KINGS!!

[erastes]

OMG - How good is KINGS? Why isn't anyone else watching it? Is it because it's not got Vampires and Zombies in it?

It's got a GAY PRINCE who is so angsty he could step into any fanfic I've ever read and rule it.

It’s got McAuley Culkin (however you spell it, as a Nevil Nephew who’s so NEVIL we haven’t even been told what he did to be banished.

It's got a probably going insane King of AU America who is a fantastic ambiguous character,

it's got political machinations, Church vs State, a young blond pretender (who doesn't know he's a pretender) and OMG so much GOODNESS!!!! *FLAIL*  Thank GOD for internet viewing of NBC, that’s all I can say, because if we ever get this—despite having the rockinging rock god Ian McShane in the lead role—it’ll be years, and I’m addicted. (this of course means it won’t get renewed.)

Possibly I love it so much because of being English and this is what Kings were before *spits* Oliver Cromwell, Divine Right and all that – utterly compelling to be brought up to date imho.

Anyone watching it, and wanna squee?  No spoilers though as I’m only on episode 5….

On another note, because I am stupid and forgot to get batteries for my remote, I’m stuck with five channels.  What is more boring? Wimbledon Final or El Cid?  It’s a close one…

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Comments

[volterra.livejournal.com]

I never made it to Episode 5, so didn't know Macauley Culkin showed up in. I found it rather shallow and superficial and staged. The symbolism was great (and its all based on the Books of Samuel, so I was following along from a biblical perspective) but I never felt I really knew any of the characters. Too few soliloquies, possibly.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, got to love the soliloquies - I had no idea until someone mentioned it yesterday it was based on the Bible, heh. Culkin is sort of a lurking Hamlet at the moment, you get the feeling he's about to pull wings off someone at any given time. I think the characters definitely develop as their stories are gradually layered and you learn, little by little why they are like they are. Staged, definitely, but then that's monarchy for you.

Kings

[lilian-cho.livejournal.com]

I did fangirl/squeenalyze it blow-by-blow here ;-)

The reason I haven't watched more:
1) I have to watch it when everyone else is asleep, because otherwise I can't catch all the words D:
2) I want to pause & replay certain scenes over and over so that I can type the dialogue up. Heh.
3) I have this tendency to drag good things out for as long as possible =P
4) I've been obsessed with Merlin and ST: XI instead
5) Shallowly, because only two (now three!) people on my f-list watch Kings

Re: Kings

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I've just finished and I'm up to date!

MORE!! I want more! Thank god there's someone on my flist who's watching it.

Need icons...

[blkandwhtcat.livejournal.com]

Gay critics have given it pretty scathing reviews for distorting the relationship between David and Jonathan, and for making Jonathan a spoiled, petulant, and "evil" character.

See review:

http://www.afterelton.com/TV/2009/3/kingswronggaypart

But I don't watch much TV anyway, although I'm getting happy about Torchwood's new mini-season coming back this month! It's not Doctor Who, but it's fun anyway, and John Barrowman is a real ham, and sexy with Spike (NOT Ianto - he's fugly).

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I have no idea about any relationship between David and Jonathan - i mean I know about the biblical relationship, but until someone mentioned it was based on the Saul-David story I didn't know - and frankly know little enough about the story to know the comparisons. I'm just watching it and absorbing it as a great AU, "could have happened" story.

Torchwood starts tomorrow here - CAN'T WAIT! I must listen to the radio shows tonight and catch up!!

[jean-roberta.livejournal.com]

When my partner was growing up in Chile, she had to memorize the whole epic of El Cid in archaic Spanish in a convent school run by nuns trained by Torquemada (or apparently they gave that impression). Just watching sounds much easier. :)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Argh - poor her! It really does Go On, and the only bit worth watching is the end gallop!

[nagasvoice.livejournal.com]

I did watch some trailers on the broadcast website. One particuarly nice one (you may have seen it) showed Ian McShane as the king chewing out the prince on the front steps--"Did you think I didn't know?"--as only The McShane can deliver a scathing line.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

oh yes! that was a gorgeously powerful scene!!

[chris-smith-atr.livejournal.com]

hon did you get reply to first email. on phone so cant really see so dropping you line here.

xxx

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Yes - did - thanks hun - am sending you another

xxx

[dementedsiren.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love that show. I love it sososo much. I was trying to figure out why yesterday, and sure, it's for all the reason you listed, but also it's because there is no other show on television now that uses the language, the beautiful, full, proper, echoing language, that Kings does.

And, without spoilers, I can say that the WOAHYEAH continues all the way up to the present :-)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

It's very rare that a programme tries to do as much, I've found. I think this is the best thing I've seen since "Murder One" - the language is just gorgeous - people were saying they didn't like the soliloquies, but that's exactly what I DO like about it.

Am all caught up now, and am loving Jack so much! Also hugely intrigued with lurking Hamlet-esque EVIL Maculkin.

And Brian Cox in a bunker!

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

I watched the pilot ep with great interest, but somehow never felt like I wanted to go back to the show. You're making me re-think that stance.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

It's definitely a particular taste, but I'd say try it again.