House of David

Rated 13+ • Prime Video

If tabloids existed in 1000 b.c., the papyrus paparazzi would have quilled some juicy headlines: Shepherd boy kills giant, dodges jealous king’s spear, spares king’s life twice, gains the throne, and murders lover’s husband. Today, you can read all about it in 1 and 2 Samuel, or you can get the extra-extra-Biblical version in the TV series House of David from Jon Erwin (American Underdog, Jesus Revolution).

House of David is a spectacular, big-budget production, but it gets off to a dubious start. In a brief opening scene, Goliath skewers David (Michael Iskander), but not fatally, in the Valley of Elah. Then, backing up a year, it’s revealed that David is Jesse’s illegitimate son by a foreign woman—a salacious twist to amplify the rivalry between the psalm-singing shepherd boy and his sword-swinging brothers.

But it’s the house of Saul that takes center stage in the first several episodes. After Samuel (Stephen Lang) declares God is tearing the throne away from Saul (Ali Suliman), the story heats up as the royal family melts down: Saul sinks into madness while Queen Ahinoam (Ayelet Zurer) schemes to stay in power. She consults a medium, but Jonathan (Ethan Kai) prays to Adonai for deliverance.

Meanwhile, the five Philistine kings plot to wipe out Israel. Achish enters the base of a mountain through tall doors—like Moria’s West-gate—in search of a legendary giant to lead their forces. Violence, brief language, and sorcery make House of David unsuitable for young children.

When Samuel worries about opposing the king, his wife reassures him: “God is the great author of this story. Let Him write it.” Although occasionally too loose with Scripture, Erwin has composed an epic rewrite.