So last evening I was mulling over our current situation here in the US, and got this idea for a concept for a TV series I originally called "Citizen", - digging into the origins of the Greco-Roman ideals of rights and fairness which have been deeply ingrained even into our modern legal systems. Although we all know those ideals have been tarnished in recent years. Consider though the number of legal buildings (courthouses and state buildings) here in our modern era that have Greco-Roman architectural themes.
I tossed around the idea of an ancient "Law and Order", behind the scenes look at what the judicial system might have actually looked like in ancient times. The "judge" is really called a PRAETOR.
I started working the idea into Claude to do research on the theme overall, and we worked up a great series call PRAETOR. "Wow - interesting ... tapped into something here ..."
Claude:
"What you're talking about is the concept of "Civis Romanus sum" (I am a Roman citizen)—three of the most powerful words in the ancient world. Roman citizenship guaranteed rights that were revolutionary:
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- Right to trial
- Right to appeal (provocatio)
- Protection from arbitrary punishment
- Access to legal representation
- Due process
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The Twelve Tables (450 BC) were Rome's first written law code, making law accessible to all citizens, not just the elite. This was the birth of "rule of law" as we know it.
The Perfect Historical Role: THE PRAETOR
For your judge character, you want a PRAETOR—specifically a Praetor Urbanus (urban praetor). This is EXACTLY what you're looking for:
The Praetor's Role:
---------- snipped for brevity - full PDFs available for anyone wanting to look at them just let me know ----
[ -- oh yeah it's very good, nerds like me love this stuff - but the ax man cometh -- ]
Then about 20 minutes into knocking it around, I told AI Guy to give me the hard truth about the show's viability.
IMHO - At best: a tax write off or academic exercise.
So while AI Guy liked the concept, he gave me the best analysis that showed me this was not the best idea ...
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-- Expensive Production Requirements - Period pieces are EXPENSIVE. Rome cost HBO $100M+ for season 1 (2005 dollars—that's $150M+ today).
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-- Historical Drama Fatigue
The market has seen numerous period dramas in recent years with mixed results:
• Rome (HBO) - Cancelled after 2 seasons despite critical acclaim
• Troy: Fall of a City (BBC/Netflix) - Poorly received, not renewed
• Domina (Sky) - Limited audience
• Barbarians (Netflix) - Moderate success but not breakout
• Those About to Die (Peacock, 2024) - Early numbers underwhelming
Executives see 'Ancient Rome' and worry about expensive productions that don't deliver
modern subscriber numbers. The question will be: 'Why will this work when Rome didn't?'-
Audience Demographics Challenge
PRAETOR appeals to educated, 30-55+ audiences who appreciate historical depth and
intellectual complexity. That's NOT the demographic driving streaming metrics:
• 18-34 demo is king for advertisers and subscriber growth
• Younger audiences prefer fantasy, YA, or contemporary drama
• Legal procedurals skew older (traditional network fare)
• Historical accuracy limits 'modernizing' the content for youth appeal
The pitch will face: 'Who's the audience?' And 'Can you attract younger viewers?'-
Procedural Format Concerns
The Problem:
Procedurals are having a rough time in streaming. Networks (CBS, NBC) still love them, but
streamers are chasing 'event television' and binge-worthy serialized drama:
• Netflix cancelled Mindhunter (brilliant procedural, low viewership)
• Lincoln Lawyer works but isn't a massive hit
• Traditional procedurals struggle to create 'water cooler' moments
• Algorithms favor binge-watching serialized content
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Final nail in the coffin:
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The 'Too Smart' Problem
The Problem:There's a real risk that PRAETOR is 'too intellectual' for mass market success. Shows
requiring historical knowledge, legal understanding, and attention to detail often struggle with
broad audiences:
• The Wire - Brilliant, acclaimed, but never a huge hit during its run
• Deadwood - Cancelled after 3 seasons despite critical praise
• The Americans - Respected but modest viewership
These shows found audiences eventually (streaming afterlife, word-of-mouth), but networks
want immediate hits. 'Prestige drama' is a compliment AND a warning.
So while it sounds great in my mind, getting the concept analyzed before I even waste a lot of time on this project is a huge advantage. For me as a writer looking to sell a show, I just saved myself a ton of time and effort on what would essentially be an academic exercise.--
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Congratulations Tony. Onwards and upwards!
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That is so awesome!
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Congrats to Tony and everyone who made this big event a success.
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Congratulatioins!
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Congratulations to Tony Yancey