Cool News
Herc Proclaims KINGS NBC’s Best New Show Of The Season!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
I am – Hercules!!
A nighttime soap set in an alternate reality from writer-producer Michael Green (“Heroes”), “Kings” stars “Deadwood’s” Ian McShane as a flatscreen-age monarch ruling over something called Gilboa, which is at war with neighboring Gath.
Because Gilboa feels very much like modern America, with its skyscrapers and neckties and combat gear and SUVs and TV news, it’s easy to compare it to “Battlestar Galactica’s” Caprica: a pretend place very much like the United States save for some very important differences.
Sadly the “Kings” universe does not make as much sense as the one Bill Adama and Laura Roslin inhabit. The ease with which David rescues King Silas’ son makes Gath out to be an improbably inept opponent, and another scene in which David precipitates a truce by making a speech to a bunch of enemy tanks
The reason to root for “Kings,” easily NBC’s best new show of the season, is it’s difficult to dislike many of its characters. David Shepherd, the humble farmboy, surprises with his mechanical, battlefield and musical acumen, and exhibits a winning candor at key moments.
McShane’s Silas Benjamin exudes a engaging Sopranoesque gangster persona. He’s smart and fair but not above smacking around associates when events pile on the stress.
I’m also quite taken with Eamonn Walker (remember Kareem Said from “Oz”?) as what passes here for the prophet Samuel, Dylan Baker (the “Spider-Man” movies) as the war profiteer who bankrolls Silas’ kingdom and Allison Miller (“Boston Legal”) as the Gilboa’s idealistic princess. I even like “Gossip Girl” import Sebastian Stan as the snotty, insecure prince.
I anoint “Kings” worthy of sampling, but I wouldn’t blame any viewer for abdicating the enterprise if it can’t put aside its sillier elements.
Time Magazine says:
Is it better for a TV show to be consistent or surprising? Is it worse for it to be ridiculous or boring? NBC's unorthodox new drama Kings comes down solidly on the latter side of those questions. Some viewers will say it's fascinating. Others will say it's pretentious hoo-ha. Allow me to split the difference: Kings is fascinating pretentious hoo-ha.… It's easy to overlook these faults — and Kings' taste for melodramatic cheese, slathered with an overheated operatic score — when McShane is onstage. But Egan's David is an upstanding stiff, and when Egan gets a McShanian monologue at the end of the two-hour pilot, he sounds ridiculous. The subplots involving Jack and Gilboa's gilded nightlife play like a bad marriage of The Tudors and Gossip Girl. …
Entertainment Weekly says:
… Kings asks — well, McShane's Silas commands — you to enter its world; so far, that universe is pleasingly treacherous, though not wholly formed, a work in progress that's worth seeing through to completion. …
USA Today says:
… Kings doesn't quite work and probably won't last, but it's not recycled trash like Knight Rider and Kath & Kim, or cheap flotsam like Crusoe.Kings may have manifold flaws, but being run-of-the-mill is not among them. … a mess, but for a few weeks, anyway, it promises to be a fun, fascinating mess, the kind of "can you believe they're doing it" show you want to discuss the next day. …
The Los Angeles Times says:
… an interesting muddle of a show, smart and silly by turns. It's corny, ponderous, literary, ambitious, obvious and, at the beginning at least, as slow as molasses, but continually re-energized by Ian McShane … It can all get a little pretentious. Green's language slips into King James Bible cadences and poetic word inversions. Sometimes it gets away from him completely, as in David's peacemaking speech to the Gaths, overwrought and overwritten and, in any case, delivered to an audience too far away to hear him, even if they weren't sitting inside tanks. Though they somehow do. …
The Chicago Tribune says:
… Happily, this generally well-told tale of a modern-day king and his restive court has more going for it than a charismatic performance from the dependably wonderful “Deadwood” star. … But without McShane and his hooded eyes, which make the king’s courtiers quake with fear, “Kings” probably would have been a less interesting work. …
The San Francisco Chronicle says:
… there's something compelling and odd about what the producers are trying to achieve. … If "Kings" wants to mine the Bible for more stories or continue on the David and Goliath path, that might be interesting. So are the Shakespearean elements. So is the odd clash of "Gossip Girl" meets "Masterpiece Theatre" moments. There are quirky bits of humor in "Kings." It's visually engrossing. Then it goes oddly flat in parts, only to kick-start itself with another clash of tones. …
The Newark Star Ledger says:
… I can't help admiring "Kings" more than I actually liked it. … almost always interesting but never quite as engaging as I wanted it to be.
The Seattle Times says:
… doesn't have enough fun with its imaginative concept or make it dramatic enough. … "Kings" looks elegant and ambitious, but in the end, this emperor isn't wearing any clothes.
The Boston Herald says:
… A royal bore … a snoozer that wouldn’t satisfy the lowliest court jester. … McShane could read the Congressional Record and make it sound like Shakespeare. Even his skill can’t bring this royal soap to a lather. …
The Boston Globe says:
… very odd, kind of cool, and probably totally doomed. … "Kings" does dip in and out of predictability, when familiar Spelling soap operatics and political machinations break through the show's unique surface. But it still is a fascinating effort. …
The Hollywood Reporter says:
… It takes an utterly straight-faced and painfully earnest approach to the kind of broad nighttime soap opera that once fueled "Dallas" and (especially) "Dynasty" through the 1980s, but to watch something so anal-retentive and full of itself in the new century can't help but play as unintended farce. This wildly broad serialized series from NBC leaves you actually shaking your head … The fact it has Ian McShane making self-important pronouncements and coded threats only adds to the empty-headed vibe of creator/executive producer/writer Michael Green's two-hour opener …
Variety says:
… Viewers will have to survive a rocky, at-times jarring first hour before the series begins coalescing into something interesting -- flawed but unpredictable, with a characteristically intense Ian McShane at its core. …
8 p.m. Sunday. NBC.
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also looks like it could be dreadfully boretastic. I might check it out.
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Knight Rider?
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Hell yeah.
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I'll have to check this out. McShane, Walker, Baker? These guys are all worth watching.
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Probably confused it with the show title and the douchey Tim Kring.
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It's got just a twinge of an effete southern gay gentile drinking a mint julip. Oh, sugah, you've just got to try this new kaaangs. It. is. Fabulous.
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Lame names, the both of them.
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yeah, no thanks
I'll check it out but I got tired of lame bad guys durring prentender -
Eamonn Walker is an all-time favorite of mine because of Oz, and word that this show has strong potential makes me ready for this tv event.
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Mar 15, 2009 2:40:25 AM CDT
Any chance they could add some Deadwood writers to the show?
by soupdragon
And then maybe change the setting to Dakota 1877?
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And their names end with an "a" (Caprica and Gilboa). Was Kings also shot in Vancouver (the city which always is used for an ersatz version of America)?
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Shit
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Monarchys are horrible leadership, this is not must see TV
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Not this tripe.
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without the ad for this in your face
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I know, I know, but I didn't know where else to post this.
But check her out, she would be perfect. -
something is wrong with the matrix
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A country like America but with a king? America would not, and could not, have ever progressed to the point it's at if it was a monarchy. Somebody arguing the inverse doesn't understand the revolutionary forces that shaped the country's history.
It's like saying "Imagine how wonderful Alexander the Great's empire would have been, if he was a gentle, peace-loving leader." The question contains a contradiction within itself. -
does merit checking it out. Plus, it doesn't conflict with Breaking Bad.
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In a good show and shouting at people.
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true dat.
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No one will watch a show featuring a nation called "Gath". Unless it is a syndicated fantasy or bad scifi movie.Really what the fuck were they thinking with Gath and Gilboa?
With the athiest backlash gaining ground people are not interested in religion based programming. The whole King David thing is just crap. Not only is it crap but it is Old testament Jewish inspired crap.
Unless the network has a lot of money invested in product placement during the show, the thing that kept Knight Rider on the air,this is dead faster than a Black character in a horror movie. -
Seen and dwarfs dressed as leprechauns lately?
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NBC sucks ass but at least when they have that that rare quality show they stick with it. FNL has been on the air for 3 years with almost no viewers. I still have faith that NBC can produce shows worth watching. Sure this show sounds a bit worthy but at least it's not Night Rider.
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but Kings could be good either. ;)
Sadly, that makes a flop even more likely. Even mainstream crap like Mentalist would flop on NBC these days. No chance for a risky and unique show. -
if, it's low-key "Shakespearean" like Babylon 5- I'll like it. If, it's over-emoting ham- I won't. Sounds worth a try, tho.
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Ian Mcshane rules!
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"Who stole my tanks?" "Wu??" "NO! WHO, WHO STOLE MY TANKS?" "GATH COCKSUCKAH!!!"
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As the one Bill Adama and Laura Roslin inhabit? That's hard to believe.
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they'd had the balls to set it in the US and not this "Gilboa". A show in which they depict the US turning to a monarchy due to some crisis would have been fascinating.
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...but it sure smells good!
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Strange...
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Network TV is getting more cutting edge than cable.
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Big Love has been awesome this year. Plus they still rule the mini series world.
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and it turned out to be the best SNL in the past 4 seasons!
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It seems an awful lot of screenwriters are reading the bible these days, first the BSG folks and now this (which is basically a reimagining of The Book of Kings from the OT).
I do like Ian McShane, but it seems a crying shame the best curser we currently have is forced to work PG for broadcast television. -
Disappointed Ian McShane doesn't speak with an accent... but from what I saw, he still sounds lovely. I think I want to watch it, at least the pilot, to see what this "fascinating mess" is all about. "Kings" seems to be the sort of show that you can really call out. Like two hours of calling it out on what, why, and where it misses. David is going to commence a truce by talking to a tank? O... K. I gotta see that (and probably laugh and laugh). ... I don't like it that it's referred to as a "soap." That right there, is wrong, and comparing it to "The Tudors" meets "Gossip Girl"? Oh noes.
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I just wanted to say "cocksuckers".
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Totally didn't get that vibe from the ads. But since Herc liked it...
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I'm movin on up to Hate Bonerville
In this economy what we need is a show about entitled mutherfuckers -
This show aint about the US in any way it's an allegory about ancient Israel as the producers have clearly stated. Why do we Americans always have to automatically think everything is about US. Ergo the hypothetical the writers are going for isn't about the USA it's what if Israel was created in 1948 as monarchy (as mythical Israel) instead of a "democracy." As for Toonol, I'm pretty sure America has become what it is today by winning WWII, WWI, Civil War, the Mexican American War, the Seminole Wars, French-Indian Wars, the Lousianna Purchase, and Seward's Purchase. We basically expanded out of the 13 colonies, into Florida, Ohio Valley Territory, Louisiana territory, Mid-West, Texas, Alaska, Hawaii, and California by either conquering or buying territory from other colonial powers not really as a consequence of being a democracy.
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is musically talented. Where have I heard that story before??? Oh that's right the old testament. Hopefully they can make an interesting story out of King David. There's definitely lots of good material to use as a source; but as it is being developed by a "Heroes" writer, I have almost no faith that it will be very interesting. It's too bad, but they'll probably leave McShane hanging, with terrible scripts, and story lines to no place.
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Singing dancing zombie Nazi pirates
everything does -
Mar 15, 2009 2:17:28 PM CDT
Al Swearengen may be the greatest dramatic tv character...
by randysavage
...of all time. At least 50% of the credit goes to McShane. And for that, I'll give the pilot a chance.
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I anoint “Kings” worthy of sampling, but I wouldn’t blame any viewer for abdicating the enterprise if it can’t put aside its sillier elements. Says Herc as his pay-off falls out of his pockets.
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is Shepherd and his first name is David. If the biblical references are that "beat-you-over-the-head", and this passes for creativity, then....whatever.
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Tracy Morgan hosts the second best SNL this season, next to Jon Hamm's, and there is no TB to be found, as there are on the usual sad, sad weeks. Extra points for Hader's Malkovich, and Kenan even made me chuckle during the Scared Straight sketch. That's a first!
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Parks And Recreation, Better Off Ted, or any of the other second season series debuting...??
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I'd go for it only if his royal highness declared no more crap on television. "It's Thou Shall Readeth Books Month, motherfuckers! The brute squad will be around to pick up your plasmas."
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Then decide if "Kings" is the best new show of 2009. It will be no contest, I swear to you. "Being Human" is the best genre show I've seen since S5 Buffy, and the best series I've seen since "Deadwood," "Rome" and "The Sopranos" ended. I'll send it to you if you want. It's that good.
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"Being Human" is as good or better than "Mad Men."
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I've heard nothing about Kings being a mini-series or a limited run series, which doesn't make a ton of sense to me. The Saul/David story from the book of Kings would make a fascinating mini-series, even as long as thirteen episodes. But if the ratings are through the roof and it goes on and on, what do they do when they get (rather quickly) to the end of the story? Cause David only became king after Saul's death, not all that long after the Goliath story.
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Yikes! I was really hoping for Tracy to portray the Homeless character with Kelly Clarkson. But after seeing how rotund she became, she probably couldn't squeeze into the sewer.
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No elaboration . . . because I fear for my safety.
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Not to come off as a bible geek, but the Saul/David drama lasted several years and included a lot of stories that could be stretched to half-season arcs.
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Nip/Tuck and Tara, and Big Love for that matter, force us to examine family/tradition and beauty in new lights. Nip/Tuck has illuminated the edges regarding societies obsession with beauty and morality. The three mentioned shows have opened whole new vistas regarding just what makes a "family" and what is "morality".
Lost stole the various takes on a situation from Boomtown, which was far more pioneering in season one than Lost. Yes Lost originally had much potential for inventive scifi drama, but over time, as with Heroes, re-invented itself each season. Until by this season they are forced into cheap and shoddy plot repairs that deviate directly from what happened in past episodes.
Cutting edge is so overused it is a pathetic term applied by those without insight to stand on the true bleeding edge. -
Mar 15, 2009 6:23:17 PM CDT
Being Human and Shameless have excellent series this year.
by evilwizardglick
Both are outstanding this year. Being Human for it's premier season has outshone much of the tired and tries horror comedies.
Shameless once again proves it's worth as a stunning Brit comedy drama. And remains on the bleeding edge of social commentary. -
This looks interesting but I have other stuff to watch. Maybe I'll catch it on the internet.
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And I really do want to watch KINGS... but there is no way I am going to put effort into it until NBCs best show is renewed.
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Not what I expected
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You know a 100' CGI MacShane Bot would rock. Plus Mikey makes things go BOOOM! it's fun.
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Exactly what "athiest backlash" are you referring to, and how do you figure it's "gaining ground?" Just wondering...
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Good job NBC.
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Not perfect, but pretty darn good for a first episode. Well acted, well written, and well produced. I'll stick around for a few episodes.
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I don't even really know what to say. I love it, and I have no idea why.
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we're all on the same page that the Reverend is God, right? "Annointing" David, being the one who swore in Silas, and so forth?
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Promising show. Cool stuff.
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they didn't even bother changing most of his lines from the bible.
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maybe even since LOST. There, I said it. That was an incredibly refreshing two hours... I can't believe NBC held this until March while leading the season off with those duds My Own Worst Enemy and Knight Rider.
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....seen them all. Funny, how he didn't have any butterflies til the end. Ruther watch Kevin become "The Gimp" on The Y&R; FCOL. Toodles
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...and their scene together when he tells his son to stop playing around with his boys was my favorite. This is a really good, interesting, and original new TV show, which is why it will fail miserably in the ratings. Too many idiots watch NBC, and this show requires at least an average intelligence to "get". "Kings" should have been developed for HBO or FX. The problem is that this show (about an alternate Earth America with a King) is going to go right over the heads of the majority of NBC viewers. There are so many idiots out there, and for some reason they get to decide which shows stay on the air. Thank the Gods for shows like "Battlestar Galactica" and "Lost". Hell, "Kings" could have been on the Sci/Fi channel too. Despite the fact that it won't be renewed for a 2nd season, this is a really good show.
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--and that's all that matters. Hail to the king, baby! They gotta tone down the butterfly thing though. And less "OMG TANKS RUN" and more "OMG LETS GET TANKS TOO".
NBC has a good month so far. Jimmy Fallon isn't NEARLY as bad as conan was at first (it's true and you all know it!), and now thye have a decent cast, high production values, and not another TIME TRAVELER TALKS TO DEAD PEOPLE WHILE PROSECUTING CASES RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES show. -
I enjoyed all 2hrs...can't wait for next Sunday.
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Tonight's Eastbound and Down was almost as great as meeting Kenny Fuckin Powers in person.
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I'm all for equal opportunity. But shouldn't the first king of America be...oh, I don't know...AMERICAN!
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Did you even watch the show? It doesn't take place in America. It's a fictional show starring fic-tion-al char-ac-ters big guy. You people...I swear, talking literally out of your own assholes.
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...just sayin...Pitt and Damon are too old, and he's perfect in the part of the young soldier.
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Huzzah!
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Mar 15, 2009 11:13:13 PM CDT
If "David Shepherd" is too over-the-top Biblical for you...
by johnny smith
...then never watch Lost again. "Christian Shepherd" my ass.
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Ian McShane is not Mexican. His last name is McShane.
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Definitely assumed some things there. Sorry. But I have to say, making it a fictional country has to be the stupidist fucking idea on the planet. They're already alienating the audience by turning it into "alternate history". Now they're putting it in a place that doesn't even exist. Dumb.
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Fun to watch, please let it last. Great characters and intriguing world. My theory, perhaps it's an alternate earth or even another planet?
side note, Chris Egan looks a lot like a young Heath Ledger. -
as dumb as a magical island that reanimates dead people and travels through time? as dumb as humans with superpowers that save the world every year only to have to do it again the next season? as dumb as a bunch of idiots at a seattle hospital having medical licenses even though almost 50% of ther patients die? If you can't dig the premise of this show I'd hate to see your opinion of Battlestar Galactica.
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headshot.
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he'll always be lovejoy to me
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Outside of the end of it being pretty silly with a literal crown of butterflies on David's head I really enjoyed it alot. McShane is awesome, as usual, and the general storyline is pretty engrossing, especially with Baker as the bad guy. I'll be keeping an eye on this show.
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I think so. I already went to NBC.com to try and watch parts of it again, so that must mean something. And I'm going to be talking about the butterflies tomorrow: "Did you see the ending?", *g*. So yeah, at least it's interesting in that respect. And I want to see what happens next, so I think all in all, mission accomplished. I already hate some characters though, LOL. And as for the fictional world, it is a bit jarring to hear references to our world. It pulls me out of it somewhat. "Where's Gilboa?!" But it's a minor thing. I do like Ian McShane. He's cool!
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I'll watch ANYTHING that has Ian McShane slapping people in it! And it looks like Wes Studi is riding shotgun as well so count me in! Besides I'm a sucker for "What If" tales..
And Gerald & the other haters, guys this show is NOT anti-American, its alternate history and you bothered to think about it it'll probably eventually validate "our" America. So feel free to stick to something up your alley...like Family Guy, I'm sure you all find it hysterical... -
Kings is alright, not great but worth keeping around a while. In the meantime: Renew Chuck.
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Looks like it get a little too Soap Opera-y though. I will give it a month and see how it fares.
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First of all, McShane was brilliant, and most of the actors were top notch, but some of the writing really put me off... Most notably, the supposed "twist" in which Shepherd admits he was surrendering... SO WHAT?!?!? He was brave because he went to rescue them in the first place, and then took it a step further by acting as a decoy for the tank. Frankly, I don't see how anyone could have thought he wasn't about to surrender. I thought he was... "Well, that didn't work (his grenade), better throw in the towel." It was a tank, and he was unarmed at that moment (had to run back for the rocket launcher). None of his actions were shameful, and for the story to suggest he even thought they were is simply non-sense... There were more problems (like Mcshane being pushed back into war by some douche-bag and not even showing the audience how he justified/pullied it off.) Whatever though, I'll give it one more episode.
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Mar 16, 2009 3:42:37 AM CDT
The ending is not silly. It just shows this world is different.
by lordenigma
There are signs in this world. There is a powerful presence of GOD in this world, or whatever passes for their GOD. This alone puts it on awholenother fucking level from most TV show. It's on a fucking BSG/LOST level, and needs to be saved for this alone.
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a king and a queen.
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Then you really not up for much are you? The show has some problems but it's an interesting effort and I'll give it another episode or two. However, if you're alienated by the setting... lol, bloody ridiculous.
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I've watched Dollhouse and I'm trying to stick with it but I'm still not sold on it. This show was a lot better from the get-go. It has a soap opera aspect which I think my wife may like when I show it to her and it's just got a fantasy element to it that is interesting. Yes there are some coincidences you have to ignore but it's fiction and not all that bad. How can you not like a show with a modern day King that has an evil gay son?
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Jesus she's a freakin' hottie.
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I might not be able to stand the constant ad-breaks and may end up going for the download route, but the show is really interesting...
At one point i realized the only thing keeping them from creating a totally alternate blade-runner-like world was budget, all of the flyover shots were of new york but they tried to implement some sort of sci-fi imagery to it... one of the best scenes (I thought) was Ian McShane and that corporate dude talking in front of that giant window with the big red neon sign... it was just cgi over a shot of central park but it looked...otherworldly...
Which i thought was rather awesome.
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...when you look at the geekfanboi posts above, you can pretty much check off which ones actually read something other than anime and which ones don't.
It's not "Kings" as in "What if America had a king". This show has nothing to do with America. It's "Kings", as in "Book of". Try reading the Bible. Forget the God thing - it's good literature. Stephen King said so; the man knows a thing or two about writing. -
Mar 16, 2009 8:42:52 AM CDT
It's pretty fucking obvious that Ian McShane's character...
by leafar the lost
...is the King of his world's version of America, and they were at war with their version of Canada. The city that he spent 20 years rebuilding would be this world's version of New York. That is what I took from the show, and that would be obvious to anyone with an IQ above 70.
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Believe me, I thought the same thing as I typed that, but that is one reference in a sea of many.
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Dr. Pain, I was thinking more a cross between Matt Damon and Simon Baker.
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I never thought about the America/Canada thing. Interesting. We were too busy picking apartall the biblical references, and there were plenty. Should be interesting to see what they work in next week.
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I must feature that your are having a go..takin the piss..havin a laugh..a bit uf da foooney.
US and Canadia..really?..no, realllly?
sigh..I weep for the future. 'KINGS' is a re-imagined, slightly uchronical type retelling of the story of Saul and David..the first two kings of the united kingdom of Israel. Do a little research and realize that Gilboa and Gath where real places..And, yes, Mal Carne is correct, the Books of Samuel..are incredible literature.
Holy sweet spaghetti monster god in the purple haze..I swear to f'ng baby Jeebus Herbert Christie and Christ in tuxedo t-shirt..I go to church every Goddamn Sunday..and you dumbies are bringin out the demons in me...Wooooooooo!
USA and Canada..goddamn moronity is right. -
It couldn't keep my attention. I kept switching channels to catch Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad, etc...
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its a post-crusades Jerusalem story.
also it wasn't very good. It would have made some excellent novels, because the actors in my head don't suck like the ones on this show. -
The pilot was uneven, but I dug it. If by a miracle the ratings are good enough to allow them to find their footing, I'll be a regular viewer.
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Er, thats HRH Swedgin now.
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goddammit
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Seriously, Yowch!! Still, I actually enjoyed it an I foresee a lot of backstabbing as this goes on until it dies in two weeks. The ending with the butterflies was a bit much though.
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At the very end, when Silas(McShane) is staring through the window in anger at the future usurping, butterfly-wreathed David, he should have mouthed the word "cocksucker." Fade to black.
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I'm a little surprised Herc liked it, it didn't seem like his style to me, but I'm happy to know I was wrong. I myself totally expected it to be a train wreck, but I ended up putting a glowing review up on my website (Http://www.republibot.com if anyone's interested)
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"...fucking idea on the planet. ..... Now they're putting it in a place that doesn't even exist. Dumb."Jeepers, you must have hated Star Wars:"What the fuck is this 'A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away' shit? I need to know exactly where this happened and the exact moment when it happened. Dumb."
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Person next to me 3/4ths of the way through suddenly stated, "This is Terrible." Overwrought. Overacted. No more for me. Out.
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I am an hour into it. Clearly the show would be gone if it were not for Ian McShane. It has its moments and there is room for growth.
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I'll cockblock any attempts by those NBC fucks to cancel it.
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Are both real places (or were, rather) figuring into the King David story.
I agree that some of the Biblical references were, let's say "less than subtle", but if the selling point is "Book of Kings as modern primetime network drama" then a few things should be obvious enough to make that hook work.
We will see where it goes from here. -
Having finally seen the first two hours of this relatively underhyped hybrid, I'll just say that Kings has some excellent acting in it, has a very different concept behind it, and could very well be the "Twin Peaks" of the Obama age. It's uneven, sporatically inspiring, and is far from dull or boring, but will mainstream audiences still be watching it around episode 7?
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The real bible story is far more interesting. The drama, humor, and romance found in the bible would not put you to sleep. Given the interest in flicks like gladiator I see no reason not to go back 3,000 years in a sand and sandle epic. If it was directed by Leonard Nemoy or Ridley Scott it might even have been the best show on tv period.
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I wonder how close to the story they're going to stick.
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And for this and all the scnery-chewing villainy it will rule.
I'm just disappointed that they showed humanity in McShane. Why couldn't he just be an a-hole? The World of tv needs another JR. -
Mar 17, 2009 1:06:16 AM CDT
DrPain - We're in complete agreement about Hilary Rhoda
by the_genteel_gentile
for Wonder Woman. I've researched this thoroughly, and she's the perfect choice. Maybe dub her voice ala Andy McDowell with Glenn Close for Greystoke.
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Mar 17, 2009 1:42:37 AM CDT
I don't think people realise just how much of this show
by the_genteel_gentile
is right out of the old testement. King Silas Benjamin is King Saul. Saul was anointed by the prophet SAMUEL as Israel’s first king and reigned from "Gibeah" located along the Central "Benjamin" Plateau. His first born son is Jack (Johnathan)and his youngest daughter is Michelle (Michal). Saul gave Michal to David as wife after his victory over Goliath (the Philistine who's home was in GATH). Saul also had two sons with a concubine named Rizpah. Saul killed himself at the Battle of Mount GILBOA and was buried in Zela, in the region of BENJAMIN in modern-day Israel. And of course the harp (piano) playing David eventually becomes King. The Book of "Samuel" is the primary source of information on his life and reign. I don't know, it's pretty cool I think.
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Mar 17, 2009 1:47:16 AM CDT
Dude that plays David is very similar to Matt Damon.
by the_genteel_gentile
Similar in look, voice and demenor. Damon better watch his back or else Christopher Egan is going to scoop in and steal the Bourne franchise right out from underneath him. Seriosly, if Damon doen't want to play ball for a sequel to Bourne or The Good Shepherd, just give Christopher Egan a ring.
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Mar 17, 2009 1:58:55 AM CDT
This shows "alternate fantasy reality" reminds me of
by the_genteel_gentile
Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet meets Children Of Dune mini-series from The SciFi (ScyFy? What's THAT all about?) Channel. Can anyone say "Muad'Dib". Plus a touch of Showtime's Tudors. The music reminded me a bit of Brian Tyler's score for Children Of Dune and is composed by Trevor Morris who does The Tudors. Francis Lawrence's direction is reminicent of Greg Yaitanes style on COD also.
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I just saw that on IMDB. I don't know if that's a bad thing, a good thing, or a "who cares the show got cancelled way before any of those episodes ran" thing. Kinda interesting though.
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Sorry, but it's true. I have to say the thing I'm most looking forward is this (1 Samuel 18:25): Saul replied, "Say to David, 'The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.'"
Those if you who keep saying we don't get it -- yes we understand this series is based on the biblical tales. We are merely scratching our heads over the NYC setting. Comparing Gilboa and Gath to U.S/Canada and picturing a war between them makes sense considering the show is set in an analog of the U.S.
It's not like they're making things easy for us. Notice how some of the dialogue doesn't match the scenery -- did that end up changing during one of the rewrites? The king talks about rebuilding the city and the camera pans to a whole fucking boulevard of 100-storey skyscrapers. No way all that was just built or rebuilt. And that weird ice cream truck anecdote... wtf?
Like others here I'm getting a serious Tudors vibe. Lots of palace intrigue and a noticeable lack of script quality. One or two good actors can't carry the weight of an entire production -- another lesson from the Tudors. I found the Evil Banker guy a little out of place. I hate corrupt Wall Street tycoons as much as the next gal but I don't remember entrenched financial interests having anything to do with the reign of King Saul, much less forcing a king to wage war when he didn't damn well want to. In the Bible the priests and the king controlled the wealth: that was the whole point. I'll watch the next episode or two but after the spring anime season starts I'm heading for the hills. -
One has to wonder how many of the "biblical parallels" they'll actually work into this show. When the Israelites began to clamor for a king they told Samuel the prophet to pick one out. Samuel himself was too old to be king, and his two sons were corrupt or something. But that pissed off God, because as far as God was concerned *he* was the true ruler of the Israelites. "And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee, for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, THAT I SHOULD NOT REIGN OVER THEM." So Samuel told the people exactly what God had said: Kings are assholes!
> And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people, that asked of him a king. And he said, "This shall be the manner of the king that shall reign over you; he will take your sons and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen, and some shall run before his chariots (this description agrees with the present mode of impressing men) and he will appoint him captains over thousands and captains over fifties, and will set them to ear his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots; and he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks and to be bakers (this describes the expense and luxury as well as the oppression of kings) and he will take your fields and your olive yards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants; and he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give them to his officers and to his servants (by which we see that bribery, corruption, and favoritism are the standing vices of kings) and he will take the tenth of your men servants, and your maid servants, and your goodliest young men and your asses, and put them to his work; and he will take the tenth of your sheep, and ye shall be his servants, and ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen, AND THE LORD WILL NOT HEAR YOU IN THAT DAY.
So much for being "anointed by God". Comments in the above quotation are from Thomas Paine, O.G. Atheist Founding Father, lover of liberty and loather of kings. -
I liked it. A lot. I'll take alternate reality shows over any cop, doctor lawyer show any day. I just hope they don't stick too closely to the original story since that would be limiting and I don't know if I'd continue with the show without McShane. IMO, the best actor alive today.
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The season three finale was where the decline began and the last three seasons have been fucking trash. I'm not a fan of Lost but at this point, anything is better than the current state of Nip/Tuck. The worst show on FX by far.
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