‘House of David’: A Shepherd Determined to Fulfill His Destiny

What a time to be alive. Not only are there countless options for faith-based programming, but the quality of programs has grown tremendously. After screening the entire eight-episode season, I can tell you that this is the best Christian series to date.

Creator Jon Erwin had the privilege of telling one of the Bible’s most well-known stories in the Old Testament: David vs. Goliath. A popular reference in sports culture to signify an uneven matchup, David was a humble shepherd who stood steadfast in his faith and obedience to the Lord’s commands. Goliath was a literal giant, standing nine feet tall, who sided with the Philistines and mocked the armies of Israel. So when a small sports team competes against a larger one, it’s usually shaped as a “David vs. Goliath” matchup.

Out of all of the stories in The Bible, Erwin made the right choice in selecting this one. Not only can you get numerous seasons out of it since it spans three books (Samuel, Chronicles, and Kings), but you also have ample opportunity to use creative license. In The Bible, Goliath is simply added to the story. No origin tale, no background, nothing. First Samuel Chapter 16 ends with no mention of the giant but, appears as the main feature in Chapter 17. In the series, the writers got to flex their creative muscles and formed a very reasonable backstory for him. The series isn’t 100% copy-and-paste from The Bible, but again, after watching the first season, I can say a good 90% accuracy is more like it.

The first episode “A Shepard and A King” tells the dual stories of King Saul (Ali Suliman) and a young boy named David (Michael Iskander). The king and his son Jonathan (Ethan Kai) have just slayed the Amalekites and are celebrating their victory. Saul didn’t fully obey the Lord because he was supposed to destroy everything in the land. Instead, he kept plunder, held captives in cages, and chained up their king, Agag (Jeremy Xido), to embarrass him in front of the masses. David on the other hand, could hear God speak to him whenever he was alone and knew he was destined for more. He confidently left his home and pursued the lion that was wreaking havoc on his family’s flock. Surprised that his talent made room for him inside the king’s palace, he was convinced all the more by his selection that he had a grand destiny to fulfill.

The first season spans 1 Samuel 13-16. Those four chapters were turned into an eight-episode season. Erwin took creative license to add a few characters that won’t be found in the “Good Book”, but their presence and purpose fit nicely into the story. Unlike completely unnecessary characters (think The Chosen), the ones here are used to broaden the story, fill in the gaps, or both.

The attention to detail is beyond impressive as not-so-known characters receive ample face time. Saul, David, and Samuel are mainstays and are referenced throughout The Bible. Thanks to the series, people will learn of names like Abinadab, Abner, and Joab. I’ll leave you to learn who they are and why they’re important, or, you can impress me and others and read both books of Samuel (see what I did there?)

The cast is absolutely incredible. If you search Michael Iskander, the only project on his IMDB is House of David; a first-timer filled the role of one of the most important and notable figures in The Bible. His acting is brilliant, but even more impressive than that, is his singing (thanks to a background in theatre). Whether encouraging his brothers or at the request of Saul, David would play his lyre and lull his listeners into a peaceful zen. Other standouts were Ayelet Zurer (Queen Ahinoam), Ali Suliman (King Saul), Ethan Kai (Jonathan), Indy Lewis (Mychal), Oded Fehr (Abner), Yali Topol Margalith (Mirab), and Stewart Scudamore (Adriel).

Bringing the story of David from scripture to film does a huge service to Christians. It’s one thing to imagine what you’re reading, it’s another to see those faces and names onscreen. One aspect I truly appreciate is the usage of locations. Hearing locations like Judah, Sokoh, and Azekah can go in one ear and out the other. I remember the first time I saw the Valley of Elah I was smiling from ear to ear. All of a sudden, names like Eliab have faces, and cities like Gath have physical attributes.

Even though the series is framed around David and Goliath with a focus on King Saul, the most important character of them all is the prophet Samuel. Stephen Lang was responsible for bringing this character to life and truly did him justice. Any shift in power, momentum, or plot, Samuel was there to see it through. A prophet for the Lord, everyone respected Samuel because they knew he was blessed. Because of this, they often called him “The Seer”.

While The Bible is the living word of God and is full of wisdom, it’s often misconstrued as an instrument of peace. The Old Testament is chocked full of epic battles and all-out wars between tribes and cities. Here, the violence is fixed on the Philistines. Unlike Game of Thrones or 300, the violence in House of David isn’t emphasized by blood-filled scenes or enhanced confrontations. Biblical violence without gore makes for a reasonable watch and is much easier to digest. The lack of blood and gore works in its favor to broaden appeal.

House of David gets a 9.5 out of 10. The series is spectacular and I’m already looking forward to the next season. The only detail that bothered me was where Black people were infused. Using a majority Middle-Eastern cast was fine and appropriate, but seeing a Black face as the lead assassin and the witch raised an eyebrow. It’s not enough to throw off the plot or affect the viewing experience but it was noticeable. The film is unrated but there is violence: swords, arrows, and a decapitation. Nothing gruesome is shown and it felt like it was purposely done. This could easily go into three or four seasons and I hope it does. Jon Erwin and Wonder Project were meticulous with their plans for this series and their ROI will be new viewers and new believers as a result.

The first four episodes of House of David are available now on Prime Video. New episodes will stream weekly.

-Jon Jones

Photos: Courtesy of Prime Video

Genre: Christian, History
Rating: Unrated; but contains violence
Runtime: Eight Episodes; 58 mins.
Trailer: Watch
U.S. Release Date: First three episodes, February 27, 2025. | Final episode, April 3, 2025