TV Jots

Ian McShane Stars in a New Drama

Despite hearing quite a bit of buzz about NBC’s latest drama Kings, I somehow haven’t developed any interest in the series. I’ll check it out all the same when the network airs the two-hour premiere “Goliath” tomorrow night at 8pm EST.

The series, which stars Deadwood alum Ian McShane, has been enthusiastically promoted as a “contemporary re-telling of the timeless tale of David and Goliath,” the network’s words, not mine.

McShane plays King Silas Benjamin, leader of Gilboa, a mighty kingdom experiencing escalating problems with Gath, another nation not too far away. As tends to happen, something goes down between the two, resulting in Gath holding several of Silas’ people as prisoners of war.

To the rescue comes young and brash soldier David Shepherd (Eragon‘s Chris Egan, pictured above at right), who ignores orders, enters enemy lands to save the captives, and ends up returning the king’s son Jack (Sebastian Stan of The Covenant). Entanglements and much drama ensue, some involving the king’s wife Queen Rose (Once & Again‘s Susanna Thompson) and their daughter Michelle (Allison Miller, Lucy’s Piano).

Perhaps it’s an aversion to the whole royalty thing that’s dampening any excitement I might have to see Kings, although I always enjoy watching cast members Dylan Baker (Requiem for a Dream), Wes Studi (Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee), and Eamonn Walker (Oz) in anything. Hopefully, the show will turn out to be genuinely good and will change my mind within a few episodes.

Sample a preview promo below before the big NBC event on March 15 at 8pm EST. Following the special extended premiere, Kings will air Sundays from 8pm–9pm for the remaining 11 episodes of its freshman run.