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DRACONIS (C) 2024 TOM SCHAEFER, TIM SCHAEFER
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A thrilling new science fiction drama.
Today, we're pulling back the curtain for our industry partners, diving deep into the character-driven heart of "DRACONIS" – a series positioned to combine the moral complexity of "Battlestar Galactica" with the coming-of-age elements of "Ender's Game," targeting key demographics from 14 to 49.
Set 300,000 years ago on a devastated Earth, "DRACONIS" tells the story of a galaxy-spanning Draconian Empire that rules with peace through strength, unity through discipline, and progress through control.
Beneath the poisoned surface of Earth, humanity survives in vast underground tunnel systems, a society built on resistance and preserved history.
This high-concept premise provides the dramatic crucible for our central characters, whose intertwined destinies are foretold by ancient prophecy.
At its core, "DRACONIS" is a story about awakening – the awakening of truth, the awakening of ancient power, and most importantly, the awakening of consciousness within individuals caught between Empire and survival.
This is where our characters shine.
Our narrative pivot point is NEXOR, our Draconian protagonist.
When we meet him, he's a young officer, just graduating from the Military Academy on the Draconian homeworld. He's young, proud, and seemingly perfect – embodying the legacy of control his family name represents.
His early arc in Season 1, "Awakening," is about Discovery and Moral Awakening. He arrives on Earth for his first assignment, expecting to find primitive insurgents needing management. But what he finds, almost immediately, challenges everything he's been taught.
Nexor possesses a natural empathy and a sensitivity he inherited from his mother. This makes him receptive to visions, dreams, and the subtle influence of the crystal network. His perfect military bearing begins to show subtle physical reactions to the human suffering he witnesses. He's torn between his desperate need to prove himself to his formidable father, Commander Vex, and the whisper of wrongness stirring within him.
His true awakening begins when he encounters MAYA, our human co-protagonist. Maya is a young resistance member, fierce and determined, a survivor. She's grown up underground, fighting for survival against Draconian patrols.
Her motivation is deeply personal: the Empire killed her mother for "asking questions". She wears her mother's crystal, a last gift and protection, hinting at unusual psychic abilities.
The dynamic between Nexor and Maya starts with inherent conflict – the oppressor meeting the oppressed.
Maya sees him as just another "dynasty brat", a "scaled bastard". Nexor sees a defiant human.
Their first direct encounter, chronicled in the pilot episode "Duty Calls," is charged with tension. Maya uses her mother's crystal, creating a burst of light that blinds Draconian troops.
But for Nexor, it's more than light; it's a connection. When they later touch the crystal together, it unleashes a shared vision – the true history of Earth, the ancient betrayal, and the prophecy.
This is the turning point; the shared truth creates an undeniable bond, a connection that surpasses their ingrained loyalties and identities.
Their relationship evolves from wary adversaries to reluctant allies, to secret confidantes, and eventually into a deep romantic connection that is central to the story's emotional core.
As 'bridge-builders', their combined energy through the crystal network becomes the key to unlocking ancient power and facilitating the planet's and its people's awakening.
Their connection isn't just romantic; it's literal, allowing them to share thoughts, feelings, pain, and power through the network.
This dynamic is the living embodiment of the central theme: that division is an illusion, and everything connects.
Woven throughout their journey is the complex and compelling relationship between Nexor and his father, COMMANDER VEX.
Vex initially embodies the proud, commanding Draconian patriarch. He loves his son but sees him through the lens of Imperial duty and legacy.
He wants Nexor to follow his path, to be perfect, to learn the lessons of "human management". Vex also carries a hidden grief – his wife, Nexor's mother, was silenced for asking "dangerous questions" about Earth and the humans.
Vex represents the system Nexor is beginning to question. His reaction to Nexor's emerging sensitivity and defiance escalates throughout Season 1. He sees echoes of his wife in his son and fears Nexor fulfilling the prophecy that Vex dismisses as for "children and fools".
Their dynamic moves from mentorship to suspicion to outright confrontation and Vex becoming the primary antagonist. This father-son conflict is deeply personal, mirroring the larger struggle between the Empire's enforced forgetting and the truth's unstoppable return.
However, Vex's arc is not simply that of a villain. He is a tragic figure, defined by his choice of Empire over family. Witnessing Nexor and Maya's transformation, the undeniable reality of the awakening, forces Vex to confront the truth his wife died for.
His dramatic decision to crush his communication crystal, cutting ties with High Command to protect his son and the emerging future, is a pivotal moment of sacrifice and redemption, demonstrating that even the most entrenched figures can 'remember'.
His later role as a guide, teaching unity and acceptance alongside Sarah, highlights the transformative power of the central themes.
Supporting characters enrich this narrative tapestry:
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KIRA, Nexor's sister. Initially loyal to the Empire and suspicious of Nexor's changes, her journey of remembering and eventual transformation adds family complexity and showcases that the awakening isn't confined to the protagonists.
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ELDER SARAH, a human resistance leader. She is a keeper of ancient wisdom and belief in the prophecy. Her role is crucial in guiding Maya and Nexor, providing context and pushing them towards their destiny. She represents resilience and the enduring hope of the human spirit.
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ZARA, a Mindbreaker Commander. Introduced as an antagonist, her transformation upon encountering the full force of the crystal awakening demonstrates the power of "remembering" to transcend even biological and psychological conditioning designed to suppress connection. She becomes a powerful symbol of healing and a leader in guiding others through their own awakening.
These character arcs and dynamics are inextricably linked to the central sci-fi elements. The crystal network isn't just technology; it's a living repository of history, truth, and connection.
The prophecy isn't just a mystical foretelling; it's a roadmap for remembering the truth of ancient unity and healing the wounds of centuries of separation. The poisoned Earth is not just a setting; it's a character in itself, holding the memories and power of the past, ready to heal alongside its inhabitants.
The story unfolds across three seasons: "Awakening", focusing on personal discovery and moral choice; "Divided Loyalties", exploring the underground resistance and betrayals; and "Revolution", culminating in an open rebellion and the building of a new society.
Throughout, the focus remains on the characters' choices, the consequences they face, and the price of change.
What makes "DRACONIS" particularly compelling for producers and studios is its ability to ground a vast sci-fi epic in deeply human (and Draconian) emotional journeys.
The characters' struggles with duty, loyalty, identity, love, and the pain of facing uncomfortable truths are universal, resonating with the target young adult demographic and appealing to older audiences who appreciate complex drama.
The central themes of connection, empathy, overcoming division, and the power of remembered love are timely and relevant. The relationship dynamics are rich, providing ample opportunity for compelling performances and character-driven storytelling that goes beyond genre tropes.
In Nexor, Maya, Vex, and the ensemble, "DRACONIS" offers a cast of complex, evolving characters whose personal journeys are the engine of the revolution. They are not just fulfilling a prophecy; they are becoming something new, navigating the painful process of remembering who they, and their peoples, were always meant to be.
This isn't just a story about a bridge between two species; it's about the transformation of hearts brave enough to cross it.
"DRACONIS" offers a unique blend of high-concept sci-fi spectacle and intimate character drama, with built-in franchise potential and universal themes that resonate globally.
It's a story where the real power flows not from control, but from connection, and where love remembers what empire forgets.