The Faithful: Women of the Bible

It’s no secret that biblical dramas are overwhelmingly male-centred, from The Ten Commandments to the more recent Noah. Accordingly, FOX series The Faithful: Women of the Bible attempts to put a feminist spin on the classic biblical epic by looking at the key women from the Bible. The result is a sprawling, big-budget spectacle.

The first episode is headed by matriarch Sarah (Minnie Driver) from the book of Genesis. Driver lends a humanist quality to Sarah, as she dotes on her neighbours and brings bread to the poor. Married to Abraham (Jeffrey Donovan), who says that God promised him a son, she believes that she cannot conceive due to her age. Subsequently, she convinces freed Egyptian slave Hagar (Natacha Karam) to give her husband the son he always wanted.

Despite being rooted in the past, the series manages to explore timeless themes that women continue to deal with today. Particularly resonant is the allusion to the contemporary debate on the ethics of surrogacy via Sarah and Hagar’s arrangement. With a feminist spin on these Old Testament tales (such as Sarah telling a pharaoh that she bows for no man), the series might just have appeal for the less biblically-inclined.

Newcomer Karam is a standout, carrying her role with poise and vulnerability. Her scenes with Driver serve as the emotional crux of the opening episode, with the two actors complementing each other to great effect. Though likeable, Donovan feels a tad miscast in the role of Abraham. As the patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, he doesn’t quite capture the part with the authority it commands.

It’s a well-meaning, if uneven, look at the often overlooked tales of biblical heroines. As is so often the undoing of these ambitious productions, it teeters on the ponderous. At times, it’s epic for the sake of epic, not knowing when to rein in the points of excess. Its most effective moments are in the moving, low-key exchanges between Sarah and Hagar.

For those perhaps less familiar with the Old Testament’s unsung matriarchs, the series does a commendable job of telling their stories within the greater biblical context. A visually impressive feat with excellent female leads, The Faithful: Women of the Bible blends scriptural storytelling with contemporary feminism for a compelling viewing experience.