I really have the AFA to thank for putting me onto The Book of Daniel. Normally, I would have read the blurb, seen it was “just another show about religion” and not given it a second thought. After the noise that the AFA and their underlings made about the show, I thought I should check it out. I'm glad that I did. I recorded the first episode (a double one) on Friday night and watched it after our Desperate Housewives Season 1 partial catchup.
It's quirky, and deals with everyday life issues – albeit packed into one hour a week. It's good to see that the kids of Daniel are not perfect. It's a reflection on the reality that the preacher's children are often not as perfect as everyone would think they are. I like that one of Daniel's children is gay, and that one is adopted. The scene where the vestry man's wife – Nora – tells it like it is about having asian grandchildren is closer to the truth than some of those in organizations like the AFA might like. I think the show aims to capture the story of a priest with a parish that has a lot of Sunday Christians (the “holier than thou” crap scenes are going to be my favorites I think).
I am disappointed that Jesus is so white, but I guess ABC couldn't afford to annoy everyone. It is a nice little twist though, and Jesus is portrayed as the man who welcomes you, rather than tells you what to do – much like a therapist.
The show portrays a family that has it's problems – as can be seen by the opening scene of Daniel bailing out his daughter for drug possession, and works their way through them. It's a little like Seventh Heaven, but where the son in that show should have been gay, this one gets it right 🙂
Of course, there is a part of me that wonders if the AFA made the noise so I would watch it.