THE HERO’S JOURNEY

At the show’s core is skeptical Air Force captain Ethan Chambers, who finds himself transferred to the CIA’s secret special access oversight division. There, he discovers an above-top-secret legacy UFO crash reverse-engineering program called “The Program.” At his new placement, he meets a diverse network of characters, including ex-military intelligence operatives, black ops, investigative journalists, documentary filmmakers, and world-renowned UFO researchers, who play pivotal roles in uncovering the truth behind the greatest conspiracy in human history.

As Ethan navigates the mystery of government cover-ups and shadowy alliances, he is determined to prove his worth to the Special Access Projects (SAPs) task force while protecting his family from truths that threaten to shake the foundations of their own lives but quite possibly global religions as we know them today.

Inspired by actual events and infused with supernatural elements, Shadow State is a thrilling blend of suspense, intrigue, and political drama. Drawing inspiration from TV classics like The X-Files and Spielberg's masterpieces like Close Encounters of the Third Kind, it adds the intense spy drama of shows like Jason Bourne, Blacklist, and Homeland. This series promises a captivating journey through the covert world of UFOs, government secrets, and the supernatural.

From Timothy E. Burke “Shadow State” TV Bible

PROTAGONIST CHARACTER ARC

Ethan Chambers’ military way of life was always structured and highly organized, with his belief in the “American Way” being absolute. A by-the-book military man, he was a man of rules and regulation. After his time in Afghanistan, he flies home to be with his family. Family, in many great literature works is an incredible source of interest for viewers, Ethan has both his own personal family and his family of the CIA.
However, like many great stories, the themes of being 'trapped' and experiencing 'loss' play a pivotal role, resonating with audiences who can relate to these struggles in their own lives. These themes come to the forefront when he finds himself entangled in his government’s darkest secrets.

The revelations not only shatter the foundations of everything he once believed but also propel him on an emotionally charged journey that fundamentally alters his perception of the world and the nature of reality itself. What’s more, this journey takes him from a loyal servant of the government to its fiercest adversary, as he fights to expose the greatest secret in history to the world.

Through the sheer force of his “willpower” and “courage” — two crucial themes in character arcs across popular film and television - he manages to “break free” from his “entrapment”. Although, by the end of the first season, he “loses” everything, the “respect” he earns from both his nation and the world becomes a powerful “redemptive” force.

This respect not only “redeems” him but also marks an incredibly important personal first season character arc. Ultimately, the show revolves around themes of “courage” and the “power of will” to overcome personal ‘traps,’ emphasizing the importance of doing the right thing for the greater good. Ethan, our protagonist, embodies this by whistleblowing on the covert intelligence agency executives, taking a bold stand to bring the truth to light and expose it to the public.