The Book of Daniel - The Complete Series
List Price:
Our Price: $5.47
You Save: $14.51 (73%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $1.90 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Aidan Quinn, Christian Campbell, Ellen Burstyn, Ivan Shaw, Susanna ThompsonBrand: NBC Universal
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Color, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 345 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-09-26
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Universal Studios
DVD Reviews of The Book of Daniel - The Complete Series
DVD Review: Awful. Yet Fascinating. Yet Mediocre
Summary: 2 Stars
When I borrowed this DVD set from my library, I thought it was one of those British shows about a parrish priest who has to deal with the whacky members of his community in sometimes funny but mostly painful set pieces. Instead it was a forgotten NBC show that caused controversy for being all about an episcopalian minister with a drunk wife and a gay son and a lot of speechifying about how gays are people too. It was tailor made for Don Wildmon to stage a boycott because it was anti-Christian.
Everyone else boycotted it because it sucked.
For all its attempts at edginess, the execution is sorely lacking. This show is utterly tone deaf in the way it handles characters and plot development. For the most part it's a dippy soap opera that strives to be the urbane version of 7th Heaven - The Complete Fifth Season but with a little less gay subtext (some gay context but of the "I'm gay, so...um...yeah...go gays" variety). There's also the self conscious Six Feet Under imitation with the "artistic but messed up" little sister and the gay brother and the utter self-involvement of everyone.
Beyond that, it feels like a Very Special Episode of an 80s sit com. Father Daniel is a pill popper but he never seems to have any withdrawal symptoms or euphoria. THe mother is a drunk, but she never slurs her words, has a hangover or well anything. THe gay son is gay but not too gay to have sex with a girl. THe daughter is dealing pot to keep her interweb venture going (even though this is an obviously wealthy family that could buy her a computer and programs). They have an black old lady as a servant (and like most black characters in predominantly white shows, she is a spring of sage advice and smiles and cookies. She also smokes pot but that's for her diabetes). When the adopted son is caught sleeping with the daughter of another character, they send the daughter away because they don't want to have "Oriental grandchildren". When the mother visits the grandmother the grandmother talks about how girls don't need to get into man things (like computers) and should just look pretty. The sister becomes a lesbian but then gets over it. New York is full of mobster contractors who randomly beat up homosexuals and the friendly Catholic priest friend is a way of communicating with the mafia.
To make matters worse, the writing is incredibly lazy even when you get past the broad stereotypes. Everyone seems to be conveniently positioned to spy on everyone else. The mother is always a jerk. Everyone has a sermon. Jesus keeps showing up to impart wisdom straigh from All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.
However, there is a rather stockholm syndrome factor working where the more you watch, the less you care about the dopy bits. THe "oh you're mobsters! I thought you were the gay couple!" double take and spit take scene doesn't seem quite as stupid as it did the first time. The problem is that even if you are watching it for a dumb thrill, it's not nearly as dumb as it could be so even the "bad cultural stereotype" drinking game will wear on you (and kill you with alcohol poisoning).
Description of The Book of Daniel - The Complete Series
A provocative, edgy and compelling new drama, The Book of Daniel stars Emmy nominee Aidan Quinn (An Early Frost, Plainsong, Legends of the Fall) as the Rev. Daniel Webster, an unconventional Episcopalian priest. Webster is challenged on many levels as he struggles to be a good husband, father and minister, while navigating an often rocky relationship with church hierarchy, led by Bishop Beatrice Congreve (Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore). Starring: Aidan Quinn, Ellen BurstynBestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Mercy: The Complete SeriesUNI; Release date: 2010-08-03; DVD
Best price: $5.85
Price in other shops:
The Invisible Man: Season OneNBC Universal; Release date: 2008-03-25; DVD
Best price: $4.97
Price in other shops:
Kidnapped - The Complete SeriesSony; Release date: 2007-04-24; DVD
Best price: $6.93
Price in other shops:
Kings - The Complete SeriesUniversal Studios; Release date: 2009-09-29; DVD
Best price: $9.52
Price in other shops:
Daybreak: The Complete SeriesMILL CREEK ENT. (UNDER DIGITAL; Release date: 2009-09-29; DVD
Best price: $3.21
Price in other shops:
Point Pleasant - The Complete SeriesSHOW,GRANT; Release date: 2005-10-25; DVD
Best price: $15.86
Price in other shops:
My Own Worst Enemy: The Complete SeriesUniversal Studios; Release date: 2009-04-21; DVD
Best price: $4.49
Price in other shops:
The War at Home - The Complete First SeasonWarner Brothers; Release date: 2007-05-15; DVD
Best price: $2.31
Price in other shops:
Surface: The Complete SeriesNBC Universal; Release date: 2006-08-15; DVD
Best price: $6.90
Price in other shops:
Worst Week: The Complete SeriesUniversal Studios; Release date: 2009-09-08; DVD
Best price: $4.18
Price in other shops: