NBC’s new show Kings has “this could be a huge hit” written all over it. Too bad “this could be worse than Knight Rider” is written in the same font size. But here’s a reason to tune in to the March 15 premiere: The whole premise of the show centers around a gay son. And he’s hot!
Kings is set in an imaginary world in an imaginary time and is about an imaginary royal family — all of which looks and feels like present day New York City. (The royal court looks to be shot in the Time Warner Center overlooking Columbus Circle.) The basic premise?
King Silas Benjamin (played by Ian McShane) showers all of his attention on handsome hero soldier David Shepherd (actor Chris Egan, left), who saved the life of his son, Prince Jack Benjamin (played by Sebastian Stan, right), in war. But Prince Jack is gay! Which means the king would rather leave his throne to his son’s savior, who is macho and straight and, unlike Prince Jack, does not have a gay boyfriend! (Yes, actor Michael Arden will be the prince’s homo lover, playing his arm candy as they go gay clubbing, reports Transracial.)
Prince Jack was “raised in the lap of luxury and spirals down a destructive path in search of himself,” NBC.com says. He’s also supposed to be an “arrogant” prick, huzzah! We love our cocky good looking fags. Fine, yes, we’ll watch this.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
cruiser
sounds like one heckuva show, lots of eye candy and a storyline to boot, what a novel idea!
Jon B
WOOHOO!!! And Michael Arden is set to play the gay son’s love interest on the show! If you don’t know him, he’s an adorable, TR Knight look-a-like with the most amazing voice ever. He starred in the off-broadway run of Bare (which is an amazing and devistating gay themed musical). I hope the show is a success and that Michael Arden becomes a regular on the show.
David
I’ll be watching! For sure. Sounds like it could be good.
Sebbe
I was even more confussed after just watching the trailer on NBC’s site. The wikipedia summary cleared it up for me slightly. Like David said, this show could rock or blow. Seems like a good fit for Sunday nights.
“Kings is an upcoming TV series airing on NBC and Citytv, based on the King David story. The series is set in the modern day metropolis of Shiloh, a city under siege where the fighting has gone on for too long and cost far too many lives. When David Shepherd (Christopher Egan), a brave young soldier, rescues the King’s (Ian McShane) son from enemy territory, he sets events in motion that will finally bring peace.
Suddenly, David is thrust into the limelight, earning the affections of women, including the King’s daughter. When he’s promoted to captain, he becomes the reluctant poster boy for hope. But for David, the line between his allies and enemies will blur as the power players in the kingdom go to great lengths to see him fall and there’s no telling who will win.”
Cameron
The arrogant prince gay son falls out of favor to the AWESOME STRAIGHT MACHO soldier? And of course Prince falls down a destructive path… cause’, you know, we’re all unstable and just “looking for ourselves.” How does this sound like a good portrayal?
Gregoire
Isn’t it by the makers of Heroes? That means it has about five or six great episodes in it, then it will go downhill.
The Gay Numbers
@Cameron: To answer your question, I will use this line from Eddie Murphy: If you feed a hungry man a cracker, he will tell you that it’s a gourmet meal.
HaplessOrphan
@Cameron: I could not agree more. My exact sentiments as I read this post. No thank you! I expect this love of any, literally ANY, gay portrayal from the likes of Genre and Out (still pissed about that Katy Perry cover) but I thought that Queerty was beyond such nonsense.
Ted B. (Charging Rhino)
It’s loosely based on the Biblical struggle between King Saul of Israel and soon-to-be king David, with Saul’s son (and David’s lover?) Jonathon caught between them.
Will it be that Jack’s “gay” therefore unacceptable? Or, that Jack’s ineffective? Edward Longshanks of England had a similar real-world dilemma, and that didn’t turnout well for anyone….
Tallskin
Sounds like it could be horribly anti-gay!
Paul Raposo
Sounds crap-tastic.
blake
It’s sci-fantasy, an alternate universe story where the U.S. does not exist but a monarchy-based country exists in its place.
The country’s flag has a butterfly, which is supposed to symbolize the butterfly effect (flapping of a butterfly’s wings in one place results in a great storm someplace else).
hardmannyc
I’ll only watch if Chris Egan is given some beefcake moments. Cute!
GranDiva
That be soundin’ oh so lame…
Smokey Martini
@Cameron:
I second your reactions to the storyline.
Can we have a non-circuit gay character for once?
The Gay Numbers
@Smokey Martini: This is how I feel. It’s like the lives of most gay people are never represented because we keep seeing the same stories repeated in different context. Even in alternative universes, we are the same s here.
Michael
I’m willing to give this a chance, but like @Cameron and others I am wary of how this sounds.
John in CA
Yes, I get the distinct feeling we’re going to have a Braveheart “window” moment with this show. That is, if it lasts beyond the first two or three episodes.
jack
Are you that much of a push over? It centers around a gay son and he’s hot! Wow, that’s a great reason to tune -and who says he’s hot? You?
osocubano
It’ll be a good show to fall asleep by.
gurlene
As with every other attempt to portray gays on TV this show will fizzle after the second episode.
The situation with Knight Rider is enough to make me cry. The star is clearly some twink whose ex-lover offered him this in exchange for not filing a lawsuit demanding half of his earnings. Sad indeed. The show could have been so much nicer.
Phoenix (Mocks your Pilot Episode)
This sounds like a crappy soap opera without the campy charm of “Passions”.