Recently I got to talking a bit with a fellow forumgoer in the thread for the Mass Effect movie's official announcement. Both he and I arrived at the conclusion that in a perfect world, the decision to make a filmed adaptation of the games would involve the creation of a television series rather than a movie. There are all sorts of reasons this might well never happen, especially with the slow, agonizing death of space opera on American networks.
Still, it got me thinking. And when work is slow I find myself jotting things down along the way. Lo and behold, I somehow wound up with 'plans' for a full first season, should this have actually come to pass and the setting of the series were chosen to revolve around the actual plot of the games instead of a spinoff (which I could see being successful in its own right.)
I have a bit of experience with the television industry -- mostly secondhand, mind you, but it still helped me shape this first season based on the general rules of crafting a serialized drama. Choosing to spread out the revelations and sprinkle in several one-offs (which would be written to contain moments of relevance per episode despite their 'filler' status so as to ensure continued interest week to week) would be what most showrunners would aim for. I also decided the season would be given a 22-hour pick-up -- that means the network (whoever the hell that would be; who's to say, really) agrees to a 22-episode season. This is a fairly common number for various reasons and would serve ME1 nicely without getting itself too carried away.
Lastly, I'd like to preface by saying that I truly believe the franchise is best served as a trilogy of games. Player choices changing the shape of the galaxy = a mesmerizing concept. You can't do that with TV. I had to choose certain paths here -- the order of worlds based on what I believe would be the most satisfying from a television perspective; the gender of Shepard (went with female because TV needs more strong women) and so forth. That said, this is still a fun little romp and I'd definitely watch it.
Without further ado, please welcome my silly little nonsense.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Mass Effect
Season One (2014-2015)
1x01: "Eden Prime War, Part I"
During their maiden voyage, the crew of the SSV Normandy is thrust into the onset of a conflict with nightmarish galactic ramifications. (Basis: Eden Prime, obviously)
1x02: "Eden Prime War, Part II"
The situation on Eden Prime becomes one of shadows and intrigue when Shepard is given a terrifying vision. (Basis: Eden Prime; I know there technically aren't enough cutscenes to warrant a two-hour story, but serialized shows need to start off strongly, so I'd imagine much more would be added)
1x03: "A Scenic Investigation"
The crew of the Normandy attempts to bring Saren's treachery before the Council -- the pinnacle of authority across hundreds of worlds -- but when the audience falls on deaf ears, new allies must be found. (Basis: The Citadel and the recruitment of Garrus and Wrex)
1x04: "Spectres"
As the investigation turns up pivotal leads, Shepard finds herself the receiver of a great honor. (Basis: The Citadel and the recruitment of Tali -- and the Spectre scene, of course)
1x05: "Crime Spree"
En route to Therum, the Normandy crew finds themselves entangled in a woman's devious plot to eliminate her associates. (Basis: "UNC: Hostile Takeover"; this would have to be heavily modified to work but it would serve as the first 'breathing point' of the season)
1x06: "Doctor T'Soni, I Presume"
Drawn to a mining colony in search of the asari Liara T'Soni, Shepard's team clashes with a geth force in an elaborate digsite. (Basis: Therum and the recruitment of Liara)
1x07: "Cult of Personality"
A decorated Alliance officer forms a dangerous and fanatical cult, leaving the nearby Normandy to deal with the situation. (Basis: "UNC: Major Kyle"; note my continuous grasping of straws in the descriptions in an effort to ensure the greatest believability that Shepard would be wasting time with this!)
1x08: "Beneath the Surface"
The Normandy arrives at the human colony of Zhu's Hope on the planet Feros, victimized by geth outbreaks and populated by delirious citizens. (Basis: Feros; I feel the storyline build-up would work best in this order, but your mileage may vary)
1x09: "The Thorian's Web"
Shepard and her team find themselves unwittingly pitted against mind-altered colonists as they confront an eldritch being at the center of the ordeal. (Basis: A continuation of Feros; fun fact: this episode's name is a play on the classic Star Trek episode 'The Tholian Web')
1x10: "One Small Step"
When a VI goes rogue at an Alliance facility on Luna, Shepard's team is called in to clean up the mess. (Basis: "UNC: Rogue VI"... oh man, the puns with this episode title slay me)
1x11: "Things Lost"
During the journey to Noveria, both Garrus and Wrex discover clues to loose ends involving their respective pasts. (Basis: Both "Garrus: Find Dr. Saleon" and "Wrex: Family Armor"; I felt like the old television cliche of having an A-plot and a B-plot would work nicely here)
1x12: "Strictly Business"
Efforts to stop Saren are put on hold when corporate intrigue takes center stage on the icy, dodgy world of Noveria. (Basis: Noveria, from docking through until the arrival at Rift Station)
1x13: "Maternal Instinct"
Battling their way through hordes of rachni, the crew comes face-to-face with a resurrected queen -- and with Liara's wicked mother. (Basis: The rest of Noveria; I think dedicating a full hour to this portion would be stellar)
1x14: "The Cerberus Network"
Admiral Kahoku asks for the Normandy's aid in finding a missing recon team in the Sparta system, leading to a complex string of lies woven by an organization known only as Cerberus. (Basis: The three UNC missions involving Cerberus; it would seem silly not to include these since a second season would deal so closely with the group)
1x15: "Bring Down The Sky"
Asteroid X57 is targeted by batarian pirates and the SSV Normandy is the only ship close enough to crush the invading force before its inhabitants are slain. (Basis: "X57: Bring Down The Sky", believe it or not. Always thought that was a great title)
1x16: "Incursion"
The Normandy gains a promising new lead on Saren's goals but before they can set a course, the team must deal with several geth bases recently constructed within Alliance borders. (Basis: "UNC: Geth Incursions" and "Tali: Tali and the geth"
1x17: "Virmire, Part I"
After meeting with a salarian espionage team on the tropical enemy stronghold of Virmire, a risky mission to bring down Saren is launched, but the line between friend and foe grows blurry for one squad member. (Basis: Much of Virmire and Wrex's dilemma)
1x18: "Virmire, Part II"
Revelations abound within Saren's heavily-guarded facility; the mission proves tremendously difficult, leading a soldier to make the ultimate sacrifice. (Basis: The rest of Virmire -- and whoever dies... I'll leave that to your imagination, hah)
1x19: "Grounded"
With the existence of an ancient enemy known as the Reapers confirmed, Shepard and her team make preparations to prevent their return to Citadel space but are thwarted by politics and forced into lockdown, prompting an old friend to take action on their behalf. (Basis: Mutiny on the Normandy)
1x20: "The World That Time Forgot"
Breaking free of their Alliance chains, the Normandy crew sets a course for the legendary world of Ilos as crew members brace for the terrors to come. (Basis: Roughly the first half of Ilos -- and before that, the 'night of passion' scenes and such; it cranks up the combat toward the end but would serve as a more fulfilling, all-characters-encompassing reflection as well)
1x21: "Race Against Time"
Amidst the geth-infested Prothean ruins, Shepard and her squad discover a stunning artifact that changes everything; the crew chases Saren through a perilous trench run with mere moments to spare. (Basis: All those lovely Vigil-related game-changers and ending with the Mako crashing through the Conduit)
1x22: "For The Cause"
The team rushes through a crippled Citadel in search of Saren while a full-scale battle with his Reaper master is waged in the skies overhead; hard choices must be made in order to stand a fighting chance. (Basis: The rest of the game -- and the opening moments of ME2 as well in order to establish a crazy cliffhanger for the season)
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Well, that's this humble author's take on things. It's been fun writing all that. If this thread takes off at all, I'm interested in reading what your thoughts are on how a television series for our beloved gaming franchise would fare and what you'd like to see it cover.
To all the inevitable critics who will claim I simply copied ME1's general plot progression and turned it into 22 chunks, that's sort of the point.
Modifié par JeffZero, 27 avril 2011 - 08:34 .
Retour en haut
