Shakespearean Chic
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That’s about the most succinct way I can categorize NBC’s new drama, Kings. “Lets do what already has been in high courtly intrigue, but contemporized and a bit cleaner for the censors,” is what the VPs of the Saving our Failing Network on 30 Rockafeller Plaza must have declared.
Although, the first episode would have made a predictable first act for an opera - sans fat lady since carbs do not a queen become in these times methinks, m’lord … forsooth - its a somewhat different direction from the tack of your typical lady-bait television drama.
I say somewhat because long ago, when big feathered hair and shoulder pads walked the Earth, network prime-time soaps focused on the uber powerful. Dynasty, Dallas, Falcon Crest, Good Times: it was about reveling in the high stakes woes of rich people you’d never meet. The kind that would remark, “How colorful”, while driving past you and your friends break dancing on a piece of cardboard while surveying the lower middle-class neighborhood their new shopping megaplex mall was going to destroy thanks to Reagan’s Trickle-Down economics. You enjoyed seeing avatars of these folks on TV being betrayed from all sides.
It’s only recently that dramas outside of the crime caper and doctors’ dilemma focused on slightly more relatable folk: rich teenagers, counter-terrorist agents and those gifted with super powers.
The two hour premiere of Kings was very engrossing from it’s richness of characterization. What got my attention was the casting of Ian McShane as the King. I knew the great gravitas he could bring and was eager to see him return to a role comparable to Al Swearingin, everybody’s favorite murdering pimp power broker on HBO’s Deadwood. The main protagonist, however, is heroic soldier David Shepherd - this is not the last biblical allegory the show features, played by Christopher Egan. Yes, Eragon himself - but let’s hate character and love the actor. He’s pretty good in his role as perhaps the only faithfully good-intentioned character of the series.
Religion takes a front seat in the themes of the show, which is refreshing in itself. The setting is a formerly bulkanized world at war again following the coronation of a unifying military leader now made King. Specifics are rare - they’ve got TVs, guns and tanks, but is this future America once the militias go ape shit? God’s will though is what accounts for the victory, as symbolized by Monarch butterflies nesting on the head of chosen leader. This fatalism seems to inhabit the characters whom see their way as THE right way, and in the case of Shepherd intervention seems to strike twice in his favor. His possible corruption given so much power so fast offers interesting developments.
Major antagonists are the corporate brother of the queen, upstart unfit-to-rule Prince and resolute holy man. It’s good casting all around with the men leading. It’s called Kings for a reason - and it’s good to be one.
I’ll keep watching cause the show promises to be extraordinary - in the good sense. What do you think? Haven’t seen it? Like a good King your Dominus is kind and gracious (for as long as Hulu permits him to be). Check it out.
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I’ve seen Kings. I’m not a big TV watcher, so it’ll be one of those shows that I watch if I happen to see it on. Not really something I’ll look for. I’d been briefed on the premise of the show - western world united by a king - before I watched it, so my expectations were low. And even 15 minutes or so into the show, I didn’t immediately identify the parallels between the show and the book of I Samuel.
While the lineage of Jesus Christ is ripe with interesting characters, I’ve always found David to be more intriguing than most of the Christ’s other ancestors. David was physically a runt and seemingly unequipped to be a king, but a compassionate and valiant man. He was deeply flawed and still deeply loved God. I’m interested to see how David Shepherd will evolve.
I’m wondering about the story line. Religion-based shows have a tendency toward being annoyingly ecumenical. If this stays true to Holy Writ, then the King turns on David and before David takes the throne as his successor, he endures a Bourne-like foray as persecuted, cunning fugitive. I’m not sure if the show will fast-forward to David’s reign as king or if the fugitive thing will be the thick of the action this first season.
What I do like about the show is the same thing I kinda dug about The Passion of the Christ. There are a lot of nuances in the story line that were lifted right out of the Bible and just lain on top of a TV drama. If you don’t know the Bible, you’ll miss the subtleties. That, I dig. Gives the story authenticity and makes me feel like somebody made a TV show just for me. It’s cool to get a perspective on how such a timeless story would play out if it were to all go down tomorrow. My only worry is corniness as a byproduct of trying so hard to stick to the 3000 year old script. Naming the tanks Goliaths was like, well… okay, I’ll let that slide, but don’t offend my sensibilities again.
All in all, thumbs up. I give it a solid B and an ‘around the world and back snap’ in honor of the King’s son.
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Seeing as how they are setting this up like a series,rather than mini-series,I wouldn’t be shocked if they divered from their scripture basis.
Sure they could stretch it out for the 4-7 years life of the show but I dont think it would stay close throughout.
Goliaths as the tanks will likely not be the last of offensive homages.
If the show remians faithful to the themes of the Bible i’ll be satisfied.
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