A TV show without outrageous Christian caricatures?
I frequently lament the constant lampooning of Christian culture via broad-stroke mockery that seems to pervade the media these days. While some of today's music has the guts to give religious credit to the complexities of a moral lifestyle (I'm thinking of U2, any other obvious ones?), the average character on TV with spiritual convictions ends up being bigoted, ignorant, and intolerant. See Joe Hart from Glee, Kristin Wiig's character from Paul, and the evil warden in Shawshank Redemption. I can normally get over this, because my favorite TV characters are far from the ideal spiritual role models, and some of them even have some serious issues.
Yet lo and behold, I just happened upon a delightful show that, after first viewing, promises a refreshing and sympathetic look at the life of a clergyman in modern inner-city London. If you're like me and love the smug charm and quick wit of those programs from the other side of the pond (I'm talking about Sherlock and Downton Abbey, of course!), you should definitely check out this show, titled Rev.
The drama of the show surrounds a modest vicar (that's like the Church of England's version of a parish priest) named Adam Smallbone and his attempt to adjust to tending his new flock in the big city. The only person on his side is his wife Alex, while his supposed "allies" inside the church include the uptight layman Nigel and the scheming archdeacon Robert. Like you would expect, his normal sunday attendees number about fifteen on a good day, and the first episode opens with a pile of broken stained glass on the altar from the last night's vandalism.
The show includes some typical British comedy deriving from the lovable regular churchgoers, including the homeless groundskeeper who sings loudly and out of tune, as well as the large African woman who flirts with Adam and reportedly enjoys orgasms during the sermons. Yeah, you probably know this show isn't for kids. But the show never veers into the crude or distasteful territory that so much of today's telly is cluttered with. Yet I sense that all these scenarios are included for the sake of transparency, and an honest attempt to convey the struggles of this everyman clergy. The whole result is delightfully endearing.
Tell me what you think:
Here's a quick clip to whet the palatte:
You can watch the series' first episode here.
Cheers!
Yet lo and behold, I just happened upon a delightful show that, after first viewing, promises a refreshing and sympathetic look at the life of a clergyman in modern inner-city London. If you're like me and love the smug charm and quick wit of those programs from the other side of the pond (I'm talking about Sherlock and Downton Abbey, of course!), you should definitely check out this show, titled Rev.
The drama of the show surrounds a modest vicar (that's like the Church of England's version of a parish priest) named Adam Smallbone and his attempt to adjust to tending his new flock in the big city. The only person on his side is his wife Alex, while his supposed "allies" inside the church include the uptight layman Nigel and the scheming archdeacon Robert. Like you would expect, his normal sunday attendees number about fifteen on a good day, and the first episode opens with a pile of broken stained glass on the altar from the last night's vandalism.
The show includes some typical British comedy deriving from the lovable regular churchgoers, including the homeless groundskeeper who sings loudly and out of tune, as well as the large African woman who flirts with Adam and reportedly enjoys orgasms during the sermons. Yeah, you probably know this show isn't for kids. But the show never veers into the crude or distasteful territory that so much of today's telly is cluttered with. Yet I sense that all these scenarios are included for the sake of transparency, and an honest attempt to convey the struggles of this everyman clergy. The whole result is delightfully endearing.
Tell me what you think:
Here's a quick clip to whet the palatte:
You can watch the series' first episode here.
Cheers!
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