns though.

Homeland (Showtime)
Type: Serialized thriller
How the mighty have fallen.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – A new start.

Justified (FX)
Type: Police procedural
I guarantee you’re not the only Justified spec.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Final season.

Person of Interest (CBS)
Type: Action/Science-fiction drama
It used to be a procedural with interesting ideas. It has since become one of the best science-fiction shows on television. Unfortunately…
Longevity: ★★★★★ – …they’ve been many changes since.

Revenge (ABC)
Type: Serialized family drama
I’ll lend you my copy of Monte Cristo instead.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – It’s a soap!

Royal Pains/Suits (USA) *
Type: Light procedural
Went from low-key to ideal light procedural to spec fast.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – A couple seasons and then gone.

Scandal (ABC)
Type: Serialized political drama
Shondaland has better spec choices around.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Oh boy.

Shameless (Showtime)
Type: Serialized family dramedy
Debatable category. Undebatable spec popularity.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Welcome back to the show, that one guy.

The Walking Dead (AMC)
Type: Ensemble/horror drama
This show was over-specced by the end of season one.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Don’t worry, everyone you love will die.

Mainstream

The current and new widespread shows in town that are getting read.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC)
Type: Fantasy procedural
Not as big a spec success as one would have thought a year ago. Still a prime choice.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – All the revelations threaten to transform the show into something much more unpredictable.

The Americans (FX)
Type: Serialized historical thriller
The most specced drama around right now. Bar none.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – I guess you could still try.

Arrow/Beauty & The Beast (The CW) *
Type: Action/Fantasy procedural
Still a very popular genre spec coupled with a not-so-well-known series. Either can be good (although they’re standing on their last mainstream leg).
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Assess the character problem first, then find the case.

The Blacklist (NBC) *
Type: Action procedural
A hit for NBC transformed into a formulaic albeit strong procedural show to spec.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Come on. It got the Super Bowl spot.

Elementary (CBS)
Type: Police procedural
Who’s to say it hasn’t become more popular than its British counterpart?
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Self-contained stories work wonders.

Hannibal (NBC)
Type: Serialized psychological drama
Extremely popular spec right now, meaning it is likely its final mainstream season.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Hopefully you know the stuff to come.

House of Cards/Orange Is The New Black (Netflix)
Type: Serialized political/relationship drama
Yes, Orange is a drama. Yes, people love speccing Netflix shows.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Yes, a new season is upon us.

Masters of Sex (Showtime)
Type: Serialized historical drama
Surprisingly, this is the premium cable drama getting the most traction out there.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – It’s a slow burn.

Nashville (ABC)
Type: Musical/Family drama
Goes under the radar most times, but could be a strong choice…
Longevity: ★★★★★ – …assuming you know the relationships well enough.

Sleepy Hollow (FOX)
Type: Fantasy procedural
Has now become the go-to spec when it comes to genre shows. Open up your testaments.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Uneven second season, but a new showrunner is coming up (big changes?).

Wild Cards

Not quite fully widespread but will get there given the chance.

The 100 (The CW)
Type: Serialized science-fiction drama
Engaging characters, unexpected stories and grey morality makes this a top contender for genre specs.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Good luck keeping up.

Agent Carter (ABC) *
Type: Action-adventure drama
Much more successful in its freshman year than S.H.I.E.L.D. was then. Could fast become a contender…
Longevity: ★★★★★ – …once the show actually gets picked for another season.

Banshee (Cinemax) *
Type: Serialized pulp drama
Moving upward as an offbeat genre show.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – It’s pulp, meaning lots of movement. Good news is the season’s already over.

Chicago Fire/Chicago PD (NBC)
Type: Action procedural
Dick Wolf is back stronger than ever.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Sweep twists and fires to put out.

Empire (FOX)
Type: Family soap
Talk about a surprise success. One to watch for great specs.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Who knows where the plotlines are going.

The Flash (The CW)
Type: Action/Fantasy procedural
The rightful successor to Arrow. Will definitely grow into a must-spec show by next season.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – It’s a super-hero procedural.

Gotham (FOX)
Type: Noir procedural
Batman without Batman! What’s not to love.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Much like Arrow, it’s best to figure out what you want your characters to deal with before coming up with villains.

How to Get Away with Murder (ABC) *
Type: Legal procedural
The Shondaland alternative I was referring to.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Thankfully it has many cases of the week.


Outsiders

The shows (mostly cable) you may be tempted to take a risk on, getting you on top of the reading pile. Beyond that, it depends on the willingness of the reader and his/her knowledge of the show. Who knows, maybe the showrunner is into less popular shows and will value your risk-taking.

The Affair/The Leftovers (Showtime/HBO) *
Type: Serialized relationship drama
It could seem surprising that Affair and Leftovers are so low on the list. Their quality is hard to match, while their popularity is still not that of other cable dramas.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Dangerous territories.

Bates Motel (A&E)
Type: Serialized family drama/horror
Is stuck as a show not many people watch or spec.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Things could get interesting.

Halt & Catch Fire/Turn (AMC)
Type: Serialized historical drama
Not getting the level of notoriety of previous AMC shows. In other words, fewer specs.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – New enough you should be able to find unique stories.

Jane the Virgin (The CW)
Type: Serialized dramedy.
A creative and critical success would make this a great pick for an under-the-radar show to spec.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Potentially at risk when it comes to stories.

The Last Ship/Legends (TNT) *
Type: Action procedural
Not total gamblers if only for their broader spec appeal, even to non-viewers (assuming you do a self-contained case).
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Could easily last you a few seasons depending on your focus.

Major Crimes (TNT)
Type: Procedural drama
Still not that widely specced given the network and popularity of the series.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – And this could be your last chance.

The Originals/Reign (The CW)
Type: Serialized fantasy/historical drama
These CW fantasy dramas are staying put for now. More popular genre shows have already proven more popular, both in the number of specs and how well they’ve done.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Twists!

Orphan Black (BBC America) *
Type: Serialized science-fiction drama
Popular online, but outside genre fans (who end up speccing it a lot), it isn’t getting the wide success you’d assume.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Relies heavily on turns.

Rectify/The Red Road (Sundance) *
Type: Serialized drama
Sundance is on the up-and-up with these strong serials. Definitely not people’s top choice, which could work in your advantage…
Longevity: ★★★★★ – …or leave you in the dust.

Gamblers

For one reason or another, these are much riskier specs to do right now. You have been warned.

12 Monkeys/Defiance/Helix/The Strain (Syfy/FX) *
Type: Science-fiction/Fantasy drama
This may surprise a few, but truth is pure science-fiction dramas, especially serialized, are neither read nor specced that often. Syfy shows (save for a couple exceptions) have also never grown into mainstream spec choices due to low viewership.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Most are serialized. If you figure the formula, go for it.

Backstrom (FOX) *
Type: Crime dramedy
Another shockingly low position for a drama (this time from a network). Unfortunately, the series is not that well known.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Nor is it getting great ratings.

Chasing Life/The Fosters (ABC Family) *
Type: Serialized family/workplace drama
It’s a sad fact that ABC Family series are risky to spec if only because of their very low reach in fellowships. On the plus side, that means less competition.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Try to discern the formula.

Graceland/Satisfaction (USA) *
Type: Action/Relationship drama
Not many people know about these shows, let alone watch them. A very risky bet.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Could go on and on, considering.

True Detective (HBO) *
Type: Serialized police drama
Do you really have to ask?
Longevity: ★★★★★ – The second season hasn’t even premiered.

2015 Trends

If you think there are a lot of shows on TV right now, you’d be right.
Count ’em– 68 dramas are on this year’s record-breaking spec list! Yes, it’s a crowded marketplace.

If the comedies had a rough year, the dramas are prospering like bunnies.
Ventures are increasing and so does the variety of low-key serialized fares. Only a few procedurals have a wide enough success that they are worth considering. On the other hand, serialized series get the most choice, but produce much less content to get a good grasp of their formula (if they have one). And then there are the anthologies.
The trend this year with drama specs continues to be “quicker is better”. Second-year shows are already mainstream (Sleepy Hollow, Blacklist), with brand new series not far behind (Empire, Flash, Gotham).

More choices. Better quality. A richer field is at play. However this also means finding the right fit is more problematic. With so many dramas out there, it is now easier than ever to find good shows to spec, yet harder to pick the perfect choice.

Also check out:
TV Writing Fellowships: The Bix Six

Comedy Spec Script list

Drama Spec Script 2014 – What is hot and what is not

Drama Spec Script 2014 – What is hot and what is not


UPDATED:
A brand new 2019 list has been posted.
Click here to access it.

Like every year, it is now time to review which TV shows are good to spec, and which are not.
Dedicated posts will be made respectively for the best comedies (half-hour) and the best dramas (one-hour).
As the title says, this post is all about the dramas.
In addition, you’ll also find (when available) a script for the corresponding show for educational purposes.
Canceled or dead shows have been removed since last season’s spec list.

NOTE:
Given Warner Bros’ rules for their fellowship, I have indicated with an asterisk (*) series that they will not accept specs for (mainly first-season shows).

Let’s do another quick recap of how the list works:
The shows are divided into five categories regarding their appeal to readers and how well they are known/read:
– Over-specced (shows that have passed their prime, try to avoid doing them)
– Mainstream (shows that have matured enough that they have become on-the-nose speccers–and a lot of people are speccing them)
– Wild Cards (soon, everyone will spec those, maybe you can get a head start)
– Outsiders (specs that will get you out from the pack)
– Gamblers (risky shows that could pay off, or bomb)

There is also a grade regarding the show’s longevity in relation to its speccability.
Meaning, how long can you keep your spec script fresh without having to throw it in the trash?
To do this, we will use the greatest grading system on Earth; stars:
★★★★★ – Excellent
★★★★★ – Very Good
★★★★★ – Average
★★★★★ – Fair
★★★★★ – Poor

And here we go.

Over-Specced

Re-tool your spec if you have one, but you probably shouldn’t bother beginning a new one for these shows.

Bones/Castle (FOX/ABC)
Type: Light police procedural
With respectively 9 and 6 seasons under their belt, these procedurals may be popular outside the writing world, but they’re not worth the sweat for specs.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Who knows how long they’ll continue for.

CSI/Criminal Minds (CBS)
Type: Police procedurals
Yeah, right.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – What do you say to cancellation? Not today.

Glee/Mad Men/True Blood (FOX/AMC/HBO)
Type: Serialized high-school dramedy, historical drama, fantasy drama
It may be strange to put all three in the same basket, but they’re both done to death, plus in their last season.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Farewell.

The Good Wife (CBS)
Type: Legal procedural
Perhaps a shocking displacement to some, but the series is already in its fifth season and gaining momentum…
Longevity: ★★★★★ – …which could be too little, too late. Hopefully, the series won’t get canceled. Realistically, it probably will.

Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) *
Type: Medical procedural
Not sure if joking, or…
Longevity: ★★★★★ – …wasting my time.

Homeland (Showtime)
Type: Serialized thriller
Is it really surprising that the most popular Showtime drama has been specced by so many people?
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Also, Brody is dead.

Justified (FX)
Type: Police procedural
Yet another not-so-surprising displacement with this very popular drama spec.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Who doesn’t love Timmy?

The Mentalist (CBS)
Type: Police procedural
The good news is Red John has been uncovered.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – The bad news is nobody cares anymore.

Once Upon A Time (ABC)
Type: Fantasy family drama
Although the show likes to reinvent itself from time to time, you only get so much wiggle room.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – So many fairy tale characters.

Parenthood (NBC)
Type: Serialized family drama
The little family that could has become the go-to familial spec for many people.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Fairly steady ratings.

Sons of Anarchy (FX)
Type: Serialized ensemble drama
[Insert bike joke.] Longevity: ★★★★★ – ‘Tis the last season to be jolly.

The Walking Dead (AMC)
Type: Ensemble/horror drama
I don’t think speccing Walking Dead has been an original idea since the first episode of the series.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – All the people die.

White Collar (USA)
Type: Light crime procedural
Under-rated USA show that has grown exponentially over time.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Could go off anytime with Eastin’s many commitments.

Mainstream

The current and new widespread shows in town that are getting read.

American Horror Story (FX) *
Type: Serialized horror
Despite the continuing changes in storylines, people seem to like creating crazy specs for it.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Which doesn’t mean you should do it.

Arrow (The CW)
Type: Action/Fantasy procedural
Arrow has pretty much become CW’s most popular show to spec. Talk about a comeback.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Up, up, and away.

Boardwalk Empire (HBO) *
Type: Serialized historical drama
Classic Buscemi.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Continuing the stronghold.

Elementary (CBS)
Type: Police procedural
A spec hit. Not that many decent police procedurals, I guess.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Keeping strong.

The Following (FOX)
Type: Serialized police procedural
Kevin Bacon continues to be on TV!
Longevity: ★★★★★ – It was meant as a “limited series.” Turns out, there’s a second season worth of storylines.

Game of Thrones (HBO) *
Type: Serialized fantasy drama
A hard series to spec, if only for the risk of being unoriginal or too on the nose.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – If you haven’t read the books, good luck with next season.

Grimm (NBC)
Type: Fantasy procedural
Understated, but popular among genre fans.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Does NBC have anything else going for it?

Hart of Dixie (The CW)
Type: Serialized medical/family drama
If you’re into CW soaps.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Now paired with the Beast.

Hawaii Five-0/NCIS:LA (CBS)
Type: Police/Action procedural
Two action procedurals that are surprisingly not that specced.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Good track record.

Person of Interest (CBS)
Type: Crime procedural
Could become over-specced soon due to its rising popularity.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – I hear there’s quite a few serialized changes.

Revenge (ABC)
Type: Serialized family drama
Although not as popular as when it first started, Revenge is still a strong contender for family dramas.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Losing steam.

Revolution (NBC)
Type: Serialized post-apocalyptic family drama
Surprisingly not that specced, but is it worth it?
Longevity: ★★★★★ – It’s still a big NBC hit. For whatever that’s worth.

Scandal (ABC)
Type: Serialized political drama
Talk about popular.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – The show is getting increasingly soapy, which means incredibly harder to predict.

Suits (USA)
Type: Light legal procedural
People seem to always forget USA shows…
Longevity: ★★★★★ – …despite the fact that fellowships seem to love them.

The Vampire Diaries (The CW)
Type: Serialized fantasy drama
Besides Grimm, another popular genre alternative (albeit soapy).
Longevity: ★★★★★ – A little bit aging. Probably the last fresh year.

Wild Cards

Not quite fully widespread but will get there given the chance.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC) *
Type: Fantasy procedural
Probably gonna end up being one of the most popular specs if it ends up getting a second season.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Ratings are going down but you have an endless variety of C-list Marvel super-heroes to choose from.

The Americans (FX)
Type: Serialized thriller
A terrific drama for political thriller fans. The next Homeland in terms of popularity.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – The second season still hasn’t premiered, which means you might be in for a late surprise.

Bates Motel (A&E)
Type: Serialized family drama/horror
It’s a grower.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Why the hell not.

Beauty & The Beast (The CW)
Type: Action/Fantasy procedural
Unlike its green counterpart, this CW series hasn’t gained as much traction as expected.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Doesn’t mean it can’t happen.

The Blacklist (NBC) *
Type: Action procedural
A surprise hit for NBC, and is episodic enough that it could easily become a spec favorite.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Untouchable until ratings tank.

Hannibal (NBC)
Type: Serialized drama
Who could have predicted the amount of fans this little Bryan Fuller could have?
Longevity: ★★★★★ – If you’ve read the books, you’re one step ahead.

House of Cards (Netflix)
Type: Serialized political thriller
Season 2 just premiered, and is quite serialized…
Longevity: ★★★★★ – …unless you’ve seen the original.

Nashville (ABC)
Type: Musical/Family drama
A soap that not a lot of people think about speccing, which may make it the perfect show to pick.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Renewed for a new season.

Sleepy Hollow (FOX)
Type: Fantasy procedural
The upcoming front-runner for genre specs.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – A fair success for FOX.

True Detective (HBO) *
Type: Serialized police drama
Quite a tough act to mimic.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – And very serialized, which makes speccing this almost impossible.


Outsiders

The shows (mostly cable) you may be tempted to take a risk on, getting you on top of the reading pile. Beyond that, it depends on the willingness of the reader and his/her knowledge of the show. Who knows, maybe the showrunner is into less popular shows and will value your risk-taking.

Banshee (Cinemax) *
Type: Serialized pulp drama
Under-rated actioner with enough character potential for some interesting spec drama.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – The serialization is light enough that working in a semi-loner storyline shouldn’t be that hard.

Being Human/Defiance (Syfy) *
Type: Fantasy/science-fiction drama
Their specs are as popular as their series counterparts…
Longevity: ★★★★★ – …In other words, not that much.

Blue Bloods (CBS) *
Type: Police drama
Almost no one specs it, which also means not a lot of people read it.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – A probable fifth-season renewal for this cop drama.

The Bridge (FX) *
Type: Serialized police drama
Not sure how you can spec this one…
Longevity: ★★★★★ – …but it got a second season.

Covert Affairs/Necessary Roughness (USA)
Type: Action procedural/Relationship drama
So many USA shows fall through the cracks of speccers. Including these two.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – One is in its fifth season, the other is cancelled.

Major Crimes (TNT)
Type: Procedural drama
Interesting choice if you’re into police procedurals.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Renewed at last.

Masters of Sex (Showtime) *
Type: Serialized drama
The money is on figuring out which position to go for.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Haha. Get it?

The Newsroom (HBO)
Type: Serialized political drama
Pick a news item from two years ago to get your spec going.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Final season.

The Originals/Reign (The CW) *
Type: Serialized fantasy drama
Since other fantasy dramas (e.g. Supernatural) are getting older by the minute, these could be interesting alternatives.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – I’d still wait until season two.

Royal Pains (USA)
Type: Light medical drama
Gaining momentum by the day.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Already renewed.

Gamblers

For one reason or another, these are much riskier specs to do right now. You have been warned.

Chicago Fire/Chicago PD (NBC) *
Type: Procedurals
The question isn’t if they’re speccable, rather if anyone wants to read them.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – The good news is that, despite being relative NBC successes, they’re pretty much ignored by speccers at large (less competition).

Dracula (NBC) *
Type: Serialized fantasy drama
Limited run plus weirdly modified mythos means it’s difficult to envision a powerful Dracula spec.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Ratings are not the greatest, which may call for cancellation.

Helix (Syfy) *
Type: Serialized science-fiction drama
Eh.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – A self-contained 13-episode story means that either there won’t be a second season, or the new episodes will a different story.

Rectify (Sundance) *
Type: Serialized drama
Despite the rising popularity of the show, it’s still an atypical choice.
Longevity: ★★★★★ – Season 2 is about to premiere, which means potential changes.

This year, we have a record-shattering 62 dramas on our spec list. Talk about a crowded field.

The drama venues keep increasing with Sundance joining the club of A&E and Netflix. Nearly absent last year, FOX is slowly regaining grown, with a new show that will undoubtedly prove very popular for genre writers (Sleepy Hollow). HBO has a few offerings, but most of them too serialized to even attempt (or not even accepted in the first place).

In fact, serialized shows are once again back in the fold this year. Popularity of season-long anthologies or close-ended arcs has skyrocketed thanks to the success of shows like American Horror Story. This is actually bad news for most speccers since coming up with a “missing episode” is almost impossible.
As is now the trend, first and second-season shows are still amongst the most sought-after dramas to spec. Doesn’t mean that’s a good thing.

And the question still remains: are people now aiming their sights to specs lasting only a season?
Time will tell.

Click here for the Comedy Spec Script list.

One and Gone: Reunion (FOX – 2005)

One and Gone: Reunion (FOX – 2005)

Some shows get years of success, while others barely get a few episodes to prove their worth.
Time to take a look at these oft-forgotten series and their single season. This is One and Gone.

On today’s program: FOX’s Reunion.

Presenting Reunion

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What was it about?

Breakfast Club meets 24, or The Big Chill meets Lost.
Each episode of Reunion follows one year in the lives of six BFFs, starting with their high-school graduation in 1986 and ending in 2006 1998 (following the cancellation of the show after only 13 out of 22 potential episodes).
The show also features the running (main) plotline in the present (2006) of a detective investigating the brutal murder of one of the six friends the night of their 20-year reunion.
It’s high-concept, it’s very soapy, and it’s fun to watch the same actors play the same characters in their 20s, 30s and 40s–all within the same season. Should have been on The WB instead of FOX.

When was this even on the air?

Fall of 2005 on FOX. On Thursday nights at 9 (versus The Apprentice and CSI). Ouch. Talk about a competitive timeslot.

How many episodes?

13 episodes produced (out of a planned 22). 9 made it to air with the last 4 available online.

Stars & Stripes

Created by Jon Harmon Feldman and Sara Goodman, with the former serving as showrunner.

Regular cast:
[list]

  • Dave Annable (Aaron Lewis) as the lovesick puppy turned Internet entrepreneur
  • Alexa Davalos (Samantha Carlton) as the triangle love interest turned corpse
  • Will Estes (Will Malloy) as the BFF turned priest
  • Sean Faris (Craig Brewster) as the privileged asshole turned paraplegic
  • Chyler Leigh (Carla Noll) as the innocent girl turned femme fatale
  • Amanda Righetti (Jenna Moretti) as the wannabe actress turned
  • Mathew St. Patrick (Kenneth Marjorino) as the cop with a vengeance

Notable guest-stars:

  • Gregory Harrison as the privileged asshole’s asshole dad
  • George Newbern as the obligatory clichéd abusive husband
  • Geoff Stults as the handsome stranger struck with cancer
[/list] ReunionCast01

Review

I’m a big fan of dramas that play with storytelling structures, especially when it involves time (see 24 or Lost), so Reunion theoretically fits right into my playground.
But was any of it actually good? Let’s take a look.

The Ugly

This shot.
Reunion 1x05 1990_SingleShot

Present day
Before we get to the real novelty of the series, let’s take a look at the continuing narrative/arc of the season, which is entirely set in the present. To emphasize with the sunny past (I guess), we end up with some weird hyper-stylized present where everybody is a dead-eyed zombie living in a grey film-noir-esque world. Or something. (See the screenshots coming up)
This is a whodunit-style mystery about one of the six having been killed. Yet, halfway through the season, the present storyline starts to focus entirely on two characters’ involvement with the murder. In other words, the show stops featuring (and caring) about three of the five remaining friends still alive in the present.
Have I lost you already?
Now, what I’m describing already sounds like a terrible story, but the biggest disappointment isn’t that we’re seeing too much of the present; it’s that we’re actually seeing too little of it. The ratio of a given episode is about 80/20 in favor of the flashbacks, with the flashbacks completely overtaking the present in latter episodes. Why? My guess is that the last 2-3 episode of a theoretical full season would have prominently featured the events leading up to the murder (i.e. present-adjacent stories). Therefore, no need to talk about it before then.
Either that, or they realized how shitty the makeup looked.

Soap clichés
I know Reunion is a soap, but there were too many crappy twists for my liking.
And you get a pregnancy! And you get a wedding! And you get a surprise bastard!

The Bad

Before/After
dual1
dual2
dual3
dual4
dual5
Enough shown.

Meta jokes
Examples include:
– LOL UGLY 90s CELLPHONES!
– LOL INTERNET IS NOT THE FUTURE
– LOL OJ SIMPSON WILL NEVER MURDER ANYONE EVER

To quote the EW review of the time:

Even the ’80s scenes are weak because the writers are so taken with the setting, they can’t stop reminding us. Sloppily. One character calls Wham! ”the next Beatles”; another dances to ”Material Girl.” The gang dons double-layered polos, Frankie Goes to Hollywood-style T-shirts, and menswear-for-girls. In short, we’re never looking at ’86, or ’87, but an ’80s-world amalgam — and apparently anything that happened in that decade is game, even if it’s off by nearly 10 years.

Fortunately, self-referential humor isn’t the main point of the show. And past the 80s (i.e. the first couple of episodes), we don’t have to suffer through a lot of those inane references.

Some dialogue
Especially early on in the show, there’s quite a lot of bad lines (expositionary or other).
Here’s a frightful example from the pilot, said to the triangle love interest by her secret lover:

If Halley’s Comet’s coming back early for anyone, I think it’d be for you. <3

Cringe.

The characters
Less archetypes and more stereotypes.
They get fleshed out over the course of the half-season, but we don’t have the real satisfaction of seeing their complete evolution from walking clichés in the pilot (80s), to their more devilish counterpart in the present. Had the show gone on for a full season, I would assume this frustrating contrast would have been less jarring.

The Good

The music
Say what you will about the meta “time winks”, but I really enjoyed the music choices (at least past the pilot). Maybe it’s because I already enjoy the songs picked, but they ended up actually being relevant to the episodes’ content and featured scenes.

The actors
Again, despite the crappy makeup, you can’t fault the actors for doing their best and making some barf-worthy scenes just be cringe-worthy.
Special kudos to Will Estes, Dave Annable and Chyler Leigh for committing to some of these crazy storylines.

Time management
Apart from the present, the way Reunion handled the majority of each episode (i.e. flashbacks) was, in my opinion, a good use of storytelling.
Most episodes concentrated on a very particular moment within the year, and showcased through that lens the various events in the friends’ lives. Only in a couple of instances did they actually go through an entire year.
Either way, the “moments” they showed were the most relevant and illustrative of where the story was (as opposed to historical events). The writers chose to focus on the important events in the lives of their characters, regardless of when during the year they were taking place. This is in opposition to what they could have done: showcase historical moments within these years to cheaply entice nostalgia or emotions out of us. A pitfall that was avoided.

The Great

This double popped-up collar
Reunion 1x01 1986.avi_snapshot_17.18_[2013.09.07_13.25.39]

Bottom Line

Pilot to finale: Evolution of a single season

Reunion started bad. Really. The pilot of the show probably has the most hackneyed soapy storylines you’ll ever see. But the cool concept made me stay past it.
The show was at its height of ridiculousness when, within the same episode, the 30-something actors were playing both teenagers, and grayed-out 40-year-old equivalents. As I said, the makeup is really distracting. The more egregious issues however, were the constant callbacks and “look at me” nostalgic moments of the pilot.
Cut to thirteen episodes later, where the majority of these issues are mostly fixed. Once you get into the 90s, there are only a few minor nostalgic references, and the wardrobe doesn’t look that bad. You’ve gotten used to the soap storylines, most of them having actually become relevant to the ongoing plot. The present, however, is still a major issue (see above). Still, an overall positive evolution for only 13 episodes.

Watch or let it die?

Eh. It’s hard to give it a thumbs up when there are a lot of loose ends by the end of the show. You definitely won’t get enough of a complete picture to be satisfied.
The concept is executed well enough for a night-time soap (past the first two episodes), but the murder mystery is dragged on far too long. Worst part is the lack of any conclusion or real payoff of any kind.
The showrunner himself has confirmed that the murderer’s identity and motive (which you can find online, since they weren’t revealed in the show itself) can barely make sense for “us”, given the lack of information from years 1999 to 2006. Key events are completely unknown to the viewers, which makes the entire present storyline irrelevant.
A complete 22-episode season would have been worth the time investment, but as it stands now, the unfinished Reunion will live on as a haphazard foggy memory of what could have been.
Kind of like high-school.
Get it?

Final rating

On a scale of 1986 to 2014., I’ll give Reunion a solid 1989 B.C. with an unexpected pregnancy.