KINGS
So who's watching the new series Kings??? I am thoroughly enjoying it so far - I love a good scenery-chewing melodrama. It really reminds me of old school TV miniseries of the 70s and 80s that were based on very very thick novels, like Rich Man Poor Man, and The Thornbirds.
Because they've set "Kings" in a mythical land, I think it helps them get away with chacretrs that are quite old-fashioned - the powerful man whos mistress is his ONE TRUE LOVE, the scheming wife who weilds more power than people know, the conniving brother-in-law, the ally now spurned, the angsty closted gay son who daddy doesn't think is up to being his successor, the daughter with the secret and the golden country boy with a destiny.
And there's plotting and backstabbing and forbidden love and UST and *rubs hands gleefully*
All well worn familiars, but hell, it also describes half the cast and plot of Hamlet! And we even have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in there for good measure. In fact it's much more Shakespearean than Biblical in content.
It looks very pretty - i loved the battlefield scenes a lot- although its a pretty often without point - but it is cheesy and prentious too - the crown of 'monarch' butterflies? the dead deer as sacrifice?? I roll my eyes but also clap my hands. Go hard or go home I say.
The first few eps have established everything well, so I hope they can sustain it. I think they esp need to introduce a strong major story line to drive it forward, and allow the smaller chacrter stories to unfold around it. The leads are all good (although the daughter is a bit drippy), I love Ian McShane (since his Lovejoy days) and Jack and David are pretty and slashy.
So - what do you think?
Because they've set "Kings" in a mythical land, I think it helps them get away with chacretrs that are quite old-fashioned - the powerful man whos mistress is his ONE TRUE LOVE, the scheming wife who weilds more power than people know, the conniving brother-in-law, the ally now spurned, the angsty closted gay son who daddy doesn't think is up to being his successor, the daughter with the secret and the golden country boy with a destiny.
And there's plotting and backstabbing and forbidden love and UST and *rubs hands gleefully*
All well worn familiars, but hell, it also describes half the cast and plot of Hamlet! And we even have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in there for good measure. In fact it's much more Shakespearean than Biblical in content.
It looks very pretty - i loved the battlefield scenes a lot- although its a pretty often without point - but it is cheesy and prentious too - the crown of 'monarch' butterflies? the dead deer as sacrifice?? I roll my eyes but also clap my hands. Go hard or go home I say.
The first few eps have established everything well, so I hope they can sustain it. I think they esp need to introduce a strong major story line to drive it forward, and allow the smaller chacrter stories to unfold around it. The leads are all good (although the daughter is a bit drippy), I love Ian McShane (since his Lovejoy days) and Jack and David are pretty and slashy.
So - what do you think?