I found an article a month or two ago (this was in my drafts, oops) about Diablo Cody’s comments about the PPG live action show… so here are my comments about some of her comments.
Okay, the part about making them tackle Gen Z problems is probably the only thing here that makes me cringe a bit. I hate when writers try to make characters relatable by saying whatever ageist buzzword’s popular at the time and not just, y’know, make something that could be relatable for anyone who was whatever age at whatever time (but I guess you gotta say those kinds of things to sell the show to the not-so-clued-in actually ageist executives, I dunno).
…but like I did when I read Dove’s comments about the show, yeah, I mean, I agree! I like weird! Weird is good! The script had issues (to put it, uh, VERY lightly) but I was happy that there were some attempts to make it different. And she’s right: it IS fun to write the girls at different ages. Thousands of fanfic writers would agree! However, the problem is that, when you’re making an actual television show, you can’t just do whatever you want or pepper in a bunch of sex jokes or whatever the hell people in Hollywood assume is “normal” behavior for people to have. 🙃 You should probably watch the show more than once (preferably, damage your brain with repeat viewings like I have, highly recommend 👍) and thoughtfully consider how the characters would act, in a way that multiple generations could relate to since it was a show originally meant for people of all ages. And again, so many things set the girls apart from other superheroes. Explore those things! I think a live action adaptation like this would rule, but I think there are a lot of little footnotes attached to that.
ALSO:
Diablo Cody, I love you, please deliver fan service to me and send me the other drafts if your NDA allows it I AM BEGGING YOU I LOVE YOU GIRL PLEASE. 😭🙏
Rough concept for the PPG CW pilot I feel we deserved
Pilot Summary - This will be the most detailed and borrows a LOT from the original script. It’s not how I would’ve made a PPG older series. And I do think there’s a lot to be explored in an older more mature focused PPG series while understanding it’s not necessary. But not every thing that’s fun and engaging is “necessary” we’re here for some fun ;) would like thoughts and opinions <3
*THINGS BORROWED FROM THE PILOT SCRIPT
- PPG girls spilt up, Blossom and Buttercup going largely no contact
- Blossom being viewed as responsible for Mojo's death
- Buttercup being gay
- Mojo having a son who is obsessed with Blossom
- Implication of drug use specifically by Bubbles
- Buttercup being a ranger
My writing is emotionally driven though periodically I will write in my goals and intentions for later development in a future draft (if I make one) and will also attempt to explain later goals that I am aiming for.
The opening scene starts with the girls getting older in a montage voiced over by the narrator to establish the tone of their childhood and origin story. That crime fighting and defending Townsville from giant monsters is fun and adventurous. Intentionally glossing over any upsetting details. It overlaps with the cartoon and explains deviations to ground this version of their world and childhood.
- The Narrator should be written as how the girls view the world and will be used to show how their characters develop and grow. This will be best written after all later details are ironed out when character arcs and themes are clearly established to pair with intended growth.
The first major planned scene: the girls are getting older, they're kids not toddlers. So, their bed is getting smaller, toes are getting stepped on, and boundaries over looked. Before their upcoming birthday, the Professor tells them it's probably time for the girls to have their own separate rooms, they're almost 10 now soon they'll be double digits and need some privacy.
And the girls are ecstatic! Though Bubbles notably less so. When they plan for the remodel the girls draw straws and Blossom and Buttercup enthusiastically pack their things to prepare while Bubbles gets to stay in the same place. On their last night together Bubbles stays up, so scared and feeling alone even when sandwiched between her sisters. Blossom wakes up while Bubbles is fretting and trying her best not to cry.
She's a big girl now
And big girls don't cry. But when Blossom asks if she's okay Bubbles sobs, also waking Buttercup. Bubbles confesses, she asks if they'll still be sisters in separate rooms. Would they still be sisters when they're older and living separate lives too. They came into this world together and she never imagined a life without her sister right there in it, even for something so normal as their own rooms. She asks what will happen if they leave for good someday.
With hugs, comfort, and the promises of sleepovers and sisterhood they all drift to sleep. Smiles on young faces. They would always be sisters.
Cut to the future, they're 15 and Blossom is giving her defense at her public trial. A tv pilot is a visual and auditory medium, include splices of lawyers, witnesses, and her family having a back and forth of the trial. Blossom is accused of manslaughter, Mojo a villain, is very publicly dead and Blossom is being held responsible. She is exonerated but her public image is destroyed and she is visibly distraught over the death and accusations.
- As a tv pilot is a visual and auditory medium and the very beginning of the story not all info is necessary now. The only things that need establishment now is the chaos of the trial and media storm, Blossom slander, her emotional state, and what crime Blossom allegedly committed. This a plot point meant to expanded on later with little to no foreshadowing is Mojo is actually alive, in this basic rewrite presume Mojo is dead. A reveal for later is that Mojo Jr is a key witness and helped to defend Blossom.
Shortly after the trial, a scene of relief from the Utoniums is cut short as Blossom is missing, and all her important possessions are gone. Buttercup visibly angry, the Professor leaves the room, while Bubbles is holding a goodbye letter. Her expression is much more subdued when she reads out loud Blossom asks her family not to look for her.
- This detail will also be expanded later. Though regardless of her wishes the Professor immediately went to find Blossom. He literally cannot force her home but keeps in contact and makes sure she's safe and okay. He is also the one financially supporting her and her extensive early start college stay.
Another future cut, Buttercup and Bubbles are roughly 17 in high school. Buttercup packs a backpack and walks out. Her goodbye note says they won't be able to find her until Buttercup is able to find herself. There's a cut to Bubbles in her graduation gown being comforted by her father as they grieve together in the privacy of their home.
- To be explored later; Buttercup did her best to "step up" and fill in where Blossom was absent, including being there for Bubbles attempting to put her "younger" sister first. Her anger issues grow as her resentment goes on unchecked. And after the anger passes there's just emptiness. She finds herself in her art. After becoming a ranger, in between of stopping fires and finding lost campers, she paints her feelings and scenery. Exploring herself and unpacking her own internalized homophobia. Her family never made her feel like she had to hide any part of herself but the media that preyed upon her and her sisters as little girls sure did. She is the one to reach out for therapy and become the middle ground for her sisters and is always willing to meet them halfway. The Professor does the same for Buttercup, finds her and keeps in contact making sure she's safe and okay.
At 17, Bubbles is the last active Powerpuff Girl. By herself she defends Townsville from all sorts of monsters and crime bosses. She is forced to be flawless for the camera with a mask of overflowing false cheer and optimism to be idolized by the masses. Without the help of her sisters, she has to be smarter than Blossom and tougher than Buttercup. And she largely succeeds while high key being exhausted and depressed. As the last one standing, she is the only one to remember their childhood promise.
- This will be the framing and book end of the season. What is "broken" in the girl's relationship will be on the mend by the end of the season. Bubbles will not be the last PPG standing by the end. This setup should be the main focus of the pilot and should take up as much time as needed. If the pilot is 60-90 minutes then the setup and take up 30 minutes easy if necessary. The audience should be given a solid, but incomplete, set up to reasonably understand why the girls split up and show a very small glimpse of what it's like to have the whole world on your shoulders by the age of 5. The pilot premise will now get less detailed and specific followed by ideas to world build and prompts to explore reimagining old characters and how they could be portrayed.
Currently at the age of 21-25ish, their father goes missing, video and physical evidence points to his kidnaping and Bubbles is trying to solve it as it breaks headlining news. When her sister hears the news, they return immediately and publicly Bubbles is thrilled for the help and support. Tactfully avoiding Powerpuff Girls reunion talk, to her there is only one Powerpuff Girl. And in Private she is stand offish and cold to her sisters. She refuses to trust them again and let them easily walk back into her life only for them to walk right out of it again.
The climax of the pilot should bring up Blossom and Buttercup being needing to be saved by Bubbles, They’re out of practice and it makes them reckless, destructive, and clumsy. The mind control homicide child and most of Jojo jr can stay largely the same in this new context. Their plans up in the air, the episode end showing the Professor is their prisoner.
- can choose to hide the Jojo jr reveal until later in the season but I think either idea could be equally interesting.
bullet points to possibly explore during season (as chronological as possible);
The Professor is being forced to invent for his kidnapper, he makes the mind control devices "bugs".
He also leaves coding and other breadcrumbs to help his daughters find him.
Princess Morbucks attempts to manipulate the media against the PPGs but is unable to compete with Bubbles' image
Princess invents a hero persona as a front to sabotage her father's competition
Bubbles will need to publicly defend her sisters' image even though she doesn't want them around
Jojo Jr is in obsession with Blossom because he HATES her and does 100% blame her for the death of Mojo
Jojo attempt to woo and romance Blossom only to use that to hurt and kill her later
Mojo Jojo is treated like a persona and legacy, think Joker fused with Green Goblin vibes. Extreme violence, "insanity", with dramatic and colorful flair mixed with the son taking up the mantle for revenge for the fathers' death and "murder" at the hand of the "hero"
Mojo Jojo cartoon design is a "logo" or iconography for the live action villain. He uses a hand drawn graffiti version as a signature/calling card
Robin, their childhood neighbor moves back into town to take care of her parents and she and Buttercup start a relationship through out the season.
the Rowdies being "wards of the government" or someone at 13ish and rehabilitated doing hero work all over the world
the Rowdies being long distance friends with Bubbles and emergency backup and a support group
when bringing up the Rowdy’s at some point it needs to be mentioned that the girls aren’t exactly human and drugs/gases have little or no effect on them. Same with the boys. This is foreshadowing.
the Rowdy’s can be mentioned a lot, and their voices can be heard on the phone or maybe even seen on TV but not show up in person until s2.
Blossoms' trauma and reconciliation with Bubbles relating that it's very similar. Just it happened to Blossom at a younger age and Bubbles had to handle it without her sisters
Buttercup being the most emotionally mature after reuniting, she leads them into relearning teamwork and connecting
Bubbles trauma is her sisters, her identity was built on their sisterhood, and she felt she could handle everything if they were just all together the girls have a major fight with each other before the finale where Blossom storms out intending to leave and Buttercup following her though it looks to Bubbles like they left her again while Buttercup is actually helping Blossom cope in a healthier manner and leading Blossom to try again and keep a cool head.
At some point when Bubbles rejects her sisters assistance the question should be brought up how she can handle every thing on her plate and should really be brought up a few times and later revealed that in the absence of her sisters Bubbles didn’t have the stamina or skills to keep up with the crime by herself. So the professor created a drug to give Bubbles an energy boost. It’s not intended to make her stronger but without the Professor to regulate the doses or create it himself Bubbles accidently makes it something addictive and she chooses it over her sisters help.
the s1 finale can build up to Bubbles experiencing her first public crash the more exhausted she feels the more hurt she gets. Blossom and Buttercup step up in a huge fight and save her mirroring how Bubbles saved them when they were out of practice. Bubbles wakes up with her sister sandwiching her in a hospital bed and she starts to feel like they really are here to stay and she can rely on them.
