Dancingedleslie t1_ja90i3x wrote
I remember really enjoying this when it came out. Probably would have been more successful on a streamer if it was released in 2019 instead of 2009. Network television was not the place for this kind of show.
Archamasse t1_ja91nc8 wrote
Absolutely. If a streamer made this now people would go wild for it.
Such a weird, cool concept to have gotten made at all though.
For folks who haven't seen it - it's a very loose rework of the story of the biblical David's rise to kingship, set in a sort of monarchy ruled modern US-esque state. Lots of political manoeuvring and weird omens, with Ian McShane as the current king. Somebody declares war on God and means it very literally.
camwow13 t1_ja9lidl wrote
It's a weird juxtaposition of a network show with a prestige cable/streaming show.
Ambitious and unique premise, decent production values, Ian McShane acting the hell out of everything, and some really interesting plot points. Running directly into network budgets and network trope plot points. There are episodes with incredibly good and aggressively bad writing all in one.
I remember listening to the director commentary for the pilot with a few producers and Ian McShane. They recorded it for the DVDs long after the show was cancelled and wrapped. McShane said he got talked into it by the show runner because it was going to be better than typical network tv drivel. Then McShane keeps saying "should've been on cable, this was too good for a network, should not have been on a network," for the rest of the commentary haha.
Haven't read the article yet but looking forward to it. This is such an odd little known show that I never see enough discussion about.
Archamasse t1_ja9n9xy wrote
The thing that really struck me about it - and made it feel way too weird for Network tv - was that for a clearly biblically infused story, it doesn't really feel like it's trying to sell you a "message" at all. It feels like what those mythologies would feel like to the figures in them. When weird shit happens to you, personally, in the Book of Samuel or whatever, you just have to kind of roll with it, because you live in a world where God himself crowned the king you're paying tax to. It's not a fable, just matter of fact.
It's unusual, because it feels like treating the human, political bible stuff the way shows usually prefer to treat all the angels and demons stuff, or like a big Viking saga or something.
camwow13 t1_ja9pekx wrote
God in the show is extremely subtle yet omnipresent in everything. Everyone accepts it as a matter of fact, yet as a character, God rarely shows up except to tip the scales one direction or the other. He communicates entirely through prophets and signs that aren't too overt and aren't too subtle. The one episode where satan showed up was interesting too since she clearly has the power to rain down curses and make deals with the humans too.
The writing never quite reaches the point where they could adequately explore these themes though. Definitely too high concept for network television writing constraints.
Not that there are actual writing constraints besides content rules, but network TV just almost always feels like it's been tied down to be Basic AF.
dawn_chorus__ t1_jadohvg wrote
I remember back when it was cancelled people were praying that SciFi would pick it up. I think it would have been a good fit for them.
OShaunesssy t1_ja9m8xa wrote
There was a handful of shows from 2008-2012 that would have done better in 2022 on a streaming platform.
Stuff like "Awake", "Flashforward", "Caprica", "Dollhouse", "Party Down", "Terminator Sarah Connor Chonicles", "Pushing Daisies", and even "Jericho" though it was earlier than the rest. I remember shows like "Shark" and "The Event" too had some buzz but also had concepts better suited for binging on a streaming service.
Dancingedleslie t1_ja9ouwc wrote
I had an idea for a podcast, I’m sure it’s been done already but I haven’t found it, where I’d go through shows like the ones you listed and add some others like Black Donnellys and Kings, and kind of do a recap/history. Similar to the Blank Check format. Spend a few episodes recapping the show, talk about production, etc.
But I don’t have the time or skill to make it work. Maybe some day.
keving87 t1_jaavvh3 wrote
Pushing Daisies never stood a chance being so bright and kitschy, high concept, and getting ruined by the writer's strike. But it was great.
Kings also never stood a chance being so high quality and being on NBC. Had it even premiered a few years later, it'd have gone to Netflix or an early Prime show. It was too good for broadcast TV.
no_name_left_to_give t1_jaa851r wrote
Pushing Daisies would've still been canceled after 2 seasons if it was on Netflix though.
keving87 t1_jaav2fa wrote
Nah it'd have gotten 3 at least... and end on a huge cliffhanger. RIP Santa Clarita Diet. Never forget.
thesetcrew t1_jaanleu wrote
I think “Hannibal” would fit on this list as well.
RyanTranquil t1_jab93v2 wrote
Loved flash forward, The Event .. damn cliffhangers .. glad Jericho had the comic books to finish the series
ShamelesslyPlugged t1_jabbypg wrote
If you go to 2007, you have Moonlight which missed the Twilight Vampire Renaissance by like a year.
ThomasVivaldi t1_ja9q7ul wrote
For some reason, I didn't even get the biblical allegory until a few episodes in.
Despite David vs Goliath, I guess I've just heard the name Goliath used in too many things to automatically associate it with the Bible.
Mostly Gargoyles.
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