Sci-Fi

I missed this when it was presented to Comic-Con and on Peter’s blog. Perhaps others have already noted it. But it certainly looks interesting enough to post here. Be sure to check Filmchat for all the details.

Kings — a little bit biblical, a little bit sci-fi

A few days late, this post, but better late than never, as they say. One of the many shows that had a panel at last week’s Comic-Con was Kings, the NBC series that modernizes the biblical story of David and his complicated relationship with King Saul.

I had always thought that the series would be taking place in “our” world, to the extent that most works of fiction set in the present usually do — I had vaguely assumed that all the references to “soldiers” and “kingdoms” in the earlier reports were basically metaphorical — but it turns out the series is a little stranger than that. Liz Shannon Miller, writing at Anne Thompson’s blog, reports:

The pilot sets up an alternate universe where, after a devastating civil war, New York and the surrounding area has become a kingdom led by King Silas (Ian McShane). David (Chris Egan) takes on Goliath-brand tanks. . . .

Creator Michael Green (“Heroes”) spoke candidly about getting the opportunity to pitch a pilot to NBC: His response was to “give them the weirdest idea I had.”

Audience questioned both the religious and political overtones of the story. Green denied intending a Biblical context — “it’s just a hero’s story” — despite the pilot beginning with King Silas giving a speech full of references to God.

“Is the fact that it’s a monarchy meant to be omnious?” one audience member asked, admitting, “it made me feel a little uncomfortable.” But the panel refrained from drawing comparisons between the political structure of “Kings” and the current American government, preferring to point toward the parallel between the power held by corporate CEOs. . . .

There is more at Peter’s blog, so be sure to check it out. The video from the Comic-con Panel has been posted by NBC as well: