Of Kings and Prophets
{{Short description|2016 American television drama}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Of Kings And Prophets ABC.jpg
| creator =
| based_on = Bible, Books of Samuel
| developer = {{Plainlist|
- Adam Cooper
- Bill Collage
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Ray Winstone
- Olly Rix
- Simone Kessell
- James Floyd
- Haaz Sleiman
- Maisie Richardson-Sellers
- Jeanine Mason
- Mohammad Bakri
- David Walmsley
- Louis Talpe
- Nathaniel Parker
- Lyne Renée
- Élodie Yung
}}
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| composer = Trevor Morris
Mark Kilian
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 2 (+7 unaired)
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
- Michael Offer
- Reza Aslan
- Mahyad Tousi
- Jason T. Reed
- Adam Cooper
- Bill Collage
- Chris Brancato
}}
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Tina Grewal
- Vlokkie Gordon
- Paul Eckstein
}}
| cinematography = {{Plainlist|
- George Steel
- Sidney Sidell
- Michael Snyman
- Trevor Michael Brown
}}
| editor = Adam Bluming
Tim Mirkovich
| location = Cape Town, South Africa
| runtime = 42 minutes
| company = {{Plainlist|
- ABC Studios
- BoomGen Studios
- Philotimo Factory
- Jason T. Reed Productions
}}
| network = ABC
| first_aired = {{Start date|2016|3|8}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2016|3|15}}
}}
Of Kings and Prophets is an American television drama based on the Biblical Books of Samuel that premiered on ABC in 2016.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/abc-fall-schedule-2015-upfronts-new-shows-muppets-1201424989/|title=ABC Fall Schedule 2015 — First Look|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=May 12, 2015|access-date=May 12, 2015}} The series follows an ensemble of characters including Saul and David, the successive kings of Israel, their families, and their political rivals. Of Kings and Prophets was filmed in Cape Town, South Africa.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/03/tv-pilot-locations-2015-new-york-los-angeles-vancouver-film-productions-1201385599/|title=TV Pilot Locations 2015: New York Slips, LA Rebounds & More|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=March 4, 2015|access-date=May 9, 2015}}
The series was originally scheduled to premiere in late 2015. However, due to creative changes; it was moved to mid-season in the 2015-16 television season,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/the-catch-jenna-bans-family-kings-prophets-boom-la-crime-wicked-city-quantico-series-abc-1201422660/|title=ABC Orders Six Drama Pilots To Series|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=May 7, 2015|access-date=May 9, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/06/of-kings-prophets-pulled-quantico-move-sunday-abc-1201436369/|title='Of Kings and Prophets' Pulled From ABC Fall Schedule, 'Quantico' Goes To Sunday|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=June 2, 2015|access-date=June 2, 2015}} and premiered on March 8, 2016. Due to low ratings; ABC canceled the series after airing two episodes.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2016/03/18/abc-cancels-kings-and-prophets-after-two-episodes/81948366/|title=ABC cancels 'Of Kings and Prophets' after two episodes|last=Keveney|first=Bill|work=USA Today|date=March 18, 2016|access-date=March 20, 2016}} As of 2023, all nine episodes were available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu and YouTube.
Cast
=Main characters=
- Ray Winstone as Saul, the king of Israel.
- Olly Rix as David, a shepherd and the future king of Israel.
- Simone Kessell as Ahinoam, the queen of Israel and Saul's wife.{{cite web|url=http://abc.go.com/shows/of-kings-and-prophets/about-the-show|title=About Of Kings and Prophets|work=abc.go.com|access-date=13 November 2015}}
- James Floyd as Ishbaal, the younger son of Saul and Ahinoam.
- Haaz Sleiman as Jonathan, the elder son of Saul and Ahinoam.
- Maisie Richardson-Sellers as Michal, the younger daughter of Saul and a Kushite concubine.
- Jeanine Mason as Merav, the elder daughter of Saul and Ahinoam.
- Mohammad Bakri as Samuel, the prophet of Israel.
- David Walmsley as Yoab, the nephew of David.
- Nathaniel Parker as Achish, the king of Philistine.
=Recurring characters=
- Louis Talpe as Eliab,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/10/the-walking-dead-adds-recurring-1201588918/|title=The Walking Dead Adds Jay Huguley - Deadline|author=Denise Petski|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=21 October 2015|access-date=21 October 2015}} the eldest brother of David and soldier in Saul's army.
- Christina Chong as Rizpah, the concubine of Saul.
- Rowena King as Zaphra
- Lyne Renee as Witch of Endor
- Alex McGregor as Sarah{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/You/Archive/this-sa-actress-just-landed-a-major-international-tv-role-20170728|title=This SA actress just landed a MAJOR international TV role|date=6 March 2017|website=News24|access-date=2 February 2019}}
Production
Writers Adam Cooper and Bill Collage said at the Television Critics Association press tour that they hope to push the envelope "as far as we can" in regards to the amount of sex and violence featured on the series.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/kings-prophets-boss-talks-sexually-853669|title='Of Kings and Prophets' Boss Talks Sexually Explicit Bible Series: "We're Going to Go as Far as We Can"|last=Sandberg|first=Bryn Elise|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 8, 2016|access-date=January 10, 2016}} Showrunner Chris Brancato later clarified "This story is an Old Testament [one that's] violent [and] sex-drenched. It's one of the world's first soap operas. ... You will watch a show that is tasteful but that also tells the story you can read if you want to pick up the Bible." Then-ABC president Paul Lee (who was removed from the network before the show premiered) described the pilot episode simply as "muscular".{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/abcs-kings-and-prophets-might-shove-all-its-sex-an-230518|title=ABC's Of Kings And Prophets might shove all its sex and violence online|last=Hughes|first=William|work=The A.V. Club|date=January 9, 2016|access-date=January 10, 2016}}
Cooper suggested that if need be, some of the more graphic scenes on the series may be edited for public broadcast, and release the originally intended scenes for online viewing.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/abc-of-kings-and-prophets-sex-scenes-online-version-1201675959/|title=ABC Drama 'Of Kings and Prophets' May Offer Racier Edits of Episodes Online|last=Wagmeister|first=Elizabeth|work=Variety|date=January 9, 2016|access-date=January 10, 2016}} This did indeed occur with the first episode, which was released online with additional sexual content and nudity that was not seen in the ABC broadcast.
Reception
===Critical response===
The show has received below average reviews from critics, with some critics negatively comparing it to Game of Thrones. On Metacritic, the first season of Of Kings and Prophets received a score of 47/100 based on 16 media reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{Metacritic television}} On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 29% approval rating based on 17 media reviews with its critical consensus: "Of Kings and Prophets tries to add a Game of Thrones-inspired spin to the Old Testament, but ends up an aimless muddle."{{Rotten Tomatoes TV|of-kings-and-prophets/s01}} In the show's favor Variety wrote "Its courtly sets, tents, and marketplaces often have a pleasingly realistic level of detail, and some glimpses of the outdoor scenery of South Africa (which stands in for ancient Israel) are breathtaking."{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/reviews/of-kings-and-prophets-review-1201720725/|title=TV Review: 'Of Kings and Prophets'|last=Ryan|first=Maureen|date=2016-03-06|work=Variety|access-date=2018-04-15|language=en-US}} IGN noted, "It does have a few things going for it, including high production values and intriguing political and religious themes. Winstone (as Saul) brings a very human quality to the character that is usually left out of other depictions."{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/03/09/of-kings-and-prophets-offerings-of-blood-review|title=Of Kings and Prophets: "Offerings of Blood" Review|last=Nicholson|first=Max|date=2016-03-08|website=IGN|language=en-US|access-date=2018-04-15}}
=Parental group reaction=
The Parents Television Council criticized the series for scenes of sex and violence and called for it to be removed from the network's schedule.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/parents-television-council-blasts-abcs-873531|title=Parents Television Council Blasts ABC's Biblical Drama 'Of Kings and Prophets'|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 8, 2016|access-date=March 10, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tvseriesfinale.com/cancelled/tv-series/of-kings-and-prophets-ptc-wants-abc-tv-series-cancelled|title=Of Kings and Prophets: PTC Wants ABC TV Series Cancelled|last=Pena|first=Jessica|work=TV Series Finale|date=March 9, 2016|access-date=March 11, 2016}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The PTC has compared the show's content to a "broadcast" version of Game of Thrones.{{cite web|url=http://www.w2.parentstv.org/Main/blog/abcs-of-kings-and-prophets-broadcast-tvs-version-of-hbos-explicit-game-of-thrones|title=ABC's "Of Kings and Prophets", Broadcast TV's Version of HBO's Explicit "Game Of Thrones"|last=Henson|first=Melissa|work=Parents Television Council|date=March 1, 2016|access-date=March 11, 2016}}{{Dead link|date=July 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
=Ratings=
The first episode opened up to 3.32 million viewers. The second episode had lower ratings, having live viewing of 2.42 million viewers, assuring the show's cancellation. Beyond the Tank, which had aired several episodes in the fall and early winter in the same timeslot, returned for the remainder of the season.
Episodes
{{Episode table |background=#1B1B1B |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |viewers= |country=US |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|Title = Offerings of Blood
|DirectedBy = Michael Offer
|WrittenBy = Adam Cooper & Bill Collage
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|3|8}}
|ShortSummary = In order to defend his kingdom, King Saul of the Israelites arranges a strategic marriage for his daughter Merav to the Eitan of Judah's son Mattiyahu in hopes it will unify the 12 Israelite tribes against their enemies, the Philistines. In the midst of the wedding preparations, Prophet Samuel brings the king a message from God - to destroy the Amalekites. Meanwhile, after his flock of sheep was killed by a lion, the shepherd David travels to the king's palace in Gibeah to settle his family's debt. But when he can't afford his taxes, he must pay the penalty with a flogging. To settle the matter, he makes a deal with Ahinoam, the queen to either kill the beast or perish.
|LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|Title = Let the Wicked Be Ashamed
|DirectedBy = Duane Clark
|WrittenBy = Theresa Rebeck
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2016|3|15}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|Title = Lest I Sleep the Sleep of Death
|DirectedBy = Michael Robison
|WrittenBy = Adam Cooper
|OriginalAirDate = Unaired
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|Title = Beasts of the Reeds
|DirectedBy = David Boyd
|WrittenBy = Dan Dworkin & Jay Beattie
|OriginalAirDate = Unaired
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|Title = Little Lower than the Angels
|DirectedBy = Jean de Segonzac
|WrittenBy = Janet Lin
|OriginalAirDate = Unaired
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|Title = Honor in the Dust
|DirectedBy = Romeo Tirone
|WrittenBy = Theresa Rebeck
|OriginalAirDate = Unaired
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 7
|Title = Train My Hands for War
|DirectedBy = Duane Clark
|WrittenBy = Zach Calig
|OriginalAirDate = Unaired
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 8
|Title = Broken Teeth of the Ungodly
|DirectedBy = Bobby Roth
|WrittenBy = Dan Dworkin & Jay Beattie
|OriginalAirDate = Unaired
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 9
|Title = No King is Saved
|DirectedBy = Ericson Core
|WrittenBy = Paul Eckstein & Angela LaManna
|OriginalAirDate = Unaired
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 000000
}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}{{Dead link|date=July 2022}}
- {{IMDb title}}
- {{TV Guide}}
Category:2010s American drama television series
Category:2016 American television series debuts
Category:2016 American television series endings
Category:Cultural depictions of David
Category:American English-language television shows
Category:Television series based on the Bible
Category:Television series by ABC Studios
Category:Television shows filmed in South Africa