Kings began its season in a Sunday night 8pm timeslot. The move to Saturday is intended to raise the show’s ratings.
Kings Storyline So Far
The show is a modern re-telling of the biblical story of David. Starring Ian McShane as Silas, King of Gilboa, it’s rich in symbolism, and religious references. It also goes behind the scenes of the monarchy portraying a family reveling in the richness of their surroundings, and to an extent becoming corrupted by them.
The main storyline is the plot to bring Silas down. The King’s brother-in-law William Cross (Dylan Baker) serves as his chancellor, and has a significant financial stake in the kingdom. After the King refuses to continue the war with Gath, Cross pulls his money from the treasury and actively seeks an alternate successor. Cross finds it in the King’s own disillusioned son Jack (Sebastian Stan) and is preparing to move against Silas. Jack is eventually given increased responsibilities. Will he remain loyal to his Uncle? Or will he return to his father? Stay tuned…
Admittedly it does take a few episodes to catch onto the characters, and storylines. But there’s big payoff as you watch Silas struggle to move out from under his brother-in-law’s thumb and become his own King again; or David (Chris Egan) struggle with the choice between his family and King Silas.
The Court is not without its intrigue or corruption, with Queen Rose (Susanna Thompson) often playing a central role. Whether it’s as hostess to a peace delegation from Gath or manipulating her own daughter Michelle’s (Allison Miller) love life often she is behind the many plots at court. That gives the whole show a distinctly Shakespearean feeling.
Moving Kings To Saturday A Mixed Blessing
Moving the show to a Saturday timeslot is considered a mixed blessing. On one side it looks like NBC giving up on the show. It’s considered pretty much cancelled and the network hasn’t officially announced the show’s fate.
NBC could be giving the show a chance to live. Other networks have given up running new shows Saturdays; viewers don’t usually stay home causing a decrease in ratings anyway. Instead the networks rerun shows usually seen during the week. In its new time slot Kings would be up against CSI Miami on CBS, a weekly movie on ABC, and a two episodes of cops on Fox. Kings being that one new fictional show, with interesting characters and storylines may win the night. At the very least it allows the show to finish out its first full season before being yanked off the air.
There’s enough mystery in this show to pull the viewer in and make you commit the hour each week to figuring it all out. Ian McShane is compelling as Silas, and the supporting cast is strong. The writing is solid and manages to take the viewer into a believable modern monarchy every week.
If Kings appeals to you, tune in Saturday April 18th and help raise those ratings.
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