Kings and Queens

Queer theorists have
often pointed to the biblical David's close bond with his
brother-in-law Jonathan as a positive portrayal of
homosexuality in the Bible. If there's a corollary
relationship in
Kings

, it would have to be between David and Jack, the handsome but
debauched crown prince. It's not a perfect metaphor,
though: In the Old Testament, Jonathan adores David and
supports his rise to power. In
Kings

, Jack is envious of his liberator for stealing the spotlight
and King Silas's favor.

Rather than ignore the
ancient tale's gay undercurrent altogether, Green turns it on
its head. His David is clearly heterosexual -- and infatuated
with the king's daughter Michelle (Allison Miller). Jack,
however, is a closeted party boy who sneaks away for late-night
gay trysts that earn the King's wrath. ("What you do at
night with your boys is a disgrace!" he shouts in an early
scene.)

Silas's anger,
Green says, is more about public perception than
homophobia.

"Kings

is set in a society very much like our own," says Green, a
former writer and producer on NBC's
Heroes. "In a modern world, someone like Jack would be followed
by TMZ, so his father is worried about appearances."
(Silas has indiscretions of his own, not surprisingly; he just
knows how to hide them better.)