Kings

[Regular Joe]

Only for you. 


In what capacity?

Butterfly wrangler.

[Wes]

The only bit I'll say now is that Ian McShane's face wants a mustache on it so bad it's trying to grow a new one out of skin.

You're not kidding. Watch the scene where McShane confronts the kid about the war/being seen with his daughter in public. I am 99% positive that he spontaneously grows a John Waters moustache in mid-scene. I was blown away by this.

I feel like it kind of has a built-in referendum on itself—the scene at the end definitely seems like anyone who was on the "digging it" side of things would probably find it to be a strong conclusion, and anyone who wasn't feeling it would never watch another second of it after that scene. It's like the show is challenging you to come down on one side or the other. Perhaps I'm overstating things, but I personally was aware during that scene that normally I would be laughing and turning the channel at something like that, but the show had won my loyalty by that point. (Sorry for being so vague; I didn't want to spoil anything)

I get what you're saying here. I actually was laughing when that scene went down, and yet I'm totally going to watch this show forever or it is canceled, whichever comes first. I'm still going to need some time to put a reaction to this into words. The best I can think of for now is that this shouldn't be on NBC, but on NBS with Studio 60 and that hour long drama about the United Nations. I will be very disappointed if everybody here doesn't watch it and talk about it in this thread.

[oilcantim]

I can't tell yet if this is going to be a guilty pleasure or something I genuinely love, but I'm already looking forward to the next episode (you know, when the butterflies start eating people's faces.)

You got me again, Ian McShane!

[Sarah]

I didn't realize it was based on the Bible!  And very glad I was to find that out, because at first I was really bothered by how familiar it all seemed.  Now I can just sit back and enjoy the ride. 

I wish the woman who plays the princess were a better actress, though.

[Regular Joe]

I didn't realize it was based on the Bible!  And very glad I was to find that out, because at first I was really bothered by how familiar it all seemed.

Wow, I didn't know that either. I have been struggling since it came on with this feeling that they were trying to make some kind of modern American Shakespeare and either failing miserably it, or succeeding with such fervor that I didn't catch it. Now I can definitely see that it's the BIBLE they are doing their damndest to re-envision in American English, not Shakespeare.

To those of you that didn't watch it, this is the show your grandchildren will ask you about.

[Sarah]

Doesn't it make you like it more, knowing it's based on Samuel?  I can forgive it a lot now.  Particularly because it supports my contention that the Bible is one big soap opera.

I hope NBC doesn't cancel it.

[Wes]

It is strange how none of the many ads that I saw for it hinted at the biblical angle, but once the episode started, it was impossible to miss how aggressively up front they were with the Saul/David stuff, straight from the anointing with motor oil scene at the beginning and on-the-nose names like "David Shepherd." Yes, for those who haven't watched yet, a guy named David Shepherd gets anointed with motor oil. And fights a tank. A tank named Goliath. Why are you not watching this, again?

Anyway, I need this thing to be a hit so the network will buy my pitch for a show where Jesus and the Apostles are recast as space pirates.

[mcphee from the forum]

It's getting an angry response from a very vocal subset of the gay community

[mcphee from the forum]

Anyway, I need this thing to be a hit so the network will buy my pitch for a show where Jesus and the Apostles are recast as space pirates.

It should be a Thunderbirds-style puppet show. The Apostlenauts!

[Sarah]

The funny thing is I was very aware of all the biblical allusions but, not being up on the Good Book, I just thought they were annoying attempts at adding weight and pomp to the story.  Once I knew the series was directly inspired by Samuel, I forgave all.

Now, of course, I have to read both Samuels and possibly both Kings.  Not looking forward to it.

[Emily]

They filmed on my block! And in the bar across the street.

You live in Gilboa?

No! 

[Sarah]

Ian McShane was on The Daily Show the other night.  After I got over the shock of seeing him smile and laugh so much, I was interested to note how strenuously he (and Stewart) avoided any mention of the biblical inspiration for the show.  I get it--I mean, many on hearing about it might get an entirely wrong idea of the program, unless it was carefully explained that it's Bible as soap opera, which then might throw some into an outraged tizzy--but it was funny watching Swearengen skirt one of the most important aspects of the series.

[KickTheBobo]

It's getting an angry response from a very vocal subset of the gay community

the Village People?

[mcphee from the forum]

Ian McShane was on The Daily Show the other night.  After I got over the shock of seeing him smile and laugh so much, I was interested to note how strenuously he (and Stewart) avoided any mention of the biblical inspiration for the show.  I get it--I mean, many on hearing about it might get an entirely wrong idea of the program, unless it was carefully explained that it's Bible as soap opera, which then might throw some into an outraged tizzy--but it was funny watching Swearengen skirt one of the most important aspects of the series.

I thought this was strange too. And he didn't contradict the "What if America was ruled by a monarchy" line that Stewart said, which is not at all what the show is about (and I've always been a little disappointed that NBC has positioned it like this, because I think the real premise of the show is more interesting).

[mcphee from the forum]

It's getting an angry response from a very vocal subset of the gay community

the Village People?

Rob Halford, believe it or not.