By Dawn's Early Light

**By Dawn's Early Light** is the first episode of the first season of Netflix's *Jupiter's Legacy*. It is the first episode of the series overall.

## Synopsis

Brandon's attempt to live up to his father's high expectations suffers a blow. Sheldon's carefree life as the boss's son comes crashing down in 1929.

## Plot

In a park somewhere, some children are playing a game of heroes and villains. Eventually, one of the kids, a girl, takes the game too far, and the kid she and her brother will play with runs off after she uses her powers. Shortly after, their superhero father flies down and warns Chloe about using her powers. He then proceeds to remind her of their responsibilities as super powered individuals. At first, he promises to take his kids for some ice cream, but is quickly forced to cut his time with kids short, when he hears there’s trouble afoot somewhere in the city. Chloe is downbeat because she was about to spend time with her father.

In the present day, a grown-up Brandon Sampson sees on the news that supervillain Blackstar is in court.

Elsewhere, a couple of robbers try to take over a bank when a supervillain who calls herself Iron Orchid appears and uses her powers to stop them. She then opens up a van full of cash, but before she can take it, Brandon as the superhero Paragon arrives to try and fight her. However, he struggles to fight her, so she mocks him instead, and angers him by referencing his father. Speaking of the devil, The Utopian, who is also Brandon’s father, arrives and helps put a stop to the aforementioned villain. Later, he tells his son that he needs to call for backup next time.

Back at home, Sheldon is spending some quality time with his wife, Grace Sampson, who is also the super hero Lady Liberty. The two reminisce about the time they bumped into Elvis Pressley. Sheldon confides in his wife how he is worried about his daughter Chloe, but his wife tells him to calm down and advises him that what he needs to do is find the right time to talk to her. The conversation eventually shifts to Brandon, and Sheldon tells Grace that their son is “not getting it” and probably never will regarding what it truly means to be a superhero. Grace tells him to give their son time, but Sheldon believes Brandon is too emotional and distracted to take on The Utopian mantle.

On the house’s roof, Brandon uses his powers to hear his father’s conversation, which appears to make him upset.

In 1929 Chicago, a young Sheldon is heading into work. He meets his father and brother in the factory offices. Walter is frustrated by the company’s decision to expand for more steel mills. Sheldon and their father talk about growing the American Dream and proceed to say that this expansion is being done with the employees and their families in mind.

In the present day, Sheldon,Walter, Grace, and Brandon begin their evening dinner. A drunk Chloe storms through the door as her father, Sheldon, says grace. There’s a clear tension between Chloe and her father. Especially when Chloe talks about her latest photoshoot in a magazine. Sheldon disapproves of the attention she brings herself and states that Brandon tries to use his gift to better the world. The conversation inevitably turns into an argument, and Chloe states how much she regrets having Sheldon as her father. Her mother, Grace, demands that she apologize. Chloe does apologize but states that this will be the last dinner she will be coming to before storming out.

Brandon tries to speak to his sister Chloe to try and reason with her, mentioning how someone else has to be the next Utopian. Chloe argues that they needed their father when they were younger and she is “sorry” that Brandon has to pick up 120 years of their dad’s bullshit.

Back in 1929, Sheldon meets up with George, when suddenly, there’s a commotion. It is quickly revealed that it’s as a result of the stock market crashing. At work, the family business is panicking. Walter tells Sheldon that he told them they shouldn’t have expanded, and now they are suffering from the consequences. Their father is up on the roof, and when Sheldon joins him, he tells them how their steel is laced throughout the city. He wanted to build a legacy, but he claims it all ended up in a box. Sheldon’s father then jumps off the roof, and Sheldon is in anguish at seeing his father kill himself right in front of him.

In the present day, Sheldon and Walter also reminisce about the past and discuss how George turned on them and became a terrorist. Sheldon muses that they’ve had 90 years of fighting wizards and robots, and they have nothing to show for it. He brings up how the world is more divisive than ever. He believes it’s all sinking like quicksand into the ground after everything they’ve sacrificed. Walter suggests that they could perhaps bring an administrative shape policy and have a more active role. But Sheldon becomes frustrated about the suggestion of going against the Code and inspiring the people, not hurting them, or killing them. Walter then states how much he regrets not ending World War Two sooner, especially with all the atrocities that took place. But Sheldon brings up how if they had gotten involved in everything, it would in turn end free will. Walter for his part argues free will is what is bringing down the world.

However, Sheldon does not have much time left to have the in-depth discussion as Blackstar is causing problems, and they need to stop him. While the Union fights him, Briggs and Ruby Red watch from a distance, waiting for their perfect photo-op. However, they did not need it as the action came to them, with The Utopian and Blackstar’s fight quickly moving into their space. Blackstar throws Sheldon aside, leaving Ruby and Briggs in trouble. But Brandon and Walter arrive with more superheroes to fight Blackstar.

Unfortunately, Tectonic and other young superheroes are killed in the battle. Brandon gets emotional and tries to fight Blackstar one on one. His mother arrives to help, and while Blackstar repeatedly punches The Utopian, Walter takes control of Blackstar’s mind while the others beat and restrain him. Eventually, Blackstar frees himself from mind control and fights again. Blackstar starts to go nuclear, so Brandon super punches the villain to kill him.

There’s shock amongst the heroes and Sheldon tells his son that they do not kill. Brandon argues that Blackstar was about to take out half the state, along with his parents, but his father feels he took the easy way out and asks him to leave. Sheldon is dismayed that his son broke the Code.

Later, the supervillain corpse is on the table, when another Blackstar walks in, and he asks the heroes what the hell he is looking at. The Utopian in turn replies, that it appears to be him.

## Cast

### Starring

* Josh Duhamel as Sheldon Sampson/The Utopian
* Ben Daniels as Walter Sampson/Brain-Wave
* Leslie Bibb as Grace Sampson/Lady Liberty
* Andrew Horton as Brandon Sampson/Paragon
* Elena Kampouris as Chloe Sampson
* Mike Wade as Fitz Small/The Flare
* Matt Lanter as George Hutchence/Skyfox

### Also Starring

* David Julian Hirsh as Richard Conrad/Blue Bolt
* Tenika Davis as Petra Small/The Flare II
* Gracie Dzienny as Ruby Red
* Tyler Mane as Blackstar

### Guest Starring

* Meg Steedle as Jane
* Richard Blackburn as Chester Sampson
* Stephen Oyoung as Barry Bishop/Tectonic
* Tyrone Benskin as Willie Smalls
* Gregg Lowe as Briggs/Flaming Fist
* Aiza Ntibarikure as Sierra/Ectoplex
* David Julian Hirsh as Richard Conrad/Blue Bolt
* Aidan McGraw as Young Brandon
* Sabine Halsey as Young Chloe
* Ishaan Natarajan as Young Jake
* Sharon Belle as Iron Orchid
* Stephane Julien as Primate Crew Mate
* Kevin Kase as Primate Crew Mate
* Tyler Williams as Primate Crew Mate
* Al Bayan as Security Guard
* Jessica Sipos as Sunny
* Paulino Nunes as Clyde
* Matthew MacFadzean as Roscoe
* John Bourgeois as Percy
* Murray Furrow as Van Dyke
* Kathryn Davis as Vera/Phase Out
* Adam Waxman as Harried Working Man
* Philicia Saunders as Waitress
* Jhene Erwin as Katherine Morris
* Nneka Elliott as Reporter #1
* William Matthews as Reporter #4
* Balford Gordon as Club Security
* Fred Tatasciore as Additional Voices