Kings is Not

*Forgive me, I've been trying to get this posted for a week!*

NBC's new show "Kings" is actually 1 Samuel, not the book of Kings.

The Queen of Hearts and I were first suspicious as we watched the previews for this new series. Our suspicions were confirmed when we watched the two hour premiere episode:

The main characters:

• David Shepherd

This is the up and coming star of the country.
1 Samuel 16:11. David, the future king of Israel was a shepherd.
• King Silas Benjamin

He is the current king whom God annointed by causing butterflies to encircle his head as a living crown.
1 Samuel 10:1. Samuel annoints Saul king of Israel.
1 Samuel 9:21. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin.
• Nathan Samuelson

This man is a mysterious religious figure. He is the combination of the prophet during King Saul's time (Samuel) and David's prophet (Nathan).
1 Samuel 10:1 Samuel was the prophet to Saul.
2 Samuel 7:17 Nathan was the prophet to David.
• Michelle Benjamin

King Silas' daughter.
1 Samuel 14:49 Saul's daughter's name was Michal.
• Jack Benjamin

King Silas' son.
1 Samuel 14:1 Saul's son's name was Jonathan.
• Jesse Shepherd

David's mother's name is Jesse.
1 Samuel 17:12 Jesse is David's father.
• Eli Shepherd

even the brother of David is the same.
1 Samuel 17:28. The Biblical David's brother's name was Eliab

Places

• Gath

This is the neighboring country that King Silas' army is fighting.
1 Samuel 17:4. Goliath is from Gath
• Shiloh

King Silas' capitol city is called Shiloh.
1 Samuel 4:4 Shiloh was the place where the Arc of the Covenant was brought

Events

• Goliath

David defeats a tank called Goliath in an attempt to rescue the King's son from captivity. David defeats a giant called Goliath
1 Samuel 17:50 David defeats Goliath
• Parade

When peace is reached the city has a parade primarily honoring David, secondarily honoring the King.
1 Samuel 18:7 The Israelites sang, "Saul has slain his thousands and David his tens of thousands"
• Courtship

David is falling for Michelle, the king's daughter (and vice versa).
1 Samuel 18:20 Saul was pleased that Michal was in love with David.
• Music

David is a musician, he plays the piano.
1 Samuel 16:23 David plays the harp.
• God's favor

Silas is annointed king by butterflies. When he reenters the war he looses God's favor. Samuelson tells him that God will chose "a man after Hisown heart." David is given his own crown of butterflies annointing him as the next king. Silas sees this and is trying to have David killed.
1 Samuel 15:26 Saul loses God's favor.
• Annointing

Silas was annointed by the crown of butterflies. David was annointed the same way. However, before the butterflies, David was visited by Nathan Samuelson and David fixed his car. Nathan wiped away a smudge of grease from David's forehead with his thumb. Lit from behind, this was a classic annointing pose.
1 Samuel 16:1 The LORD sends Samuel to annoint David.

The reason I mention this is two-fold:

First, during the previews when the Queen of Hearts and I were growing suspicious that this show was in fact Saul and David, one of the quotes from the critics was "Innovative." I had to chuckle. Innovative? This story has been told for 3000 years! (My pastor pointed out that they may have meant "innovative" in that no one has taken a Biblical story, set it in modern times, and made it into a TV series.)

Second, I wonder how many people recognize this story? 40 years ago, there'd be no doubt that the majority of the population would nearly imediately see the corilation. What's the percentage now?

I hope this series does well. Not only because I've kinda always had a soft spot for NBC, but because I think this is good for TV. Let's set Moses in the 1860's. Let's set Abraham in the wild west. Let's set Daniel during WWII occupied France. (This is fun!) Anyway. Watch Kings. Good writing. Good acting. Good story.

I wonder what season two would be? Solomon? (They'd probably call it Second Kings!)