Television review: 'Rev'

Actor Tom Hollander as 'Rev'

I have just watched the last two episodes of 'Rev', broadcast on BBC2 on 21st and 2th April. I watched with tears pouring down my cheeks as Adam experienced with Christ his own passion, death and resurrection. Congratulations to the BBC for broadcasting this programme. Sadly, it can’t be used in schools for RE as the language means it can only be shown after the watershed.

Adam is let down by his ‘friend’ Nigel, who tells the authorities about an ill-judged kiss. The authorities investigate, and Adam is exonerated, but on the way he endures his passion. His friends condemn him, and he goes through hell. This all takes place during Lent in the parish of St Saviour’s in the Marshes. The subtly of the meaning only gradually unravels. It really just appears to be placed in Holy Week by co-incidence. But slowly the meaning is revealed.

He realises the priest down the road needs his big cross for the Palm Sunday Walk. So Adam takes it over to him, but it takes all night and involves a fall and people despising him. He finishes up on a hill leaning the cross against a billboard, and he starts to sing ‘Lord of the Dance’. He is joined by a man of the road clutching his can. The man talks in clichés which irritates Adam. Then he names Adam and says he will be with him. As Adam realises who he was, he isn’t there.

Adam returns home and goes to see the Bishop, when Adam is told all is forgiven and forgotten, but Adam decides to resign. In a most powerful image, the Bishop notices he has a sticky mark on his hand so he runs the taps and washes and dries his hands – Adam leaves.

He has a complete collapse and refuses to leave his bed. His wife Alex, while doing a funeral for Colin’s dog starts to pray herself. And the final part shows her dragging Adam out of bed and to the now boarded up church. Where those who have denied him have been brought together by Alex to have a final service in the church.

And although Adam wants to have nothing to do with it, Alex persuades him to go through the vigil service for the sake of the others. She says you have been through your Lent now let us have the resurrection. He finds himself being dressed in an alb and singing the exultat before baptising his daughter.

I have a sense now of understanding the resurrection a little more. The BBC are frequently condemned for their lack of religious and faith sensitivity. But those episodes of Rev have a subtly, and an understanding of Christianity that is totally unexpected. Thank you.

For more information see: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0178fhq