WORKING TITLE: The PNDs
FORMAT: 45min Television Drama.
PREMISE: In a small city in England, a virus has given anyone with Neuro-divergence heightened anxiety and strange superpowers, each with their own irony attached. A group who meets at the Young Person’s Centre are aided by their counsellor Dr Clarke. He helps to bring them together and understand their newfound powers.
GENRE/TONE: With dramatic characters and dark comedy undertones this show will ultimately present as a Political Thriller as the ultimate antagonist is not revealed until the end of the season. Even then, the information on who released the virus and why, will come slowly to both the protagonists and the audience. Ideally the twists and turns of who is behind the release and why, will span 3 to 4 seasons.
There will be many episodical antagonists throughout and potential for each individual character to make good or bad choices depending on moral fiber and situation just as in life, but with bigger consequences due to the power they hold.
Mystery Box- The viewer will learn along with the protagonists as they explore their powers, what they want to do with them and where they come from. By the end of the season, we find out that the virus instigated a dormant evolutionary gene in the brains of anyone with Neurodivergence.
However, the action will be balanced by the incorporation of Epic Drama – these characters wish to change the world with their new powers. The second story is the challenges bought by them being different to the rest of society. People who find out they have powers can be antagonistic, especially if they are xenophobic or misogynistic in the first place. The way society and Neurotypicals react to PNDs will change over the season arch as more and more Neurodivergent people realize their powers.
The major conflict is unknown until the finale episode of season one, but there are many other conflicts throughout the season in many locations. There are many characters who are part of the group eventually, so the point of view is always omnipresent, giving it a more action led feel, but with deeper dialogue at times.
THEME: They all desire to be validated in some way but their powers are all connected to their flaws/biggest anxieties.
Fear of the unknown – how the ‘Norms’ react to the PNDs, especially when more and more people realize they are PNDs.
SETTING: Brighton, U.K
They all meet weekly at the Young Person Centre’s Neuro-divergent and anxiety sessions which were set up after the virus proved to extenuate anxiety, especially in those with Neuro-divergence. There’s a large communal space, along with many smaller counselling rooms and a garden. Each characters living situation will be regularly visited also.
WHY? Having recently been diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 32, the subject of Neurodivergence (and all the anxiety which naturally builds after feeling different from the ‘norm’ for so long) is fascinating to me.
Naturally I have been doing a lot of research into this subject anyway, along with a separate scientific passion of mind, brain chemistry.
I had the idea in 2018 to write characters with mental health issues getting ironic superpower as I felt that television desperately needed a broader and better portrayal of people with mental and behavioural difficulties.
The idea has changed with me over time and at points been an outlet for myself to deal with certain issues. At this time, I am open to most change, the part that matters most to me, is giving disabled people powerful representation on TV, in a fun but considerate manner that will inspire viewers to feel that they too have power inside of them.
LEAD CHARACTER(S):
Sophie Riach/Hypo (Hypochondriac) – takes on illness from people in close proximity.
(23, petite) suffered from health anxiety since she was very small. Her mother went out drunk one day and forgetting Sarah was at home, she locked her inside. In the panic to try to get out she had an asthma attack. Although she called 999 and survived, she has been a nervous child ever since.
Although smart and a leader, her anxiety around health mixed with PTSD held her back for most of her life. After dealing with a virus that increases anxiety in people as well as attacking their organs and surviving, Sophie felt more confident that she could improve her life, only to find out that she now has powers. Sophie is the first to suggest they help people with their powers, she is one of the eldest to attend the YPC group and feels it supports her through her degree in medicine.
Dr Xavier Clarke (group therapist) – Counsellor at the YPC
(34), Dark hair) He runs group therapysessions for vulnerable and dysfunctional 16–25-year-olds. When they find out they have powers, they discuss in the sessions, he helps to bring them together and work out their powers.
Lexi Tanner/Miss Lexia (Dyslexic) – Whenever she uses idioms, they come true.
(19, Caribbean descent) Glamour and a tough exterior hide her darkest fears that she’s not smart enough. Secretly creative and always with a plan, she comes into her own with support.
Adam Wick/Addy (Inattentive/Hyperactive mind) – Super speed which happens whenever his mind races.
(22, scruffy and colourful) Once he has control of his powers he can slow down too and eventually teleport everywhere, but he must control his mind first.
Alan Richardson/ Big Al (Alcoholic)- change any liquid to another liquid but only ever changes it to alcohol.
(35, Big, gruff plumber from Worthing) Old school friend of Xavier. His parents took care of Xavier after his parents died and they haven’t seen each other in years. Endlessly single because the women he goes for are all gold diggers and he doesn’t have any money.
HOOK: According to the 2019 marketing charts.com survey, viewers of television most enjoy watching Comedy, Drama and Action/Adventure and Thrillers most (in that order) and this show has a great mix of each. The characters are vibrant and their internal journeys are because of their external journeys, i.e their powers come through who they are and the challenges the face can also be their greatest strengths.
Between 30% and 40% of the population are thought to be neurodiverse and yet the small number of characters representing it on television are often over-stereotyped, or just wrong. This show will aim to show believable and relatable characters to both the Neuro-typical and Neuro-diverse.
The conditions of ADHD, Autism, Dyspraxia, and Dyslexia make up ‘Neurodiversity’. Neuro-differences are recognised and appreciated as a social category on par with ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or disability status. How this works with anxiety, to spark a myriad of Mental health issues is fascinating and relatable to many.
There will be an emphasis on the scientific theories, mixing elements of Sci-fi with Thriller, in why people developing superpowers have divergent brains and what started the virus that triggered the dormant genes. Adding Drama will give a different dynamic to the idea of superpowers.
COMPARABLE WORKS: Misfits style, ironic powers in U.K city. Awareness of other superpowers in media. Age range – young people, community centre location. The Magicians characters and dynamics which change and intertwine. Culture buffs, audience intelligence and satisfaction.
A bit like Alphas or The Tomorrow People (investigative thriller) where their powers are the next stage of human evolution, except in The PNDs, there is more of a question of how this evolution happened and whether it was natural or man-made. A little bit of X-Files season 10 and 11’s virus conspiracies, but it’s already happened and because of a billionaire scientist rather than aliens.
CORE AUDIENCE DEMOGRAPHIC/ IDEAL PLATFORM: Aimed at young adults 16-24 but will appeal to those up to about 45years. Want to appeal to a diverse audience and it is important to check regularly that characters and disabilities are coming across accurately to viewers.
Ideal platform would be a streaming service with a wide scope of genres such as Netflix, Prime, Now TV or Apple TV. Although it could work as a network show on Channel 4.
SUMMARY OF STORY: Throughout the first season, the group slowly start to understand what has changed them. The neurodivergence in their brains meant that even before the virus, their sense of anxiety was heightened, but the virus increased everyone’s anxiety tenfold and triggered an evolutionary response in those people.
The group learns how to make the most of the powers and some are trying to help people, i.e. Hypo goes to a war-torn country to help the survivors get to safety by taking on all their pain so they can hurriedly escape. Others go off book and do what they think will help themselves the most and some just try to ignore their powers.
