NBCs “Kings” may now cause me to devote one more hour a week to a television drama (in addition to the one hour a week I already commit to Fox’s “24”). Last week Twitter began to buzz about “Kings” but I ignored it for the most part. Then my nephew texted me last night at about 8:30 pm and asked if I were watching it, so I thought I had better see what all the hype was about.
If you are not familiar, as I wasn’t, with what this new drama is all about, stop by the website. As far as I understand it the series is a modern retelling of David and Saul. I tuned in about 30 minutes late, so it took a bit to get acclimated to the characters. But once I figured out who was who, it was quite intriguing.
My guess is, based on hints left in the premiere, the producers may portray Jonathan and David (“Jack Benjamin” and “David Shepherd – the characters in Kings) as having a gay relationship. We’ll see.
But last night’s premiere seemed to otherwise have some fairly accurate parallels to the Old Testament story of David, complete with David operating from a city named “Shiloh” against an enemy named “Gath” who has a military code named “Goliath.” Placing the story in a present context gives it a pathos one might have missed in the typical flannel graph telling of David and Goliath.
It will be very interesting to see how it all plays out. The series has my attention, and will be appointment television for me on Sunday nights at 8:00 pm.
BTW, I have a request in to schedule the Creator/Executive Producer of Kings, Michael Green, on an upcoming program. Stay tuned.
If you missed the first episode of “Kings,” see it here.
It appears this is just more evidence for the previously mentioned surveys; Barna Group and American Religious Identification.
When we allow the lost, to define the sacred, is it any wonder?
I know, “liberty” again.
I think I will go read my KJV and find something inspiring.
Well, Joel…I think the story of our three young nere-do-wells will need a bit of a-strechin’ an a-pulling’ to make it fit into the pattern of the three Hebrew boys in the fire. While the Hebrew kids found the fire to be deliverance…for our young Southerners, it will be just the begin’n of troubles. Now, as for our Ms, Cope, seems she was really good at the mantra part of her prayer time, but a bit short on the hear’n and a doin’ portions. While Jesus does all the doin’ when it comes to gett’n us saved and cleaned up…there is definitely a reason for pray’n…on the heels of Oh, help me Jesus…God usually gives the instructions…Now, little Miss Sally Virginia was surely up for the a-doin’, but seems like she was way short on the mantra and the hear’n portions…so she joins every body else in the watch’n. The Pritchards, they’re just hmmming, “I told you so…” They seemed to be a bit better at the hear’n an warn’n…but not so much on the doin’ unto others…Ms. Cope after all was a widow all alone. Seems Ms. Flannery really knows her people…we just can’t quite hit the mark.
I find the whole thing to be silly and unbelievable, not to mention the multiple paradoxes it presents. It’s very well-made and the cinematography is stunning (it WAS directed by the dude who directed I Am Legend, the only good thing about that movie). The final image moved me near to tears. But the parallels to the story of David are WAY to blatant, so it comes across as uninspired to me.
The hardest thing for me to get past is that Shiloh and Gath exist in some alternative universe that is virtually identical to this one. Also, the whole war is basically one battlefield, which don’t make no sense, nu-uh.
Assignment: Read Flannery O’Connor’s story “A Circle In The Fire” and tell me which Old Testament story is told in that. Now that’s how it’s done.
It is amazing what one might glean from the Bible as inspiration for stage and screen…Even if “Joe six-pack” doesn’t grab anything of use…the Evil Mr. D (Satan) will make sure that a twisted view of the Bible is had by one and all…
I just watched it on Hulu (btw, a great way to watch what little TV I watch since it doesn’t require that I become a slave to the network’s schedule) and had no idea what it was about going in. I saw your tweet asking if anyone was watching, so I decided to check it out.
A few minutes into it and I started recognizing all the parallels. The two most obvious differences I noticed: 1) the King’s son is Jack, not Jonathan, and 2) Jack may be “in the closet” so-to-speak. As far as David (last name Shepherd – just so we didn’t miss who he’s supposed to be) being gay, it doesn’t look like it. As in the OT, David is into the Kings daughter, Michelle.
Two other differences I noticed: 1) David’s brothers look up to him and don’t question his motives and 2) David and Jack (the Jonathan character) don’t really hit it off much less become best friends.
I’m curious to see how this show does. I was glued to the screen after the first few minutes because I wanted to see how it compares to the Biblical narrative. I’m guessing almost every parallel they draw is lost on the average viewer. Will “Joe six-pack” find KINGS to be compelling television? I’ll be interested to see.
Whatever the case, it sounds like a great point of contact for us as we try to spread the good news!
Just finished it and I thought that it was pretty interesting. A pretty bold experiment for television I think.
Very interesting. I just started it on hulu.com right now. I’m surprised I hadn’t heard anything about it before reading your blog.
The idea of a gay relationship, while ridiculous, is a popular thing for gay Christian advocates to point to as “possible” homosexuality in the bible. Because affection between men must be gay, right?
that sounds realllly interesting, although the thought that they might portray David as gay kinda turns me off.
After being shocked that you actually watch TV…we all went back to watching YouTubes…*; )