TV Review: Look over The Book of Daniel

NBC, Friday nights, for how ever long the show lasts, The Book of Daniel is must-see-TV.

We hadn't intended to review the show based upon the first airing. However, despite huge praise from people involved with the show (self-praise?), we were still impressed with what we saw on TV. For those who feel that we never like anything (which is incorrect, we've had praise for Medium, Everybody Loves Chris and Living With Fran), stick this into your once-in-a-blue-moon files.

What's to like about the show? Let's start with the look. There's actual thought going into framing the shots. That's very rare in TV. (The fast pace doesn't allow for a great deal of thinking, generally speaking.)

The 'talks with Jesus' (Daniel sees and speaks with Jesus throughout) may get old after a few episodes (the way voice overs tend to) but, should that happen, there's enough going on that you can overlook those moments. We were told that Aiden Quinn, Ellen Burstyn and Christian Campbell were delivering amazing performances . . . and they are. (Admit it, you thought we were going to say ". . . and then we watched.") Although they are clearly the standouts, strong work was done by all.

Let's deal with what's put the 'vangical voters's panties in a wad upfront. Daniel's daughter is doing community service for selling drugs, his oldest son (Campbell) is gay, Daniel's popping pills . . . Go down the list. We're at a disadvantage because we know people who are Jewish, Catholic, Baptist (even Southern Baptist), Methodist, Lutheran, Church of Christ . . . but we couldn't think of any close friends who were Episcopalian. And since, like the main section of
The New York Times, we confine our "research" (for these reviews) to phone calls, we were at a loss. So we can't claim to evaluate how that religion is reflected onscreen.

We're not sure that the 'vangicals can either. A number of the heated e-mails being generated by them note things that aren't happening on the show. (Not tonight, not ever.) Which reminds one of us of the leaflets circulated in the seventies about Soap right before ABC started airing it.

Could it offend? We're sure it will. We're sure that has little to do with religion.

If you prefer that your hour shows present you with "life lessons," you won't like this show. Park your butts in front of the TV on Monday nights and enjoy that last season of Seventh Heaven because The Book of Daniel is not for you. But if you expect, as most people do, conflict in your dramas, you've got it in this show.

A lot of the e-mails generated by the 'vangicals are bothered that the characters aren't "nice." The characters are complex and that must scare the 'vangicals who've had four years of the Bully Boy telling them the most simple of lies. "They hate us for our freedoms." "You're either with us or against us." "I will continue to protect the American people."

For those who found easy comfort in those easy slogans, The Book of Daniel must be scary as hell -- literally. The devil doesn't have horns, he has a brain! (Which some believe is backed up in the narrative of Adam and Eve and the Tree of Knowledge.) If you're one of those types, this isn't the show for you. These are complex characters and complex storylines. The simple minded will probably be out of their depth trying to keep up.

They're the types that think Oedipus Rex is smut and that someone should put a pair of pants on The David. They're threatened by complexities and bask in their ignorance about the basics with regards to drama. ("They" include some in the entertainment industry who are hoping to score a little right-wing cred by attacking the show and lifting their careers out of the toilet. That truly would be a miracle.)

Or if they don't think that way, they work real hard to make others think they do before getting busted for allegedly propositioning a police officer who is of their same gender.


But if you're not trembling in the closet over some deep dark secret (or if you are but can draw the distinction between TV and reality), this is a show you should check out. The cast already clicks onscreen (and it's a very large cast). There's an energy coming off the screen that NBC hasn't had in a drama since ER first debuted. Aidan Quinn has never been better and, those familiar with Quinn's work know, that's high praise. Ellen Burstyn's never embarrassed herself on the small screen but she's never really found the role in a TV show that allowed her to demonstrate the kind of range that The Book of Daniel already is providing her with. If the show's given a fair shot, get used to yearly acceptance speeches from Burstyn at the various awards shows.

Are there problems? Yes. Christian Campbell's hair needs to grow out considerably or he needs to get it cut. Hopefully, that will be taken care of soon. We're dealing with a predominately White cast. It would be nice to see that addressed. Anything else?

Not really at present. This is a show that's could be the "water cooler" show of the year. If that happens, it will be deserving of the attention the way The Sopranos was in its first years. This really is quality television and for our readers who are home on Friday nights, get the kids to bed and enjoy this show. We haven't even seen anything that would bother children. (There was a kissing scene with a shirtless Ivan Shaw and the word "bitch" was used at a funeral by a widow.) But you really want this hour to yourself. If you're on the couch with someone, tell them to hold whatever it is until the commercial because the show's involving.

The level of acting on this show is higher than many viewers may be used to have been weaned on the non-stop questioning of too many bad TV crime shows. Ted Tally stumbled upon a wonderful device -- using the question as the transition -- with The Silence of the Lambs. He didn't copyright that device but a number of really bad writers continue to copy it (and use it to poor effect). But the acting, the writing, everything making it to the screen with this show is working.

Hopefully NBC won't go running from it due to pressure from the 'vangicals. NBC has already attempted to woo them (with Three Wishes) and that didn't work out. They shouldn't make burying The Book of Daniel another effort at courtship.