[4] The Sunday March 15, 2009 premiere placed fourth in network television ratings for that evening. The intervening episodes continue to use symbolism and images to add depth to the basic story line, such as casting shadows in the shape of a cross on David and other characters, historical and biblical stories being intertwined in the plot (David defeating the seemingly invincible Goliath tank), return of a prodigal son (or nephew, in this case), and King Silas making promises and pleas directly to God that are answered, but not always as he had hoped.
[19] However, show creator Michael Green denied that Liberty Mutual controlled or censored the show in any way. While out in the country, David is introduced to the king's hidden life and secret second family outside the palace walls. Silas is shot twice, but survives.

We may get nailed for it, but I'm proud of the show, and we need to keep taking chances like that. [28] Macaulay Culkin also appeared in a multi-episode arc, playing King Silas's nephew, who was exiled for mysterious reasons. Search.

The event drives a wedge between David and Michelle, who compete against each other for the 10th case spot; David needs it to get his brother a royal pardon, while Michelle is desperate to finally gain an audience for her health-care reforms. The captive soldier is Prince Jack, and David not only becomes an instant star in the national media, but he also earns the gratitude of King Silas, much to the chagrin of the prince. [29] Saffron Burrows appeared in one episode as the Angel of Death. Behind the scenes, William Cross (Dylan Baker), the King's brother-in-law, secretly tells Silas that the war has been highly profitable for Cross's company, CrossGen, and asks that peace be delayed. Dialogue reveals that nearly all of the royal treasury is made up of gold on loan from Cross, so when Silas refuses to honor Cross's request, Cross uses his power over the treasury to undermine Silas. Find more info on this show with Bing Search.

Meanwhile, Jack goes on a shopping spree to spite his parents.

As both David and Silas see more and more signs that David, despite his reluctance, is destined to be the new king, David realizes that his life is in danger, and he flees to Gath.

When Michelle reveals the romance to her father, Silas decides that David has betrayed him. A unique, fly-on-the-wall look at the experiences of the staff and patients at the always busy emergency department at St Vincent's Hospital. Track Kings Cross ER season 1 episodes. There were a lot of reasons they had. [33] Edward Douglas of ComingSoon.Net stated that "the writing is sharp and the acting is excellent, as Green has assembled a cast that's almost unprecedented for a television show. [9], The show garnered a 58 out of 100 on Metacritic, symbolizing "mixed to average" reviews. A third series was commissioned by the Nine Network and is currently airing. However, Rose convinces Michelle that it would be too dangerous to defend David, and she betrays him. [17], NBC officially ordered the show to series on May 19, 2008. Elsewhere, William is inspired by the unpopularity of Silas's decision, and tries to persuade Jack to help him overthrow his father. Due to the unexpectedly rocky start, several media commentators predicted that Kings would be cancelled[43] or have the already-filmed episodes "burned off" on another night, such as Saturday. More fearful than ever of David's popularity as a national hero, Silas arranges for David to be framed and arrested for treason, and appoints Jack as prosecutor; together, Jack and Silas conspire to stack up false evidence that David is a spy from Gath, who has carefully orchestrated all of his acts of heroism in an attempt to gain power. And that utterly failed to generate any interest in the show. All is not well for Silas: his policies and actions are being manipulated by his queen's brother, William Cross, who holds substantial control over the royal treasury and also appears to be the major stakeholder as CEO/Chairman of Crossgen (which appears to have a large stake in the economy of Gilboa); his heir, Prince Jack, is a closeted homosexual, which could undermine the royal family; and Silas himself has a secret mistress as well as a young son with her.
Silas presides over 10 cases during an annual tradition called Judgment Day. Kings Cross ER; Kings Cross ER. See All . Despite his wife's request to invite their nephew, Andrew Cross, to his birthday party, Silas refuses to do so. Add episode.

Click here and start watching the full season in seconds. However, David refuses their help after realizing that they are planning a coup.

[50] After only one Saturday broadcast, NBC announced that the remaining episodes will air in the summer, from June 13 to July 25. It's just hard to launch things that are not obvious. He also develops feelings for Silas's daughter, Princess Michelle, which she privately reciprocates.

[29], A 3-disc DVD set, entitled Kings – The Complete Series, was released on September 29, 2009. The series' narrative is loosely based on the biblical story of King David, but set in a kingdom that culturally and technologically resembles the present-day United States.. Advance showings received mostly positive critical reviews. I found that in the development of the show, on the creative level of what the episodes and their content would be, I got nothing but support and interest in the religious or magical or somehow belief-inspired storytelling. David flees to Gath on Samuels' advice, and Michelle is sent into exile to bear his child in secret. Season 1 | Season 2 » See also. [19] Liberty Mutual had previously approached ABC and CBS about such an arrangement. Unaware that Jack is one of the conspirators, David attempts to warn him of the threat to Silas's crown. I thought it was the clearest way to express what the show was about, and I thought it might actually generate interest. Silas ducks out of an event to be with his ailing illegitimate son. Watch full episodes of Kings Cross ER and get the latest breaking news, exclusive videos and pictures, episode recaps and much more at TVGuide.com She is the one person to whom the King will listen, while he will not hesitate to turn his back on or even order the death penalty for his own children.

"[41] TV.com speculated that NBC underpromoted the show causing the lackluster pilot episode rating.[42]. ", "Kings: Is the New TV Show As Good As Cancelled Already? Remembering Silas's "pilgrimage," David finds Silas hiding out with his secret family. [20], Green attributed the decision to avoid mentioning the show's biblical roots in promotion to "fear of reprisal from the religious audience". "[32] NBC pre-released the first four episodes of the series to critics and garnered mostly positive reviews. [39] However, many reviewers, while criticizing the drama's stylized dialogue[2][40] or calling its biblical themes "pretentious",[40] praised Ian McShane's kingly performance and the show's ambitions. In penance, Michelle purposely exposes herself to the Plague, so that she can comfort a dying boy. [13], Other reviewers were less positive. Despite Jack's initial plans to be a good king, he immediately becomes a ruthless, violent tyrant, while also serving as a puppet for Cross, who pushes for renewed war with the Republic of Gath. Full Cast and Crew; Release Dates; Official Sites; Company Credits; Filming & Production; Technical Specs; Storyline. Events of the series are set into motion when young David Shepherd, a Gilboan soldier in a war against the Republic of Gath, single-handedly rescues a captive soldier from behind enemy lines and destroys a "Goliath-Class" tank with a shoulder fired missile launcher. In revenge for the slight, Andrew's father attempts to ruin the party by ordering his company, CrossGen, to shut off the power for all of Shiloh. Reverend Samuels, Silas' long-time spiritual advisor and confidant, is killed under William's orders but appears in posthumous visions to David, the Princess, and Silas (none of whom is aware that Samuels is dead), confirming to them that God has chosen David to be the next king. Jack and William seize power when Jack declares himself king. There also are references to more modern themes, such as the Cold War, encroachment of technology in our lives, companies that perpetuate wars to make money, and national policy being influenced by holding the nation's treasury hostage.

[19] A report in Forbes magazine said that Liberty Mutual was involved in the show's creative development — including "the right to go over the show's scripts", and even "clean[ing] up dialogue". Search. TV Schedule. Kings Cross ER (TV Series) TV. Michael Green (Heroes, Everwood) penned the script and Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) was set to direct. [29] Miguel Ferrer (Crossing Jordan), Michael Stahl-David (The Black Donnellys), and Leslie Bibb (Crossing Jordan) were also cast for multi-episode arcs. [citation needed] Filming for the pilot was also done at Hempstead House, part of the former Guggenheim estate at Sands Point Preserve on Long Island. Meanwhile, Michelle seeks a way to keep David alive, and Cross and Jack continue their plans to overthrow the King. I find myself in the latter category because I'm always a sucker for swing-for-fences serialized shows like this, especially when it looks ... and feels unlike anything on television right now. King Silas brings David into the capital city of Shiloh where he is promoted to Captain and then maneuvered into the plum position of military liaison to the media. Feeling threatened by David's popularity, Silas and Abner plot against him, but this backfires when his absence from the treaty signing with Gath prompts concerns from Gath's leader, who refuses to proceed without David. [9], The role for King Silas was originally written for Ian McShane, but Green thought that it would be unlikely to get him to play the lead. Filled with anguish he crosses no man's land to plead for peace which is ultimately successful. The marketing stayed away from it.

[45], However, commentators pointed out that Silverman's remarks about the audience growth were "misleading"[46] and noted that the show cost "$10 million [for] Sunday's two-hour debut and is [costing] another $4 million per episode, an extravagant sum for any show and especially so given the program drew only 6 million viewers overall. "[35] In a glowing review of the series' pilot, Heather Havrilesky of Salon.com praised the series' themes, scope, art direction, cinematography and Ian McShane's performance, concluding: "The dialogue is just so artful and poetic, the characters are so appealing, the whole damn package is so original and daring and lovely, that after watching the first four hours, it's impossible not to feel inspired and cheered by the fact that a drama this ambitious and unique could make it onto network TV. Elsewhere, Jack takes David out for a night on the town in hopes of tarnishing his image, and Reverend Samuels continues to clash with Silas. Ian McShane is as riveting in the role of King Silas as he was as Al Swearengen, giving the sort of loquacious speeches that he's great at giving. To their detriment, they spent their money on a campaign that tried to sell the sci-fi aspects of a monarchy. "[34] Brian Ford Sullivan of The Futon Critic commented that "Kings is ultimately a show you're either going to dismiss as silly and pretentious or fall in love with because of its silliness and pretentiousness.