A.D. Kingdom and Empire (2015)
Dirs. Ciaran Donnelly (Eps 01, 02, 03) / Tony Mitchell (Eps 04, 05, 06) / Brian Kelly (Eps 07, 08) / Rob Evans (09, 10) / Paul Wilmshurst (11, 12) | 12 episodes, approx 45 mins each.
It begins by retelling the crucifixion story and then moves onto the fifth book of The New Testament, the Acts of the Apostles, showing how the religious message outlives the man who was sent to deliver it.
The vast jumps through differing eras that made up the first half of the previous miniseries aren't an issue this time - it's now one lengthy multi-part story with the same characters in the closing episode as were in the opening one, but it suffers from the same belief system 'promotion' that I feel weakened the latter half of the earlier series.
Ep 01: The Tomb Is Open is the crucifixion story retold but with different actors in the primary roles and a slightly broader focus, including showing the opposing feelings of Roman Governor Pontius Pilate (Vincent Regan) and his wife Claudia (Joanne Whalley). It conveys how the loudest voices in a crowd can sometimes direct a course of events. There's commentary on how interpretation of the message can differ depending on an individual's personal and/or political stance, and how prophecy can be manipulated to reaffirm or even confirm a subjective truth.
It's all competent and played as pure drama, but there's nothing overly striking or memorable, perhaps partly due to the story itself having been milked to death over the years.
- The new face of Jesus (Juan Pablo Di Pace). Rocking the wind-swept look. -
Ep 02: The Body is Gone is a self-explanatory title, exploring via invented exchanges between Romans and disciples (separately) what happens after the tomb is vacated on the third day; e.g. some view the claims as a hoax, while others see it as a miracle and/or proof of divinity, etc.
Ep 03: The Spirit Arrives is Pentecost. Herod (James Callis) visits Pilate in Jerusalem, and a determined man attempts to eliminate someone with an Assassin's Creed style blade, causing a shit-storm of retaliation and bad blood on both sides. The battle of wills and power that exists between opposing belief systems seems never ending. Even today, a level of fairness, mutual respect and understanding is often absent if religion and politics are a part of the equation.
Ep 04: The Wrath is another good example of how events can be interpreted in ways that may not be as the storyteller(s) intended. The episode's most controversial action can be viewed as a moral or spiritual lesson, or as a punishment for withholding aid, but can just as easily be seen as God getting angry over money and killing some people who disagree with him: a dick move.
Ep 05: The First Martyr puts into practice the concept of emotional blackmail and has some magical lock-springing. Struan Rodger as Gamaliel was some fine casting.
I was less than halfway through the series at that point, but had suffered enough of its faux humility and sanctimony. I stopped for a number of weeks, but ultimately persisted with the hope that it would get better. Instead, I grew even more weary of Peter's sudden mood shifts, temper tantrums and rapid realisations. As God's chosen he should have inspired others and taught by example, but in real life I'd not have followed such a man to a shop to buy bread.
- Peter (Adam Levy), as changeable as the weather. -
Ep 06: The Persecution. Saul of Tarsus (Emmett J. Scanlan) arrives and threatens the followers of Jesus. As a Pharisee who's still loyal to the Temple of Jerusalem, Saul sees Jesus' followers as blasphemers in service to a "false prophet". He's characterised as a wicked man who takes a kind of pleasure in bringing strays to justice. For a time it looked as if he might add some impetus to the drawn out story, but the writing behind the idea turned out to be as bland as the rest.
Ep 07: The Visit features Simon the Sorcerer (Stephen Walters). It's obvious that we're not supposed to accept his claims at face value, but I couldn't shake the feeling that he looked like a distant ancestor of Naboo the Enigma from The Mighty Boosh: TV Series (2004-07). The Roman Emperor Tiberius (Kenneth Cranham) arrives in Jerusalem, with his weaselly nephew Caligula (Andrew Gower) in tow, spelling trouble for Pilate and, by extension, the followers of Jesus. Philip (Joe Dixon) performs a miracle in Jesus' name, in-keeping with the sorcery theme.
Ep 08: The Road to Damascus. Jesus manifests in a magic glow to issue orders to an unbeliever, who naturally becomes an instant convert to the cause. Not one to waste a successful glow, Jesus issues further orders to a different follower in a similar manner. I suppose the honour of being chosen for a special task is its own reward, but personally I think I'd prefer to be asked, in case I had something else planned for that day. Oh, and Peter gets angry and shouty again.
Ep 09: Saul's Return and Ep 10: Brothers In Arms. Saul does various things.
Ep 11: Rise Up. As Pilate's blood pressure soars, relations between the Temple's High Priest Caiaphas (Richard Coyle) and the followers of Jesus take an unexpected turn. Peter's angry shouting continues, but an act of divine necromancy makes him smile.
- Left to Right: Claudia (Joanne Whalley), Pilate (Vincent Regan), and Cornelius the Centurion (Will Thorp) pose for a promo shot. -
Ep 12: The Abomination has lots of prayer, a fair bit of blind luck, and a brief cameo from an armoured angel. It's the final episode, ending on a cliff-hanger that most likely would've been resolved in a third series had it happened, but at time of writing the official word is that production on future episodes has been cancelled. If things had remained the same behind the scenes, then what followed would no doubt have included more moral hypocrisy, betrayals, lies, murders, resurrections, and supernal orders followed by unquestioning allegiance, with cookie cutter characterisation and Peter being a shouty prick at least once per episode.
The Bible: Miniseries had some merit even for viewers who lacked the necessary religious faith to engage with the message fully, but A.D. Kingdom and Empire doesn't. It's the TV equivalent of a loquacious preacher with the storytelling ability of a sloth and the charm of a house brick.
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