The Book of Daniel - The Complete Series (2006)

Too good, too much to handle?

Was this series simply too good to last? Was it too much for the very conservative and uptight groups to handle? Must have been, because I can see no other reason for cancellation. I watched all seven episodes and really enjoyed all of them. What a shame that we are left with cliffhangers that will never be resolved.

It's unfortunate that the protesting groups couldn't handle a very human and flawed priest, his wife's drinking, his son's homosexuality, the priest's conversations with Jesus, and whatever other elements were deemed too controversial. A show that portrays religion in a positive light is such a rare creature, and it's pretty obvious that no such show will ever please enough people that they would leave it alone.

June 4, 2008

Don't miss this outstanding example of ensemble acting

Aidan Quinn is on my list of the top 10 actors performing on television in the 21st century - and I consider myself a critical person. I still distinctly remember sitting in front of my TV set in my mid-20s, watching his shell-shocking star performance in "An Early Frost" in 1985.

Some twenty years later, here he is again - this time as the lead character in this riveting series that got cancelled after the airing of one episode. Older, still looking great, still at the top of his game.

As Daniel Webster, an Episcopalian priest juggling quite a number of family concerns all at once, he again offers a true-to-life performance - the emotional center around which the entire series pivots.

While Aidan centers the show, the entire ensemble is equally outstanding. About the only difficulty to swallow is the sheer amount of psychodrama incurred by these characters in the five jam-packed episodes on the DVD. The production values are great, but it's the writing that's the other star of the show. You don't have to be religious to enjoy this show - and if you are religious, you'll find it interest to see what our priest/protagonist encounters, and how he deals with the events, both individually and cumulatively.

I'd put the writing on a par with the best of "Roseanne" and "Murphy Brown," and the best of "The West Wing."

A wise TV executive would pick up this series, gather these actors and actresses and writers back together, and give this series a good long run. Is there any intelligent life out there?


April 29, 2008

Best sitcom I've seen in a while.

Title really says it all.
This series ends with such a twist, but unfortunately there will be no end to the suspenseful finish. March 19, 2008

Daniel

Great DVD! Why on earth would this show ever be canceled? Because the uplifting material about regular joes who have regular problems, even if maybe to the extreme, is just a little much for us to handle. I sure would have liked to try. Love it!
February 29, 2008

The complete series?

A great series that was unfortunately removed for obscure reasons (this controversial series was canceled after 4 episodes as a result of pressure from conservative groups who found the story of an Episcopal minister and head of a dysfunctional family offensive to the Christians). The good new is that you can appreciate over and over the innovative and audacious approach taken in this series via these DVD. I hope - one day - we will see The Book of Daniel Year 2... February 25, 2008

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