King Silas Benjamin (Ian McShane) of the Kingdom of Gilboa believed that he had been chosen by God to unite three warring kingdoms and become their monarch. However, it is his wife Queen Rose (Susanna Thompson) who is the true power behind the throne. Their son Jonathan "Jack" Benjamin (Sebastian Stan) has only complicated matters with a flamboyant and womanizing attitude that he uses to conceal his homosexuality. None are aware that the kingdom's politics and finances are being manipulated by the king's brother-in-law William Cross (Dylan Baker) who is using the royal treasury as well as his own business for profiteering.
Prince Jack is captured by enemy forces and sealed inside a seemingly invincible "Goliath-class" tank. He is rescued by a young soldier named David Shepherd (Christopher Egan), which sets off a chain of events leading to an upheaval of the kingdom's hierarchy.
The show weaves some complex storylines using both historical and biblical references. Scriptwriter Michael Green described it this way: "I want to take one of the classic stories that no one has ever retold, and find a way to re-conceive it while still being faithful to the original material but at the same time exploring the themes, modernizing it in every way." Filming was done in and around New York City, showcasing both older and more modern architectural styles to complement the narrative.
Early reviews were generally positive, with particular attention given to the acting and writing. However actual ratings for the two-hour premiere were considerably lower than expected, and media complaints about the series' four million dollars per episode price tag contributed to NBC pulling the show after only four episodes. The remainder of the episodes were eventually aired a few months later during the summer. The series was released on a 3-disc DVD set in September 2009.
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