Set against the high-pressure nightlife of New York City, “Black Rabbit” is a riveting drama revolving around two brothers, Jake and Vince Friedken, who find themselves entangled in escalating dangers after reuniting. Jake has turned Black Rabbit, formerly a rock band name, into one of the city’s hottest restaurants. He appears successful, but beneath this polished surface lies a void—a sense of something missing. The return of his chaotic brother, Vince, quickly brings trouble. Vince is pursued by loan sharks and haunted by tragic decisions, forcing Jake to confront old wounds and imperiling the restaurant’s future.
Vince’s debts bring both brothers into New York’s criminal underworld. In an effort to protect Vince and repay the menacing Mancuso, Jake risks everything, using Black Rabbit as collateral and even resorting to skimming charity funds in desperation. This sets off a chain reaction: relationships crack, secrets unravel, and the brothers face dire consequences that ripple far beyond their business. Black Rabbit itself becomes a sanctuary—and a battlefield—where power, betrayal, and loyalty collide amid scandals and criminal machinations.
Anna, a pivotal character, meets a tragic end during a botched intimidation attempt by Junior and Babbitt (Mancuso’s son and associate); her accidental death becomes the catalyst for escalating violence and mistrust. The aftermath shifts alliances: Wes discovers Jake’s affair with Estelle (Wes’s girlfriend), while Roxie and Wes plot to buy Jake out. The restaurant is teetering, the friendship and family bonds fraying.
Desperation soon turns destructive. Jake and Vince orchestrate an insurance scam, attempt a robbery, and find themselves fugitives—running not only from criminals, but from torrid truths about their family. In a wrenching revelation, Vince confesses to killing their abusive father in childhood, shaping both brothers’ destinies. Vince’s suicide on the restaurant’s roof is both a final act of sacrifice and release, while Jake is left to navigate a new beginning—closing Black Rabbit’s doors and tending bar elsewhere. Their journey—marked by love, sacrifice, and forgiveness—ends in bittersweet reckoning, but also liberation.
Archetypal Dilemma: Brotherhood and Sacrifice
At the heart of “Black Rabbit” lies a profound archetypal dilemma: the destructive loyalty between brothers—what literary critic Northrop Frye called the “brother’s keeper” paradox. Jake and Vince embody this mix of love, rivalry, and resentment. Jake’s success clashes with Vince’s ruinous addictions and debts. Their defining dramatic situation is the dance between betrayal and forgiveness: Jake feels compelled to save Vince, yet resents him; Vince both sabotages and risks everything for Jake.
This core conflict asks: how much are we defined by those we rescue or avoid? “Black Rabbit” challenges us to consider whether family loyalty means enabling destruction or forging painful independence. The suspense is knowing that, in risking everything for each other, Jake and Vince might lose themselves. The series becomes both a cautionary tale—and a testament to the tragic beauty of unconditional love.
The Power of Your Story Model
Stories transform suffering into meaning, resilience, and renewal. “Black Rabbit” is a living embodiment of that philosophy, in its turbulent and ultimately redemptive characters. Each person carries wounds and desires; their choices reveal the stories they hold about who they are and what they hope for.
Jake and Vince’s destinies intertwine. Black Rabbit, their restaurant, symbolizes ambition and conflict. The brothers’ relationship, scarred by past trauma, addiction, and betrayal, shows how our old stories inform present identity. Their efforts to protect one another, conceal secrets, and atone are not just actions—they are expressions of personal mythologies, shaped by pain, guilt, hope, and ultimately forgiveness.
Supporting characters—Anna, Estelle, Wes, Roxie, and Mancuso—are tied to this web of narrative. Anna risks everything for truth; Estelle seeks escape; Wes grasps at status; Roxie fights for legacy. Mancuso exercises power and revenge. Each person’s inner story determines their fate.
The tragedy and redemption in “Black Rabbit” hinge on reconstructing personal stories. Vince’s final confession and sacrifice are acts of love—a rewriting of his own myth for Jake’s future. Jake, closing the restaurant and seeking a quieter life, finds peace not through triumph, but by letting go. The story demonstrates how reclaiming or relinquishing our narratives determines whether we are imprisoned by trauma or freed by compassion.
Reflective Questions: Exploring Your Own Story
“Black Rabbit” is more than a crime drama; it is a catalyst for self-reflection. Consider:
- What is the “Black Rabbit” in your life—the ambition that tempts but also threatens?
- Which relationships from your past shape your decisions and belonging?
- Are there secrets or regrets you’ve carried too long? What if you confronted and shared them?
- How do you respond to crises: improvise, confront, evade, or reach for help? How are your responses shaped by old stories?
- Can you recall a moment when forgiveness—of yourself or another—was key to your growth?
- Does “closure” mean letting go or transforming ambition? Is it leaving the past, or integrating its lessons?
- Which alliances have defined your path—for better or worse? Can betrayal ever be transcended?
- What does success look like to you? Is it public triumph, private peace, or something else?
- If you could write the ending of your current story, what would you wish for? What are you willing to risk or sacrifice to get there?
Invitation: Story Coaching for Creative Leaders—Write Your Own Legend
Are you at a crossroads? Is a promotion, relationship, or creative project prompting you to ask, “Whose story am I living?” My signature story coaching, built on the Hero’s Journey and my “Power of Your Story” method, is for creative leaders, entrepreneurs, and dreamers ready to chart a course no one but you could imagine.
Who is this for?
- Founders, freelancers, and change-makers at a pivotal moment
- Artists, marketers, and innovators tired of following templates
- Leaders and learners who want to turn wounds and questions into wisdom
What Are the Benefits?
- Clarity about the story that drives your leadership—and which must be rewritten
- Tools and maps for moving from old scripts to fresh, authentic narratives
- Empathy-based practices for connecting with teams and clients through real stories
- Action plans for integrating story into pitches, branding, and personal growth
- Ongoing guidance for transforming mistakes into meaning, and setbacks into springboards
Special Offer
Hero’s Journey Story Coaching with Peter de Kuster
- 3 private sessions (online or in-person, 90min each)
- A personal creative Story Assessment
- Your custom Hero’s Journey Story Map
- Actionable tools and check-ins for living your legend
Investment: €495 (exclusive of VAT)
Your legend starts not with more strategy, but with a risk: honoring the power of your own story. If you’re ready to leave behind status for soul—if you sense a bigger story wants to be told through your work, your art, your life—this journey is for you.
The Power of Your Story 