House of David Season 2 Episode 1: Review
- Kevin Keating
- 6 hours ago
- 8 min read
Episode 1 of House of David Season 2 ("A Tale of Two Swords") is a miracle. It’s been less than a year since Season 1 of Wonder Project’s new Bible show premiered and yet somehow Jon Erwin and Jon Gunn have produced what may be one of my favorite episodes of the show so far. Episode 1 of House of David Season 2 picks up right where Episode 8 of Season 1 left off, with David’s triumph over Goliath and the ensuing battle between the Israelites and Philistines, followed by David's reunion with King Saul and Jonathan after the battle (1 Samuel 17:51-18:4). I’ll offer my initial review of Episode 1 below, but check back on October 5 for a detailed summary and an analysis of Episode 1’s key themes and ideas. You can also check out my review of House of David Season 2 Episodes 1-2 on YouTube.
More House of David Resources
What Happened in House of David Season 2 Episode 1 (A Tale of Two Swords)?
Detailed summaries Episodes 1-2 of House of David Season 2 are under embargo until Sunday. Check back then for more information about what happened.
Review of House of David Season 2 Episode 1
Episode 1 gets House of David Season 2 started with a bang. The episode excels in many ways:
Production Value, Costumes, Cinematography, Choreography: House of David continues to maintain the quality of a mainstream historical/fantasy epic. Everything looks top notch.
Depiction of War: Although House of David has shown fighting, Episode 1 of Season 2 gives us the most sustained depiction of war that we’ve had so far. I appreciate how the show balances epic shots of the battlefield, larger-than-life heroic deeds like what you’d get in The Lord of the Rings, and more grounded, realistic moments that capture the horror and confusion of battle. Historians describe the limited knowledge that combatants have on the battlefield metaphorically as the “fog of war,” but Episode 1 literalizes this concept, constantly surrounding the Israelites and Philistines in swirling clouds of dust and shadow that create an atmosphere of bewilderment and anxiety. For a production the size of House of David this approach has the added benefit of allowing us to imagine a larger battle, without the need for thousands of human or CGI extras. But it doesn’t come across as a cheap workaround – ever moment of the battle in Episode 1 feels just as epic and action-packed as a top-tier fantasy film.
David’s Inexperience: After David’s glorious triumph over Goliath, it would have been very easy for House of David to have allowed the character to turn immediately into an invincible action hero. This is a trap that far more established franchises have fallen into – I think, for example, of Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. By contrast, House of David allows David’s inexperience to come through throughout his first battle. After all, killing a giant with a sling isn’t the same as participating in close-combat in a cluttered battlefield. I loved seeing Jonathan teach David on the run. I also appreciate the sense of anxiety that the other soldiers had with respect to David’s presence on the battlefield – even after his stunning victory, they can see his vulnerability, while at the same time recognizing his symbolic value and the importance of keeping him safe.
Flashbacks: Episode 1 of Season 2 utilizes several flashbacks to deepen our investment in characters like Saul, Jonathan, and Achish. Without getting into the details of any of the specific flashbacks, I think they function pretty well as brief respites from the action that help us reconnect to the characters. The point of these scenes isn’t to deliver a lot of new information – it’s to provide a proper emotional context for the action. In that respect, they’re pretty effective.
Characterization: Outside of the flashbacks, this is primarily an action-focused episode, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t get some good character moments. Just David’s triumph over Goliath didn’t signal an instant change in his ability to fight, I’m also glad to see that it also didn’t instantly change his relationship with Eliab. His brothers clearly recognize that they’ve under-estimated him, but that doesn’t stop them from worrying about protecting him. The friendship between Jonathan and David is famed and I like how we started to see it play out across the episode. I also like the ending exchange between Saul and Samuel and how it contrasts the deep disconnect between how the two of them view God and kingship.
The Sword of Goliath & The One Ring: I found the emphasis on the Sword of Goliath interesting on multiple levels. In my past reviews, I’ve noted several ways in which House of David draws on and alludes to The Lord of the Rings books and films, and Mychal’s opening narration describing the forging of the sword continues this trend. Informed viewers are clearly being invited to think of Galadriel’s opening narration about the rings of power in The Fellowship of the Ring, which suggests that the Sword of Goliath is somewhat akin to the One Ring – as Mychal puts it, “those who wield its power would conquer nations and destroy their enemies.” The connection between the Sword and the Ring is made stronger as the episode continues: after it is taken from the body of a powerful, supernatural enemy (Goliath), we see various figures fighting over it and wielding its power to dominate others. Last season, Achish already introduced the idea that the forging of iron was supernatural, and that idea is reinforced by how Episode 1 lingers on the magic runes inscribed on the sword. At the same time, Mychal herself seems to view the sword as technology rather than magic, which is also how Scripture generally frames such matters. But the distinction between magic and technology would have been fuzzier for ancient people than it is for us today. Biblically-speaking, both magic and technology represent pagan forms of worldly power that inspire fear but can be overcome through faith in God’s power. If that sounds familiar, it’s because technology and size/strength are simply two different forms of worldly power. If Season 2 of House of David focuses on technology, it will simply be continuing/extending one of the core themes of Season 1.
Gandalf-Samuel: While I’m calling attention to The Lord of the Rings-inspired moments, I loved Samuel’s big moment in the episode, which will definitely remind informed viewers of Ian McKellen’s Gandalf. Samuel’s role in the larger battle is also clearly meant to evoke Moses in the war with Amalek, which is a cool intertextual connection (Exodus 17:8-16).
THAT Death: The death of a named character doesn’t come as a big surprise – if anything, the lead up to his death follows the trope to the T – but that didn’t really bother me. Scripture often depicts battles in a rather sweeping way (whether positively or negatively) but the reality of war is always more complicated. Victory is never so complete that it comes without a cost, and so it’s good that House of David makes us feel the pain of its first major battle by sacrificing a character we know and not just a bunch of extras. I appreciate how the show allows the character to reach an appropriate point in his character arc before his death, and how his death affects those around him.
I didn’t have any major issues with the episode, but I do one to flag a potential cause of concern for some Bible-readers:
The Bible says, “When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled” (1 Samuel 17:51b), but in House of David, after Goliath dies, the Philistine army charges into battle with the Israelites. Of course, the Bible is summarizing an entire event in the space of a sentence, and so I wouldn’t say that the show is necessarily being inaccurate – it’s just depicting in more granular detail the process that led the Philistines to flee. That said, I think it would have been good for the show to have made the rank-and-file Philistines as being more terrified, and made the connection between Goliath’s death and the defeat of their army a little clearer.
Is House of David Season 2 Worth the Cost of a Wonder Project Subscription?
Many who read this review are probably trying to figure out whether Season 2 of House of David is worth paying an additional $8.99 a month for the Wonder Project subscription on Amazon Prime Video. Here’s how I see it:
If you’re the kind of person who goes out to movies, this is a no-brainer. Skip one movie, and for the price of your ticket, you can subscribe to Wonder Project for the two months it’ll take to get through House of David Season 2. Instead of a two-hour movie, you’ll get a ~8 hour epic show and a lot of other good family-friendly/Christian content thrown in.
If you’re the kind of person who wants to support Christian art and media, it’s also a no-brainer. House of David is top-tier content full-stop, not just good compared to other Christian content. Outside of The Chosen, I haven’t seen another Christian show that comes close to rivaling it.
If you’re on a tight budget and being the first to watch the hottest new show isn’t a priority, you may want to hold off on the Wonder Project subscription, since House of David Season 2 will eventually be available to regular Prime Video subscribers (when exactly has not been announced).
Disclaimer: I participate in the Amazon Associate marketing program, so I do get a small reward each time someone clicks on one of my links and starts a new add-on subscription. That said, I’ve tried to be as honest as I could in my evaluation.
Key Themes of House of David Season 2 Episode 1
Episode 1 of House of David Season 2 has a few key themes, which I’ll analyze in greater detail after the embargo on plot details is lifted:
What Gives Victory?
What is Victory?
What is the Cost of Victory?
Again, I’ll be updating this review on October 5 with a detailed summary of the plot of House of David Season 2 Episode 1 and my thoughts on these themes. Also be sure to check out my coverage of House of David Season 2 on YouTube.
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Further Reading
An adaptation like House of David isn't meant to replace the Bible; it's meant to drive us deeper into the Bible and spiritual reflection. Some of the biblical advisors for House of David have published a series of interactive Bible studies that are meant to explore some of the Scripture and biblical themes that inspired the show and help viewers apply them to everyday life. If you're looking for additional resources, you might want to check them out!
FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here for my affiliation policy.
