Amazon's recently launched 'House of David' series, a sort of unofficial prequel to the incredibly popular faith-based drama 'The Chosen', showcases Amazon's continuing commitment to tap into the rich source material of well-known religious narratives. Emphasizing narratives from the Old Testament, its drive to embrace faith-based content deepens its appeal to conservative viewers, a demographic often overlooked by other mainstream platforms.
'House of David' traces the journey of the biblical King David from his humble origins as a shepherd to his epic face-off with Goliath. Amazon, which has previously invested heavily in grandiose genre content such as sci-fi and fantasy, brings similar epic storytelling elements to this new series. The protagonist Samuel is likened to Merlin from Arthurian tales, while the king's wife Ahinoam contemplates using 'black magic' – a term quoted directly from the show - to cure her husband's sickness.
While the series possesses all the earmarks of a typical epic production, it lacks depth. Critics argue that there's a lacuna in character complexity, and the series doesn't build a distinct society that diverges from modern conventions in the way historical series like 'Shōgun' do. The language used in the series does not align with its setting: the dialogue is in English, while songs are in Hebrew without subtitles. Additionally, the series is viewed as failing to generate a compelling emotional engagement for viewers who do not already align with the biblical narratives.
Despite the criticisms, Amazon's foray into faith-based content could be seen as a step towards filling a content gap in the streaming world, attracting an audience segment that has been largely underserved in an increasingly digital entertainment landscape. The series 'House of David' is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video, with new episodes each Thursday.
