Amazon’s Old Testament Epic ‘House of David’ Struggles to Find Its Spark
3 min read
The Bible has long provided rich material for films and TV shows, with its timeless themes of faith, betrayal, and redemption. Streaming services are increasingly embracing faith-based entertainment, and Amazon Prime Video has joined the trend. Following the success of The Chosen, House of David is the latest attempt to bring biblical stories to the screen. But does it deliver an engaging experience, or does it fall short?
Amazon’s Growing Faith-Based Library
Amazon MGM Studios recently acquired exclusive streaming rights to The Chosen, marking a significant step into faith-based content. House of David follows suit, presenting the story of King David’s rise to power. The series, created by Christian filmmaker Jon Erwin and his studio, The Wonder Project, is separate from The Chosen, despite shared investors. While ambitious in scope, the show struggles to balance religious themes with broader audience appeal.
A Familiar Story with a New Perspective
The eight-episode series starts with David’s legendary battle against Goliath (Martyn Ford) before shifting back to his early life as a shepherd. As David (Michael Iskander) embraces his destiny, King Saul (Ali Suliman) faces inner turmoil, leading to instability in his reign. The prophet Samuel (Stephen Lang) provides divine guidance, while Saul’s wife, Ahinoam (Ayelet Zurer), contemplates using dark magic to save her husband.
Filmed on location in Greece, the series features impressive sets and battle sequences. Its themes of loyalty, destiny, and power struggles resemble Game of Thrones but lack the depth and complexity that made that series compelling.
Where House of David Falls Short
Despite its grand ambitions, House of David struggles with character depth and emotional engagement. The biggest challenge is making its characters feel relatable. David is portrayed as a musician with a divine calling, but his character lacks complexity. Meanwhile, King Saul’s descent into madness relies heavily on cliché hallucinations rather than natural storytelling.
Another issue is inconsistent dialogue delivery. The multinational cast, featuring Israeli, Palestinian, British, and American actors, creates an uneven mix of accents. Additionally, musical moments in untranslated Hebrew may alienate non-Hebrew-speaking audiences.
Lacking Depth and Authenticity
Biblical stories often succeed when they humanize legendary figures, making their struggles feel real. Unfortunately, House of David fails to bring fresh insight into its characters. Unlike historical dramas such as Shōgun, which transport viewers to a fully realized world, House of David feels underdeveloped. Though it touches on Old Testament customs—such as references to public stoning—it never fully immerses the audience in its ancient setting.
The visual effects also leave much to be desired. Saul’s hallucinations become repetitive, and while Goliath’s character is visually impressive, the supernatural elements lack the impact needed for an epic story.
A Missed Opportunity
For a story as legendary as David’s, House of David needed to offer something new. Instead, it assumes audiences already know the tale without adding depth or intrigue to keep them engaged. Faith-based viewers may appreciate the effort, but mainstream audiences might find it difficult to connect.
In the end, House of David needed more than biblical inspiration—it needed heart. Without it, the show risks being another adaptation that fails to captivate its audience.
Watch or Skip?
The first three episodes of House of David are now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, with new episodes released weekly. Whether it will find a loyal fanbase or fade away remains to be seen.
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