"The Book of Daniel" a review

self | 1/6/06 | self

[Lokibob]

I just finished watching "The Book of David" and I found it tedious and vapid.

However, I did not find it sacreligous. The conversations the main charactor has with Jesus is perhaps the most believeable of all the plot twists.

With the exception of Jesus, everybody in the whole series are either drug dealers, druggies, racists, homosexuals, crooks, having an affair or screwed up. Most seem to be a combination of all the above.

I probably will not watch it again, however, you never know.

[Lokibob]

JMHO.

[Lokibob]

"The Book of Daniel" NOT "The Book of David". OOPS

[Veto!]

and I found it tedious and vapid.

Glad to hear it. That's the kind of thing that will sink the show, which badly needs sinking.

Everyone should write the sponsors and tell them the show is tedius and vapid along with being in terrible taste. That should do it!

[djf]

With the exception of Jesus, everybody in the whole series are either drug dealers, druggies, racists, homosexuals, crooks, having an affair or screwed up. Most seem to be a combination of all the above.

I didn't know NBC had a new reality based tv show!!!

;-)

Actually, I'm inclined to think God has a sense of humor. I'd much rather believe that than think he would set the rules where he simply demands we worship him, yet gives no absolute, concrete proof of his existence.

[Lokibob]

I KNOW God has a sense of humor. A look around any store, any gathering of people, or any entry on the internet confirms it to me.

[Dawgreg]

Hub heard about it on the radio on the way home and we thought we would just see what it was about. It took us about 3 minutes.............an attempt to slam Christians everywhere. An underlying slam on Christianity and it's sickening!

[Lokibob]

Please define what you mean by "a slam on Christanity".

I didn't see where Christanity was blamed for any of the problems.

[ansel12]

This was the most dysfunctional (large) cast I've ever seen, and it was the heart of Christianity. Two bishops, a priest, a priest from a different Christian faith,and their immediate families, with a bland Jesus. Any religion of that group of losers, must not have much good in it. Doesn't Hollywood have any business people in it?

[JCEccles]

Any religion of that group of losers, must not have much good in it.

For example, the ECUSA and the Rev. Gene "Vicky" Robinson.

[unseen]

a slam on Christianity it is. the implied thought of the project it that Christians are messed up. I know many minsters and clergy that do not have any major personality flaws. they are not drug addicts, they are not closet homosexuals or homophobes, they are not child molesters, their families are not screwed up. Most minister families that I know are happy and love each other. What I wouldn't give for a family oriented show that expresses the love of Christianity. Remember little house on the prairie? The Waltons? You remember? the shows where a family was a good thing? Where the parts of the family were able to go to other parts of the family for healing and love and acceptance? When men where men and women where women and kids where kids and had kids problems. Where not every show had a divorced parent, a homosexual friend, and a wacko grandparent.

[unseen]

The problem is Hollywood has lost its soul.

[Lokibob]

Very well said. I wish I has said it.

Do you remember "7th Heaven"? I enjoyed that show, even tho the characters had problems, like all families. Here is a brief synopses from IMDB:

The Camdens, a Christian family living in California, face the challenges of trying to live a moral life in a confusing world. Jam-packed with thinly disguised public service announcements, this show may seem very conservative to its viewers (what with its constant anti-sex and anti-drug messages, its parents' hysterical responses to their children's' misbehaviors, and its teenage female characters' fixations on getting married).

[Former Military Chick]

Thanks for the thread.

Here are few thoughts.

Frankly I hate it when other's decide I cannot watch a program. Particularly when they get to see it, to review it, to slam or support it and I the viewer lose my "choice" with the "clicker" to decide if I want to vest my time in the show.

As I watched it, there were several issues that may fall to the norm of many families out there. However, it stops there. They way more information then I felt was needed for the viewer in what will be a 60 minute show. Most I am sure was to inflame the sensibilities.

It is fiction. Pure and simple. Folks who will watch it, will perhaps watch it to forget their only troubles. Perhaps they will watch it, thinking, by the grace of God, that could be my family.

In the end, it is the viewer's choice to decide if they want to watch it, boycott the advertiser's. We have options out there, but, to have the power's that be decide if this is a program worthy of us watching is just well unfair. I also doubt that it will return for another season but I have been shocked in past years what get's canned and what returns.

Finally, I am one who loves the shows of the past. As another poster shared, The Walton's, Little House, Medicine Woman, shows that you could watch as a family. As of late the only shows I find myself making sure I watch, 7th Heaven, which has had a terrific run and this will be it's final year. The WB has actually put out several good shows. Another show, "Wildfire" which just aired it's second season is another fun show, perhaps parent's should watch it with the kids but again not a bad show.

There are many other shows out there that I frankly have no interest in watching. Nip/Tuck, The Shield come to mind on cable. On the networks, Desperate Housewives, Fear Factor, Wife Swap. However, I would not deny those who enjoy these shows the opportunity to watch them.

[Lokibob]

I will have to watch "Wildfire". Thanks for the recommend.

I watch "Las Vegas" not so much for the plot or the drop dead gorgeous women (but definitely a plus), as a fascination with the technology behind the Casino facade.

[Dawgreg]

That's NOT what I meant Lokibob. I said it was a slam on Christianity because they took this totally dysfunctional family and put them in a not so flattering light. Made it look like a reverend, called by God, and his family, who, imho, are supposed to be examples to others and put them on a level beneath the dignity of such a family. Before anyone says that a preacher, reverend or whatever can fall from grace, I realize there are those who do, or some in their families do but I was offended by this whole concept.

[Lokibob]

I agree, and I think the majority of the posters here agree, too.

Hopefully, this show will go away, but I am amazed that "Desperate Housewives" is still on tv.

[Dawgreg]

Lokibob, I think the same thing. It seems the seedier, the more decadent the show, the more people watch. It breaks my heart.

[Houmatt]

I saw about two minutes of it.

In what I saw, an asian guy (who was an adopted member of the family Daniel is a part of) was having sexual relations with a woman in the back seat of a car parked in the garage. They are caught by a foster sister, and soon after this guy's sex partner leaves, he makes a sexual proposition to his foster sister. When she leaves, in her wake she had dropped a parcel, which the guy picks up, opens, and examines: There is a bag of weed inside.

So the show's creator wanted people to "give it a chance." I did. This is Hollywood's response to Mel Gibson's mega-hit, The Passion of The Christ, and those who went to see it.

Despicable.

[unseen]

I have to disagree. I watch Desperate housewives on occasion and it is a decent show. However, it does not pretend to be something it is not. The viewer knows the show will feature certain things and are prepared for it. This show the Book of Danial is the exact opposite of the name IMO

[Hugin]

Just thought I would post a few of my observations...

There were plenty of plot ripoffs from other shows. The appearance of Jesus talking to him was directly copied from Denis Leary's Rescue Me (a great show BTW). The Alzheimer's stricken wife who doesn't recognize her husband was taken from Gray's Anatomy. And the drug dealing daughter and gay son were straight from Six Feet Under. Copying is what Hollywood does best, or in this case worse.

Second, I found it interesting that the show is not about evangelicals, but an Episcopal priest. They even made a point of mentioning that they have a gay bishop. So I'm not sure why evangelicals would be particularly offended. If anything it's an argument for what happens when a Christian church loses it's Biblical values.

Third, on a personal note, one of my friends in high school back in the sixties was the son of an Episcopal priest. He and his older brother were the two wildest kids in school. They looked like bikers and were totally into the psychedelic rock/drug scene. At one point my friend was arrested for burgling several businesses in town. Both were basically nice guys who straightened out later, but for some reason it seems when preachers kids rebel, they really rebel. So I did find that part of the show believable, if only from my limited anecdotal experience.