ReParenting is a unique seasonal anthology where each main character comes face-to-face with their younger self, pushing them to confront long-buried traumas to move forward with their lives. Season 1 follows Ezra, an aspiring writer in Los Angeles, whose world is upended when his younger self begins appearing everywhere he goes. To break free from depression and creative stagnation, Ezra must journey into his subconscious to relive and resolve painful memories he’s tried to forget. The series blends real, grounded storytelling with stylized, surreal explorations of the mind, as each character dives into their subconscious to face the past head-on. This dynamic approach offers a rich, visually captivating narrative that draws audiences into a deeply emotional, universal journey of healing and self-discovery.
pilot synopsis
Ezra, an aspiring writer, attends a therapy session with Dr. Martínez, where he attempts the “empty chair” method to confront unresolved childhood traumas by visualizing his younger self. But he struggles with the exercise, only to be interrupted by a cryptic call labeled “DO NOT ANSWER!” signaling the end of his session.
At home, Ezra meets up with his best friend and roommate Trevor, who encourages him to break free from his writer’s block by attending his rap gig. However, at the club, a mysterious young boy appears. Ezra, not recognizing the boy as his younger self, grows agitated and tries to evade him. The boy then reveals his true identity, launching Ezra into a surreal journey through the void of his subconscious.
In this strange inner world, Ezra confronts haunting fragments of his past—blurred memories and unresolved trauma that pull him deeper into a haunting funeral scene. Startled, Ezra wakes up, thinking it was all a drunken hallucination—until he notices Young Ezra is still with him. Fearing he’s losing his mind, he video calls Trevor, who sees nothing out of the ordinary. Trying to flee from this vision, Ezra accidentally runs into his old friend Angelica, whom he secretly loves. He tests if she can see Young Ezra, but she can’t, leaving her concerned for him.
Overwhelmed and desperate to escape, Ezra barges into Dr. Martínez’s office mid-session, masking his panic with hypothetical questions. Dr. Martínez offers insight but urges Ezra to wait until their next session. Returning home, Ezra finally accepts the reality—only he can see Young Ezra. In a moment of reluctant surrender, he sits across from the boy and says, “Let’s talk.”
Main Character
Ezra
Casting option: Brandon WilsonEzra is a struggling writer and paycheck-to-paycheck dreamer who moved to Los Angeles to escape a troubled past. Battling depression, Ezra was recently committed to a mental hospital after a traumatic incident, leading to mandatory therapy with Dr. Martínez. His fearful-avoidant attachment style makes relationships difficult, while his suppressed childhood traumas lurk beneath a carefully crafted, goofy persona. Desperately avoiding his own pain, Ezra’s journey forces him to confront the memories he’s buried and the person he’s become, as Dr. Martínez attempts to help him unlock his past and finally heal.
YOUNG EZRA
Casting option: Leo Abelo PerryYoung Ezra is the unfiltered, authentic version of Ezra—the self that existed before the image he now presents to the world. As a mirror to his adult self, Young Ezra forces Ezra to confront his buried traumas and raw emotions. Reliving his childhood wounds, Ezra must also protect this vulnerable younger self, guiding him through the very experiences that shaped his current pain. Young Ezra compels Ezra to face the healing he’s long avoided, making him an essential catalyst in Ezra’s journey of self-reckoning.
Supporting Characters
DR. MARTÍNEZ
Casting option: Liza Colón-ZayasDr. Martínez is a dedicated and compassionate psychiatrist assigned to guide Ezra through 50 mandatory therapy sessions following his time in a mental hospital. Despite Ezra being one of her most challenging cases, Dr. Martínez is deeply invested in his journey, bringing a mix of patience, insight, and determination to their sessions. Her genuine care and unwavering support make her a pivotal figure in Ezra’s life, helping him confront his buried traumas and find a path toward healing and self-acceptance.
ANGELICA
Casting option: Ariana DeBoseAngelica is Ezra’s former friend and unrequited love, a beacon of hope during his hardest times in LA. After an “incident,” she ended their friendship and moved on. Now, she’s the quintessential aspiring model/actress, working odd jobs to make ends meet while pursuing her dreams. Though she hides her true feelings, Angelica still cares for Ezra and brings positivity to those around her, even while navigating her own struggles. Her presence is a reminder to Ezra of both his regrets and his unresolved feelings.
Trevor
Casting option: Ethan Herisse Trevor is Ezra’s first friend in Los Angeles, a loyal companion who’s been by his side from day one. An up-and-coming rapper, Trevor may not have the perfect advice, but he’s always there to lighten Ezra’s load with humor and distraction. Though he knows much of Ezra’s troubled past, Trevor never tries to “fix” him, offering steady support without judgment. As his career begins to take off, Trevor finds himself increasingly pulled away, adding strain to their friendship and leaving Ezra to face his struggles more independently.
J-$on (Jason)
Casting option: Jack HarlowJ-$ON is a sharp-witted and charismatic promoter, known for his flair, confidence, and knack for spotting talent. A prominent figure in the local entertainment scene, he commands attention and respects loyalty among friends. His extensive connections and ambition have led him to become Trevor’s manager, guiding his career to new heights. However, his influence pulls Trevor further from Ezra, positioning J-$ON as an unintended antagonist in Ezra’s world, as he prioritizes Trevor’s success over their friendship.
| TONE & STYLE |
| TONE & STYLE |
SEASON ONE OVERVIEW
SEASON ONE OVERVIEW
In Season One, Ezra must live with his younger self, Young Ezra—a constant, unsettling reminder of his unresolved traumas. Determined to find freedom, he believes that facing these childhood wounds is his only path to peace, impacting his career, relationships, and day-to-day life.
Through the season, Ezra is pulled into his subconscious, reliving memories that expose the roots of his struggles. In the finale, he finally answers the “DO NOT ANSWER” call, learning of another death in his family. At the funeral, a final empty chair exercise forces him to confront his deepest trauma: the loss of his grandmother and the neglect of his mental health by his mother.
Ezra courageously confronts his family but leaves without an apology, realizing he needed nothing from them. Instead, he learns to fully grieve and accept loss as part of life. With Young Ezra finally at peace, Ezra returns to LA, ready to start writing his next project.
Episode 1
SEEING IS…
In his weekly, mandatory, therapy session Ezra attempts the empty chair method to speak with his inner child. He fails. That night, at his best friend’s rap gig, he sees a younger version of himself in the real world. He wakes up thinking it was all a dream... it wasn’t.
Episode 2
IT’S ALL FUN & GAMES UNTIL…
Ezra accepts that he’s stuck with his younger self and must figure out why. He runs around Los Angeles, trying every children’s attraction trying to unlock lost childhood memories. Despite failed attempts, he recalls a moment of his mother stopping him from celebrating too loudly. This send Ezra into his own subconscious to resolve this trauma in person. He finally allows himself to loudly feel joy, yet Young Ezra is still around. Time to try something new.
Episode 3
WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE…
Ezra decides to live his normal life and ignore Young Ezra. Ezra spends the day with his best friend and rising rap star Trevor. Noticing Young Ezra happy around Trevor, Ezra unsuccessfully tries making more friends. He unlocks the memory of being homeschooled while his siblings went to school and made friends. In his subconscious he lets Young Ezra know that he has years and years to make friends, and that he’ll make many. With this trauma resolved, Young Ezra... doesn’t go away.
Episode 4
WORKING HARD OR…
Ezra juggles odd jobs to make ends meet, accompanied by a persistent reminder of his true dreams, Young Ezra. As an Uber driver, he navigates quirky passengers and traffic jams while grappling with his inner turmoil. Walking dogs proves chaotic as Young Ezra's antics lead to mishaps. As a brand ambassador, Ezra's attempts at flyer distribution are thwarted by his own insecurities. Through these challenges, Ezra confronts his tendency to self-sabotage and the barriers hindering his path to fulfillment.
Episode 5
SEARCHING FOR LOVE…
Believing love is the answer to Young Ezra’s appearance, Ezra start dating again. He signed up for a dating app and goes on multiple dates with no luck finding a girlfriend. Noticing Young Ezra goes away during “adult activities” Ezra tries out more “Adult” dating apps to get a break from Young Ezra. He quickly finds out he doesn’t belong in that world. He has no memories to re-experience.
Episode 6
OLD HABITS…
Not finding love on the apps, Ezra attempts to finally let Angelica know his true feelings. They meet for lunch and spend the entire evening together. They meet Trevor at his biggest gig. Seeing Angelica flirt with others and Trevor about to be a star, makes him feel like they’re going to abandon him. Ezra starts drinking heavily, almost causing another incident.
Episode 7
THE INCIDENT
6 months ago - Through Ezra’s POV we see the 24hrs surrounding the incident that caused Ezra to get committed to a mental health facility. A day filled with Heartbreak, Rage, Jealousy, Love, Fights, Sex, and more. Ezra as drinks himself into a place where his friends and family will never view him the same again. (Content Warning: depiction of attempted suicide.)
Episode 8
ME, MYSELF, AND…
The day after almost causing another “incident”, Ezra has his weekly session with Dr. Martínez. Hungover, attempts the empty chair method again. This time around Ezra is able to picture family, friends, and Young Ezra in the chair. He enters his traumatic memories that have held him back. He stops the exercise before arriving at the final, and darkest, memory. “DO NOT ANSWER” calls his phone once again.
Episode 9
WHEN THE PAST CALLS…
Ezra finally answers the call from “DO NOT ANSWER” aka his mother. He learns that his paternal grandmother was sick and has now passed away. He flies home to attend the funeral. His family gives him grief about not answering the phone. Each family member gives him more and more grief. The day of the funeral Ezra finally decides to confront his mother.
Episode 10
Ezra attempts to confront his mother and family about abandoning him when he needed them most. They all, mostly his mother, turn the confrontation onto him. Ezra barely gets a word in as his mother hijacks the conversation and makes it about herself and her childhood and trauma. The attempt is a failure. Ezra storms out of the funeral and makes his way to the beach. He calls Dr. Martínez for an emergency session. He enters that final dark memory. He confronts the subconscious version of his mother, comforts Young Ezra in the memory, and heals a piece of himself. Young Ezra says goodbye and leave Ezra. Ezra heads back to LA and makes his apologies to Jason, Anjelica, and Trevor. He head back to his apartment sits across from the empty couch and begins writing a script titled “ReParenting.”
WHAT GOES AROUND…
The series is structured as a seasonal anthology, with each season introducing a new main character who confronts their younger self, allowing for exploration of diverse ages, cultures, and experiences. Season 1, based on the creator’s own life experience, provides a deeply personal foundation, setting the stage for a series that resonates universally.
Future seasons can continue this approach, tackling compelling stories and unique backgrounds. Imagine an adult who once experienced bullying, now a bully themselves, coming face-to-face with their younger, victimized self, or a transgender character confronting the trauma of intolerant parents alongside their pre-transition self. By inviting real people to submit their childhood stories, the series could authentically incorporate these narratives, allowing each season to reflect a tapestry of experiences—from family dynamics to identity struggles.
With its versatile, culturally adaptable format, the show is primed for global licensing opportunities, allowing new markets to create local versions of ReParenting that reflect their own societal issues, regional histories, and childhood experiences. This unique model creates a franchise that is both highly marketable and deeply impactful, with each adaptation adding to the brand’s reach and emotional resonance.
Through this structure, ReParenting can engage audiences worldwide, establishing a legacy built on authentic storytelling, audience involvement, and meaningful representation. The result is a scalable, globally appealing series poised to make a lasting mark.
Franchise Potential & Future of the Show
ReParenting Pilot script request form
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