Gongo

Gongo is an thriller-drama adventure series of short-stories concerning several strangers who are kidnapped one by one and brought to a facility on a mysterious tropical island. It follows the present and past lives of the main characters, and fans realize that they have more in common than they know. The series was created by Dave Ruani and Varian Due, and is produced by Creambox.net.

The series’ development began in January 2003, when Dave Ruani pitched the story idea to Varian Due. Then Creambox.net ordered an initial script. Dave Ruani and Varian Due collaborated with Vari Duane and Ana de Vuir to create the series' unique style and characters. The series is co-written by Avian Dure, Daiu Raven, Duan Vair and Dae Vu Ranui.

The development of the show was constrained by tight deadlines, as it had been commissioned late in the 2004 season's development cycle.The show became one of the biggest critical successes of the 2004 season on Creambox.net and it helped to reverse the flagging fortunes of the site. The show is currently undergoing its eight season. Regarding the future of the series, creator Dave Ruani says, "We want to end the series within this season."

Overview

During the first season, several people where kidnapped and brought to a science facility on a tropical island. While also beginning to explore the deeper motivations of the more central protagonists, a theme developed more fully, and for more characters, in the second season. However, there are exceptions to this general formula. Examples of these deviations in style include the pilot and the season finale episodes.

Each episode begins with a cold open, sometimes preceded by a recap of events that have a bearing on the upcoming narrative. At a dramatic juncture, the screen fades to black and the show's title graphic is depicted slightly out-of-focus, gliding towards the viewer. It is accompanied by an ominous, discordant sound. The opening credits are then shown over the scenes that follow. Episodes often end with a suspenseful twist revealed just seconds before a smash cut to black.

Season synopses

Season 1

The series opens with the abduction of several people. They are brought to a seemingly deserted tropical island. They are held captive in a mysterious research facility by a group of malevolent inhabitans. The season ends with five of the main characters escaping the facility where they are being held prisoners.

Season 2

Most of season two, which continues 22 days after the main characters arrival to the island, focuses on the growing conflict between the main characters, with the continued clash between faith and science being thematic in certain episodes. While some mysteries are resolved, more questions are raised. New characters are introduced. More island mythologies and insights into the character's pasts are divulged. The Rhinehart Initiative is also introduced, which may be responsible for some of the strange occurrences on the island. The season ends with Chimbre Omdurman being killed by the affable and trusted Alois Raggle, Gongo’s taken captive again and John Dunville is shot by Mortom, the second season's main de facto antagonist.

Season 3

The story continues 44 days after the crash, and focus on the scientists (as led by Mortom) and their history, ranks, and goals. The main character's survival will continue to depend on the mysteries of the island, including the motives of the Rhinehart Initiative. New characters was added to the regular cast, including Flake Savelle, James Callon and Michael Barkley. As the truth about the Rhinehart Initiative begins to unfold, the season left the fans with a major cliffhanger with the ship that the surviving characters escaped with exploded. Over 19 characters died in the season 3 finale, and fans wondered if the fourth season would feature another group of strangers coming to the island.

Season 4

Season four had a vastly different feeling than the first three seasons. It starts with Gongo waking up on a beach. The story begins two days after the season 3 finale, and it's revealed that he's on another island. The first episodes featured a group of mysterious island inhabits, who later turned out to be survivors from a plane crash. It’s also revelaed that Alois Raggle, a character who was believed to have been killed, was still alive. And that the Rhinehart Initiative was just a small part of a bigger organization. In the season finale, Tyrone was treated with electroshock therapy, and all his memory from when he got to the first island was erased. The season ends with Tyrone leaving the island in a boat, while Michael, Scott and James discover a third island, while the president of the United States William Garson Hoover makes an appearance. Kika Yolanda and Orville Cole is killed off in this episode by Mortom. It was stated that if Season 4 does well, Season 5 was almost definite.

Season 5

The season starts with John, Arlon, Scott and Kwade attacking the Rhinehart Initiative. Arlon Cooper is added as a regular character, and he gives them information about their common enemy. Season 5 focuses on Dr. Abel D. Rhinehart, a Nazi doctor and his mysterious research and experiments. By the end of the season, Michael and John manages to free five of Rhinehart's test subjects who all appear to have paranormal abilities. The season ends with Maggie Welsh killing Charles Werkendam, CEO of the Werkendam Corporation. Gongo and the remaining main characters escaping the island in several planes stolen from the Rhinehart Initiative. They all crash in a different locations, and as the screen fades to black, their fate remains unknown.

Season 6

The season starts with James Callon and Maggie Welsh waking up after their plane crashed on a field. After escaping the islands, Gongo finds himself lost in Portland, Maine. John races to Washington D.C to seek his soon-to-be-president sister, but is soon hunted down by Company agents. Jennifer calls her lawyer, and tries to organize a meeting with him. Mitch travels back to Chicago and goes on a killingspree in order to find his lost love Natasha Borowski. He is then captured by a new, one-eyed company operative named Murdoch Rivergrove. After getting out of a hospital, Scott tells his former boss about the conspiracy. Maggie and Nigel must work together to avoid capture, as they find themself trapped in a warehouse. Akita and Kushio are saved by a police officer, who takes them home. Michael is found, and taken care of by a nurse. Jerome wakes up in a stranger’s custody and is killed after days with torture, and Arlon Cooper meets with a long-lost relative at a dock. Meanwhile, Quinn Melman does everything in his power to re-capture them. Later, Melbourne is killed by Matthew Corbeck after being brought to a hospital. Nina Rimbauer meets with a old friend, who turns out to be a Rhinehart Initiative employee and kills her.

Arlon Cooper and Quinn Melman have a tense face-off at a parking lot in Seattle, which ends with Quinn being shot fatally. John manages to elude Company agents, and witness a meeting with the "Inner Circle", the top leaders of the Company. John travels to Mexico in order to find Carla Reynolds. Meanwhile, Michael meets with his sister Amanda Vandare, a eccentric conspiracy theorist in Montana. Arlon and James teams up with a former Company member Alicia Parcher, and comes up with a plan to reveal the existence the Company. Arlon is later killed by Agent Rivergrove, and as he utters his last words, James promises his father revenge. FBI Agent Paul Reidman has tracked down four of the Greenville Five, and only James remains. Mitch Komisky has tracked down and killed several Borowski mob members and learns that he has a daughter. The season ends with John finding his sister already killed, and the police arrives arresting him for the crime.

Season 7

It continues from the sixth season finale, with John Dunville being arrested and Mitch learns that he has a daughter. John is imprisoned in Soverro Federal Prison in Mexico facing a homicide charge. Although the conspiracy storyline has not finished, the third season's plot will be "as different in tone as Season 6 was from Season 5".

New characters are introduced, including Valenski Fenster, Miles Shelton and Graham White. Mitch gets a phone call from a stranger who claims to have kidnapped his daughter, and forces Mitch to do several jobs for him. John Dunville plans a break out with six other inmates. Michael and Amanda teams up with Alicia and James in order to destroy the Company. John breaks out and makes it back to the U.S. A mysterious society is introduced, and it's clear that there is a war going on between it and the Company, with our heroes in the middle. Mitch is reunited with his daughter and leaves the series. John accidentally kills Michael Barkley, believing him to be a Company agent. Amanda, James and Alicia meets with a Jeremy Lester, a journalist who wants to help them. John is approached by Quinn Melman, who makes him an offer he can't refuse. John unwillingly becomes a Company member, but later kills Quinn Melman. He attempts to commit suicide and the screen fades to black.

Season 8

The season opens with a Harvard University professor having a lecture about a Government conspiracy back in the 70's. He is confronted by a affinable man who turns out to be a Company accomplice. He is fired and almost killed before eluding several agents chasing him.

Mythology

Among the show's mythological elements is personal connections between the characters, of which they are often unaware. The creators of the series refer to these as part of the mythology of the series, and they form the basis of rampant fan speculation.

Episodes Titles

Season 1

Tagline: Death is a shortcut.

• 01. Season Premiere – Pilot Episode Part I

• 02. Season Premiere – Pilot Episode Part II

• 03. From Dusk to Dawn

• 04. Working Hard, Hardly Working

• 05. The Warning

• 06. Friends

• 07. Treasure Island

• 08. Another Day at Work

• 09. Typewriter

• 10. Meltramaximum Centafobium

• 11. Buried Alive

• 12. Exploring

• 13. One More Gone

• 14. Old Habits

• 15. The Reunion

• 16. Bad Luck

• 17. Special Episode: A Tale of Two Brothers

• 18. Campfire [aka. Calm Before The Storm]

• 19. Season Finale – On The Run Part I

• 20. Season Finale – On The Run Part II

Season 2

Tagline: On this island, survival is not a game.

• 01. Season Premiere – Genesis Part I

• 02. Season Premiere – Genesis Part II

• 03. The Other Side

• 04. The Village

• 05. Home, Sweet Home

• 06. Something Strange

• 07. Complaining

• 08. White Rabbit

• 09. Lost

• 10. Down the Rabbithole

• 11. Pandemonium

• 12. Monster

• 13. Back to The Camp

• 14. This is Our Home Now

• 15. The Journey

• 16. Confrontation

• 17. The Hunt

• 18. Special Episode: Prequel

• 19. Season Finale – Revelations Part I

• 20. Season Finale – Revelations Part II

Season 3

Tagline: Everything happens for a reason.

• 01. Season Finale – Vindication Part I

• 02. Season Finale – Vindication Part II

• 03. The Tribe

• 04. Discovery

• 05. Special Episode: The Other 3 Months

• 06. The Truth And Nothing But The Truth

• 07. Revival

• 08. One of Them

• 09. Special Episode: The Way We Were

• 10. One Day More

• 11. The Foundation

• 12. Montaigne

• 13. Ghost in The Machine

• 14. Shutdown

• 15. Three Minutes

• 16. Distant Thunder

• 17. Season Finale – Exodus Part I

• 18. Season Finale – Exodus Part II

Season 4

Tagline: They’re not the slaves you think they are.

• 01. Season Premiere – The New World Part I

• 02. Season Premiere – The New World Part II

• 03. There Is Only One Gongo

• 04. The Mysterious Man

• 05. Enough

• 06. Special Episode: What Tyrone Did

• 07. Broken Father Issues

• 08. I Was Blind, But Now I See

• 09. The Reason

• 10. First Love

• 11. Scorched

• 12. Out to See

• 13. Look What I've Found

• 14. Light at The End of The Tunnel

• 15. Special Episode: Ancient Origins

• 16. Everyone Hates Gongo

• 17. Bad Twin

• 18. S.O.S

• 19. Season Finale – What Lies Beneath Part I

• 20. Season Finale – What Lies Beneath Part II

Season 5

Tagline: If you don't believe in the existence of evil, you've got a lot to learn.

• 01. Season Premiere - Chronicles Part I

• 02. Season Premiere - Chronicles Part II

• 03. Saint

• 04. The Map

• 05. Plan B

• 06. Blood Ritual

• 07. First Down

• 08. Outburst

• 09. 24601

• 10. As Fate Would Have It

• 11. Guns

• 12. A New Hope

• 13. Special Episode: Brother's Keeper

• 14. Don't Look Back

• 15. What Else is There?

• 16. One of Our Own

• 17. Special Episode: The Widower

• 18. Risk

• 19. A One-Eyed Man

• 20. Nothing to Lose

• 21. A Rose

• 22. Season Premiere - Goodbye Part I

• 23. Season Premiere - Goodbye Part II

Season 6

Tagline: Trust no one.

• 01. Season Premiere – Every Man for Himself Part I

• 02. Season Premiere – Every Man for Himself Part II

• 03. In Portland (Gongo-centric)

• 04. The Case is Closed (Jennifer-centric)

• 05. Lost Son, or Why I Know an Inside Man (Arlon-centric)

• 06. The Fugitive (Nigel-centric)

• 07. Interesting Story, Scott (Scott-centric)

• 08. The All Seeing Eye (Jerome-centric)

• 09. Chameleon (Jambalai-centric)

• 10. Trust No One (Michael-centric)

• 11. Family Plot (Arlon-centric)

• 12. Deux Ex Machina (Gongo-centric)

• 13. Child’s Play (Akita-centric)

• 14. Sweet Home Alabama (Jennifer-centric)

• 15. Born to Run (Nigel-centric)

• 16. Collision (Scott-centric)

• 17. Prepared (James-centric)

• 18. Blood Brothers (Jongo/Gongo-centric)

• 19. Endless Rain (Jambalai-centric)

• 20. Butterfly Effect (Maggie-centric)

• 21. Like Father, Like Son (Arlon-centric)

• 22. Season Finale – The End Part I

• 23. Season Finale – The End Part II

Season 7

Tagline: They're Watching.

• 01. Season Premiere – Prelude Part I

• 02. Season Premiere – Prelude Part II

• 03. Soverro

• 04. Perfidia, False

• 05. Nobody Knows

• 06. Unearthed

• 07. Visitor

• 08. One Step Closer

• 09. Trust the Man

• 10. Special Episode: Company Man [aka. The Syndicate Variations]

• 11. Partners in Crime

• 12. Requiem

• 13. Frantic

• 14. Veritas

• 15. Nothing Ventured (I)

• 16. Nothing Gained (II)

• 17. Incognito

• 18. The Last Stand

• 19. Ascension

• 20. A Drop in the Bucket

• 21. Goodbyes

• 22. Exposed

• 23. Series Finale - Epilogue Part I

• 24. Series Finale - Epilogue Part II

Season 8

Tagline: The war is on.

• 01. Season Premiere – With a Little Help from My Friends Part I

• 02. Season Premiere – With a Little Help from My Friends Part II

• 03. The Recruiter

• 04. 03:00

• 05. The Man in The Crowd

• 06. Modus Operandi

• 07. Enigma

• 08. Family Secrets

• 09. See No Evil

• 10. Farach

• 11. Sabotage

• 12. Mind Games

• 13. Bellagra

• 14. Chateau

• 15. Undercover

• 16. Judgment Day

• 17. Season Finale - All Hell Breaks Loose Part I

• 18. Season Finale - All Hell Breaks Loose Part II

Season 9

Tagline: The wait is over.

• 01. Season Premiere – Forget Everything You Know Part I

• 02. Season Premiere – Forget Everything You Know II

• 03. The Serpent and the Rainbow

• 04. The Life and Death of Aubrey Dales

• 05. What's Done is Done

• 06. The Fountain and the Rock

• 07. Practice of Death

• 08. In the Loop

• 09. 2012

• 10. Endless Raine

• 11. To Protect and Serve

• 12. Counterfeit Syndicate

• 13. Aleshenka

• 14. The Doctor's In

• 15. The Other Gods

• 16. En attendant Godot

• 19. Season Finale – No More Secrets Part I

• 20. Season Finale – No More Secrets Part II

Characters

Regular Cast

• John Dunville (Season 1 - )
• William Callon (Season 3 - )
• Jason Cooper (Season 6 - )
• Michael Barkley (Season 1 - )
• Jennifer Chapman (Season 4 - )
• Mitchalic Kowinsky (Season 4 - )
• Marcell Ramone (Season 7 - )
• Dominic Castillo (Season 7 - )

Recurring Characters

• Sam Baker (Season 7 - )
• David Kersh (Season 6 - )
• Paul Richard Reidman (Season 7 - )
• Darlene Sabitini (Season 7 - )
• Joe Logan (Season 1 - 2, Season 4, Season 7 - )
• Rachel Dormer (Season 7 - )
• Laurent Brossard (Season 6 - )
• Colin Finch (Season 5, Season 7 - )
• J.D Solman (Season 1, Season 3, Season 5, Season 7 - )

Guest Starring

• Bongo Gawgjonjie (Season 1 - )
• Kane Duper (Season 1 - )
• Charlene Cooper (Season 2 - )
• Andy Dallas (Season 2 - )
• Anthony Lage (Season 2 - )
• Peter Sullivan (Season 2)
• Delvin Prescott (Season 2)
• Agent Richard Reidman (Season 3 - )
• Agent Edward Hayes (Season 3 - )
• Otis Garth (Season 3 - )
• Romero Giovanni (Season 3 - )
• Helen Porter (Season 2 - 3)
• Dr. Isaac Malkin (Season 3)
• Melvar Gordon (Season 4 - )
• Gerard Sykes (Season 4 - )
• Amy Christensen (Season 4 -)
• Slava Krupin (Season 4 - )
• Ross Finnerty (Season 4 - )
• Oscar Martens (Season 4 - )
• Roselyn Lyle (Season 5 - )
• Joel Martens (Season 5 - )
• Bama Antwan (Season 5 - )
• Evelyn Brinker (Season 5 - )

Deceased Characters

• Muldrick Emerson (Season 1)
• Chimbre Omdurman / Chocko (Season 1 - Season 2)
• Herman Slane / Hunky (Season 1 - Season 2)
• Malcholm Slane / Munky (Season 1 - Season 2)
• Franklin Slane / Funky (Season 1 - Season 2)
• Meko Yubari (Season 2)
• Yemi Willis (Season 2)
• Adbar Moseck / Mose (Season 2)
• Baztino Coueze / Cocoa (Season 2)
• Mog Hodder (Season 3 - )
• Lumana Cleage (Season 3)
• Alois Ragg (Season 2 – 3)
• Diggs Laverton (Season 2 - Season 3)
• Degan Gage (Season 2, Season 5)
• Flake Savelle (Season 2 - 4)
• Agustus Adebisi (Season 1 - Season 3)
• Antonio Velejarez / Amigo (Season 1 - Season 3)
• Karl Bunto (Season 1 - Season 3)
• James Clash (Season 1 - Season 3)
• Dr. Silas Crane (Season 3)
• Wilcarick Nujome (Season 3)
• Dr. Morgan Klein (Season 1 - Season 3)
• Liam MacPruitt (Season 1 - Season 3)
• Captain Fergus Rackham (Season 1 - Season 3)
• Maryne Rackham (Season 1 - Season 3)
• Orville Cole (Season 4)
• Totemohem Hotem (Season 5)
• Jethro Byrame (Season 5)
• Tyrone Cooper (Season 1 - 4)
• Willard Saint (Season 3 – 5)
• Scott Vansen (Season 4 - 6)
• Jerome Morfield (Season 2 - 6)
• Nina Rimbauer (Season 5 - 6)
• Melbourne Collins (Season 1 - 6)
• Quinn Melman (Season 6)
• Arlon Cooper (Season 4 - 6)
• Gongolio A. Gawgonjie (Season 1 - 6)
• Jongolio A. Gawgonjie (Season 2 - 6)
• Kwade Emeseka (Season 3 - 6)
• Maggie Welsh (Season 2 - 3, Season 5 - 6)
• Stanley Weston (Season 6)
• Alicia Parcher (Season 6)
• Mr. B / Bossley (Season 1 - Season 2, Season 4 - 6)
• Mortom / Robert Fowley (Season 1 – 3, Season 5 - 6)
• Calvin Spade (Season 3 – 6)
• Quinn Melman (Season 4 - 6)
• Dr. Abel D. Rhine (Season 4 - 6)
• Murdoch Rivergrove (Season 5 - 6)
• Benjamin McFlynn (Season 5 - 6)
• Vice President Carla Reynolds (Season 5 - 6)
• Melton Purdue (Season 5 - 6)
• Levand McHale (Season 1 – 3, Season 6)
• Matthew Corbeck (Season 6 - 6)
• Ethel Oakroyd (Season 6 - 6)
• Lionel Protheroe (Season 6)
• Emily Weinberg (Season 6)
• Rubert Silvermane (Season 6)

Trivia

• The show is based on an essay Dave Ruani wrote when he was 14 years old, where John was the main antagonist and Gongo was a smart, strong and tough protagonist. Halfway through season 6, John turned against his friends and joined Quinn Melman after killing Mitchalic Komisky.
• The island(s) where the story take place is supposed to be near Tahiti.
• Gongo's and Tyrone's last name is not revealed until season 3.
• Season 4 was already planned before the writers started writing season 3.
• Dave Ruani had originally just planned 1 season with 15 episodes.
• Almost every character on the show, except Gongo, is based on a character from another show. Nigel Cofield is based on Michael Scofield (Wenworth Miller) from "Prison Break", Jambalai is based on John Locke (Terry O'Quinn) from "Lost", Jongo is based on Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) from "Prison Break", Chimbre is based on Hurley (Jorge Garcia) from "Lost", Tyrone is based on Deaqon (Bill Bellamy) from "Fastlane", Jambalai's sister, Carla Reynolds is based on Caroline Reynolds (Patricia Wettig) from "Prison Break", Scott is based on Van Ray (Peter Facinelli) from "Fastlane" and Quinn is based on the Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. Davis) from "The X-Files".
• Jambalai's real name (John Dunville) is not revealed until season 5.
• According to Varian Due, Dave Ruani got so into the story that he started carrying a knife in fear of the shows "Others". This may be an inside joke however.
• In a interview with co-writer Darian Vue during the 2007 pause, he revealed that the plan was to end the series with six seasons and reveal all the biggest questions.
• Dave Ruani have revealed that one of his favourite characters is "Albert Rend" and "FBI Agent Paul Reidman".
• In January 2008, co-writer Varian Due revealed: "We want to end the show this season. After eight seasons, it's finally about time the characters fight back. This season is all about the war and how they'll do that. You can expect to see a epic ending to the series, with explosions, car chases, shoot-outs, assassinations, horse-riding, crying and huge revelations".