Kings
Not that I want to encourage a lot of television-watching (it is Lent, after all), but I have to say a few words about the new NBC series Kings. As a longtime Ian McShane fan from his days as the roguish antiques dealer Lovejoy, I was very pleased to see him in the lead of this new series, and he has not disappointed in his new role. When I discovered that the show was an attempt to make a modern adaptation of the story of Saul and David from the First Book of Samuel, I was even more intrigued and was determined to give it a chance. I did this even though I assumed that, being a network television series, it would downplay if not actually eliminate all references to God, prophecy and anointed kingship, and in this assumption I have been completely wrong from the first minutes of the pilot. The first three episodes have treated the original Biblical story respectfully, if not slavishly, and they have given the political theology of I Samuel and the role of “Rev. Samuels” as central a place in the story as one might expect to see. Obviously, the show is being marketed as a political drama/soap opera a la Rome with the religious component obscured almost entirely in the advertising (apparently because, as they say in the first scene, “it’s not popular to speak of God”), and additional plot twists added on occasion. Like Rome, it has impressive sets and casting, and a similarly large budget, and it has so far brought in high quality directorial talent. Naturally, pitted against The Simpsons and even more mindless reality TV fare, Kings has been doing very badly in the ratings. NBC is infamous for its mishandling of quality programming, so there is every reason to fear that the network will do its best to undermine the show until it is cancelled. However, this is a show that is intelligent, reasonably attentive to the Biblical narrative and serious when speaking of matters of faith and sacrifice, and if there is any show on network or cable that can claim anything similar I have yet to hear of it. It’s worth a look.
I caught the first episode of this whilst lying miserably sick in bed and I must admit I was intrigued but perhaps too distracted to really pay close enough attention. I may have to revisit, though – Ian McShane is fantastic, and if it’s anywhere near the caliber of Rome I’m sure I’ll enjoy it….
Enjoy it while you can. Given its cratering ratings, we will be lucky to get the full 13 episodes they have already shot.
Episodes are available on Hulu.com. I’m planning on checking it out.
I didn’t know it was against the Simpsons. Nice planning there.
Caught the pilot and the second episode this weekend, and likewise I was surprised to see how heavy the Biblical allegory is, Honestly it was almost too obvious, although I expect it would get a different reaction from viewers who didn’t spend as much of their childhood in Sunday school.
The dialogue’s awfully stylized, too, but for the most part they’ve got actors who can sell it. I’d happily watch 45 minutes of Ian McShane and Brian Cox just sitting and chatting about the weather.
Going the way of The [much lamented] Black Donnellys.
One of the most interesting parts of Kings is Silas’ dictation of his own history as it is performed. Something like the creation of a Scripture, even including stylistic repetition (the crown of butterflies) and with a play on the authority of his pronouncements as if, by his anointment, he is barely capable of a mistake in speech. It is like the ancient Egyptian description of the words going straight from the mouth of pharaoh and into the hearts of his people, though there is something of the Ring of Gyges about it as well. It also raises a profound question about the beginning of historiography – how do you begin to make an account of the reign of a king raised up out of nothing?
It really is a good show.
I was looking at its wikipedia page and saw that its ratings have been shrinking with each episode. Granted the last episode wasn’t that good but still, I think the show would be destined for greatness if it were given a proper chance. Oh well.
It is very well done and well acted. I enjoyed the show The Black Donnelys too, and some of the cast has made it into this cast.
I have always thought the story of David and Saul would make great drama for a motion picture, but for TV it is really working well, too.
Daniel, I want to thank you for your recommendation. I just watched Kings on Hulu and I have to say, it was really really good. I was surprised with its quality which was clearly HBO and the storyline is pretty captivating as well. I am disappointed to hear of its cratering ratings. I hope they put in at least one season; it would be a disappointment to stop it with 13 episodes; especially when shows like Gossip Girl were on air for three whole seasons (granted it was CW) and NBC Heroes has about three/four seasons especially when its flittering now shiftlessly. Regardless, I hope to be part of the small audience this coming Sunday.
McShane said in one of his interviews that it was a cable show being shown on network, and he’s right. Unfortunately that also seems to mean that it has cable-level ratings. If it were on cable, its ratings would be considered acceptable, but I’m afraid it won’t be enough. We can hope that the network decides to give it some time.
Glad you’re enjoying it. Maybe things will turn around.
De-lurking to say thanks Daniel for hooking me on Kings. Unfortunately it seems the new director of programming Angela Bromstad isn’t interested in promoting Kings – it was meant to have the Thursday 10 pm premier spot but she gave that to Southland, which is being heavily promoted. I hear that the first season has been filmed, and there is a chance it might move to another channel, like Sci-Fi (!) or something.
Glad you’re enjoying it.
If it ends up moving to another channel, that might turn out to be the best thing for it. At least if it moves to a network that is interested in keeping it going it might have a decent run for a few years. As things stand now, I doubt it will last beyond Memorial Day.