Moses, manna, and a million complaints

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MYRNA BROWN, HOST: Today is Friday, October 24th. Thank you for turning to WORLD Radio to help start your day.

Good morning. I’m Myrna Brown.

LINDSAY MAST, HOST: And I’m Lindsay Mast.

Coming next on The World and Everything in It: a new faith-based comedy TV show that capitalizes on the popularity of The Office, trading Michael Scott for Moses.

Reviewer Joseph Holmes now on The Promised Land.

JOSEPH HOLMES: Most Christians who grew up in the 90s are familiar with the “Christian version” of some kind of media. Like rock music? There’s Christian rock. Like superheroes? There’s Bibleman. So I was a little skeptical when I heard someone was making a TV show described as “The Bible meets The Office.” But while the series never becomes more than its logline premise in its first season, it does mostly live up to it, with plenty of potential to grow.

AARON: “Hear me leader, for I have many complaints…”

MOSES: Every day I sit down and the people from the twelve tribes come to me with their problems. There is no water. This water’s too bitter. Make it sweet. My son’s 14 and he won’t move out. Just once it would be great if there was a line of people taking turns to say: “Hey Moses, thank you for getting us out of Egypt. Can’t wait to go to the promised land with you. You have a great day.

In The Promised Land, Moses and the Hebrews are fresh out of Egypt and adjusting to their new freedom—with all the chaos of a fledgling start-up. With Red Sea miracles behind them and 40 years of wandering ahead, the people grapple with doubt, bickering and bizarre wilderness problems—from complaints about manna to doing laundry in a dirty river. Moses, helped by his siblings Aaron and Miriam, tries to keep the group moving forward even while questioning his own ability to lead.

MOSES: Do not murder! Do not commit–

AARON: There are a lot of new rules. I remember the first ten pretty well. But some of those laws about crops and property are pretty hazy.

The series is written and directed by Mitch Hudson, the assistant director of The Chosen, and it does a solid job of translating the Biblical story the “mocumentary sitcom” format. Biblical figures like Moses, Miriam, and Joshua are reimagined to emphasize their very lovable and silly human foibles. These characters feel recognizably like the people we know, yet work as sitcom characters we affectionately laugh with. And, like the characters in The Office and Parks and Recreation, they’ll take time to talk to or make eye contact with the camera.

ZIPPORAH: But you are wise. And passionate. And you care about what God wants for his people, even when it’s not what they want for themselves. It is easy to be popular. It is hard to lead.

MOSES: You always say the right things. But just for once, I would love to see what popular is like.

ZIPPORAH: Well, in this part of the camp, you are very popular.

What makes The Promised Land work as a faith-based comedy is that it’s always the people being made fun of, not God. And the people aren’t made fun of in a cruel way, but in a way that says “I can see myself in that.” It feels like the show is designed to make you love people and love God more. Episodes often start off with characters doing something silly in an effort to avoid God’s commands. Then end with them getting good advice and doing the right thing.

MOSES: Nobody’s perfect. Everybody makes mistakes. God knows that. He chose Abraham’s wife Sarah even though she doubted Him. He chose our ancestor Jacob even though he was a liar. And he has chosen you. Even though you made a mistake.

BEZALEL: But how can I be worthy after I’ve already betrayed him?

MOSES: It’s not about being worthy. It’s about being faithful to Him.

If there’s a flaw in the series it’s that it could be even funnier if it weren’t playing it so safe. The laughs are largely half-smiles, punctuated by some chuckles, interrupted by a few laugh-out-loud moments. Many of the jokes are pretty basic “looks at the camera like Jim from The Office,” that you expect from the genre.

Likewise, most of the characters begin as recognizable types and only slowly develop layers as the series goes on. Moses is a lovably awkward leader (basically exactly like Michael Scott). Korah is a self-righteous and prideful rule follower. Joshua is desperate to please Moses. Miriam is the most immediately well-rounded. She’s a genuinely smart leader who is underestimated due to sexism. But she’s not as smart or talented as she thinks she is. So she’s both sympathetic and relatably silly.

MIRIAM: My name is Miriam. I’m Moses and Aaron’s sister. I’m one of the few women in the camp who can read and write. I’m also what you might call a musical protege.

The Promised Land only has six episodes. And it’s often said that The Office didn’t gel until its second season. So there’s every possibility that The Promised Land will develop more depth, and the laughs will get bigger as it goes on. And hey, for free on YouTube, it’s hardly a bad deal.

I’m Joseph Holmes.

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