Loreful, Good & Evil

Loreful, Good and Evil created by Simon X. Frederick

Fantasy-Crime 20 x 60 mins

Law and Order meets Harry Potter

SERIES OVERVIEW

A procedural show about murderers, thieves and the people who catch them. But the suspects just happen to be demons and werewolves. It’s not Buffy, Supernatural, or even Grimm. It’s fast paced plot and dialogue. It’s on the ground investigations -- speaking to witnesses, finding clues, chasing leads. It’s mythological Law and Order. Like in the Potterverse, the non-humans of this world aren’t inherently evil, they’re mostly just trying to live life. They’re construction workers and doctors. Football fans and gamers. Mothers and fathers. But like us, they have vices, compulsion and problems. And there are rules that all must abide by. That’s why the UK government created a branch of the secret service who specialise in solving these crimes discreetly and carefully. Our protagonists, Sammy Cohen and Maxwell Musa, investigate crimes for this agency -- nicknamed MI51 by those in the know. Their office is the north half England, where both have lived all their lives. They have the highest degrees of northern charm, they’re committed to the laws given by their government and excellent at their job. But as a female and a black man, they relate to the struggles of the non-humans. Most are just trying to get by in a human run world.

WHY LOREFUL GOOD AND EVIL?

I wanted to bring this nerd haven and crime world together in a way that’s not been done before. I love the aforementioned predecessors, but I know that this specific tone and style is something fantasy-crime fans crave on TV. There is a compulsion to believe that those who like fantasy also need huge world-shaking arcs and a protagonist with the ultimate mega power. But there is a reason why procedural shows are immortal -- people love shows they can dip in and out of and have a full conclusion at the end of the episode. And I know first, second and third hand that fantasy lovers are no different. Grimm is the closest, but focus is still on the protagonists, not the crime. Therefore viewers of LGE can enjoy a cathartic ending every episode, allowing a satisfying binge or an infrequent watcher alike.

Another element that was important to me was bringing this high concept to the underutilised part of the country where I spent most of my life. Using the vast countryside like a western uses deserts. Showing off the culture filled cities in citybound noir mysteries. Plus, showing off the idiosyncratic northerners and the underrepresented cultures from those areas that have barely made it to screen. Each city, town or village has a uniqueness and personality that will be showcased whilst investigating each crime. The supernatural elements will be melded with these eccentricities. Many stories were written or inspired by places like Whitby in North Yorkshire (Dracula) or Birmingham (Lord of the Rings). Using the history of the location along with the stories that have birthed there will influence the story of the episode. But we’ll also use expectations against the audience. Non-humans in locations you may not imagine. Creating a difficult to predict experience.

THEMES

Each episode will tackle a morally ambiguous theme as an undercurrent of the plot. Both characters having diverse aspects whilst living in the north has obvious complications. But as well as societal, we’ll also be noticing economic issues, misunderstanding of psychological states, after effects of political decisions and tackling social norms. Focussing on the specifics of the location we’re in. It’ll be often subtle and always blended into the crimes. These elements are handled realistically in this world. The psychology and sociology of these creatures is the same as ours. But all depicted through the lens of mystery and fantasy.