Amazon Old Testament Drama ‘House of David’ Lacks Fire and Brimstone: TV Review

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The Holy Bible offers an abundance of compelling content suitable for high-end television productions. Notably, in the Old Testament, you’ll find ample themes of passion and conflict that resonate widely. These elements are drawn from established intellectual properties, making them universally recognizable. Additionally, since it is in the public domain, there’s no need to navigate complex legal agreements regarding rights.

Indeed, a substantial, Bible-inspired series titled “The Chosen” has been in existence. This four-season (and growing) production offers a dramatic portrayal of the life of Jesus Christ himself. Originally, “The Chosen” started as a crowdfunded short film in 2017. Its remarkable success may have gone unnoticed by those outside its primary religious audience due to an innovative distribution strategy that opted for an exclusive online platform rather than traditional outlets. However, this is no longer the case: earlier this month, Amazon MGM Studios announced a deal to exclusively broadcast the series, making the story of the son of God accessible through the Amazon marketplace.

Amazon’s recent move, albeit dramatic, essentially amplified a strategy they were already implementing. This week, the streaming service Prime Video will introduce “House of David,” which serves as a prequel to “The Chosen” yet stands largely independent. (“The Chosen” is spearheaded by creator Dallas Jenkins and his company 5&2 Studios; “House of David” was developed by Christian filmmaker Jon Erwin and his studio The Wonder Project. Jenkins holds a stake in The Wonder Project, but he does not have a credited role in “House of David.”) The series consists of eight episodes, with the narrative tracing the origin story of the title character, starting with a glimpse of his confrontation with Goliath (Martyn Ford) and then rewinding to his days as a simple shepherd.

The ‘House of David’ production strengthens Amazon as a leading entertainment platform, boasting an extensive library of Judeo-Christian content. This move can be seen as an expansion of Prime Video’s inclination towards conservative-leaning projects such as ‘Jack Ryan’ and ‘The Terminal List.’ While religious teachings are inherently impartial, Amazon appears to be targeting a customer base that has traditionally been underserved by mainstream, left-leaning Hollywood. ‘House of David’ could be part of this strategy. However, as a standalone story, it may not achieve the enduring popularity of its source material.

In the storyline of “House of David,” there are similarities to “Game of Thrones.” As David (Michael Iskander) rises in prominence, King Saul (Ali Suliman), who rules over a united Kingdom of Israel, starts exhibiting signs of madness. This causes unrest and chaos within his court. The prophet Samuel (Stephen Lang) has announced that Saul is no longer chosen by the divine, leaving a power gap as the kingdom faces dangers from external forces.

Amazon has put significant resources into creating captivating stories within the realms of fantasy and science fiction, such as “The Wheel of Time,” “Fallout,” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.” In a similar vein, “House of David” can be enjoyed even by those not particularly spiritual. Filmed on location in the Mediterranean, primarily in Greece, this production boasts a large cast and follows a protagonist’s journey reminiscent of the Campbellian hero’s quest. Samuel, with his long, white beard, serves as a sort of Merlin to David, while Saul’s wife Ahinoam (played by Ayelet Zurer) contemplates using “dark magic” — a direct quote — to heal her husband’s affliction.

The “House of David” series isn’t about pushing a specific ideology onto its audience, but rather portraying characters who are deeply spiritual, which is appropriate given their historical context. However, it’s important to note that the kingdom depicted in the show doesn’t align closely with verified history or modern-day Israel, although it takes place approximately a thousand years before the birth of Christ. Unfortunately, the production values of “House of David” are rather basic and uninspiring, lacking humor and spark. The series does not impose its creators’ beliefs on viewers, nor does it provide compelling reasons for those who don’t share these beliefs to become engaged with it.

In the drama series titled “House of David”, characters may not appear particularly intricate or diverse, except for an assortment of accents from international actors hailing from Israel, Palestine, Britain, and America, whose speech patterns vary inconsistently. The main selling point of a Bible-based show is to portray legendary figures as fallible, human beings – to depict their hardships as equivalent to ours. However, this aspect doesn’t seem to materialize in “House of David”. The protagonist David is portrayed as a run-of-the-mill innocent with the only unique characteristic being his love for music, which is sung in untranslated Hebrew while spoken dialogue is in English. Unlike other historical dramas such as “Shōgun”, this series fails to establish David’s world as a distinct society that feels alien yet relatable to modern sensibilities. The only glimpses of strict moral codes are seen through Jesse (Louis Ferrera)’s emphasis on filial respect and discussions about a virgin being “defiled”, which could result in public stoning.

Rather than experiencing profound visions, David encounters overly dramatic special effects featuring flames and Hebrews with unusually straight, gleaming teeth before orthodontics were common. The giants, particularly Goliath, are intriguing to watch, but Saul’s hallucinations become repetitive, an unengaging portrayal of a stable ruler succumbing to paranoia. These scenes are as captivating as David’s superficial romance with Saul’s daughter Michal (Indy Lewis), which appears more a necessity for a hero to have a princess than a reflection of genuine affection.

The series “House of David” might appear self-assured, given its foundation on an age-old story. However, it’s not that the narrative doesn’t require explanation or engagement; rather, it’s because we’re familiar with these tales from Sunday school, that “House of David” must offer a unique perspective on the legend. In essence, you can find the original in numerous hotel drawers, making it a compelling read. Nonetheless, it’s the fresh interpretation that will capture our interest.

You can start streaming the initial three parts of “House of David” right away on Amazon Prime Video. The subsequent episodes will be released each Thursday.

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2025-02-27 17:17