FLASH GORDON (Sci-Fi Rejected cool Pilot)

[Attikus]

This is the real thing...the proposed series BIBLE for FLASH GORDON A..D.!!!

This newbie writer was hired by RHI & Sci-Fi to write the Bible and develop the reboot of the Flash Gordon series. His take was simple: A return to the source material that involved Mongo, spaceships and high adventure...it was a cross between Indiana Jones and Star Wars...it was a big show that was both fun and smart and laced with big ideas despite much of the silly trappings of this type of space opera...most of the people at RHI loved it but Sci-Fi eventually opted to go with a more seasoned writer: Peter Hume who is famous for such classics as CHARMED and RELIC HUNTER????

This is a huge document that has lots of backstory...some of which would propably never make it onscreen but it's cool to see that the writer cared to think things through...he envisoned Flash as an older (mid-thirties) hero who was a modern counterpart to Hannibal the Carthaginian warrior who united several warring nations of mercenaries to fight against a common enemy:The evil Romans. Much like Flash ultimately united the several warring species on Mongo against Ming the mericiless...and Ming in this version is an evil S.O.B. I'm a Flash expert (if I do say so myself) and the writer borrows heavily from the old comic books, as well as from a Flash Gordon run in DC comics which was released in the 80's...it mixes it all up to give us a rip-roaring adventure!

The bible reads huge and expensive but it is faithful while bringing a fresh take on a more brooding but still adventurous Flash Gordon...I'm a huge Flash fan (have been for many years) and after watching the first tow episodes of Flash G. on Sci-Fi I've become convinced that sci-fi just doesn't give a crap about what they put on the air...they obviously hold their viewers in contempt if they expect us to put up with this nonsense. The new show is an abortion!

Sci-Fi made a massive blunder. The show Bible that was rejected (if given the proper budget...let's a Star Trek Next Gen budget, would've rocked hard)...alas, we have a Flash Gordon series that is te biggest slap to the face of one of the most famous franchises in history. The sound you hear beneath your feet is Alex Raymond spinning in his grave.

This is what could've been:

FLASH GORDON
A.D.​

Series Bible​

Developped by
Domenico Salvaggio​

A few words before we begin…

Alex Raymond’s Flash Gordon is a seminal adventure story that has influenced many generations. Every modern space opera from Star Trek to Star Wars owes a huge debt of gratitude to the genius of Alex Raymond. But for all the iterations of Flash Gordon, on TV or film, none has ever lived up to or accurately captured the wild stirrings of Raymond’s imagination. My proposal for the latest live action adventure of Flash Gordon is simple: A return to the source material! A fun, yet sometimes gritty take on Raymond’s seminal space opera is long overdue. The time has come for Flash Gordon to once again become part of the popular world lexicon. But in order to achieve successful franchise branding and introduce Flash Gordon to a whole new generation, the dashing hero of yesteryear needs to be updated and re-imagined for today’s world. So, strap yourselves in and prepare to witness the rebirth of the world’s greatest hero, as Flash Gordon returns!


LOGLINE
Flash Gordon, while on a Space Mission to save our planet from a series of unexplained natural disasters, is transported to the mysterious planet Mongo, where he becomes embroiled in a planetary race war while trying to save earth from imminent destruction.


SERIES STRUCTURE
The new series, much like Raymond’s original comic strip and the popular Buster Crabbe serial films, will be serialized and each episode will end with a cliffhanger. That said, all episodes will be self-contained and viewers can drop in at any point without missing any major storytelling beats but there will be a sense of urgency to Flash Gordon’s new adventures. The goal is to create a breathless, epic event series that causes instant viewer addiction. The first 22 episodes of Flash Gordon will be one long unfolding story, in which the emphasis will be on character relationships and of course, adventure!

Other Flash Gordon series signatures will include; romantic melodrama between Dale Arden and Flash, a healthy dash of humor and sarcasm from our hero in times of crises, seemingly inescapable deathtraps for Flash and his trusted companions, exotic landscapes, xenomorphic alien beings (both good and bad), and the unabashed cruelty of Lord and Emperor Ming, despotic ruler of planet Mongo…and let’s not forget the ladies. There will be lots of exotic, scantily clad alien women who are all instantly smitten with our blond Adonis from earth. All the classic signature elements will combine to give the viewing audience an entertaining series, which will make FLASH GORDON A.D. the must-see television event of 2007!


THE MAIN CHARACTERS

FLASH GORDON
In the original Alex Raymond-created incarnation, Flash was a cocky Polo player who was noble, pure of heart and a natural born leader. The characterization of Flash Gordon was one dimensional (Flash being too noble for his own good most of the time) and the storyline consisted of a series of thrusts and parries between Ming the Merciless and Flash. Basically, Flash started out good at the beginning of the adventure and ended up good when the adventure was over. There was no real character arc. In order to sustain a series for five years or more, the modernized Flash Gordon needs to experience emotional growth.

While the comic books never gave us a glimpse of Flash Gordon’s past, I felt it was important to create a backstory. We will learn not only how Flash acquired his awesome fighting skills; and why he’s so brave and fearless, but what obstacles from his past he will need to overcome in order to eventually be the hero that both Earth and Mongo needs.

Flash’s birth name is Finius (Finn) Gordon. His father, an honorable police officer, was killed on duty when Finn was five years old. His mother, a school teacher, was shot in a senseless high school shooting two years later. Orphaned at seven and without any loved ones to take care of him, Finn was forced to move from foster home to foster home. With no friends and no one to love him, Finn would go to bed dreaming of escaping this world… of someday flying far away into space to embark on a great adventure.

After going through the foster care system for three years, Finn was adopted by a kind elderly woman named ALEXIS RAYMOND. She became the desperately-needed mother figure in his life, and taught him the values of respecting others and helping those unable to help themselves. Unfortunately for Finn, Alexis died of a heart attack when he was only fourteen. Finn, once again devastated by the loss of a loved one, was sent back to the orphanage.

Finn was small for his age, and always felt the need to compensate for his diminutive size by picking fights with bigger kids. Throughout grade school, he would take on bullies twice his size to protect the innocent. Despite saving kids from wedgies and tittie-twisters, he never became friends with any of them. If there was one thing life had taught young Finn, it was that allowing himself to care about someone was only going to lead to pain when they were taken away from him.

A sudden growth spurt happened when Finn was sixteen, and almost overnight he blossomed into a barrel-chested, handsome teenager. The girls, who initially shunned Finn, were suddenly flocking to the chiseled teen in droves. He had couple of flings here and there, but Finn never allowed himself to fall in love.

As an orphan without any money, Finn realized that the only way he could go to college was by getting a scholarship. After his growth spurt, Finn decided to try out for the football team. Because of his quick thinking and agility on the football field, Finn soon became the team’s star quarterback and Finius Gordon was christened Flash Gordon by his teammates. The nickname stuck, as he got his scholarship and became an All-American football player in college.

Flash eventually shunned a professional football career because it wasn’t physically or mentally challenging for him. Instead, he decided to pursue the closest thing to his adventurous childhood dream… he became a Top Gun fighter pilot. His skills drew the attention of DR. HANS ZARKOV at NASA, who recruited Flash to pilot space shuttles. Finally realizing his dream of flying into space, Flash became NASA’s best space shuttle pilot, flying several dangerous but successful missions.

But one day, while landing his space shuttle from yet another successful mission, a mechanical system failure caused the shuttle to crash and burn on impact on the runway at Cape Canaveral. Two of Flash’s copilots were killed, and another was severely crippled. Five other crew members survived the fiery crash with only minor injuries. Despite the fact NASA’s Accident Review Board stated that Flash’s heroic maneuvering of the spacecraft actually saved everyone else’s life on board, and prevented a larger disaster from occurring, Flash blamed himself for the lost lives of his men.

Flash, completely disillusioned, began to live dangerously. He numbed his pain by racing fast cars and performing dangerous, extreme sports stunts -- snow-boarding down impossible cliffs, skydiving, base jumping, and any other activity that was dangerous and life-threatening. Despite being NASA’s most skilled pilot, and over Zarkov’s protests, Flash was finally suspended from active duty for fear that he had become a danger to others… and himself.

As we start the series, Flash has lost his way. His trademark humor and sarcasm masks a profound disappointment in himself, as he feels he has let everyone down who has ever put their faith in him. His flirtatious nature and constant womanizing allows him to deny himself any kind of human connection. And his penchant for testing the limits of human survival are inspired by his need to define his own mortality.

Ironically, the only way Flash will ever become the hero he is destined to be, is by realizing he’s human. This gives Flash a redemptive quality for when he later answers the call to heroism.

During the course of the series, Flash Gordon’s legend will grow to the point where even his bitterest enemies will learn to admire and respect him. The latest incarnation of Flash Gordon is everything Alex Raymond intended—and more, because we’ve humanized him and given him shades of grey. His all too human foibles make him relatable and don’t take away from the fact that he is, after all, the ultimate adventure hero who will save the day at his own personal risk time and time again—daring anyone, anything, anytime, anywhere!

LORD AND EMPEROR MING
Every great hero is only as great as his archenemy. Ming the Merciless is one of the greatest antagonists of all time, and the original template for many of today’s most memorable villains…

A little background on Ming: like Flash, Ming was orphaned as a child. But on Mongo, being an orphan meant you were raised in a punishing environment as a slave, and Ming grew up bitter and angry. He was a frail, ugly child who grew up envious of his captors good-looks and power. After engineering a bloody escape from his Mongonian captors, Ming came to a very different conclusion than young Flash Gordon: that only the strong survive, and to the victor go the spoils. This gave Ming one very simple goal: Absolute conquest and dominion over Mongo.

Ming the Merciless is Darth Vader crossed with Hitler meets Saddam Hussein by way of Genghis Khan. Of course, he doesn’t view himself in that manner. Like every great villain, he doesn’t see himself as a bad guy. In truth, he firmly believes Mongo is a better planet because of his rule. Much like Saddam Hussein, Ming rules from his opulent palace in Mingo city, while the rest of the denizens of Mongo live in absolute squalor. He uses fear and terror to control the masses and keep them ignorant. He has a loyal contingent of highly trained, heavily armored soldiers known as, METALMEN, who obey his every command. Anyone who speaks against Ming’s rule is quickly and violently removed from existence in the dead of night by his murderous MetalMen hit squad.

Long ago, Mongo was an untamed, wild place with only one humanoid race. Ming decided in order to seize control, he would have to master technologies never seen before on the planet. Ming captured all of the smartest minds on the planet, especially the very few who delved in the realm of science. His objective was to civilize Mongo. His tool was conquest. The result: absolute power! First he decided to master all technology on his planet. It wasn’t long before Ming controlled all the technology on Mongo with an iron fist, so that's why only his men carry RAY BLASTERS, while the Lion Men, for instance, still used swords and other primitive weapons. Pooling all of his resources, Ming finally built his empire of technology and overthrew the arrogant ancestors of PRINCE BARIN, the rightful heirs to the throne of Mongo.

Once, he attained total world domination, he realized only death could wrestle that power away. He quickly set about creating a regeneration chamber and death was added to his list of conquests. Ming will live forever… as long as he keeps himself from being killed.

By his third generation of life, he discovered that religion could be a formidable tool. The Church of the Republic of Ming was born. When confronted with a powerful, seemingly immortal being who showed them the way, the “sheep” of Mongo willingly followed.

By his fifth generation of life (Ming 500 years old at this point), it became apparent that for one race to truly prosper on Mongo—genetic restructuring was necessary. Thus, the multiple races that now exist on Mongo were genetically engineered from Ming’s DNA stock to provide various services to the Mongo elite. Some were engineered to be slaves and servants for the Mongonian elite, like the Lionite race. While some were engineered to be fierce and loyal warriors, such as the MetalMen. Others were engineered to be docile and subservient farmers to provide nourishment for the planet. Ming created a slave world, in which every race fears the other and is entirely controlled by him. But like Rome, every great Republic grows fat and lazy. Mongo was no exception. The buildings are covered in soot, the skies are turning black with pollutants; his fleet of ships are worn out and dilapidated from many years of war. The forests are quickly disappearing.

Ming’s opulence ate away at the planet’s natural resources, leaving Mongo on the verge of extinction. Ming discovers a distant planet called “earth” that he can plunder for all its resources. He will have to destroy Earth’s population in order to access those resources, but Ming does not even give the issue consideration. Only the strong survive. And earthlings are weak.
Using Mongonian technology, Ming created a wormhole and launched meteors toward Earth. Embedded within the meteors were STEALTH DESTROYER PROBES, which landed on earth (in the water, on land, etc.) and ignited inexplicable (to earth’s scientists) natural disasters.

Within 90 days, Ming’s assault on earth will kill off eighty-five percent of its population (approximately 5.5 billion souls). With earth’s population nearly decimated and virtually no one left to defend our planet, Ming will then deploy his dilapidated fleet and ruthlessly steal all of earth’s resources… enough for Ming to live at least another five hundred years in the lavishness that he has grown accustomed to.

Of course, Flash’s arrival on Mongo places Ming’s plans into a tailspin.

Throughout the series, Ming rules from his opulent throne in Mingo city, his tyranny and evil stretches to the most remote regions of Mongo. And even if he’s not in every episode, his evil presence will be felt throughout like an inescapable shadow of darkness which envelopes the entire planet of Mongo.

Ming is the perfect nemesis for Flash…because they have much in common. They’re both orphans, they’re both loners, and they’re both natural born leaders. Although, they’ve chosen different paths and have completely divergent ideals, the two mortal enemies see reflections of themselves in each other – more than either would care to admit.

 

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PART TWO of the FLASH GORDON A.D. rejected pilot

DALE ARDEN
Dale Arden is a strong-willed, fiercely independent, hyper-intelligent Pulitzer Prize winning journalist. She’s also attractive, which garners the attention of the smooth-talking, good-looking jock-types who are always trying to get into her pants.

She HATES guys like that.

Dale exists in a man’s world, and as such, she has learned to more than hold her own. The people she respects are the ones who are able to match wits with her; the ones who show they actually have some depth of character. Those smooth-talking, good-looking jock-types usually fall by the wayside within five minutes.

In Flash Gordon, Dale first sees a man she’s seen a hundred times before. She soon learns that there is much more to him than her first impressions led her to believe, and in moments of what she later considers “weakness” and against her better judgment, even finds herself attracted to our hero… if only a little. These two different people will always find themselves bickering with each other, which just makes it harder for either one to admit how much they love the other.

Of course, her strength of character makes her extremely attractive to Emperor Ming who wants to make Dale part of his large stable of wives. In fact, her strong personality and ability to defend herself (she’s a skilled kickboxer) so enamors Ming that he wants to make Dale the Headmistress of all his wives and the Prime Queen of Mingo city. Dale is obviously mortified at the thought and is constantly attempting to cleverly escape Ming’s lecherous advances. Flash is extremely protective of Dale and will do anything to save her from the clutches of Ming.

DR. HANS ZARKOV
The word genius is often carelessly thrown about to describe people—not in Dr. Zarkov’s case. He’s a brilliant scientist, historian and a philosopher. He’s a student of life who never stopped learning. He’s cantankerous, impulsive, slightly aloof and eccentric like most brilliant minds are. But he’s also a loveable, caring man who mentored Flash during our hero’s NASA training. The closest thing Flash Gordon has ever had to a father figure in his life, the professor cares deeply for his protégé and is one of the few people who recognizes the greatness within him. But Zarkov realizes there is only so much he can do to help Flash realize that greatness. He can patiently mentor and point Flash in the right direction, but it is ultimately up to Flash to become what two different worlds will need him to be.

Zarkov also gives Flash much unwanted relationship advice, which Flash soundly ignores. The good doctor sneakily endeavors to bring Dale and Flash together because he’s convinced they would be perfect for each other.

Zarkov also designed the Space Station PROMISE, which hovers above earth and he heads the initiative to save our planet.

PRINCESS AURA
Princess Aura is the ultimate Space Age Femme Fatale. A deadly, virtually irresistible seductress. She’s a raven-haired, exotic beauty with a dark complexion. She’s also the beloved daughter of Ming the Merciless. She is her father’s daughter through and through: cold, vicious, calculating and will do anything to get her way. Young and impetuous, her mercurial moods can sway from warm and loving to extreme rage and hatred—all in the span of a minute.

She’s the leader of the WITCH-WOMEN, a group of gorgeous Amazons who act as ELITE IMPERIAL GUARDS for her father Ming. The Witch-Women were genetically bred to be fierce warriors, and are more dangerous in battle than most men. They are not to be trifled with. Whenever Ming leaves his palace he’s always accompanied by his Witch-Women Guards.

Aura believes her father to be a good man. Without a strong leader, the world would erupt into chaos. But she is sheltered – she has also never seen the horrors that exist in the outside world first hand. Were she to see the real effects of her father’s iron-fisted rule, her opinions might change.

Princess Aura is instantly infatuated with Flash Gordon upon their first encounter. She’s never seen a blond-haired man before and her lust for him is palpable. She constantly attempts to seduce Flash, which makes her Dale Arden’s natural rival. Dale and Aura clash multiple times throughout the series, as Aura makes plans to marry Flash. Dale, convinced that Flash is being led astray, does everything in her power to derail Aura’s plans for Flash.

During a spat with her father, the impetuous Aura seduced Prince Barin, a man Ming considered his greatest threat (until the arrival of Flash Gordon, of course). Aura fell in love with Barin, and begged him to come back to the palace and marry her. He could live in luxury as the leader of Ming’s armies. Barin refused, and a scorned Aura vowed to cause Barin pain whenever given the opportunity…

PRINCE BARIN AND THE ARBORIAN RANGERS
Prince Barin is the last true heir to the throne of Mongo. His family’s rule was usurped several centuries ago by Ming the Merciless, and now he and his men hide out in the forests of Arboria, a hidden forest kingdom where Barin’s men have constructed elaborately designed (and camouflaged) tree houses. Because Barin is the rightful leader of Mongo, Ming views him as his greatest threat and is constantly sending Bounty Killers, assassins, and Metalmen into the forest to eliminate him. Thus far, Barin has managed to survive.

Barin’s marksmanship with a bow and arrow are unparalleled, and he is respected as a skilled and resourceful fighter. But as a leader of men, Barin leaves a lot to be desired. His heart is in the right place, and he does not shrink from his responsibilities. On the contrary, the problem with Barin is that he is almost too bold; taking on Ming’s armies even when he is undermanned. He is far too young (20’s), impetuous and impulsive. He is also quick to start fights with the other races when he feels they have wronged him. If someone were to try and suggest he attempt to UNITE the races instead of attacking them, Barin would scoff. He is the rightful heir, and he will one day regain the throne with the help of no one.

Barin’s achilles heel is his love for PRINCESS AURA, Ming’s deadly daughter. She impressed him by managing to track him down in the forests of Arboria (when no vessel of Ming had ever been able to do so), and that respect eventually led to love. Despite her many flaws and her dastardly lineage, Prince Barin sees that Aura is not a bad person… she is just naïve when it comes to how the world works. Barin loves Aura, and wanted to marry her. But when she refused to stay with him in Arboria and fight the oppression of her father, Barin decided they couldn’t be together. But he still loves her, and still feels jealousy when Aura flaunts another man in front of him. Barin still holds out hope that one day her eyes will open to the ills of her father’s regime, so that he may be with her once again.

THUN AND THE LIONITES
Thun is Flash Gordon’s greatest ally. In appearance he resembles the Lion Man in the hit series BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Thun is the younger son of the King of the Lionites. While most Lionites focus on staying in their homeland and becoming great hunters and warriors, Thun uses his position to do things like learning to read and exploring outside the realm of the desert in which they live. This causes the other Lionites to raise an eyebrow at the young prince… they think him odd and are glad there is an older son who will one day rule them. Thun knows how others view him, but does not let it stop him from wanting to expand his horizons.

But one way Thun is similar to other Lionites is in his hatred and distrust of the other species of Mongo. Especially the dreaded Hawkmen, who betrayed the Lionites years ago when the Lionites planned a coup against Ming. The Hawkmen were supposed to join with the Lionites, but instead revealed the plan to Ming in exchange for Ming’s favor. Most of the Lionites were decimated and enslaved after the failed coup. A small subset of Lionite rebels who survived were forced to take sanctuary in the dry and unappealing desert. It is a grudge the Lionites will never forget, and they yearn for the day they can pay the Hawkmen back for their treachery.

For centuries the Lionite race have served as slaves for the Mongo elite and the brutal Hawkman. The Lionites built the cities of Mongo under forced servitude and today many of the Lion People act as personal servants and slaves to the Hawkmen.

If there is any one Lionite capable of overcoming his xenophobia, it is the open-minded Thun.

KING VULTAN OF THE HAWKMEN
Vultan, King of the Hawkman, is a giant, barbaric, braggadocios buffoon with a caustic sense of humor. But why shouldn’t he be? As the leader of the one race that Ming has granted his favor to, Vultan has brought his people a better life than that of any other race. But elite standing comes at a price, as the flying Hawkman are often called upon to be Bounty Killers for the cruel Emperor.

Ming knows Vultan craves power, and plays on Vultan’s paranoia that all other races want to overthrow the Hawkmen in order to gain Ming’s favor for themselves. This keeps Vultan from even contemplating action against Ming… instead, the King of Hawkmen concentrates on weakening the other races so his Hawkmen will never become second fiddle. Vultan also has a thing for Ming’s daughter Aura, but only because marrying her would help him secure more power than for any ridiculous reason like love. That still doesn’t stop Vultan from making innuendos to Barin, if only to rile up the impetuous Prince. Marrying Princess Aura would forever cement Vultan’s position in Mongonian society and it’s one of his main goals.

Vultan and the Hawkmen live in the futuristic Sky City, which floats above the polluted atmosphere of Mongo. Several Lionites are servants in the Hawkmen homes of Sky City... slaves given to them by Ming as a gift for their loyalty during the failed coup by the Lionites.

 

[Attikus]

Part 3 of the FLASH GORDON AD rejected series bible

THE ALIEN SETTINGS OF MONGO

Note: The majority of the action takes place in Arboria and Mingo City. As the series progresses, we will be introduced to other exotic locales of Mongo.

ARBORIA
The lush, hidden Forest Kingdom ruled by Prince Barin and his band of loyal warriors. It’s one of the last places on Mongo where the forest is alive and healthy. All over the planet, rainforests are being consumed by Ming for commercial and military purposes. Barin and his comrades live in the trees inside hidden, elaborate “tree houses”. Throughout the course of the series, as the war erupts, Arboria becomes a safe haven for the various species that decide to join Flash Gordon and Prince Barin’s fight for freedom from Ming’s oppressive rule.



MINGO CITY
The capital city of the planet, and where Ming rules in his opulent palace while the rest of the city’s inhabitants live in putrid squalor and abject poverty. The surrounding buildings and structures are covered in soot and falling apart (along the lines of the squalid tenements in Blade Runner). Giant, self-indulgent statues and murals of Emperor Ming decorate the high-rise buildings of Mingo City (shades of Iraq). Ming’s perfect golden palace of opulence stands in stark contrast to the crumbling buildings that surround it in the heart of Mingo City.

SKY CITY
The home of Vultan and his Hawkmen. Sky City is a technological marvel that floats high above the polluted clouds of Mongo… and one of the few times Ming has allowed science to be used for anything other than his purposes. The city’s huge anti-gravity generator keeps it floating peacefully in the sky.

LAND OF THE LIONITE RACE
It’s an arid, desert landscape virtually devoid of life and ruled by Thun’s father and his nomadic Lionite race. It’s a harsh, desolate place where only the fiercest warriors can survive. The Lion people would love to someday find a better place to live, but find comfort in a place where they feel they could use their superior toughness and will to survive against any enemy that would attack them here.


THEMES AND MYTHOLOGY
FLASH GORDON A.D. is an epic, romantic melodrama with plenty of humor. Flash and Dale’s love story is the stuff of legends. For the first time in his life, Flash begins to feel the first stirrings of love for a woman. But Dale resists him at every turn because she’s afraid Flash is an insensitive lout who will ultimately hurt her. This leads to much classic bickering and flinging of witty repartee at each other. Also, professor Zarkov’s eccentricity and aloofness provides much comic relief. In the heat of the moment, as Zarkov’s studying (or more likely stealing) Mongonian technology, he sometimes forgets how much danger he’s actually in. And let’s not forget Flash and his whip-smart mouth. He always has a biting wisecrack ready for Ming. The series aims to be a fun-filled adventure with a revamped Flash Gordon who’s a cool, contemporary action hero.

On the surface Flash Gordon is an adventure series but the underlying themes, which make the show relevant to our times include: Racism, class stratification, pollution, terrorism, religion and genetic tampering. All are hot button subjects that will be injected into the show in a subtle manner to raise the series to a whole new level. Strikingly, most of these subjects were present in Alex Raymond’s original comic strips in 1934. The fact that racism and terrorism still plague our “advanced and sophisticated” society proves the enduring quality of Flash Gordon in today’s world.

Many episodes of FLASH GORDON A.D. will some way address and tackle the issue of racism. FLASH GORDON A.D. shares many similarities with Paul Haggis’ Oscar winning film CRASH, which deals primarily with racism in its many forms and how it tears people apart and how, deep down, we all desperately want to connect in a meaningful way with the people around us.
Racism is the fundamental problem pulling Mongo apart. Racism and Class stratification allows Emperor Ming to rule with an iron fist. As long as every species hates and fears each other, Ming continues to successfully oppress and control the planet. It is only when Flash Gordon arrives on Mongo and shines his light of goodness, virtue and bravery onto the various races (Hawkmen, Lion Men, etc.) do the they (species) begin to realize they aren’t that different from each other. Each race in the series is an archetypal metaphor for a form of racism that occurs in our everyday lives.

The noble Prince Barin and his loyal warriors have been branded as thieves and outlaws by Ming. Thus, they are at odds with every other race and are not to be trusted.

The Hawkmen (they represent “new money”) who live in the sky, in their beautiful high-tech city, believe they are better and more sophisticated than the Lionite race, who dwell in caves in the desert. Hence, the Hawkmen, who live way up in the clouds look down on the primitive, uncultured Lion Men. Similarly, the Lion Men resent the arrogant and haughty Hawkmen who have been their oppressors for generations. Thus, the two races distrust each other and have been at war for centuries. But only because the two races have never sat down to speak to each other in a peaceful manner. If the Hawkmen were to engage in conversation with the Lion Men, they would quickly realize that the Lion Men are a brave, loyal race with an ancient, vibrant, rich culture.

The Mongo elite (Ming’s minions) are the upper class (they represent “old money”). They spit on all other races and use them as slaves. The Mongonians oppress the other races through acts of terror (daylight bombings, beheadings, etc.) and dogmatic indoctrination to The Church of The Republic of Ming. According to Ming’s Church, the only way to achieve a higher level of consciousness is to completely devote your entire life and income to Ming’s empire. According to Ming’s Church doctrine, free-thought is discouraged and group-think is the preferred manner of living.

The pollution on Mongo is a direct parallel of what’s happening to our planet now and is extremely relevant to our times. Essentially, Mongo is a fractured future image of how our planet could one day become—an inhospitable place, polluted to the point where all natural resources are virtually depleted.

The biggest irony of all: The origin of the multiple species of Mongo is a mystery that will be answered much later in the series (season 4). It will be a shocking surprise when it’s finally revealed that the majority of the different species on Mongo were genetically engineered from Ming’s DNA to serve as slaves for the Emperor. Thus, all the beings of Mongo who firmly believe they are different from each other, are all, in fact, brothers and sisters. This mind-blowing fact, which when revealed later on in the series, will change the course of history on planet Mongo forever. It also provides further argument for Flash’s ideals of a united species, in which everyone is related--one face for one race!

Finally, FLASH GORDON A.D. is a saga about purpose: how major events change people as individuals. It’s important that the new series be a fun, rip-roaring adventure with a strong message for both children and adults because Flash Gordon is the type of person we all aspire to be.

 

[Attikus]

PART 4 FLASH GORDON AD rejected series bible.

Here is a sample of the first five episodes, including the proposed pilot!

THE EPISODES
The series will chronicle Flash Gordon’s major quest: To save Earth and ultimately unite the warring alien species of Mongo in an attempt to dethrone Ming the Merciless.

EPISODE ONE: (PILOT) ON THE PLANET MONGO

TEASER:
QUICK CUTS of cataclysmic natural disasters on televised News Broadcasts. HANS ZARKOV, head of NASA’s space station PROMISE, discovers these disasters are a result of meteors… but the source of the meteors can’t be seen. Zarkov realizes they have to get to the space station, and only one man can pilot a ship through those meteors. CUT TO:

FLASH GORDON, test-driving a Ferrari. He pushes the car to its limits, scaring the hell out of the poor salesman in the passenger seat. Flash grins… “I used to be an astronaut. Let me show you what kind of things got me suspended from NASA!” The salesman screams, as Flash takes the car on an even crazier ride.

A helicopter appears, chasing Flash. Finally, it lands, and Flash is surprised to see Zarkov, his old mentor. Zarkov grimly looks at him, and tells him the people of Earth need him.

ACT ONE:
Back at NASA, Flash scoffs at Zarkov. There’s no way he’s going to fly a ship through a meteor shower, and besides, NASA suspended him. Zarkov points out that NASA suspended him for doing too many dangerous things. Does it get any more dangerous than piloting a space craft through a meteor shower? Flash considers… good point.

Zarkov gets serious… and tells Flash the crash that ended in the deaths of two other members wasn’t his fault. Flash brushes it off… he knows. But we see the guilt still remains. Zarkov looks Flash in the eye… if you’re over the tragedy, then you’ll fly the ship. Flash, wanting to prove that he’s over the tragedy (even if he isn’t), finally agrees to go.

Flash and Zarkov strap into the ship and prepare to head to the space station. We see a new glint in Flash’s eye… it’s been a long time, and he’s missed it. Zarkov sees it too. He smiles, but says nothing. The ship takes off on its way to space station Promise.

The ship docks at the space station. Flash and Zarkov go to the control room, where the twelve person crew studies data and tries to determine the source of the meteor shower. Flash notices an outsider… a beautiful woman named DALE ARDEN. Asking what she’s doing there, Dale introduces herself as a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist who was hired by NASA to document what could be earth’s final days. Dale says she’s here for the news story of the century. Flash can’t believe it – the world is getting pulverized, and you’re worried about a news story? Dale is offended, and points out spreading knowledge to the masses could save lives and ultimately lead to a solution. They begin to argue… Flash thinks she’s a typical media-type, and she thinks he’s a typical dumb jock.

They’re argument is interrupted by Zarkov – they’ve found the source of the meteor shower! A massive wormhole has opened up, and meteors are pouring out of it and hurtling toward earth. Zarkov says that if they can fire a fusion bomb into the wormhole, they might be able to adjust the gravitational characteristics of the wormhole enough to alter the path of the meteors –

BOOM! A meteor strikes the space station. Machines begin to spark, lights begin to go out… and the crew realizes they won’t be able to launch that fusion bomb. They have to get out!


ACT TWO:
Everyone makes a mad race for the docked shuttle. The station explodes all around them. A couple of unfortunate crew members are killed before reaching the ship, but everyone else makes it.

Flash powers up the shuttle and races away from the space station… just as it explodes into a giant ball of flames!

Flash immediately flies head-on INTO THE METEOR SHOWER! Dale is in shock, thinking that Flash has lost his mind. Why would anyone who doesn’t have a deathwish fly TOWARD the approaching meteors? Through clenched teeth, Flash explains that if he were to fly the other way, the meteors would be flying at him from behind, and he wouldn’t be able to see them. If he can’t see them, he can’t avoid them. By flying into the meteor shower, he can at least see the danger, and deal with it. And if you don’t mind, I’M TRYING TO FLY A SHIP THROUGH A METEOR SHOWER! Dale, chagrined, sits down, forced to accept that she was just outsmarted. Maybe this guy isn’t a typical dumb jock after all…

A hellaciously cool action sequence, as Flash avoids the meteors. He takes some hits, but his pilot skills are on full display. There is no doubt the ship would be twisted metal floating in space if someone else were trying to fly it. Flash finally finds a way out of the meteor shower, except…

HE HAS FLOWN TOO CLOSE TO THE WORM HOLE! The gravitational pull is too strong, and they are pulled through it! The ship makes it to the other side, where they find themselves face to face with a BLOOD RED PLANET twice the size of earth.

Having sustained an enormous amount of damage, the ship plummets toward the red planet. Flash tries to control the ship, but there’s very little he can do. The ship begins to break apart as it enters the planet’s atmosphere. Powerless, Flash watches the rear of the ship RIP OFF, taking most of the crew with it.

The only ones left are Flash, Dale, and Zarkov. Zarkov clings to a flapping piece of the ship. Flash wants to save him, but Zarkov knows what Flash does… the flapping piece of the ship has to be disengaged if Flash is going to have any chance of landing the battered craft. Flash doesn’t want to let Zarkov go, but Zarkov forces Flash to look him in the eye. He tells Flash he’s earth’s only hope, then disengages the flapping piece of the ship himself! Horrified, Flash watches Zarkov plummet toward a thick forested area of the planet.

Flash gets back behind the controls, and through almost superhuman effort, manages to crash land what’s left of the ship. Flash and Dale crawl out of the craft, dazed but alive. Alive in the middle of the desert on a mysterious planet…but alive nonetheless.

ACT THREE:
Flash feels tremendous guilt… the crew is dead, and so is Zarkov. Dale tries to convince him the crash wasn’t his fault…just like the one all those years ago wasn’t your fault. Flash is surprised she knows about that, but Dale points out she’s a journalist, and the story wasn’t exactly a secret. Two people may have died, but the committee determined you SAVED the lives of the other six crew members. And no one in the crew of the ship we were just in would have wanted anyone else behind the controls. Flash just broods. People trusted him, and he failed them…again.

Flash and Dale search for cover from the scorching desert heat. They enter a cave, take shelter and rest for a moment. Flash doesn’t have too much time to feel bad. It isn’t long before they hear sounds of a struggle outside. Dale and Flash, hiding behind a boulder watch, as six heavily armored soldiers, Ming’s deadly MetalMen, chase what appears to be a Lion Man across the arid landscape. They capture the Lion Man with an electrical net and proceed to torture him with powerful futuristic cattle prods. The MetalMen disparage, humiliate and insult the primitive Lion Man. Flash and Dale are amazed the Lion Man can speak. As we know, when Flash sees an injustice he can’t stand back and do nothing about it. He leaps into action, much to Dale’s concern.

But something happens, as Flash jumps into the fray. He seems able to jump higher and run faster. He quickly takes down two MetalMen: His powerful fists shattering their steel breastplates. Flash marvels at his newfound strength (he later realizes that Mongo’s lesser gravity gives him greater strength and agility). Dale is suitably impressed with Flash’s fighting prowess and decides to jump into the fight as well (she’s also stronger because of the gravity). Flash is surprised to learn Dale can kickbox. Maybe not your typical media-type after all. The two fight valiantly side by side, but are severely outnumbered and eventually taken prisoner.

Flash, Dale, and the Lion man are taken to Mingo city and thrown into prison. As they are brought in, they are seen by AURA, the Emperor’s daughter. She is intrigued by them… wondering if they truly come from earth. And if all the males on earth are as strapping as this one…

In the cell, the Lionman finally tells Flash and Dale his name: THUN. Flash and Dale tell Thun their story, and get some more information out of him. They are on the planet Mongo, which is ruled by the cruel MING THE MERCILESS. If anyone would know what Mongo has to do with the destruction of earth, it would be Ming. Flash decides he will have to find a way to meet this Ming. But he doesn’t have to wait long… Ming has sent for both the earthlings.

Flash and Dale enter Ming’s Dragon Throne Room, where they stand before the villainous MING THE MERCILESS. They watch Ming ruthlessly execute a devoted follower of his Church who is unable to pay his monthly stipend…and then he orders the dead devotee’s new bride to join his already swelling stable of wives.

Flash and Dale try to ask him questions, but he forcefully silences them… HE will ask the questions around here. Finally, Dale loses her temper and demands to know what is going on. Ming is intrigued by this little spitfire… she has a passion that the women of Mongo lack.

Charmed, he offers up some basic information… Mongo is dying, and he needs to strip earth of its natural resources. But he can’t do that until he kills off all the humans… hence the meteors creating all the natural disasters. Flash and Ming have a (very brief) discussion on their philosophies, where Ming makes it clear that the world is not a sympathetic place, and only the strong survive.

Furious, Flash tries to rush Ming, but is held back by his WITCH-WOMEN guards. Ming eyes Flash intently… if you want a fight, I’ll give you a fight!

ACT FOUR:
Inside MING’S ARENA OF DEATH. Flash looks up to see Dale miserably standing by the side of Ming. Flash watches as Thun is also tossed into the ring, where the two of them will face four BEINGS who can turn invisible at will. Thun, because of the injuries sustained during the earlier clash with the MetalMen, is of no physical help throughout the deathmatch. But Thun’s keen sense of smell helps him direct Flash to locate the invisible beings. But that only works temporarily… it’s obvious that Flash and Thun have no chance of winning.

Suddenly, Dale jumps into the arena! Flash is horrified… almost as horrified as Ming! He orders the match be stopped, but is told that the beings are programmed not to stop until everyone in the arena is dead. Ming does not want to see Dale, his new prize, harmed… and there is ONE person the beings are programmed not to harm. Ming jumps into the ring, and puts his arms around Dale, proud that he has saved her…

Until Flash appears behind Ming, a knife to his throat. Get us out of here, or you die. Ming is forced to keep his guards at bay as Flash, Thun, and Dale make their way to the exit with Ming in tow. At the exit, Ming promises Flash this is not the last time they will see each other. Flash smiles…that’s a promise Flash can keep as well. The three of them escape aboard a small space craft, leaving Ming to plot Flash Gordon’s demise…

Standing on the edge of the desert, Thun pays Flash his respects. He usually mistrusts strangers, but Flash fought with him against the Metalmen AND in the arena of death. Flash shows Thun how to “shake hands”... that’s how we show respect on earth. Thun offers to take Flash and Dale to the home of his people. Having nowhere else to go, Flash and Dale accept.
Walking together, Flash tells Dale that they must find a way to save earth… they only have ninety days. Dale asks how, and Flash just shakes his head… he has no idea. Flash says he wishes that Zarkov was around, because he would know what to do. Dale asks if Flash still blames himself for Zarkov’s death. Flash sighs… he’s not over it yet, but one thing he does know: Zarkov wanted him to save the earth. And that’s what he’s going to do. The two of them follow Thun to the homeland of the Lionmen…

AS WE CUT TO A FIGURE LYING IN THE WOODS. As he slowly picks himself up, we see that it’s Zarkov. He’s alive! Suddenly shadows descend upon him. He asks for their help, but instead, he is roughly tied up and dragged away into the dark forest…

THE END

THE NEXT FIVE EPISODES OF FLASH GORDON A.D.

EPISODE TWO: CHOSEN
Flash and Dale meet the Lionites, who are led by Thun’s father. The Lion People have a strong distrust for outsiders, and do not share Thun’s thirst for knowledge, so they are not happy that Thun has brought them to their home. Thun believes Flash to be the Chosen One, a prophecy he encountered through his readings. The Lion People roll their eyes.

Flash, seeing this as an opportunity to make allies, agrees that he is the Chosen One. What he doesn’t realize is that the Chosen One is required to perform three trials to prove himself. And no one has ever survived these trials before.

Meanwhile, Ming speaks with VULTAN, and asks him to find and kill Flash Gordon. But bring the earthwoman back alive. Vultan agrees on one condition… that he be given Aura’s hand in marriage if he succeeds. Ming reluctantly agrees, and is not happy when Vultan boisterously points out that he will soon be calling Ming “Father”!

Flash goes through the trials and succeeds. The Lion People still don’t believe in prophecies, but begrudgingly give Flash their respect. But as Flash and Dale contemplate how they can use their newfound allies to save earth, they are suddenly abducted by Vultan and the Hawkmen. Soaring through the air, they are powerless… and must go wherever Vultan decides to take them.



EPISODE THREE: DESIRE
Vultan brings Dale and Flash to Sky City… he wants to take a look at them and see what all the fuss is about before he brings them to Ming. While at Sky City, Aura (and a group of her Witch-Women) pay a secret visit, and break Flash out of his holding cell. Flash doesn’t want to leave without Dale, but Aura says it’s the only way she will help Flash escape. Flash is taken prisoner by Aura and the Witch-Women and has no choice but to go with her. Together, Flash and Aura escape Sky City.

Vultan, discovering Flash’s escape, goes berserk. Finally, he brings Dale to Ming and tries to convince Ming that he killed Flash Gordon, but Ming will only believe it if Vultan produces Flash’s head. Vultan makes up some lame excuse, like he threw Flash down a volcano. Ming does not relent, and refuses to give Vultan Aura’s hand in marriage.

Aura takes Flash to a lavish apartment in Mingo…a place her father doesn’t know she has. Aura tells Flash she took him because she didn’t want to have to marry Vultan, which she would have had to do if Vultan brought Flash to her father. But Aura obviously has other plans for Flash as well, and she starts coming on to him. As the two of them are about to kiss…

PRINCE BARIN bursts in. Aura mocks surprise… but Barin points out if she didn’t want him in there, her Witch-Women could have made sure he never got through. Aura flaunts Flash, trying to make Barin jealous. It works. Aura is called away by her father. She is forced to leave Flash in Barin’s hands…

Aura returns to her father’s palace in Mingo City, where she comes face to face with Dale. Aura is ordered to oversee the Purification Process of her father’s new bride Dale Arden. Aura is disgusted and repulsed that her father would choose such a lowly commoner to be his bride. According to the elitist Aura, Dale should be a slave or a servant, at most. During the Purification process, Dale must be ceremoniously cleansed of the touch of all other men. Dale refuses to undergo the process and a fight ensues in which Dale shows off her kickboxing skills.

Ming walks into the Purification chamber and watches, as his daughter Aura attempts to defend herself from Dale’s quick punches. Throughout the fight, they argue over Flash (though Dale insists she is not attracted to him in any way). Ming watches with amusement, and is once again taken by Dale’s moxie. Aura storms off, angry that her father would choose someone over her. This is not the last time she will have issues with Dale Arden.

Later, the Witch-Women strap Dale to what looks like a retro-futuristic torture apparatus. Her head, face and upper body are covered in electrodes. It’s a mind altering device meant to transform her into a willing, subservient bride to be. She reasons with Ming and convinces him that any man on Mongo can have her by using the mind-altering device. But a great man, such as himself should be able to woo a woman without altering her mind. Ming is intrigued by her strong-spirit and takes the challenge. The dictator vows to win her heart the traditional way before marrying her. Dale hopes her disgust looks like enthusiasm.

Back in the Arborian forest, Flash is about to be executed by Barin. Flash tries to convince Barin to spare his life… won’t this just piss off Aura? Barin shrugs… that just makes executing you MORE appealing. Just before the execution is about to go through, a voice booms out to stop. A figure approaches… a man obviously respected by all of the Rangers.

ZARKOV!

 

[Attikus]

FINALLY the last installment of the Series Bible!

EPISODE FOUR: THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING
Zarkov gives his backstory, and we see the flashback of how he went to being dragged through the woods to gaining the respect of the Arborian people.

Aura using a tracking device she placed on Flash goes into the Arborian forest with her Witch- Women and locates her dashing earthman. .Aura rushes to Flash’s side and sexily drapes herself around him, which drives Barin into a fit of jealousy.

Suddenly, Metalmen descend upon them in the woods! Ming, placed a tracking device on Aura, after learning of Flash’s escape, and had his daughter followed into the forests of Arboria. Ming sent a death squad in hopes of squashing both Barin and the meddlesome earthling! A giant battle ensues between the Rangers and the Metalmen.

Back in Ming’s palace, Ming courts Dale by conventional means. Slightly comical as this cold-hearted dictator does his best to be “romantic”. It’s all Dale can do to keep from vomiting.

With the Metalmen closing in, Zarkov tells Flash that he is going to give himself up. Flash is devastated, but Zarkov explains that Ming rose to power by using the best scientific minds on the planet. Ming won’t hurt Zarkov… he will use him. And that will allow Zarkov to become an inside presence or a mole within Ming’s palace, and hopefully find a way to save both Earth… and Dale. Flash sees the reason in his argument, and watches as the Metalmen take Zarkov prisoner.
The MetalMen hunt through the forest for Flash. But Flash escapes with the help of Aura through the dense foliage...Barin and his Arborian Rangers flee into hiding as well. The MetalMen continue their relentless pursuit of Flash.

Back in Ming’s palace, Ming tells Dale that the courting was wonderful (all twelve hours of it), and now he’s ready to get married. Having no choice in the matter, Dale says yes.

EPISODE FIVE: YOUTHQUAKE
Flash and Aura walk through the massive forest kingdom of Arboria and stumble upon a small farming community (much like the Amish) known as, the VESSEYE. They are a kind populace who are quick to provide food and shelter for Flash and Aura. The Vesseye are also devout followers of the Church of the republic of Ming. Flash soon realizes that everyone in the farming community is 21 (earth years old) or younger. This strikes him as odd. Aura tells Flash she is 24 earth years old.

By episodes end, Flash comes to the horrific realization that the young farming community of Vesseye are being used as organ donors for the Mongo elite. This is how Ming has managed to stay alive for over five hundred years and defeat death. The Emperor is harvesting the organs of the Vesseye and using them to prolong his life and the lives of his closest advisors (the Mongo Elite). Flash attempts to explain the wrongfulness of what Ming is perpetrating on the Vesseye to Aura and we see the first stirrings of her conscience. Maybe there is good in her.

On their 21st birthday the Vesseye are promised eternal life in the Kingdom of the Church of Ming…instead they are brought to Mingo city and slaughtered for their organs!

Meanwhile, Zarkov is brought to the palace. Ming speaks with him, and is impressed by his vast knowledge. Zarkov also pretends to be bitter at Flash for leaving him to die. Ming, deciding he can be useful, orders him to the technology center. Ming wants the scientist close by at all times… a mind like Zarkov’s should be used at every opportunity. Why limit him?

Now in the palace, Dale attempts a daring escape. But she is caught, and brought before Ming. His feelings hurt… Ming thought he had convinced her to love him. Dale goes into a speech about love not being able to be “convinced”. In a fit of rage, Ming yells out that it is obvious she’s saving herself for Flash Gordon. Dale flatly denies it, but can’t look anyone in the eye when she says it. Ming decides to zap her brain using the Mongonian mind altering device… you’ll be a subservient bride just like every other wife I have. And then we’ll be married – tomorrow! The episode ends as Dale is strapped into the mind-altering device and undergoes the process…
As the episode comes to a close, Flash and Aura are captured by the Hawkmen in the Vesseye village and brought back to Mingo city. Aura is slated to marry Vultan who carried out his bargain. Meanwhile, Flash is strapped to an operating table and is about to have his organs harvested because Ming wants to study the human’s anatomy and hold the valiant earthman’s heart in his hand…EPISODE SIX: CEREMONY
…Flash is on the operating table. Mongonian medical technicians hover over him and are about to administer the anesthetic. The operating room is lined with unconscious Vesseye on operating tables. It’s a slaughterhouse. A doctor walks into the room and proceeds to render the entire medical staff unconscious with a Toxin-Blaster. He removes his facemask—it’s Dr. Zarkov. Zarkov explains how he has gained the trust of the Emperor and become his personal teacher on all earthly matters, such as science, religion, technology, philosophy, etc. Ming, it seems, is also a student of life. The dictator particularly liked Zarkov’s dissertation on Hitler. Zarkov, also informs Flash of Ming’s plan to brainwash and marry Dale.

By episodes end, Flash and Zarkov rescue Dale moments before her wedding ceremony. Flash is overjoyed and kisses Dale who is zonked out of her mind because of the mind-altering device. They share their very first kiss and Flash thinks its epic! But unfortunately, Dale has no recollection of the kiss after Zarkov reverses the mind-altering device’s effect. In fact, Dale is incensed that Flash would take advantage of her while under the effect of the brainwashing machine. Flash tells her that she kissed him back…pretty well, too. Of course, an argument ensues.

In an exciting action sequence, Flash (in disguise) and Dale escape (with Zarkov’s help) into the squalid streets of Mingo city. Zarkov remains at the palace as Ming’s tutor. Before Flash’s escape, Zarkov gave him a communicator, which allows them to speak at any time. Flash is disguised in traditional Mongonion foot-soldier garb--it is here that we see the updated but familiar Flash Gordon outfit: Form-fitting blood red sweater, navy blue pants with black piping, black boots and a black utility belt. The sweater is made of high tensile fabric and could resist stabbing weapons and a straight shot from a blaster. It’s like Kevlar on steroids.

Aura is relieved that Flash escaped because she won’t have to marry Vultan but she wants the resourceful earthman even more, which drives Prince Barin crazy.

As Flash and Dale walk toward an uncertain future, through the dilapidated city streets, our hero quickly comes to the realization that the clock is ticking for earth’s survival and he must do everything in his power to save his beloved home planet.

Meanwhile, Ming triples the price on Flash’s head and orders his favorite Bounty Killers, the Hawkman and MetalMen to bring back the earth girl and hunt Flash Gordon down like an animal…


THE REST OF SEASON ONE
Humans have 90 days left to live. The clock is ticking, as earth population gets closer to extinction. Flash must save earth with the help of Zarkov (he’s a mole) who’s filtering information back to our hero from Ming’s palace. As the season progresses, Zarkov finally discovers the exact details of Ming’s plan. Ming is using a HYPERGATEWAY DEVICE to open a wormhole and send STEALTH DESTROYER PROBES embedded in meteors to earth, which in turn cause earthquakes, tsunamis and other natural disasters.

Throughout the first season, Flash, with Zarkov’s help, scrambles to locate the HYPERGATEWAY DEVICE in order to destroy it. But it’s hidden and heavily guarded. In order to get to it, he will need the help of Thun and his Lionites. This won’t be easy, as everyone on Mongo is hunting for Flash because of the huge bounty on his head. So, Flash must contend with the Hawkmen, the MetalMen and Prince Barin who are all after him. All are hunting him for their own personal reasons. Be it money (The Hawkmen) or jealousy (Prince Barin who is incensed that Aura is smitten with Flash).

Season One’s FINALE culminates with a HUGE CLIFFHANGER: Flash, along with Zarkov and Dale finally discover the location of the Hypergateway. Destroying it will seal the wormhole and save earth. But once destroyed, the rare Hypergateway will be gone and Flash and his cohorts will be forever stranded on Mongo. But the ever resourceful Zarkov figures out a way, which allows them to return to earth before destroying the Hypergateway. As much as Flash wants to go back home, he tells Dale that he feels a greater calling. He has seen the plight of the people of Mongo and wants to help unite the warring species, overthrow Ming’s tyrannical rule and bring peace to the fractured planet. Flash tells her he can’t walk away from this battle. It’s not in his nature. The suffering masses of Mongo need him. By making this sacrifice and staying on Mongo, Flash is convinced he can unite all species and overthrow Ming’s Merciless rule. Zarkov, proud of his surrogate son, smiles and volunteers to stay and fight the war alongside Flash.

Dale looks at Flash, eyes teary and says: “I’m a New York girl. I have to follow my heart. I can’t stay…” She kisses Flash and steps into the Hypergateway. She’s going home. Flash is devastated… SMASH TO BLACK. END OF SEASON ONE!

SEASON TWO & BEYOND: FUTURE STORYLINES

FLASH GORDON: On Mongo, Flash Gordon quickly realizes that being from the higher-gravity world of Earth, he’s many times stronger than the Mongonians (as are both Dale and Zarkov but in a much lesser degree). Planet Mongo’s decreased gravity levels give Flash a physical advantage and allow him to punch harder and jump higher. He keeps pushing his physical abilities further and further as the series progresses. He starts to discover new powers. Eventually he can see through steel. He can hear people from long distances. He can leap very far and very high. Is he truly the chosen one (as Thun insists) or are his newfound abilities the bi-product of Mongo’s gravitational forces? And why aren’t the gravitational forces affecting Dale and Zarkov in the exact same way as Flash? As the series progresses Dale shows signs of being an Empath and Zarkov’s intelligence increases tenfold. It almost seems like Mongo amplifies a person’s strongest attributes…

Throughout the series, Flash quickly learns that planet Mongo is under the tyrannical rule of a merciless dictator named Ming. Initially, Flash is on Mongo for one reason: To save earth. He doesn’t care about Mongo, or the people of Mongo or becoming their savior. He eventually decides that defeating Ming will accomplish both those goals, and while deep down inside he wants to help the people of Mongo, he tells everyone, at first, that once earth is saved, he’s out of this hellish planet. Of course, his attitude changes by the end of Season One.

As the series progresses (Season 1) Flash begins to realize his greatest enemy, Emperor Ming, rules the planet by keeping all the multitude of alien species at war with one another through fear and terror. Keeping the various species at war with each other is an ingenious manner of dividing them. United they conquer, divided they fall. One of Flash’s main objectives throughout the series will be to unite the segregated species of Mongo to work together and defeat Ming. In many ways, Flash Gordon is a modern counterpart to Hannibal the Carthaginian General who was able to convince several different races of mercenaries to unite and fight together against a common enemy: The Romans.

All the aforementioned attributes combine to give Flash a healthy sense of self. Is he arrogant? Perhaps. But Flash would prefer to call it confidence. He can be cocky at times but we know his heart and intentions are always in the right place. Another important facet of Flash Gordon is: His looks and his humor. He’s a good-looking guy and is fully aware of it and he always has a wisecrack ready in dire situations. Throughout the series, Flash’s dashing looks help him secure the allegiance and devotion of the many stunningly beautiful Queens and Princesses of Mongo, who are instantly smitten with the exotic blond-haired Adonis from earth. Flash is the first fair-haired man the alien women of Mongo have ever seen and they practically tremble in his presence. Of course, Flash loves the adulation and it feeds his already healthy ego. Flash’s flirtatious nature will get in the way of the one woman who is right for him—Dale Arden. Dale and Flash are obviously meant to be together but Flash’s quest to save earth, as well as his inability to let people he loves into his tough shell will stand between their budding relationship.

PRINCESS AURA: If one were to search deeply beneath Aura’s cold, glacial stare, you would detect the briefest hint of sorrow and the stirring of a hidden conscience. Prince Barin, who is deeply smitten with Aura, is the only person who sees the good in her. At first, Aura despises Barin because she was raised to hate the Prince’s family. But it’s the Prince’s undying love and belief in the goodness in Aura that eventually changes the tide and turns her toward the right path. Part of her will always love Flash and be jealous of Gordon’s relationship with Dale. But eventually she will grow up and realize the Prince is the right man for her. Together Aura will stand with her beloved Prince Barin and bring about the downfall of her father’s tyrannical rule. But this won’t occur for a long time…in Season One, we will get to know Aura as a cruel, spoiled, mercurial, self-centered, Princess who will stop at nothing to get what she wants!

PRINCE BARIN: Upon their first encounter, Prince Barin despises Flash Gordon because his beloved Aura is infatuated with the handsome earthling. Barin and Flash come into conflict several times throughout the course of the first season because Barin is convinced Flash wants to become ruler of Mongo by marrying Princess Aura. Aura of course encourages the Prince’s erroneous belief that Flash is her fiancé. Much conflict ensues and Flash and Barin become vicious archenemies.

Much further along in the series (latter seasons), the arch-rivals are thrown into a deathmatch by Ming in which only one of them can emerge alive. Instead of killing each other, Flash and the Prince decide to team up. When the blood of their wounds sustained during their battle co-mingles, they become blood brothers under the ancient rules of Mongo. Eventually, the long time bitter enemies become strong allies who would die for each other in battle. It is Flash who teaches Prince Barin that in order to restore peace on Mongo, the various species must unite into
a cohesive army to defeat Ming’s merciless rule. In a sense, Flash becomes the young Prince’s Mentor. Much like Zarkov is Flash’s mentor.

Flash’s fierce determination to establish peace and basic human rights to all species of Mongonians inspires Prince Barin and his band of loyal warriors into action. Together, Flash Gordon and Prince Barin will eventually mount a campaign, which will unite all Mongonians and ultimately topple Emperor Ming’s ruthless regime. Prince Barin is the once and future King of planet Mongo…but that is another story!

THUN THE LIONITE: Ultimately, Flash opens Thun’s eyes to Ming’s oppression throughout the planet. Through Flash’s eyes, Thun eventually realizes that Ming operates by causing strife between different species to control and manipulate them. Flash plants the first seeds of a united rebellion in Thun’s mind. Thun and his Lion People will become powerful allies with Flash in the coming war against Emperor Ming.

VULTAN KING OF THE HAWKMEN: Vultan is cunning adversary who tenaciously hunts Flash Gordon throughout the series. And when Vultan discovers Flash’s Achilles heel—Dale Arden. Vultan does everything in his power to put Dale in harm’s way in order to capture and Kill Flash.

When Vultan finally captures Flash, he’s unimpressed with the blond-haired earthman and on a whim decides to pit Flash in a fight to the death against his fiercest Hawkman warrior. Flash soundly beats the warrior. The earthman’s ability to fight, deeply impresses Vultan because there’s nothing the King values more than brute strength and courage. Two attributes both Flash and Vultan possess in abundance. Flash eventually gains Vultan’s respect and they become fast allies. But Vultan’s allegiance with Flash will cost him dearly--the burning and destruction of his beloved Sky City by Ming’s MetalMen (this happens in latter seasons). This act of war spurs King Vultan and his fierce Hawkman warriors into a stronger allegiance with Flash. Flash Gordon and the Hawkman will join together and risk everything to fight for freedom!

Will Flash Gordon be able to unite the warring species of Mongo and defeat the cruel Emperor Ming? Will Prince Barin reclaim his throne and become the rightful ruler of Mongo with his beloved Princess Aura by his side? Will Flash, Dale and Zarkov ever see earth again? Does Flash get Dale in the end? Only time will tell…


Cheers & Greetings from Mongo!

Oct.4th, 2006