Salt

There are occasionally some good lines. The rector's wife says, "our family doesn't do drugs, they sell them..." The father's uncomfortability with a gay son seems tender and honest. "Is Tim... um... you know...", Father asks regarding the gay son's study partner.

Affection between Dad and the gay son. As long as he finds a man who is good looking and a surgeon.

Jesus fiddles with the cincture.

Now THAT is irritating. This is acolyting 101: No twirling of the cinctures. How could Jesus do this?

The priest finds his daughter's manga. He finds a picture of the mother dressed like a dominitrix. The daughter agress that it was stupid to sell drugs. Father's happy and now everyone is reading Japanes comix. Just not the x-rated ones [maybe later...].

Father and his wife talk about gay relatives with beknighted amusement. Then they make love. They make love every Friday. Is this supposed to be weird?

That's what all Episcopal priests do. I think its Talmudic.

Then the bishop, the big daddy, makes a house call. They just take me out to lunch. [ed note - I didn't know that the bishop is his father].

Looks like the wife of the brother in law and the brother in law's secretary are in cahoots.

Then look! there's Jesus! Jesus grins, shakes his head, and says, "you just never know, do you?"

I think a little less piety is in order for Jesus. Or more omniscience.

It is very hard for an omniscient deity to have good lines. They'd just be saying "I knew it!" or "I told you so," or "hey, you won't believe this but..."

OK - so there's Jesus. Jesus clearly isn't helping him drive. He seems like a nice guy, but I do not approve of the robes. I think a simple polo and jeans. Maybe a Borsolino hat. Or even he could have been a bit more like a Palestinian Jew rather than a tepid hippy psychotherapist. Or even a contemprary Hasidic Jew.

Missed part of it - surfed to that Denzel movie...

Father is now playing golf with Roger Paxton, who seems old money rich. Just found out that there's been an embezzlement by his brother-in-law. Father is going to avoid a scandal by not going to the police.

Sounds credible - the whole avoiding the police thing. Webster then goes to the mob priest to find his brother.

Suddenly, Pastoral Care! It was nicely done, actually. With Jesus waiting for him. It is kind of like that. Sometimes.

The daughter is appropriately ... what's the word... "insouciant" or "petulant."

The mob priest finds the brother in law. Calling from a very cheesy Italian Restaurant, the priest reports yes, he did have objects stuffed up his rectum. Can't fathom what the monsignior thinks of us Episcopalians after that. Of course Episcopal embezzlers would have things stuffed up his ass.

[Fr. John, remember, its a comedy].

I'm not sure if Catholics or Italians should be offended.

It is kind of funny though.

Clearly this drama is less about the church than about... a contemporary upper-middle class suburban family. The Episcopal priest angle actually forces makes the drama a bit more interesting. Or ridiculous.

The siblings come together through anime.

Father reports to the Bishop. The bishop has everything laid out, and describes a night out on the town with the other bishop [hmm...].

You would believe that bishops have it good.

Father then apologizes to Jesus for threatening damnation. Maybe Father should have said "woe..." instead.

Father asks Jesus what to do. Jesus says, life is hard. that is why there is such a nice reward at the end.

That's not comforting, says the priest. Jesus then makes a jab at Episcopal self-help books. Could this Jesus be just a little less... predictable. Maybe change his duds or smoke a bit?

This Jesus just isn't working for me.

Father then preaches the "nice reward" at the brother in law's funeral, which, BTW, does NOT get preached by most Episcopal priests.

It is just not pastorally sensitive - especially when the person's embezzled 3.2 million dollars.

Fade into a stained glass of a Quinn running after the widow.

The Book of Daniel

I've been hesitating about writing about the new series "The Book of Daniel" partially because I don't think I can contribute any more insight into the Hollywood vs Christianity slugfest that fuels the imagination of conservative Christians.   The Diocese of Washington has a Daniel Blog. 
I'm tempted to watch the debate from the sidelines - I don't share the obssession with Hollywood that the conservatives have, and I just don't see that Christians are really being harrassed.  But I AM upset about the Book of Daniel, because... its on a Friday night.  I really prefer to go dancing. 

I personally think that plot has potential - we don't need to have a show about perfect pastors with dull family issues.  I'm suspicious about the reviews, so far, so I'm going to have to watch it myself.  I have low expectations.  If it isn't entertaining, next week I'll take that salsa lesson a 7:30pm.

Radosh makes an excellent point, however.  He argues that a lot of people are upset that a progressive Christianity might actually exist.  That there are Christians who, well, think that gay people are blessed and called to be who they are; that government might help people who are less fortunate; that one can be both intellectually credible and spiritually faithful.  If the Book of Daniel can represent, in some way, that we progressives are humane and just AND faithful, perhaps this will be the best PR ECUSA can have.  Let the conservatives have the perfect people. 

We'll take the sinners.