5/5 KINGS
  by Bride Chic (San Anselmo Ca)
I watched this with my husband who's a Biblical scholar and believe me it's one series that will never be matched. Update The Book of Samuel with Ian McShane as a modern day monarch and you have a masterpiece like Kings. Creator/writer Michael Green has surpassed all I imagined the modern retelling of Samuel I and II could be. With magnificent sets, cinematography and dialogue, Kings is indeed a gem, or should I say was a gem. Just learned after watching all 13 episodes on Hulu, NBC has cancelled it. That's right, the series that finally broke the template for primetime viewing has been nixed for the return of rehashed reality shows and ever predictable sitcoms. Had Green initially taken meeting with HBO or Showtime to get this series launched, we might have been treated to a second season that held the promise of more delicious treachery, David living in exile and an eventual sunbathing Bathsheba atop one of Shiloh's many skyscrapers.
Set in a parallel world, Shiloh is the capital city and seat of the monarchy. In what seems a not too distant future filled with cell phones, palm pilots and flat screens, there's nary a mention of America. While yellow cabs race city streets and everyone speaks Standard American dialect, Shiloh is part of Gilboa proper not America. Eerily reminiscent of NYC, Shiloh looks like the contemporary, cleaned up version complete with a working harbor named, Port Prosperity. The presence of tanks and uniformed militia on city streets confirms Gilboa is still at war with neighboring Gath, two regions harking back to Samuel I. Details of this war are mostly left to the imagination. We know King Silas has built Shiloh from ashes as a result of the Unification Wars, supported by his iron-fist-in-a-velvet-gloved wife, Queen Rose (Susanna Thompson).
While critics claim the storyline just kinda sorta follows the Biblical tradition and only where conveinient, I was surprised once you delve deep how well researched it is. Threads tie up to not only Samuel I but different parts of The Old Testament. Yes, there is a David. David Shepherd, played by beaudacious Chris Egan, looks like Michaelangelo's statue come to life, though in most scenes he's fully clothed in either fatigues or Third-Reichesque dress blacks. He starts out the down-to-earth country boy with seven brothers and father Jesse who by story's opening has already died in King Silas' war with Gath. Fast forward a couple years and its David who is fighting in the trenches now, breaking Gath's enemy line to rescue prisoners of war. To do this he must lead the rescued hostages to safety via torching a tank, aptly named Goliath. One of the prisoners he rescues just happens to be Prince Jack, King Silas' son. David is brought to Shiloh where he's accoladed and made a sort of honorary member of the royal family. With his golden boy looks he's an instant media sensation as well as love interest to the King's ingénue daughter, Princess Michelle.
From here the plot thickens as we weave in and out of court and political intrigues. While Kings may be a story full of archetypes and the allegorical version of Dynasty, Ian McShane as King Silas is so edge-of-your-seat brilliant, I can forgive the parts of this series that either go flat or too melodramatic. But mostly, the script is magnificent as McShane is backed up by an array of top drawer actors like Brian Cox as the imprisoned former King and even guest star, Macauley Culkin all grown up (but not much taller). Dialogue has been called beautiful and poetic, and it is. But every once and awhile a conversation will move from talk in ordinary time to some kind of haute-English not even Vanderbuilts living in The Age of Innocence would grasp; add to that Silas' occasional oddball verbal shorthand: "Port Prosperity. Issue peace, real. Lasting six months hence . . ." These were his words to a representative of Gath in his efforts to ensure peace-- and you're left a bit jarred.
I'm hoping some special funding from an alternate network that appreciates originality and a devoted fan base will pick it back up. Boy am I praying. The good news is, once the DVD comes out of the first and only season, the true, set- `em-up-for-the-next-season finale is on it. A last word on McShane as King Silas. He's irreplaceable. But then-- wouldn't Ian McShane given a role in even a hoke like Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, --deliver it Oscar-worthy?


5/5 Kings was great - must have cost more than Leno
  by TG (NY)
Kings was one of the best shows on network tv in ages. Great acting, dramatic storytelling, poignant soundtrack, impactful art direction - I was so disappointed when I heard it wasn't being renewed. I'm almost hesitant about reccomending buying the series on dvd because I promise that you will want the story to continue. Maybe they'll make a feature film next chapter a la Firefly / Serenity ;)

5/5 Great DVD Set!
  by JRod
Great DVD Set, great drama series! The very last episode left me wanting more and wishing that it had not been canceled. I am going to invite friends over and watch the whole thing again with them, over a period of several months. I highly recommend it.

5/5 "Love" just doesnt quite say it....
  by Shayne Bradshaw (Hemet, CA, USA)
If I were to say that i LOVE this series, it would be a massive understatement! This is one of the BEST T.V. shows ever! For this price you cannot say no! I followed this show from day one and I own the set, it is absolutly the GREATEST and will not dissapoint!

5/5 KiNg of tv series.
  by Mark (Hollister, Ca)
It took only the conclusion of the first episode to believe that this series had what it needed to keep my attention going forward.. It has many elements to it and the relationships intertwined nicely.. I wasn't disappointed. Kings rocks..