Line #260 Characters/Kings


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6	!''Series/{{Kings}}''
7
8	[[foldercontrol]]
9
10	[[folder:Main Characters]]
11
12	!!Capt. David Shepherd
13	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/David_Shepherd_2851.jpg]]
14	[[caption-width-right:350:''"I have only ever tried to embody what is good about this nation."'']]
15	->'''Played By:''' Christopher Egan
16
17	A counterpart to the biblical David. David is an idealistic young soldier who finds himself in the unfamiliar world of court intrigue after he wins national fame destroying a Goliath tank. Incredibly loyal to King Silas, David is not ready at all for what his idol is really like.
18	----
19	%%* TheChosenOne
20	* DavidVersusGoliath: In the show, the Goliath is a famously tough model of tank.
21	* DisappearedDad: His father died in the war before the start of the series.
22	%%* FarmBoy
23	%%* TheHero
24	* HolyHalo: At the end of the pilot, the crown of monarch butterflies settles on his head, just like the crown that Silas took as a sign of God's favor.
25	* HumbleHero: Despite the machinations at court, David remains remarkably humble, even to the extent of interpreting the butterfly crown as a sign he should serve the king, not be one.
26	%%* LuckySeven
27	* MassiveNumberedSiblings: David mentions that he has six older brothers, making him the seventh son.
28	* MeaningfulName: A given, considering the series is an update of King David's story.
29	%%* NaiveNewcomer: At least at first.
30	%%* NiceGuy
31	%%* SecretRelationship: With Michelle.
32	* SharpDressedMan: In his official role as a military liaison.
33	%%* WideEyedIdealist: At first.
34	* YoungestChildWins: David is the youngest of seven sons and had the series reached a proper conclusion he would have become king of Gilboa (and possibly Gath, too).
35
36	!!King Silas Benjamin
37	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Silas_Benjamin_1663.jpg]]
38	[[caption-width-right:350:''"Take a good look at ''your'' life right now, captain, and think hard: what does God want ''you'' to do, today?"'']]
39	->'''Played By:''' Creator/IanMcShane
40
41	->''"Peace is not a lamb, but a lion - and it requires force and discipline; otherwise it will go wild, feed on you. I make no meek apology - history will thank me; you will, too."''
42
43	A counterpart to the biblical King Saul. Silas has united the kingdom of Gilboa and built its capital city, Shiloh, but now fears that God has forsaken him.
44	----
45	* AbusiveDad: He's shown to be emotionally abusive to his two sons, justifying it as ToughLove.
46	* AffablyEvil: Even as his actions become increasingly immoral, he never seems to be personally malicious.
47	%%* ArchnemesisDad: To Jack by the end.
48	%%* BadassInANiceSuit
49	* CoolOldGuy: Evil he may be, but he's got charisma and charm to spare.
50	%%* DeadpanSnarker
51	* GoodIsNotNice: Silas firmly believes this. God, however, has other ideas.
52	%%* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor
53	* {{Hypocrite}}: Just using examples from the pilot, he proclaims that Jack cannot be gay because "we give up what we want when we want power" and, NOT TWO SCENES LATER, is revealed to still be in a relationship with the woman he truly loves (and, in fact, never stopped despite Cross thinking he gave her up to marry Rose) and has a child with her.
54	* ItsAllAboutMe: Silas is the centre of his own universe, with the rest of the nation just revolving around him.
55	%%* KnightTemplar
56	* {{Narcissist}}: In Silas' mind, everything is all about him. This is why he can't regard David's secret relationship with Michelle as anything other than a personal betrayal, and why he tries to kill David after God reveals David is to be the next king--he simply cannot ''process'' the idea that they aren't doing it just to hurt him. Even his affection for his children is based on their acting as extensions of his will; when they go against him, Silas again cannot see it as anything other than high treason.
57	* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: In the pilot, Silas calls Jack's homosexuality 'sickening' and [[spoiler: later screams that he is "no prince, you faggot"]].
58	* RageAgainstTheHeavens: Used to believe he enjoyed God's favor; comes to have a much less friendly relationship with his faith.
59	* RagsToRoyalty: He was a humble farmer before being chosen as Gilboa's king.
60	* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: As absolute monarch, he personally oversees day-to-day governance of his kingdom and also occasionally goes out to the front lines to command military actions. There's also one day a year where he listens to the personal grievances of a selected group of citizens, no matter how petty, as a way of showing his people that their king cares about their issues.
61	* SharpDressedMan: He likes suits so much that the palace has an in-house tailor.
62	%%* VillainProtagonist
63	%%* WeUsedToBeFriends: With Samuels.
64
65	!!Queen Rose Cross Benjamin
66	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Rose_Benjamin_1415.jpg]]
67	[[caption-width-right:350:''"I hate nothing more than lies - wasted words, clouds that darken the blue sky yet bring no relief of rain."'']]
68	->'''Played By:''' Creator/SusannaThompson
69
70	Queen of Gilboa, a counterpart to the biblical Ahinoam, Rose is the wife of King Silas. The queen claims to abhor politics, but ruthlessly manipulates court life from behind the scenes.
71	----
72	%%
73	* AscendedExtra: in the Biblical narrative, Queen Ahinoam is barely present.
74	* BitchInSheepsClothing
75	* TheChessmaster: Despite her repeated insistence that she doesn't like to get involved in politics, Rose manipulates nearly everything from behind the scenes.
76	* TheCynic: "Desire for comfort overcomes desire proper and the chairs here are very comfortable. I picked them myself."
77	%%* DeadpanSnarker
78	* DisproportionateRetribution: The people who piss her off invariably meet bad ends. A ruined reputation is a mild punishment from her.
79	%%* EvilMatriarch
80	* MamaBear: When asked if she would accept the death of her brother for the salvation of her children (the cutting of a poisoned limb to save the body), she says without hesitation, "Cut and cut again until there is nothing left but my children."
81	* {{Hypocrite}}: Her picture quote about lies is, of course, a lie - her own daughter was shocked to find she promotes art as a maneuver instead of an earnest love of ballet, everything she does is politics despite her proclaimed hatred of it, and she slaps her son for being honest about being gay immediately after saying that quote.
82	%%* KnightTemplar
83	%%* ManipulativeBitch
84	* ObfuscatingStupidity: Which becomes increasingly obvious to the people that spend time around her.
85	* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Calls Jack's homosexuality a "mistake of character" and slaps him for it.
86	%%* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething
87
88	!!Princess Michelle Benjamin
89	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Michelle_Benjamin_5051.jpg]]
90	[[caption-width-right:350:''"I already live with God's disappointment; I can't live with my father's."'']]
91	->'''Played By:''' Allison Miller
92
93	Princess of Gilboa, a counterpart to the biblical Michal. Silas's daughter and crusader for improving the kingdom's health care system, Michelle finds herself drawn towards David.
94	----
95	%%* CallingTheOldManOut
96	%%* TheHeart
97	* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Constantly and consistently. Hell, her poor decisions are a bigger threat than [[ManipulativeBastard Cross.]]
98	* RebelliousPrincess: Her fight for healthcare reform and her relationship with David are just some of the actions Michelle takes that her royal parents do not approve of.
99	* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Michelle [[spoiler: literally swore a vow to God to Actually Do Something and, as such,]] campaigns like clockwork to have her healthcare reforms approved.
100	%%* SoapboxSadie
101	* TooDumbToLive: Michelle falls into this trope with such stunning regularity that it's amazing she survives a season.
102
103	!!Prince Jonathan ‘Jack’ Benjamin
104	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Jack_Benjamin_7222.jpg]]
105	[[caption-width-right:350:''"The truth doesn't get any easier to tell - it only gets harder, until it's gone forever."'']]
106	->'''Played By:''' Creator/SebastianStan
107
108	Crown prince of Gilboa, a counterpart to the biblical Jonathan. Jack is Silas's ambitious and frustrated son, who initially sees David as a rival at court. Jack plays the role of a dissolute, womanizing rake in front of the kingdom's press, but is secretly gay. The king knows that Jack is gay, and challenges him to restrain his desires if he wishes to become king.
109	----
110	* AdaptationalVillainy: In [[Literature/BooksOfSamuel the books of Samuel]], Jonathan is David's best friend and TheGoodPrince who abdicates in favor of David (not that it mattered, since he died before either were in a position to take the throne). Jack, by contrast, is ambitious and manipulative, and views David as a rival at first.
111	%%* DeadpanSnarker
112	* DepravedHomosexual: Subverted with Jack. He's both gay and a pretty bad guy, but the one thing has nothing to do with the other, and most of his PetTheDog moments come when he starts to come to grips with his sexuality.
113	* FateWorseThanDeath: [[spoiler: Said almost word for word by Silas when Jack turns himself in for treason. He's locked in a room with [[TheBeard his fiancee]], [[RapeByProxy forced to have sex with her]] until they produce an heir for Silas to raise. [[DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale Thomasina isn't sympathetic.]]]]
114	* GildedCage: Atter his [[spoiler: failed coup]] he is confined to his rooms, not a prison. Arguably, his circumstances even early in the series might give this appearance to much of his life.
115	%%* HaveIMentionedIAmHeterosexualToday: By necessity.
116	%%* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor
117	* HiddenDepths: Starts out an apparently womanizing, carefree party boy; turns out to have a MoralityPet in the form of Joseph, a heart capable of being broken, and intelligence to go with his ambitions.
118	* ManipulativeBastard: Runs in the family.
119	* {{Narcissist}}: Not to the same degree as his father, but Jack definitely has trouble viewing the actions of others as being aimed at anything other than him.
120	* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Like the scions of the British Royal Family, Jack served in the military, trying to actively cultivate a 'war hero' image for when he ascends to the throne.
121	* StraightGay: Deliberately attempts to act as straight as possible to avoid being outed.
122	* TransparentCloset: At least to his father, who's been keeping photos of Jack in compromising positions out of the press for years, Jack's rake veneer is pathetically obvious.
123	%%* WellDoneSonGuy
124
125	!!Rev. Ephram Samuels
126	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Ephram_Samuels_9958.jpg]]
127	[[caption-width-right:350:''"Change comes from inside the heart... those you love to be its agents. "'']]
128	->'''Played By:''' Creator/EamonnWalker
129
130	A counterpart to the biblical prophet Samuel. Reverend Samuels was instrumental in Silas's rise to power, but his relationship with the king has since become strained.
131	----
132	%%* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: [[spoiler: After his murder.]]
133	%%* BadassPreacher
134	%%* DeadpanSnarker
135	%%* GoodShepherd
136	%%* TheHeart
137	%%* TheMentor: Was this for Silas, and then became one for David.
138	%%* MentorOccupationalHazard
139	%%* PreacherMan
140	%%* SharpDressedMan
141	%%* WeUsedToBeFriends: With Silas.
142
143	!!William Cross
144	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/William_Cross_8448.jpg]]
145	[[caption-width-right:350:''"There's a language to civilization, and a small group of scholars who can read it. I was born fluent."'']]
146	->'''Played By:''' Creator/DylanBaker
147
148	Industrialist and brother to Queen Rose. William finances Silas' Royal Treasury, but withdraws his funds when, contrary to his wishes, Silas seeks an end to the war with neighboring Gath.
149	----
150	%%* BigBad: Becomes this as the show progresses.
151	%%* CainAndAbel: With Rose in the finale.
152	* TheChessmaster: Like his sister, stays in the shadows and uses his money and influence to manipulate events on a large scale.
153	%%* CorruptCorporateExecutive
154	%%* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: His son, Andrew.
155	* EvenEvilHasStandards: Is genuinely shocked when Andrew [[spoiler:leaks nude photos of Michelle]] to the press, and demands to know why he want to hurt his cousin like that.
156	%%* EvilIsPetty
157	* EvilUncle: To Jack, who he is using, and Michelle, whose birthright he intends to help Jack steal.
158	%%* {{Greed}}
159	%%* ManipulativeBastard
160	%%* ManOfWealthAndTaste
161	* PapaWolf: He takes slights against his son very personally.
162	%%* OnlyInItForTheMoney
163	%%* SharpDressedMan
164	%%* SmugSnake
165	* WarForFunAndProfit: His control of money has an enormous effect on the cessation or continuation of the war.
166	%%* WickedCultured
167
168	!!Gen. Linus Abner
169	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Abner_Linus_6289.jpg]]
170	[[caption-width-right:350:''"I would rather fall on my sword than lay it down."'']]
171	->'''Played By:''' Wes Studi
172
173	A counterpart to the biblical Abner, is the head of Gilboa's military. Though initially loyal to the king, Abner eventually betrays Silas as he believes the king has become too 'soft'; in the episode "Brotherhood" Abner is killed by Silas for his betrayal.
174	----
175	* BlackDudeDiesFirst: Silas's first direct kill.
176	%%* BloodKnight
177	%%* DragonWithAnAgenda
178	* GeneralRipper: Hates Gath and will do anything for the war to continue.
179	%%* KnightTemplar
180	%%* PerpetualFrowner
181	%%* TheStoic
182	%%* WeHardlyKnewYe
183
184	!!Helen Pardis
185	->'''Played By:''' Sarita Choudhury
186
187	A counterpart to the biblical Rizpah, King Silas's mistress and mother of his illegitimate son. Silas attempts to offer up his relationship with Helen as a sacrifice to God in order to save his son's life, but eventually returns to her
188	----
189	%%* AdvertisedExtra
190	%%* AmbiguouslyBrown
191	%%* TheMistress
192	%%* MoralityPet
193
194	[[/folder]]
195
196	[[folder: Recurring]]
197
198	!!Andrew Cross
199	[[quoteright:206:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/andrew_cross_1922.jpg]][[caption-width-right:206:"I broke his favourite thing."]]
200	->'''Played By:''' Macaulay Culkin
201
202	The son of William Cross and nephew to the king, who was exiled from Gilboa for unspecified reasons, but has returned as part of a deal between Silas and William. He plays a role in his father's [[spoiler:attempted coup, eventually betrays him to Silas, and is last scene freeing Vesper Abaddon]].
203	----
204	* BastardUnderstudy: To his father William.
205	%%* ChessmasterSidekick
206	%%* CreepyMonotone
207	%%* TheDragon: To his father.
208	* TheDreaded: Downplayed. Andrew isn't feared the world over, but his relatives and the rest of the court find him very disturbing, and nobody save his father is happy when he comes home.
209	* EnigmaticMinion: To his father [[spoiler:and Silas]]. Andrew's goals, motivations, and loyalties are kept cryptic and opaque, with no real clue as to why he does anything (if indeed there ''is'' a why).
210	* TheExile: Exiled from court prior to the show.
211	* LackOfEmpathy: Andrew doesn't seem able to process the idea that other people actually have feelings, hopes, and dreams. The only thing he cares about is what he can get from them.
212	* PsychoticSmirk: One of his few facial expressions.
213	* SmugSnake: It runs in the family.
214	* TheSociopath: To appropriate Creator/TerryPratchett, Andrew sees things differently from the rest of the characters, in that he sees the rest of the characters as things. [[spoiler:Even his own father is disposable, in his eyes.]] He's also got the lack of affect, shallow emotions, intense boredom, impulsive behaviour, and screwed up sexuality that is typically associated with the trope and the diagnosis.
215	* StalkerWithACrush: [[VillainousIncest To his Aunt Rose]].
216	* TheStoic: Taken to an extreme. Andrew is void of emotional affect.
217
218	!!Jessie Shepherd
219	->'''Played By:''' Becky Ann Baker
220
221	David's mother.
222	----
223	* AlmightyMom: Told off ''the king'' and lived to tell the tale.
224	%%* [[CoolOldGuy Cool Old Lady]]
225	%%* ScrewPolitenessImASenior
226
227	!!Ethan Shepherd
228	->'''Played By''': Tom Guiry
229
230	David's brother. He attempts to launch an insurrection against Silas in order to keep Prosperity.
231	----
232	* ItsAllAboutMe: David accuses him of caring more about glory then his insurrection.
233	%%* KnightTemplar
234	%%* MassiveNumberedSiblings
235
236	!!Damien Shaw
237	->'''Played By''': Mark Margolis
238
239	The Premier of Gath.
240	----
241	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Wants peace just as much as Silas, but is tied by the will of his people.
242
243	!!General Mallick
244	->'''Played By''': Creator/MiguelFerrer
245	----
246	The head of Gath military.
247
248	* EvilCounterpart: Seemingly a more war-hungry version of Abner until Abner shows to be just as bad.
249	%%* GeneralRipper
250
251	!!Chancellor Marcus Hanson
252	->'''Played By''': Michael Crane
253
254	!!Vesper Abaddon
255	->'''Played By:''' Creator/BrianCox
256
257	The former King of Carmel, Vesper Abaddon is kept sealed in the dungeons by Silas, who occasionally consults him on political matters. [[spoiler:Befriends David in prison and is freed at the end of the series by Andrew Cross]].
258	----
259	* AffablyEvil: He's a very fun guy to be around, if you ignore the fact that he was once a brutal dictator.
260	%%* DeadpanSnarker
261	* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Silas uses his family to drag out his hoard of gold.
262	* EvilMentor: To Silas, who he is deliberately trying to send to his destruction.
263	* EvilOldFolks: Sixty-six according to Andrew.
264	* {{Expy}}: More-or-less one of his role in ''Manhunter'' as Hannibal Lecter.
265	* LaughablyEvil: Many of his scenes are morbidly funny in a BlackComedy sort of way.
266	* LeakingCanOfEvil: Thanks to Silas taking his advice.
267	* LouisCypher: He's pretty much the setting's equivalent to Satan, as his influence leads to Silas progressively becoming more villanous.
268	* MachiavelliWasWrong: Admits as much to David, and tells him to take love over fear, right after telling Silas that he should take fear over love.
269	* ManipulativeBastard: One of the few characters who can effectively manipulate Silas.
270	%%* MeaningfulName
271	%%* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast
272	* PetTheDog: His conversation with David, in which he encourages him to take comfort in the fact that he was loved.
273	%%* RetiredMonster
274	* SealedEvilInACan: A more realistic version, as he's in prison.
275	* VillainousGlutton: Justified. Vesper hasn't eaten well in three decades, so when presented with good food he gorges himself.
276	%%* WickedCultured
277	* ZeroPercentApprovalRating: Hated by his own people to the point where they held celebrations when Silas defeated him.
278
279	!!Thomasina
280	->'''Played By''': Marlyne Afflack
281
282	The efficient palace secretary and aide-de-camp.
283	----
284	%%* ActionGirl
285	%%* BattleButler
286	%%* TheDragon: To Silas.
287	%%* UndyingLoyalty
288	%%* NotSoStoic
289
290	!!Perry Straussler
291	->'''Played By''': Steve Rosen
292
293	Court historian and biographer of King Silas.
294
295	!!Joseph Lasile
296	->'''Played By''': Michael Arden
297
298	Jack's clandestine boyfriend.
299	----
300	* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Apparently, though the circumstances are quite coincidental.]]
301	* MoralityPet: To Jack, at least some of the time.
302	* OneTrueLove: Jack goes to him when he is free to do anything during the blackout, then tells him "You're the only real thing I ever touch."
303	* StraightGay: No more camp than your average metrosexual.
304
305	!!Katrina Ghent
306	->'''Played By:''' Leslie Bibb
307	----
308	%%* AmbitionIsEvil
309	%%* BigBadWannabe
310	%%* TheDogBitesBack
311	%%* TheDragon: Serves briefly as one for Jack.
312	%%* DragonWithAnAgenda
313	%%* DroppedABridgeOnHim
314	%%* GoldDigger
315	%%* ManipulativeBitch
316	* SadisticChoice: Gives one to Rose: [[spoiler: expose Jack's sexuality or Michelle's nude photos]].
317
318	!!Boyden & Klotz
319	->'''Played By:''' Jason Antoon & Joel Garland
320	----
321	* AllLoveIsUnrequited: Klotz is in love with Thomasina.
322	%%* BigFun: Klotz.
323	%%* DeadpanSnarker: Boyden.
324	* FatAndSkinny: Klotz is fat, Boyden is skinny.
325	%%* NiceGuy: Klotz.
326	%%* ThoseTwoGuys
327
328	!!Paul Lash
329	->'''Played By''': Michael Stahl-David
330
331	Michelle's partner in her health care plan.
332
333	%%* AllLoveIsUnrequited
334
335	!!Lucinda Wolfson
336	->'''Played By:''' Kathleen Mealia
337
338	Jack's fiance following [[spoiler: Katrina's death]]
339
340	[[/folder]]

Context Characters / Kings