Unit 21: Existing Drama - Audience Pleasures

Stan Lee's Lucky Man

Year: 2016 - 2018

Number of series: 3

Total Episodes: 28

Episode Running Time: 45 mins

Production Company: Carnival Films & Pow! Entertainment

Distributor: NBC Universal International Television

Broadcast: Sky One

Budget: unknown, but not huge.

Film Location: London, United Kingdom.

Director: different directors for different episodes. See cast & crew.

Personal Relationships:

• Initially within his work with the police Harry is confident that he is the best and looks down on colleagues - this worsens when he gets extremely lucky. However, this starts to change when he becomes unlucky as he starts to need these people to help him. However, there is always a certain level of "I am better then you" right until the end. This will relatable to many people who work in office environments around the country - except what happens in Lucky Man dramatises it to a whole new level.
• Harry's relationship with his family sadly reflects many in the UK. Split up parents with a child in the middle. It shows the struggle of the child wanting to see both parents but the parents trying to do the best for the child which may leave to upset and disappointment. 
• Harry has relationships with several women throughout the 3 series of Lucky man. These are usually 'one night stands' that he comes to regret with women that he shouldn't really be with in this way. 
• Harry has a strong relationship with his brother "rich". This is a perfect representation of siblings. Harry puts his brother through all kind of horrible events (including Harry Gambling Rich's apartment away), but Rich is always still there for him at the end/watching out. This would be relatable for many families. 

Personal Identity:

• In Lucky Man, the question of what is right and what is wrong is often showcased. We see this through the way different characters approach the same idea. Harry's colleague Orwell always wants to do things by the book and follow the rule. Harry, although he has a questionable approach to getting things do, often crossing the line, he always does things for the good. In the final season, bad guy "Samual Blake" appears to have a good idea by destroying the bracelets that have caused so many problems for so many people, but the way he goes about it does more bad then good. 

Diversion:

• Harry is a character with personal problems, the biggest one being gambling. This is something we see recur through the three series. We see Harry win big and loose big throughout. This can draw us away from out problems whilst watching (making them feel small), when he is loosing millions.
• The Bracelet in Lucky Man pulls a fantasy/Sci-Fi idea into the real world - showing people how these supernatural ideas could work in real life, and how they may fit in. 

Surveillance:

• Allows viewers to see the life of Police Officers. 
• Allows viewers to see what it would be like to live with some kind of superpower. 
• Allows viewers to see what the lifestyle of a gambler is like and people that mix with criminals.

Sneaky Pete

Year: 2015 - present

Number of series: 2

Total Episodes: 20

Episode Running Time: 41-60 minutes

Production Company: Shore Z Productions, Nemo Films, Moonshot Entertainment, Exhibit A, Sony Pictures Television & Amazon Studios.

Distributor: Amazon Prime

Broadcast: Amazon Prime Video

Budget: $93 million for season 1.

Film Location: United States

Director: different directors for different episodes. See cast & crew.

Personal Relationships:

• Sneaky Pete shows relationships in a whole new way. The main character is a conman who visits a family pretending to be there own son. It ignites a question in the mind of the viewer...how well do we actually all know each other? 
• The family that the conman becomes part of is very close. They all look out for each other and always keep in touch. These relationships showcase to viewers how important family is and hopefully make them 'remember' there family and how important is. 
• Throughout the series the program follows 'sneaky pete' very closely. We see every aspect of what he does, and always see how his cons are pulled off. This draws us in to a relationship.....

Personal Identity:

• 'Sneaky Pete' (the conman) represents the whole idea of personal identity perfectly. He is trying to impersonate this man in front of the mans family after only spending a few months with him in prison, and hearing 'just bits here and there' about his life. 
• He has to understand Pete's behaviour, being a shy character who thinks of himself as a bit useless/stupid. As the viewer we then see the contrast between the actual "Pete's" character and the conman, one being shy and one being quite outspoken. What this ultimately shows to the viewer is that being both is ok.

Diversion:

• The conman gets himself into all kinds of trouble, almost getting himself killed, and getting some of his acquaintances actually killed along the way. 
• He is always under enormous pressure to reach a deadline which usually results in ridiculous consequences if he does not meet them, he is having to balance the stress of one con alongside another always keep of track what is going on around him. Ultimately this completely takes the viewer away from the stresses of there life making there problems feel small and stupid in comparison!
• Also, the program gets complex at times and often fills with suspense. This is enough to completely engross the viewer, making them not able to take there eyes off the screen - this alone acts as a complete diversion from the real world. 

Surveillance:

• The program takes the viewer into the world of a mastermind criminal, showing that crime is not always simple, but can run like the most complex of projects or businesses - and that criminals are not necessarily as stupid as the stereotype plays. 
• It also gives viewers an insight into life in prison, as well as life in deep America. 

Gunpowder

Year: 2017

Number of series: 1

Total Episodes: 3

Episode Running Time: 60 minutes

Production Company: Kudos

Distributor: Endemol Shine Group

Broadcast: BBC One

Budget: unknown, but described as 'big budget'

Film Location: Yorkshire, United Kingdom.

Director: J Blakeson

Personal Relationships:

• At the time this was set, family life was different with mother, father and children not being as close or spending as much time together. This gives viewers are contrast with family life today which is somewhat very different. 
• The programme features much about upper vs lower class and the treatment of different types of people. We feel empathy for the lower class people, they seem to receive all kinds of punishment for what would today be ridiculous, e.g: being a specific religion. 

Personal Identity:

• It is obvious from the program that men are supposed to be strong and expected to fight. Whereas females should look after the children etc. This is a 'model' of family life which some people today choose to follow but more commonly not. 

Diversion:

• The programme shows modern day viewers how difficult life was in history, and how actually the our lives today are pretty good and we are fortunate to live in a period we do. This makes how problems at school or work seem minor, diverting our changes away to them as the programme grips us into another world. 

Surveillance:

• 'Gunpowder' takes the viewer into a world of the past. The high quality replication of scenes from the 1600s make it look completely real and gives us the best possible view of what it was like to live in this period. The way the programme is filmed following the main character slowly gives us a good insight into how society worked and what daily life consisted of.