Well, I've had a chance to watch my tape of the opening two episodes, and here follow a few observations:
1. It's almost "too much of muchness" if you know what I mean: the gay son, the drug-dealing daughter, the thieving brother-in-law, etc. etc. etc. The proliferation of characters, plots, and sub-plots in this very "soapy" series is almost bewildering. Indeed, it struck me as I was watching that with a slight "skewing" of the writing and the acting, this show could just as easily be played as a comedy (maybe something like "Desperate Episcopalians" or perhaps "Not Seventh Heaven"
).
2. Singing the Doxology at table???? I've known actual missionaries who never did anything like that!
3. My goodness, WASPs who drink too much, Italians involved with the Mafia--I thought this show was supposed to take us away from the old stereotypes.
4. The "Jesus Dialogues"--somewhat interesting, and the actors are appealing, but again it's hard to tell if they want you to take this seriously or are just goofing around. I think it might have been more interesting if the "Jesus" character was in modern dress instead of looking like a typical Renaissance painting of JC.
It's really hard to see what anyone would object to in the series, but then religious bigots never need an excuse to hate something that doesn't show the world to be exactly like they think it should be
. I guess I'll stick with it for a little while to see if they eventually get their act together.
by xita » Tue Dec 27, 2005 9:46 pm 
