THE FIRST SEASON.
And beyond.
When Season One begins,
Michael’s exploration into himself is triggered in a profound way when he loses a job he wants, the job he has, and his boyfriend — all in one day. Oh, and he’s probably going to get kicked out of his place soon, which means having to leave New York for the troubled family life he left behind in Arizona. So he might as well follow that pushy dragonfly into The New Age, where he eventually has an inexplicably emotional experience with an intuitive healer that prompts him to have a vision of a mysterious man who tells him his dead father is actually alive. And the shop is hiring! All this intensity launches Michael into his first season journey, which is to live in the question,
“What and who do I believe in?”
The first season will follow Michael…
as he is reeling from the news that his father may still be alive after believing he’s been dead for fifteen years. But given that this news is coming from a mysterious man in a strange vision, he’ll write it as off as nothing more than a weed-induced delusion. Still, the question of his father’s existence will be a vital mystery that he’ll be unable to avoid. The New Age will play a major role in helping him to uncover clues that will guide him further to the truth and deepen his connection to the curious and magical Spirit World.
Michael will immerse himself in the drama of The New Age as he works to help Mikki save it from closure. But their budding friendship will cause tension among the other employees, as she gives Michael permission to shift the store’s dynamics. Will his good intentions succeed at helping the store, or will he dismantle its core and fully jeopardize its survival?
Michael will also have to salvage his personal life, but he’ll be his own worst enemy. He’ll try to smooth things with his brother and prove his worth in the household so he can stay there. But will that mean needing to mend his fractured relationship with his mother and asking her about the truth of their father? A surprise visit from her will make for the perfect confrontation and allow for more family secrets to be revealed.
Michael will also fight to get his boyfriend Rickie back by flaunting his newfound “spiritual awakening”. But will Rickie buy it? He’ll also give theater another try by putting together a new show. But he’ll ultimately question if it’s really his life path. Does growing up sometimes mean leaving a dream behind? Or is it about finding more faith than he’s ever known?
As the series moves on into future seasons,
Michael’s ever-surprising magical experiences at the store and with The Spirit World will continue to push his cynical outlook of disbelief toward one of openness and faith. But as he falls deeper into the spiritual rabbit hole, he’ll question whether it’s really for him. Is he capable of being a healer for other people? Does he even want to be? Isn’t he supposed to be in the theater?
Michael will dig further into understanding his identity on all fronts. He’ll delve into his lineage more, furthering a connection to his cultural identity. In relationships, he'll learn that commitment is tough, and he'll find himself exploring his sexuality in ways he never expected. He’ll also pivot away from theater and use the store more as a platform for his creative expression, bolstering the shop's business in the process.
The store and its other employees will also play a larger role in the show as their diverse lives get explored, offering an entertaining view into the unique and complex world of metaphysics and healing. Entire episodes can be devoted to side characters, making for great story and acting possibilities.
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THE SHOW’S LOOK
Like the show's tone, its imagery and cinematography will also have a more grounded, realistic vibe, making use of natural light and more straightforward framing. The look can then expand into bolder uses of color, light, and texture as Michael delves deeper into the store and the spirit world.
THE SHOW’S SOUND
Every good journey has a soundtrack. Music will be a punctuation for the show’s key moments, but it will also integrate into the fabric of the character’s lives. They’ll listen to it, respond to it, dance to it. It will feature a broad variety of artists, from the emerging queer and/or Latin artists who Michael discovers, to mainstream artists whose music populates our collective culture, to throwbacks that speak directly to the show’s themes. Michael will also have a diva, because all gays do.
Imagine a Robyn cover of Olivia Newton-John’s Magic as the show’s theme song.