“Saving Grace” Will Rock Your World
Earlier this week, I watched the first installment of TNT’s new drama “Saving Grace,” starring Holly Hunter (who is also a producer for the show). It was pretty wild. There was enough sex that it could probably be rated “R,” and the language was raw.
All that aside, it’s an interesting premise. What if, in response to an immediate and unconscious cry of “God, help me!”, an angel named Earl appeared at the most tragic and desperate moment of your life? Would you believe it was God’s messenger?
What if that angel looked like an aging biker and drank soda pop (Leon Rippey)? What if he told you he was your “Last Chance Angel,” sent by God to keep you from heading down the path of imminent self-destruction?
This is definitely not Touched by An Angel or Highway to Heaven. Those angels were nice and friendly, compassionate and caring. Earl is at least one of those.
On the positive side, we can be grateful there is a series with more than one award-winning actor in a lead role that is addressing the questions of God and faith. People in prime-time television on a major cable network are talking about God!
On the negative side, it’s such a distorted view of God. A “last-chance” angel? Until death, there are no last chances with God. That’s the great thing about him, and the thing that can really rub us (yep, me included) the wrong way. He is always ready to forgive the one who asks. And this angel basically threatens Grace. He takes her to a precipice in the middle of what seems to be the Grand Canyon, and tells her she has one last chance. When she hesitates, he stirs up a strong hot wind that almost blows her off the edge while he holds his hand out to her. When she takes his hand (who wouldn’t, to save themselves from hell?), he embraces her, and she tells him it almost feels better than sex.
I’ve read that in the next episode, Grace actually wrestles with Earl when he takes her to a Greek wrestling arena – a la Jacob and the Lord. The writer is employing Biblical stories and references, which again is astonishing for prime-time television.
What I wrestle with is remaining open to this show. To be perfectly honest, part of me wants to sanitize it – get rid of the sex, the vulgar language, and the drinking. Then I would be a little more open to Earl and his “Last Chance” title. But there I go wanting to fix something up to look more like what I think it should. And isn’t that what we’re constantly battling?
Let’s make films look like what WE think they should. Let’s make the lyrics be what we would write. Let’s make the films and TV comfortable for us as Christians so non-Christians will know the true reality.
But I think the true reality, no matter how uncomfortable it is for me, is ugly. It looks more like “Crash” than Facing the Giants, and I’m probably a lot more like Holly Hunter’s “Grace” than I care to admit.
If you’ve seen “Saving Grace,” share your thoughts, because I’m still wrestling with Earl.
I watched “Saving Grace” the other night without knowning anything about it beforehand. I was stunned about how much discussion there was about God, the Bible and even Jesus. I don’t think I have ever seen anything like it before in my life.
There are huge problems of course. The language and sexual scenes will probably keep me from watching it again although they give a reality check for us as believers as to the human condition.
I have known many “Graces” in my life and most of them could use an Earl. BTW, he wasn’t drinking soda. He was chewing tobacco and spitting into a pop bottle.
There is a brutal honesty about the show that I hope speaks to people. I can’t figure out where the writers are coming from or have any idea of where they are going. Obviously they know the Word and the Gospel. Let’s pray that God uses this misguided vehicle to change lives.
July 30th, 2007 at 8:06 am
Thanks, Mark, for the correction about Earl. I, too, know a lot of “Graces”. If I can find out anything about the writers & where they’re coming from, I’ll post it here. And I join you in praying God will change lives with it.
July 30th, 2007 at 9:48 am
One concern I would have with the show, from a stricly religious view, is that it is promoting a “God” that’s not the true God. Close maybe, but enough different to lead people astray. While the overall message may be one of sin, repentance & redemption, the “devil” is in the details. Is the theology right on or can it take you astray? I recently watched a Mormon film that was close to truth – but it wasn’t the God or Jesus of the Bible that was being presented, and thus, wasn’t truth.
July 30th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
I don’t understand Mark Allen’s comment. He says “I was stunned about how much discussion there was about God, the Bible and even Jesus. I don’t think I have ever seen anything like it before in my life”, but then he goes on to say he won’t watch it again! Bizarre! Anyway, I’m in the midst of the 2nd episode. Edgy, different, well-written, talent-laden. Good TV!
July 30th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Show’s creator Nancy Miller’s quote from an interview:
“I am a practicing Catholic…”
“I also think religion can have humor. And I don’t think it’s sacrilegious. I don’t think it’s wrong to make fun of some of the stuff that we think and we do. And we don’t ever want Earl, Grace’s angel, to preach. That’s not his role. He doesn’t have a rulebook that he’s walking around enforcing. He’s a healer. And I think that’s what God is.”
Anyway, I enjoy this show: imperfect people, angels and all. So lighten up (it’s just a tv show), enjoy God and have yourself a blessed day!
July 31st, 2007 at 8:32 am
EyeReach says “that it is promoting a “God” that’s not the true God.”
Can anyone elaborate on how anyone can determine from one episode whether the god portrayed is the one true god?
My opinion here, but I firmly believe that it is this kind of thinking that limits our ability to explore and discuss in film and TV. And if you believe that God is the one that pursues us, and that he draws all men to Himself, and that he is more powerful and able to redeem men beyond our feeble attempts to share His message, then let go of the religious, the inner pharisee… stop manufacturing the “true god” made from your image and allow the Father to reveal his character in your life through the holy spirit. You’ll enjoy the journey.
August 1st, 2007 at 9:36 am
I watched the first episode and thought I might not watch anymore, but I did. How many of us are just like Grace at one time in our lives, yes there is reality there, However, I do not think there should be as much sex involved, I wouldn’t want my child to watch that? However I think it is a good show and covers many issues, just leave the sex part out, its not required really and why put Holly Hunter in a position to bare it all on national tv for “ratings?”
August 4th, 2007 at 9:46 am
You have to be catious what you watch on TV because you are feeding your mind. TV and movies can manipulate the mind into accepting half truthes as real. Your values can easily be manipulated. As I get deeper into the WORD I am able to discern these subtle manipulations and at first I thought Saving Grace was going to be inspiring. I knew something was wrong when the angel “Earl” spit tobacco on Grace while sitting on a tree limb.
Next clue was Grace and her fellow co-worker’s sexual relationship, but he’s married. Grace is a mental basket case that some may relate to, but I do not find this entertaining much less inspirational.
As I mentioned before, the more I get deeper into the study of the WORD if find less and less on TV and movies that I can watch because discernment of evil. I am concerned that many Christians are mindlessly watching the same stuff that the non-believers watch. You cannot tell me that Christian’s moral values are not affected by filling the mind with trash. We tend to accept too much as normal behavior.
August 19th, 2007 at 3:47 am
Judge not lest thee be judged.
A huge part of the gospels is devoted to taking people who have strayed to the point their lives and might be what some would consider “trash” …. and helping them find redemption. I think the show portrays these cornerstones of Christianity just fine. Jesus spent a lot of time helping people who were not accepted to have “normal behavior” yet we would shun them. Who needs to learn the lessons here?
August 19th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
I loved this show, right up to today. I find it hard to believe this is created by a Catholic… when in the tornado episode Earl tells his prisoner who becomes a Muslim, that all roads lead to god. Really?
Christianity = Jesus dies on the cross to bring us to God.
Muslim = Jesus did not die on the cross, we work our way to an un personal god.
Not the same.
December 10th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
I did not think the tornado episode was showing that there are a lot of people who struggle with what road to take to God, that sometimes different routes are tried. Honestly, people choose what to believe about a god (faith) or if they are spiritual in other ways so be it. Personally, living LIKE the gospels is a great idea, whether a true believer or not, and I think this is the idea “Grace” often is trying to show by having Grace encouraged to change her behavior or as in the tornado episode, people having different beliefs but still able to know godliness. Organized religion can make humans arrogant about their beliefs being the RIGHT ones, and we see in this day and age where that can lead. We saw during the inquisition where it could lead also.
December 10th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Sorry first sentence above should say ” I DID think……”
December 10th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
I think what I appreciate about “Saving Grace” is that it causes me to look inside myself to see what I genuinely believe, and to try to be as authentic as I can. That’s the real challenge – live humbly & walk humbly.
December 11th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
I like the show, and I thoroughly enjoy Earl. When angels are depicted as ‘regular’ people, I think it makes more of an impact, than creatures in white robes flying around.
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:44 pm
I don’t get it! Aren’t you supposed to change your life after divine intervention?!!!?!
Why does a black man have to be taken out of prison and get run over by her….still not clear on that….was it a dream….was he even in the hospital…was he always in jail??? Don’t black men have enough history with cops not to get run down by them in the street with impunity no less!?!? Of course…this is America…!!!!
Don’t get it, and I don’t think the writers really know where they are going…kinda like “Lost”.
So far she has kidnapped someone, lies to everyone, and is having sex with everything that moves including a murder suspect during and investigation, and her partner. This would all be forgivable if she would just admit it, but she lied to her partner’s wife’s face and said that she was NOT having sex with him!!!
SO she is alie and a cheat…if you cheat, you can lie, if you lie, you can steal, if you steal…YOU’RE NO GOOD!!!!
Why is she worth saving??!?!!??
April 1st, 2009 at 12:03 pm
To borrow from “The Shack,” – - – if anyone is worth saving, then everyone is worth saving.
We all need saving, but none of us are worth saving.
April 1st, 2009 at 12:15 pm
What I meant to say is that there is such thing as a reprobate…shake the dust from your feet kinda thing? What story in the Bible can you think of where God intervened in someone´s life, sent an angel to be by their side, and they just kept on doing the same things without reverence or respect to God? We are all sinners, but some people don´t even want to be saved. I mean if I were actually talking to an angel everyday…I thnk my life would change…drastically!
May 10th, 2009 at 9:52 am
I’ve been watching this show for all three seasons now and I’m totally impressed with this approach to winning people to God. Am I surprised the fundamentalists hate this show- not at all. If you believe that there is only one narrow way to God and that the rest of the glorious world is condemned to hell, then this is not the show for you. If you believe that God is great and wonderful and that he/she has room in his kingdom for all races, creeds and religions, then sit back and enjoy the show!
July 10th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I too believe that God is great and wonderful and HE has room in His kingdom for all races and creeds. However, HE is not about religions, HE does not care about man’s denominationalisms. HE did not invent religion, man did.
Man disobeyed God and caused the whole human race to be condemned, but HE made a way for man to come back to Him. HE didn’t make several ways, HE only made one and that one is through belief that Jesus is the Son of God and HE died and rose again to pay for price of redemption for once and for all. His “Saving Grace” is available to those that will believe on Him no matter what your religion, creed, or race.
His “Saving Grace” is free to those that believe in what HE did. You may think His way is narrow minded but His Gospel is simple and easy without any man made rules and proceedure. We can never be good enough. Jesus is the only one that was ever good enough. Like the song says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and (His)righteousness”. I can never be righteous enough but because I am in Jesus I am righteous. If you are in Jesus and He is in you then you are righteous and saved by grace.
July 15th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
What story in the Bible can you think of where God intervened in someone´s life, sent an angel to be by their side, and they just kept on doing the same things without reverence or respect to God?
that would be the story of God’s relationship with his chosen people throughout the old testament, wouldn’t it? how many times did the israelites turn away from God? and God’s response every time was to take measures to bring them back into fellowship with Him. which i was taught is God’s attitude toward the whole human race.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:13 am
I think Eric Colman comment speaks to the beauty I find in this show. The show continually asks the question, “Does this God I love, love someone like Grace so much that He works this hard to save her with His love and Grace.” Do we compare ourselves with her sins and judge ourselves as better, or do we pail in comparison in her ability to love or combat evil, or do we understand that we are all Grace and not any more worthy of salvation. Do we understand that our angels/God’s messengers constantly surround us and that they can be our pastor, a neighbor, the bible or a homeless person. We are constantly surrounded by his angels/messengers that are extending his “saving grace” to us, and even using us in our imperfect states to be grace/Grace to others. This is a powerful show which centers on the outrageous love God has for us.
April 24th, 2010 at 7:20 pm