Is Amazon’s House of David worth the watch?

Amazon Prime Video has produced another streaming hit, but this one does not quite fit the mold of the comic book shows of The Boys or Invincible, or the fantasy-driven Rings of Power. Rather, House of David is a historical drama oriented around the life of one of the Bible’s most well-known figures: King David. 

The biblical adaptation premiered on February 27 and quickly became one of Prime’s most popular shows, at times ranking only behind the action-packed Reacher. Amazon has already announced that there will be a second season. As with all Bible-adjacent content, Christian viewers want the story to be good, but not if it comes at the cost of being faithful to the text.  

So is House of David worth the watch? 

Alabama-born filmmaker Jon Erwin would say so. He is the mastermind behind the project. Though Erwin has directed films like I Can Only Imagine, American Underdog, and Jesus Revolution, this is the story that he has always wanted to tell. 

Erwin has been attributed with molding and strengthening the current Christian movie genre, which lagged behind major genres in quality and popularity but has gained traction in both over the last decade. Now, he is making his impact with his first major entry in the streaming series market.

Six of the first season’s episodes have already been released, with the next episode available on March 27 and the season finale slated for April 3. The storyline of season one is centered around David’s origins and the house of Saul, which will one day become the show’s namesake–the house of David. 

The show primarily draws its plotlines from 1 Samuel 13-18, bringing to life important moments from the biblical narrative. Stories like God’s rejection of Saul, Samuel’s anointing of David, and David playing the lyre in Saul’s presence are displayed on screen in a way that has not been done before. 

The world-renowned underdog story of David and Goliath, however, is simply teased out over the course of the season’s opening six episodes, preparing the viewer for a yet-to-be-released climactic moment. 

Is House of David biblically accurate?

While there are a variety of extra-biblical storylines built into the show for content purposes, House of David stays true to the Bible on the individual narratives it adapts. So far, there are no significant omissions, re-interpretations, or theological concerns. The show does take creative liberties for the sake of character context and plot development, some of which work, while others . . . not so much. 

For example, the writers understandably work in a backstory for Goliath, which is a positive, overall. However, the contextualization for David’s relationship with Michal, who eventually becomes his wife, feels like it has a Hallmark Channel lens over it in an otherwise captivating drama. All-in-all, the additional storylines are a mixed bag.

The series has slow story progression at times but is highlighted by occasional thrilling moments in each episode, often with Saul’s character in the middle. While it is clear that the multi-season arc will center around David, it’s Saul who steals the show in season one. 

Saul’s character is painted with appropriate complexity. He is both the Lord’s anointed king ruling over his holy nation, yet is also marked by an innate pride and fear that leads to divine torment in his daily life. Perhaps the show’s best moments are when Saul and David’s paths get entangled. 

Should you watch House of David?

From a quality standpoint, House of David not only stands above the crowd of most Christian series but the average streaming drama series in general. The visuals, dialogue, and acting are all above par. It is not award-worthy, but it is entertaining and worth the watch. 

For parental discretion before sitting down with the whole family, the violence is infrequent but more graphic than most other live-action Christian media products.

In conclusion, House of David elevates an important part of biblical history and visually brings Scripture to life. It has the potential to reach a wide audience, pointing people further into the Bible and an understanding of God’s plan for redemption. 

It would be incredible if, as the show continues, the creators are able to build in a clear Jesus connection that could point viewers not only to the incredible stories of the Old Testament but to the clear picture of salvation in the Gospels. 
As Christians, whether you’re watching House of David or not, let’s pray that God will use the show for his glory, that it could be a tool of spiritual growth for believers, and that it would act as a catalyst for conversations with unbelievers.