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Print January 30, 2006 (Editor’s Note: NBC just announced that they are canceling this show after just three episodes. However, because it tied in with the many articles on Hollywood and Christianity we’re currently running we felt like the analysis was pertinent.) Sex. Lies. Scandals. These are the three words that come to mind when I think of the TV series The Book of Daniel. I know most people are saying, “Isn’t that what most TV series are about nowadays?” The answer for the most part is yes; however, one might think the themes would be different for a TV show that bases its plot around an Episcopalian preacher who talks to Jesus. For those of you have somehow missed out on the uproar caused by this new show, let me give you a brief summary. Numerous fundamentalist Christians began boycotting The Book of Daniel, even before its premier on NBC at the beginning of January this year. Many were outraged because of the themes of homosexuality, adultery, fornication, and drugs. Several found the show to be downright sacrilegious. Some stations have refused to broadcast the series because of complaints, especially among the Bible belt in the South. The NBC affiliate in my cable area is only showing The Book of Daniel on one channel instead of the two local stations that usually broadcast NBC’s programs. Despite all the arguing and fussing over the show, I sat down this weekend with a completely open mind, hoping to possibly like the show. I must admit there were some humorous lines, enough plot and interaction to keep me interested, and at times some encouraging words were given. However, for one of the first times in my life, I’m going to have to agree with the right-winged conservatives and say this show is preposterous! This past Friday night’s episode was the first time I have ever seen the show, so I’m not completely sure of all the characters and their tangled paths, but I saw enough in this one episode to know that The Book of Daniel is definitely not something for me to TIVO®. Here is what the show and this past episode is about. Daniel Webster, played by Emmy nominee Aidan Quinn (Legends of the Fall), is an Episcopalian priest married to a woman named Judith (Susanna Thompson—Once and Again). Before they were married, Daniel’s brother, Worth, proposed to Judith, but Judith refused because she was in love with Daniel. On this particular episode, Judith is seen having lunch with Worth, and it is now rumored that she is having an affair. Daniel and Judith have 3 children. The oldest son is Peter, 22, who has just recently “come out” as a homosexual. Not everyone is aware of Peter’s status, including Lady Bishop Beatrice Congreve’s niece, Adele. Adele is very much attracted to Peter, comes on to him, and they have sex in the backseat of her aunt’s car. The second son Adam is an adopted 16-year-old Asian. He is in love with the churchwarden’s daughter, but her parents send her off to boarding school in order to keep them apart. Adam runs off to his girlfriend’s school and sleeps with his girlfriend in between classes. However, Adam gets locked out of her dorm room and is stranded outside in his boxers. Daniel is called to come get Adam, and thankfully does the parent-like thing and grounds him for an indefinite amount of time. Last is the 16-year-old daughter Gloria. Gloria was previously busted with possession of marijuana that she was smuggling into town through teddy bears. Viewers learned on this episode that a good friend of the family, an elderly black lady, stole Gloria’s marijuana to help ease the pain of her diabetes. On top of all of that, Daniel’s father, who is a bishop, is having an affair with the Lady Bishop Congreve. The problem is that Daniel’s father is still married to Daniel’s mother, who is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Daniel’s father is having a difficult time dealing with this illness and turns to Bishop Congreve for companionship. One main concern is not the fact that Daniel has a mixed up family. (By the way, Daniel is addicted to prescription pain medication as well.) The problem is how Daniel handles sensitive, religious situations. In this episode, a homosexual member of Daniel’s congregation asks him if God hates him because he’s gay. Daniel, trying to be a bit too tactful, tells this man that God loves all His children and to “let him without sin cast the first stone.” By the end of the conversation, the gay parishioner believes that being gay isn’t wrong when he says, “I know I’ll probably go to hell, but at least I know it won’t be because I’m gay.” The biggest disappointment in this show for me is Jesus, played by Garret Dillahunt of HBO’s Deadwood. Jesus, who is depicted as a nonjudgmental, carefree hippie type, shows up throughout the episode to discuss with Daniel whatever new situations may be taking place. At first, Jesus comes off as a bit comical, but overall encouraging to Daniel. I thought that despite all the other chaos going on in this show, Jesus might actually be okay. Boy, was I wrong! When Bishop Congreve finds out her niece slept with Daniel’s son, Peter, in the back of her car, she brings the remaining “evidence” to Daniel and demands he speak with his son. Jesus simple shrugs, looks at Daniel, and says, “Kids, huh?” My guess is that in an attempt to make Jesus understanding and loving, they make Him seem as though the sins of His children do not sadden Him. It was at this moment of the show that I knew I would not be tuning in to The Book of Daniel again. I find it hard to sit back and say that Hollywood produced this show in an effort to solely discredit Jesus and the Christian faith. However, I do believe that “The Book of Daniel” is Hollywood’s newest attempt to stretch the barrier as far as possible and go where no TV show has gone before, but this attempt has angered numerous Christians. I expect these plots from a daytime soap opera and would give little thought to it, yet I’m offended when someone would place Jesus right in the middle of it and make Him seem as if He were condoning every sin. Personally, I do not see the show lasting more than one season. I don’t think it’s getting the ratings NBC had hoped for, not just because of the religious controversy, but because the show is just not the most interesting or compelling show that I’ve ever seen. It seems to me America is more interested in CSI or American Idol, not a church having an all out sin-fest.
ninetyandnine.com © 2006, Kimberly Rigney --------- Kimberly Rigney is a newly licensed teacher testing the waters at a local public school. When she's not sitting in front of the TV, she spends time pondering the questions of life. She is also a proud independent who proclaims that God is neither a Democrat nor a Republican!
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