Pan Am: What Could Have Been?

The American period drama 'Pan Am' was cancelled after its first season due to low ratings, despite its international success and critical acclaim. The show, set in the early 1960s, followed the pilots and flight attendants of the fictional Pan Am Clipper Majestic.

The series was created by Jack Orman, and starred Christina Ricci, Margot Robbie, Kelli Garner, Karine Vanasse, Michael Mosley and Mike Vogel.

If the show had continued, it would have likely focused on the characters' personal lives and international adventures, as well as the Cold War espionage storyline. The cast and crew had also expressed interest in a Beatles-themed episode, as the band arrived in America on a Pan Am plane.

The show would have continued to explore the glamorous lives of stewardesses in the 60s

The American period drama 'Pan Am' explores the lives of pilots and stewardesses in the 1960s, showcasing the glamour of air travel during the early days of the commercial Jet Age. The show centres around the crew of the fictional Pan Am Clipper Majestic, featuring stewardesses such as Margaret "Maggie" Ryan, portrayed by Christina Ricci, an idealistic and liberal purser who challenges the rules and her superiors. Margot Robbie portrays Laura Cameron, a newly trained stewardess who achieves minor celebrity status after appearing on the cover of Life magazine in her Pan Am uniform. Kelli Garner plays the role of Laura's older sister, Catherine "Kate" Cameron, a multilingual and experienced stewardess recruited by the CIA as a covert operative. Karine Vanasse portrays Colette Valois, a French stewardess with a traumatic past, orphaned during the German occupation of France in World War II.

If the show had continued, it would have further delved into the glamorous and exciting lives of these stewardesses, exploring their adventures in the sky and their personal journeys on the ground. The show would have continued to showcase the fashion, elegance, and allure of air travel during the 1960s, a time when flying was considered a luxurious and exclusive experience.

The stewardesses' lives would have been portrayed with more depth, revealing their struggles, aspirations, and relationships. We would have seen more of Maggie's free-spirited nature and her willingness to challenge authority, such as when she was suspended for not wearing her girdle. Laura's journey of self-discovery and her attempts to step out of her older sister's shadow would have continued, along with her growing relationship with Ted Vanderway, the crew's first officer. Kate's espionage assignments and her complex romantic entanglements would have added intrigue and suspense to the show. Colette's search for her brother and her efforts to overcome her traumatic past could have been central themes, providing emotional depth to the narrative.

The show promised to deliver more captivating storylines, exploring the personal and professional lives of these stewardesses against the backdrop of the glamorous 1960s aviation industry. It would have been a continuation of their journeys, both in the sky and on the ground, showcasing their strength, resilience, and the challenges they faced as women in a male-dominated industry.

The show would have continued to address the toxic nature of the era

The show Pan Am was set in the 1960s, a time when neither racial nor sexual equality existed in any meaningful sense. The series addresses the toxic nature of the era by depicting the various prejudices that women, in particular, had to navigate. For example, the show's flight attendants are expected to look and weigh a certain way, and are subjected to girdle checks. They are also fired for getting married or becoming pregnant.

The show also addresses the toxic nature of the era by depicting the lack of agency that women had. Although the central women characters in the show have various forms of freedom, what is expected of them are traditional roles as housewives and mothers. The show allows its characters to push back against these expectations and societal beliefs, and to forge their own paths. For example, Laura, who is expected to be a housewife, leaves her wedding to become a flight attendant.

The show also addresses the toxic nature of the era by depicting the casual racism of the time. For example, when Laura has a budding romance with a Black sailor, he is assaulted in a racially-motivated attack.

The show's creator, Jack Orman, has spoken about his intention to depict the era's toxic combination of '50s sensibility with the changes of the '60s. He said:

> 'In a lot of ways, 1963, there was still a lot of ’50s sensibility, and the ’60s in earnest, as we know them, hadn’t quite happened yet so we wanted to start at a time where we could travel our series and our characters through a tremendous arc of change, so ’63 was in the summer of 1963, you had Kennedy’s trip to Berlin. You had Martin Luther King’s speech. You had certainly in November the Kennedy assassination and yes, the Beatles, you know, came in February of ’64, and because we’re a global show, because Pan Am only flew internationally, our characters and our show get a global perspective of that time so we do have a brush with history as an element to this show. But when we do it, again we kind of tell it on the ground so to speak from our characters’ perspective and without the benefit of history. They’re just living it.'

The show would have continued to follow the CIA storylines

In the series, Kate's CIA handler and mentor, Richard Parks, is based in New York. In the series finale, he recommends that Kate be sent to Langley for training as one of the CIA's first female field officers. Kate's covert intelligence operations contact in London is Roger Anderson, a British MI6 agent. However, it is revealed in the series finale that Anderson is a double agent for the KGB.

The CIA storylines also involve other characters, such as Bridget Pierce, an English stewardess and former Pan Am purser. Bridget was dating Dean Lowrey, a Boeing 707 pilot, before she resigned from Pan Am. She recommends that Richard recruit Kate into the CIA as a courier. After Kate kills an intelligence dealer who was planning to sell a list of CIA/MI6 assets, Bridget rejoins Pan Am and hopes to rekindle her relationship with Dean.

The CIA storylines add a layer of intrigue and suspense to the show, as the characters navigate their personal and professional lives while also dealing with espionage and covert operations.

The show would have continued to explore the characters' romantic affairs

The show's first season ends with a few cliffhangers regarding the characters' romantic affairs, which could have been explored further in the second season.

Firstly, Dean pines for Colette, who has asked for a transfer to the Hong Kong hub. Colette, on the other hand, is pursued by Omar, a mysterious man who turns out to be a runaway prince from Wahran. Omar wishes to court Colette, but backs off when he learns that her parents were Jewish and killed at Dachau.

Secondly, Ted breaks off his engagement with Amanda and confesses his love for Laura, who has feelings for him as well. However, Amanda reveals that she is pregnant.

Thirdly, Maggie falls in love with Congressman Christopher Rawlings, despite their political differences. She writes an article criticising him, which is published, sending her into a panic.

Finally, Kate is in love with Niko, but he is forcibly taken for a CIA interview. Kate has to lie her way through a polygraph test to protect herself and her handler Anderson from the fallout of killing a jeweller who was planning to sell a CIA asset list to the Soviets.

The show would have continued to highlight the careless risks taken by the wealthy

The show Pan Am, which ran for one season from 2011 to 2012, was a period drama that followed the pilots and flight attendants of the fictional Pan Am Clipper Majestic in the early 1960s. The show starred Christina Ricci, Margot Robbie, Kelli Garner, and Karine Vanasse as stewardesses, and Michael Mosley and Mike Vogel as pilots.

While the show highlighted the glamour of air travel during this time, it also provided necessary social commentary on the toxic social norms of the era. The show addressed the expectations placed on flight attendants, including weight and appearance checks, as well as the lack of racial and sexual equality.

If the show had continued for a second season, it is likely that it would have further explored the social issues of the time, including the careless risks taken by the wealthy. The show could have delved deeper into the consequences of these risks, particularly as they affect the lives of the central characters, who are all members of the wealthy elite.

One example of the careless risks taken by the wealthy in the show is the frequent secret affairs and relationships that occur between the characters. For instance, Dean Lowrey, a Boeing 707 pilot, is involved in a secret relationship with Ginny, the mistress of a Pan Am vice president. Additionally, Maggie Ryan, the flight crew's purser, carries on a brief affair with Congressman Christopher Rawlings, despite their opposing political views. These secret relationships not only highlight the carelessness of the wealthy characters but also the social expectations of the time, particularly regarding women.

Another way that a second season could have continued to highlight the careless risks of the wealthy is through the exploration of the characters' backgrounds and personal lives. For example, Colette Valois, a French stewardess, was orphaned during the German occupation of France during World War II, and still harbours resentment towards the German people. Additionally, Laura Cameron, a new stewardess, has run away from her wedding and is trying to prove herself to her older sister, who is also a stewardess. These personal storylines not only add depth to the characters but also showcase the social issues of the time, including the expectations and pressures faced by women in the 1960s.

Furthermore, the show could have continued to explore the theme of espionage, which was introduced in the first season. Kate Cameron, an experienced stewardess, is recruited by the CIA and begins working as a covert operative. This storyline not only adds intrigue to the show but also provides a platform to discuss the role of women in espionage and the risks associated with their work.

In conclusion, a second season of Pan Am would have had ample opportunity to continue highlighting the careless risks taken by the wealthy, particularly through the exploration of secret relationships, personal storylines, and espionage plots. By delving deeper into these themes, the show could have provided a more nuanced portrayal of the social issues and power dynamics of the early 1960s.

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