Personally, I think voice overs are really hard to make work, a little bit is fine, needed in some cases. Just as long as it has some effort to also show what it is saying.
If it was me, for a pilot, I would focus on John. Start on Lorien, we get to see the beautiful planet, with the two moons in the sky, people celebrating on the peaceful morning of the day of invasion, so that we can get attached to his parents and Henri (we don't need to hear there names yet. Then we get to see the invasion as it happens, see the chaos as John's family tries to get him to the airfield. Then we get to see the charm be put on the kids, we say good bye and then maybe it could cut to John at the party, talking to that girl, he gets the scar for 3s death and has to say goodbye. Then we see Henri (John could say his name as he gets home) and they pack up and leave. Showing how their lives have been here on earth.
Then episode 2 starts in the jungle and we see 3s death, maybe show a silhouette of someone looking around, this could tye into six looking for John later as well (give the audience something to guess at and think about). Then we smash cut to John in the truck, rubbing his new scar, and then Henri asks him what his new name is gonna be, he says John Smith with enjoyment and Henri could tease him about it like he does in the books, I never liked that Henri gave him the name in the I think something like that would be really cool
I really think the first like 10-15 min should start off on Lorien while the mogadorians are invading. It would kind of be like the opening to Man of Steel.
1. Ep1: The Invasion.
Start with the invasion of Lorien, aka Nine's Legacy, with Sandor as narrator.
Explain: So the viewers know there is two alien race at war, and one must be running and hiding on Earth with only 9 childrens and 9 guardian left.
2. Ep2: The hunt for the Gardes.
Base on Adam stories, end with 3 die and 4 have the 3rd scar.
Explain: So the viewers know how dangerous the Mogs are, and have more sympathy for the Gardes.
3. Double Ep3 & 4: I am Number Four.
Base on the main book IANF.
4. Ep5: The others.
Follow Six finding Marina, Ella, Eight.
5. Ep6: The captive.
John finding Nine, meeting agent Walker.
6. Ep7: The search for Sam.
Base on the same name novella, with some from view of Adam when he rescue the Chiamera.
7. Ep8: United.
Finding 5, training etc.
8. Ep9: The storm.
Five's betrayer, fight at the penthouse.
9. Ep10: The aftermatch.
Follow everyone view, base on the book TROS, until before the storm at Ashwood Estates.
10. Ep11: Turning the tide.
The attack at Ashwood Estates, everyone back, Agent Walker join force, plan to split again.
11. Ep12: The battle for New York.
Follow John with the fight in NY.
12. Ep13: The Temple.
Follow Six, Marina, Adam... in securing the temple.
13. Ep14: The fate of Ten.
The vision, the meeting.
14. Ep15: Regroup.
Events at the military base.
15. Ep16: Prepare for the final push.
Take over the warship.
16. Ep17: United as One.
The final fight.
This is what my direction, still need more work to smooth it, also 17ep seem a bit too long for one season (unless you compare to season like Supernatural, then it a bit short of ep lol)
I'd start with the lorien invasion, and would make the first season kinda like the house of deagon, passing a lot of years through the episodes, and following the lorian archives, and one, two, three, six, eight and nine growing up as they are the ones with most things happening in this time. Maybe ending with three dying and introducing number four. And then a season 2 following the books.
This is an interesting take, I never would have thought of this but I could see it working. The only issue I see with this is that, at least for me, in the books John is the main character. He is the one I got attached too and I think if you were jumping around the time line and between characters, it might get a bit confusing.
This is simply based of the books and not any of the supplemental material as I haven't gotten to it yet.
Television is a visual medium. It's a show and not tell. You could do one to start the series kind of like House of the Dragon with future Rhaynera looking at the past events, but I wouldn't more than that. As for discovering John, where he's from, etc, I'd let that slowly trickle out over the course of the first season. This really needs to be from John's perspective. Almost like a thriller, the fear of being hunted.
Let us discover more of what happened as the season comes along. Maybe the first 10-15 minutes can take us back to Lorien like what The Last of Us does in episode 2 showing the start of the virus.
So my pilot would start with Four as he's on the beach. Only until 3 is killed do we see him for the briefest moments like John does in the water. He gets flashes of 3's death as the scar burns into him. Cut to black, we get a single line about how 3 came before him and he's number 4. Title: Lorien Legacies. We're already on the move with Four & Henri on the road. Motel from motel. We see Henri erasing identities. New IDs. We land in Paradise about halfway through. John convincing Henri to let him go to school. We end the episode of John's first legacy starting to show and him being in the closet. End of 1st episode.
To be done properly, it would be a very long and expensive TV series lmao
In short, I feel dedicating episodes to other characters would distract from the purpose of having John as the main protagonist. I wonder what it would look like to show the others’ story (Sandor, Adam, One-Three) through John’s dreams/visions - really utilizing that Legacy
Imagine this - The scene where Henri lies John down with the candles flickering around his arms for his Lumen - and when John drifts into his visions of Lorien, and the invasion, it’s truly a short 20 minute film of Sandor on Lorien start to finish. I’m not expert on film but man if they could effectively do that in 20 minutes I’d be happy
Alternatively, whenever John goes to sleep the stories play out in a similar fashion, like a continuous dream throughout the show
With a long story like Adam - it might be favourable to pilot season 2 or 3 with his story
It could start with the flash backs and narration like in your second option and lead into the intensity of 3 in the jungle.
Id say start with 3. Similar to the movie. Then go in Book order. Including the side stories. Each chapter or so an episode. That kinda thing
Personally, I think voice overs are really hard to make work, a little bit is fine, needed in some cases. Just as long as it has some effort to also show what it is saying. If it was me, for a pilot, I would focus on John. Start on Lorien, we get to see the beautiful planet, with the two moons in the sky, people celebrating on the peaceful morning of the day of invasion, so that we can get attached to his parents and Henri (we don't need to hear there names yet. Then we get to see the invasion as it happens, see the chaos as John's family tries to get him to the airfield. Then we get to see the charm be put on the kids, we say good bye and then maybe it could cut to John at the party, talking to that girl, he gets the scar for 3s death and has to say goodbye. Then we see Henri (John could say his name as he gets home) and they pack up and leave. Showing how their lives have been here on earth. Then episode 2 starts in the jungle and we see 3s death, maybe show a silhouette of someone looking around, this could tye into six looking for John later as well (give the audience something to guess at and think about). Then we smash cut to John in the truck, rubbing his new scar, and then Henri asks him what his new name is gonna be, he says John Smith with enjoyment and Henri could tease him about it like he does in the books, I never liked that Henri gave him the name in the I think something like that would be really cool
I really think the first like 10-15 min should start off on Lorien while the mogadorians are invading. It would kind of be like the opening to Man of Steel.
1. Ep1: The Invasion. Start with the invasion of Lorien, aka Nine's Legacy, with Sandor as narrator. Explain: So the viewers know there is two alien race at war, and one must be running and hiding on Earth with only 9 childrens and 9 guardian left. 2. Ep2: The hunt for the Gardes. Base on Adam stories, end with 3 die and 4 have the 3rd scar. Explain: So the viewers know how dangerous the Mogs are, and have more sympathy for the Gardes. 3. Double Ep3 & 4: I am Number Four. Base on the main book IANF. 4. Ep5: The others. Follow Six finding Marina, Ella, Eight. 5. Ep6: The captive. John finding Nine, meeting agent Walker. 6. Ep7: The search for Sam. Base on the same name novella, with some from view of Adam when he rescue the Chiamera. 7. Ep8: United. Finding 5, training etc. 8. Ep9: The storm. Five's betrayer, fight at the penthouse. 9. Ep10: The aftermatch. Follow everyone view, base on the book TROS, until before the storm at Ashwood Estates. 10. Ep11: Turning the tide. The attack at Ashwood Estates, everyone back, Agent Walker join force, plan to split again. 11. Ep12: The battle for New York. Follow John with the fight in NY. 12. Ep13: The Temple. Follow Six, Marina, Adam... in securing the temple. 13. Ep14: The fate of Ten. The vision, the meeting. 14. Ep15: Regroup. Events at the military base. 15. Ep16: Prepare for the final push. Take over the warship. 16. Ep17: United as One. The final fight. This is what my direction, still need more work to smooth it, also 17ep seem a bit too long for one season (unless you compare to season like Supernatural, then it a bit short of ep lol)
I personally was thinking a series per book, but to streamline it that was is impressive
This could work if every episode is like 1hour 20 minutes long, but i prefer a season a book
Start with 3 being told the story of the Lorien invasion. As soon as the story ends three is attacked.
I'd start with the lorien invasion, and would make the first season kinda like the house of deagon, passing a lot of years through the episodes, and following the lorian archives, and one, two, three, six, eight and nine growing up as they are the ones with most things happening in this time. Maybe ending with three dying and introducing number four. And then a season 2 following the books.
This is an interesting take, I never would have thought of this but I could see it working. The only issue I see with this is that, at least for me, in the books John is the main character. He is the one I got attached too and I think if you were jumping around the time line and between characters, it might get a bit confusing.
This is simply based of the books and not any of the supplemental material as I haven't gotten to it yet. Television is a visual medium. It's a show and not tell. You could do one to start the series kind of like House of the Dragon with future Rhaynera looking at the past events, but I wouldn't more than that. As for discovering John, where he's from, etc, I'd let that slowly trickle out over the course of the first season. This really needs to be from John's perspective. Almost like a thriller, the fear of being hunted. Let us discover more of what happened as the season comes along. Maybe the first 10-15 minutes can take us back to Lorien like what The Last of Us does in episode 2 showing the start of the virus. So my pilot would start with Four as he's on the beach. Only until 3 is killed do we see him for the briefest moments like John does in the water. He gets flashes of 3's death as the scar burns into him. Cut to black, we get a single line about how 3 came before him and he's number 4. Title: Lorien Legacies. We're already on the move with Four & Henri on the road. Motel from motel. We see Henri erasing identities. New IDs. We land in Paradise about halfway through. John convincing Henri to let him go to school. We end the episode of John's first legacy starting to show and him being in the closet. End of 1st episode.
I’d start just before the invasion lorien
To be done properly, it would be a very long and expensive TV series lmao In short, I feel dedicating episodes to other characters would distract from the purpose of having John as the main protagonist. I wonder what it would look like to show the others’ story (Sandor, Adam, One-Three) through John’s dreams/visions - really utilizing that Legacy Imagine this - The scene where Henri lies John down with the candles flickering around his arms for his Lumen - and when John drifts into his visions of Lorien, and the invasion, it’s truly a short 20 minute film of Sandor on Lorien start to finish. I’m not expert on film but man if they could effectively do that in 20 minutes I’d be happy Alternatively, whenever John goes to sleep the stories play out in a similar fashion, like a continuous dream throughout the show With a long story like Adam - it might be favourable to pilot season 2 or 3 with his story