As: Jonathan (Jack) Benjamin
Release: Date: March 15, 2009
Creators: Michael Green
Network: NBC
Runtime: 60 miniutes
Genre: Drama/Romance/Serial drama/Speculative fiction
Episodes featured in: 13
Tagline: n/a.
Cast:
Ian McShane – King Silas Benjamin
Christopher Egan – Capt. David Shepherd
Susanna Thompson – Queen Rose Benjamin .
Allison Miller – Michelle Benjamin
Eamonn Walker – Rev. Ephram Samuels
Sebastian Stan – Jack Benjamin
Plot:
Kings is set in the fictional Kingdom of Gilboa, which technologically and culturally resembles the present-day United States; the government, however, is an absolute monarchy. Gilboa is ruled by King Silas Benjamin, who originally formed the united kingdom two decades prior from the three warring countries of Gilboa, Carmel, and Selah. He believes his power to be divine, often citing a day when a swarm of butterflies once landed on his head in the form of “a living crown” which called upon him to form the kingdom.
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.
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 an anti-tank missile. The captive soldier is Prince Jack, and David not only becomes an instant star in the national media, but also earns the gratitude of King Silas, much to the chagrin of the prince.
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. He soon finds himself in the midst of royal court politics with little initial awareness of the forces acting behind them. He also develops feelings for Silas’s daughter, Princess Michelle, which she privately reciprocates.
In the pilot episode, David, much like Silas years before, is set upon by a living “crown” of butterflies, as Silas witnesses the event from a discreet distance. Silas has already been told that God no longer supports his reign, and this then implies that David is the divine choice as his successor. This troubles the King so much that he initially plots to have David killed. Silas, however, soon comes to interpret the reappearance of the butterflies as an omen that David is meant to serve him, and young David accepts this, thereby being drawn deeper into the court. Through the series, David and Michelle’s romance blossoms, first secretly and then publicly when Michelle informs King Silas. Silas falsely accuses David of being a traitor because David lied to Silas about his relationship with Michelle. During David’s imprisonment, Michelle learns that she is pregnant with David’s child.
In the two-part finale, William Cross orchestrates a coup with the intention of placing Jack on the throne as his puppet. Silas is shot, but survives. Although Silas has framed David for treason, David helps return him to power. Reverend Samuels is killed under William’s orders, but appears in posthumous visions to both David and Silas (neither of whom is aware that Samuels is dead), informing them that God has chosen David to be the next king. David flees to Gath on Samuels’ advice, and Michelle is sent into exile to bear his child in secret. Silas declares that he is now God’s enemy.