A.D. Kingdom and Empire

[boatbums]

I just finished watching the first season of the series A.D. Kingdom and Empire on Netflix. It's a series produced by Roma Downey (from Touched by an Angel) and her husband Mark Burnett. It picks up right after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His resurrection and goes into the beginnings of the Christian age and the Apostles and disciples of Jesus preaching the gospel under persecution from the Romans and the Jewish religious leaders.

I'm curious if others have watched it and what you think.

[boatbums]

My impression was one of disappointment that so much was omitted and how many of the characters were portrayed. One scene early on was the ascension of Jesus after the resurrection. The series plays it like only the eleven Apostles ever saw the risen Christ instead of the over five hundred Scripture tells us really did. They make it sound like the Apostles were simply delusional instead of empowered by the Holy Spirit to boldly preach the gospel. Far more time was spent on Pilate and his wife and their issues with each other as well as the pressures he was under from the emperor of Rome. The timeline was WAY off as well.

The ratings were high at the start but then fell off drastically as the season went on. NBC cancelled the second season but the producers are working on a script - so they say. Perhaps if they had done a better job on the first script there would have been a better response. The beginning of Christianity is a powerful story that can be told in a powerful way.

[Dogbert41]

I enjoyed it. Hope there’s more to come. Not exactly like Hollywood is busting down the doors to create Christian content.

[Billyv]

Although much was left out, the main point that those who know our Lord Jesus Can Never be the same again comes through. Almost brought out as well as in the movie Risen.

I just finished binge watching it myself last week and look forward to a second season?

[Dogbert41]

Second season, yes! Me too.

[boatbums]

I enjoyed it. Hope there’s more to come. Not exactly like Hollywood is busting down the doors to create Christian content.

There were parts I liked. As for creating more Christian content in movies and TV, there is a large audience for such out there. The problem with this series, I think, was probably for the same reasons I gave for my disappointment - it left out too much and glossed over the parts that would have made a HUGE impact for Christ. The people who dropped off watching it more than likely felt the same way or else NBC would have ordered more episodes - they do so for money reasons, not because they approve of the content. I look at some of the drivel that is out there now and wonder how people can watch it at all.

[boatbums]

There isn't a second season according to NBC. See https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/ad-the-bible-continues-cancelled-no-season-two-on-nbc-37335/.