Series logline:“Set across the NYC Blackout of ’77, a reformed ex-con temporarily returns to his old life of drug dealing to pay for his mother’s hospital bill, but soon learns the game has changed and the players, old and new, are more ruthless than before.

Hey kpetrakis01. I've been thinking about the ?but?.

At one point ?Mystic River? was a big influence.

I like the idea of one traumatic incident (in childhood) that echoes/ripples throughout your life and somewhat determines what you become as an adult.

Despite his behaviour, my protagonist has a saviour complex.

The other subplots?

Bobby - battling addiction and PTSD in a post-Nam world. He is the kind of guy who owes everyone money then borrows more money. He's a mess. The friendship was inspired by ?The Deer Hunter?.

M. Sue - a victim of childhood abuse who grows up to be promiscuous, tough and yearning for fame and success.??She falls into a bad crowd and Jack pulls no punches to pull her out.

I do like the ?has to make sure the bro/sis doesn't go his way? angle. Similarly, I also like the idea of this guy (he's portrayed as a black sheep/ wasted potential, etc.) sacrificing his soul to provide for his family, friends. Perhaps putting a good kid through school. Not unlike Robin Hood or perhaps more suitably Christopher Walken in ?King o New York?.

So quite a few reviews here and I like this concept for a few reasons.

a) he's a reformed ex-con - it means he made a choice and he's reluctant to go back to it? - ethical dilemmas are great

b) he has a cause - this is set in America so life-saving surgery is important and not easily accessible.? I agree with others there should be one clear goal

c) some good points about what this new underground world is - is it more violent? is it led by his ex best friend? his sister? the cops? What are the risks - I'm assuming it's not just returning to prison. Maybe exposing his undercover cop friend?

d) Blackout is only important if it creates a situation not available otherwise. (ie city is rioting, cops are preoccupied, security is down) and hence cannot happen any other time.

Hidden in the chaos of the 1977 Blackout, a reformed ex-con must return to his criminal life to save his (getting creative here) younger brother or sister from repeating his mistakes? /to find they money to for his mother's life-saving surgery but finds he's in deeper than he thinks / unprepared for the rules of the new underground world / face to face with an undercover cop

If it's a TV series, I'm going to guess that he's going to get deeper into the criminal world, even after he gets the money and won't be able to get out?? How is that different to Breaking Bad? What is different about him, his situation etc that makes the situation more complicated. My motto is always dilemma, dilemma, dilemma - always make hard choices.

In 1977, a reformed ex-con reluctantly returns to NYC's violent underworld to make fast money for his mother's cancer treatment. (this is good but needs a BUT? -a simple but)

With all the talk of Breaking Bad and other long series, last thing I thought of was limited!