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"Kings" Rules Sunday Nights

by Nathalie Espinol
03/26/2009

It’s been a bad day in the kingdom, which - naturally - makes for some good TV on NBC’s newest epic drama “Kings” (Sunday 8 p.m.). The series’ second episode, “Prosperity,” amps up the court intrigue revealing some tantalizing plot points that could help the show become the new Sunday night addiction.

For those who missed the premiere (and there were plenty who did, according to the dismal ratings), “Kings” is a compelling modern-day retelling of the biblical David, Goliath and King Saul story, set in the urban capital of Shiloh. In this alternate history where monarchies still rule, King Silas Benjamin (played by the incomparable Ian McShane) is brokering peace, maneuvering his country, Gilboa, out of an unpopular war with the military laden Gath. His efforts are suddenly overshadowed when military upstart David Shepherd (Australian actor Chris Egan) becomes a reluctant war hero after he defeats Goliath (reworked here as a formidable tank) and rescues the King’s son, Jack (Sebastian Stan). David quickly becomes embroiled in the politics and scandals of the kingdom, and although he seems like a mere political pawn, the young soldier is clearly destined for bigger things, all of course to the chagrin of the King.

This week’s episode opens with David’s ominous dream where King Silas, atop a ledge overlooking Shiloh, yells, “Don’t go”, a significant phrase that echoes throughout the episode. Meanwhile, Queen Rose (played with perfect iciness by Susanna Thompson) and King Silas prepare for the arrival of Gath’s leaders, visiting to negotiate a peace treaty with Gilboa. Before the leaders arrive, King Silas—fearful of David’s power—orders his general to murder David once the treaty is signed. But, when Gath’s Premiere demands to meet David, the war hero once again becomes entangled in the politicking of the monarchy, particularly when Gath refuses to sign the treaty.

All the while, the King’s devious brother-in-law, William Cross (Dylan Baker), an underhanded investor in the Halliburton-esque CrossGen, makes good on his threat, pulling out all of the gold in the kingdom’s treasury to make the King’s “bad day worse.” With a bankrupt nation still locked in war, what is the King to do? And will David be murdered? Well, probably not. But the second half of the hour-long show proves riveting as intrigue upon intrigue is revealed, building a foundation for what should prove an interesting season.

Creator/executive producer Michael Green (“Everwood”, “Heroes”) delivers a complex and layered program that is simultaneously grand in scope (its apparently pulling a hefty budget), and grounded in good dialogue and flawed characters. Particularly compelling is McShane’s King Silas, a beloved ruler who climbed through the ranks to earn his throne, although (as this episode reveals) he may have stepped on a few people to get there. McShane, best known for his Golden Globe winning Al Swearengen on HBO’s “Deadwood,” deftly maneuvers from a ruthless power-monger to an idealistic, moral leader, a paradox that makes Silas interesting to watch. But this isn’t a one-man show. Other notable standouts include Thompson’s pristine Queen Rose and Stan’s closeted homosexual “party prince” Jack Benjamin. Egen and Allison Miller (Princess Michelle Benjamin) have some promising chemistry in their budding romance, although their acting is not quite up to par with the rest of the cast.

All in all, on the “worst day the King has ever had,” NBC’s newest drama is actually having a pretty good one, showing some promising potential that should draw viewers in if given the chance. “Kings” is undeniably ambitious—a trait that can sometimes be death sentence if the show can’t live up to its aspirations. But in this case, ambition is what makes the drama stand out. “Kings” doesn’t shy away from its religious overtones or its political parallels (King Silas unabashedly blurs the lines between church and state—sound familiar?), rather it relishes in them, even placing a reverend as a key political player. For all its ambition, this show actually has the chops to back it up, with a strong cast and intricate script that will hopefully assure that this king doesn’t get dethroned.