Gothic: A Supernatural Spin-Off

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Mark Pedowitz,

I believe that my proposal for a Supernatural spin-off will be a wise procurement for the CW’s show line-up. Supernatural has a wide and loyal following and, while the show is still going, there is only so much the writers can explore in the Supernatural format before they run out of ideas. With Gothic, the CW can retain the Supernatural audience with a spin-off series that has the possibility for endless potential while also attracting new audiences that aren’t Supernatural veterans. 

Gothic has everything from historical accuracy to heart-throbs to commentary on serious social issues in place today that will satiate a broad scope of hungry audiences. Since your main audience is directed towards younger audiences it would be a good idea to have a more progressive show with a feminist lens. Gothic deals with classicism, misogyny and racism while dealing with the morality of a monster and communities.

It isn’t all serious problems, however. Gothic still has that endearing dynamic of characters stuck in impossible situations that make Supernatural so beloved. It maintains Supernatural formula of myth and monster of the week, intermediately placing comedy and tragedy when needed. It also takes a step back from Supernatural and takes the narrative back to Kripke’s world of monsters where death isn't a weightless threat and the “worlds beyond” retain their air of mystery.

In closing, it may seem a risk to sign on to a show that isn't an easily composed production of the same story with a different face but all good things were once a risk. George R. R. Martin wanted to write a story that couldn’t be made into a media production and yet we all know about Game of Thrones.

Log Line

A woman in the Men of Letters needs to take more risks to make a name for herself in Supernatural Victorian England.

Summary

Although she is a Legacy, Peggy turns to the darker corners of London to document the supernatural. Along the way she meets Teddy, a lone hunter who has a big ego and coat full of weapons. Together they face werewolves, ghosts and vampires that haunt the streets of Victorian England and learn more about what lurks in the thick fog that blankets 18th century Europe.

Characters

Margaret “Peggy” Addams: 

A woman of high birth and only child to Bernard Addams, head of the London Men of Letters faction and Freemason. Her mother was often sick when Peggy was a child and passed away in her tenth year. After her mother died, her father thought it wise to educate his daughter as she would one day be his Legacy. Amongst the Men of Letters, however, Peggy’s presence is treated with distain and after her father’s passing due to tuberculosis, she was demoted to a mere assistant amongst the Men of Letters. Since her father was such a powerful person, she is still allowed access to the Library but is not treated with a modicum of respect.  

Theodore:

An infamous hunter who is known to work alone and not the type to make friends. He is typically seen at The Ten Bells Pub when he’s not out on a hunt or searching for someone to warm his bed. Teddy often wears a dark wide-brimmed hat and a dark frock coat with many pockets laden with weapons. He doesn’t speak much about his personal life and Lorraine is probably the only one who knows where he may be at any given moment. Later in the series, it is revealed that he was raised as a choir boy in the Winchester Cathedral and was an apprentice to the Priest who took up vampire hunting when he wasn't giving mass. The cross he always wears was Father Peter’s in his living days.

Lorraine:

Bartender and owner of The Ten Bells Pub, a local haunt for hunters in London, she’s a buxom woman over forty. In her position behind the counter of the The Ten Bells, she is probably the most knowledgable individual amongst hunters in the ways of the Supernatural. She also houses and tends to travelers while they are on a hunt. 

Thomas:

An orphan boy with deft fingers from pick-pocketing whom Lorraine has given work at The Ten Bells Pub tending to stitching up wounded.

Levi Ashdown:

A Man on Letters who is in position to rise to leadership in London with only Peggy standing in his way by mode of succession. Since she is young (and a woman), he names himself as Leader. He comes from a wealthy family but his name is still new to the Men of Letters.

Maxwell Godwin:

A Man of Letters in an advanced age whom all the younger Legacies look to for knowledge and guidance. As an extreme misogynist, the only thing refraining him from getting rid of Peggy is his honor to her father’s name.

Episodes

Episode 1: No (Wo)man’s Land

Peggy gets tired of being shoved aside amongst the Men of Letters and decides to prove herself by going hunting on her own. She goes to The Ten Bells Pub and meets Theodore whom she dislikes but tolerates for sake of the hunt. They encounter a ghost and Peggy ends up learning that the supernatural is much more fearsome than she originally thought. Even in her fear, she recalls all the books she’s read on ghosts and utilizes her knowledge to save Theodore and earn his respect.

Episode 2: Legacy 

Peggy faces the consequences of the Men of Letters discovering her affiliation with a hunter and ostracizes her even more. They can’t kick her out because she is the only daughter of a famous Man of Letters. Through flashbacks we learn Peggy’s story.

Episode 3: The Name’s Jack

Peggy goes back to The Ten Bells to get stories from the hunters and learns of hunters that have gone missing. Female hunters. Apparently rumors have spread about the royal family being supernatural. Theodore hears her asking questions and tells her to be discrete. The royal family has ears everywhere. They go to see the body of a victim to learn if it was one of their own and discover her ripped open. The second body is found and the papers read Jack the Ripper.

Episode 4: A Heart to Heart

Part two: Mary Jane Kelly’s heart is missing. The queen sent a werewolf to take care of these gossiping women. The werewolf tries to make Peggy the next victim but Theodore helps her kill the beast. He tells her to be more careful shows her that life outside of her privileged bubble is dangerous and cruel.

Episode 5: Newfangled

The Men of Letters send Peggy to Transylvania on a fool’s errand to placate the Brides of Dracula. On their way they meet Van Helsing and Peggy wants to learn everything she can from this famous hunter and Theodore is jealous. When they reach the mansion of Dracula they discover the Sisters are a bit… theatrical. Comedy ensues.

Episode 6: Ain’t No Rest For the Wiccan

When Peggy returns from Transylvania successful, the Men of Letters decide that she can be useful. There has long been a war between the Men of Letters and the Grand Coven and with a woman on their side, the Men of Letters can infiltrate the Sisterhood. While Peggy tries to avoid being caught she meets a witch named Rowena. Things don’t go as planned but Peggy hears whispers amongst the witches that they are planning something huge.

Episode 7: The Mysteries of Ann

Ann Radcliffe was known as the Mother of Gothic Literature and was incorrectly pronounced dead twice in her life… so what if she was part of the supernatural? Peggy discovers Ann is the greek nymph of nightmares and madness, Melione. When Peggy learns her secret she debates on wether to ignore the supernatural just for this one time to learn from one of women who made a mark on history. 

Episode 8: What’s up Doc?

Pedestrians are going missing and turning up mutilated or worse, but the kicker is: the wounds are very clean. Peggy and Theodore trace the trail of bodies to the lair of Doctor Benton, a man who has discovered the secret to immortality. The Men of Letters demand his notes, but command Peggy to leave him be. When Theodore hears that she is to ignore the deaths of the low-born he becomes infuriated and leaves her, telling her that he doesn't need the help of a noble to do good by the common folk. Peggy becomes conflicted with her position between hunter and Man of Letters. The Doctor disappears.

Episode 9: What the Frock?

Peggy is weary of her hunting partner’s past and follows him into White Chapel to see if she can learn more of the mysterious hunter. She overhears him talking to a priest about a Vampire nest before he catches her spying. He relents and tells her of his past through flashbacks.  

Episode 10: Haunting

Peggy and Theodore go on a ghost hunt and are surprised to learn that ghost accounts are becoming more frequent and daunting. The veil is thinning and it seems to have something to do with the Grand Coven.

Episode 11: Trick or Treaties

Halloween is near which means the coming of Samhain. Theodore insists they consult the Celts and Peggy is weary to affiliate with such people. Peggy has to overcome her social prejudices along with her fears of the Supernatural. They learn that something is amiss in warding off the spirit of Samhain.

Episode 12: The Summoning

Amongst the ruins of a grand castle in the north, the Grand Coven begin their ritual to release Samhain at his full capacity. The Men of Letters say that it isn’t their responsibility to help some sheepherders and deny Peggy the permission to interfere. There is panic amongst the hunters and Theodore looks desperately for Peggy. The episode ends with Samhain arisen.

Episode 13: Origins

Peggy conjures a spell to escape the Library and goes to find Theodore. Together they try to gather as much information as they can about Samhain and the Coven. Peggy recalls all the texts she's read about demons and sets a devil’s trap. Theodore doesn't have a last name and Peggy thinks he’s earned one. Where are you from? A town in Hampshire called Winchester. Theodore Winchester, then. They exorcise Samhain and restore the veil but the Coven still poses a threat.

Explanation of spin-off idea based on class study.

There have been many flaws in Supernatural and we have studied to what these flaws have been attributed whether it be trivializing death, twisting lore or just inconsistent writing. With these in mind, I propose a spin-off where the world can get back to the horror of what lurks in the night instead of a stairwell to hell or offices in heaven. This spin-off will also give the Supernatural franchise a chance to be more feminist since the writers tend to kill off all the good female characters. In Gothic, the attention will be turned back to an emphasis on creatures outside of the Bible and give mythology of other religions a chance to be fleshed out. In this way, writers won’t have to worry about coming up with an even bigger boss and contrive things like “God’s Sister.”

Discussion of audience commodity and marketability.

Gothic will still have the familiar charm of Supernatural without trying to be a replica. Jensen and Jared can’t be the stars of the show so a wannabe Winchester brothers duo would never be successful. Instead Gothic will have a female Man of Letters working with a handsome and mysterious hunter. This way, the audience will still have their eye candy but also have a strong female lead.  This dynamic will allow the endearing bickering team who have the other’s back and cares about the other without outwardly saying it. Gothic will also have plenty of ties to the original show and even some familiar faces.

Adherence to show’s content and structure.

Supernatural’s season structure salted with monster of the week episodes and comedy relief episodes will still play out in Gothic with a chance to explore well known Victorian themes like Gothic Literature and Jack the Ripper. By going back into the 1800’s for the spin-off, the audience will be able to see how the Men of Letters and Hunters dealt with the supernatural in Europe. They will have a chance to see the Grand Coven in their prime and how the dispute between the Men of Letters and the Coven went down.

Discussion of medium choice (network, streaming, ect.)

I believe Gothic will do well on the network because it will have the attributes of being a Supernatural spin-off, but won't require the audience to really know anything about Supernatural to be able to follow it. Also, with other period shows like Reign on the CW, the network can explore costuming and setting further with a little more historical accuracy to satisfy their viewers. Canada also has plenty of locations with European architecture so the network won’t have to worry about going too far to film and 18th century England was covered in fog so it would be easy to mask any discrepancies. 

Justification for spinoff idea.

Gothic has the potential to be a well-rounded show that exists within the Supernatural universe Kripke created without trying to be a cheap replica of what makes Supernatural, Supernatural.