Prosper

Enjoyable, all to poignant depiction of an evangelical church. So much glitz and glamour, with Rebecca Gibney once more displaying excellence in her character portrayal of the family Matriach.

Richard Roxborough managed to convince me that he indeed thinks God speaks to him and he has deep seated beliefs that he is making the world a better place despite being so flawed.

I can see links to Hillsong, Sheila and the oOrange people to name two.

Great music, written by great local musicians.

Characters are so extremely and wonderfully flawed

Everyone has their own agendas and foibles.

I certainly hope there will be a season two.

Ah.. Here we go again. I did manage to watch this in one night and while I thought it was ok, I just want someone at Rebecca and Richard's agencies to apologise to them, oh an apologise to Jacek Koman as well this is one of his best performances in years and yet he got casted here.

The story jumps up and down and the B story is like three stories that mix together in some confusing way and someone in the script department just went "make everyone sound as nervous as possible." it's fine but gets old quick and most of the way the characters speak is like they aren't used to talking in such a way.

Maybe give it a few years and I might watch it again, but if it does get a second season I hope they replace the writing team.

I attended Hillsong Church in Sydney for 6 years and this is a very accurate portrayal and quite insightful. The writers have obviously done their research, and it's quite surprising how on point they are! The thinly veiled George Aghajanian (HS general manager) character (Eli) is particularly accurate. It must have taken some good research to reveal the type of person he is, considering how guarded they can be.

The series also depicts Brian Houston (Cal) very well, highlighting his struggles with drugs, money, power, infidelity, and his overall disingenuousness. They did well to show the 'wizard' behind the curtain. I guess this is the problem with all rich 'celebrity' pastors, where eventually their growing hubris gives them a self-rationalised clear conscience to break ethical and Biblical boundaries. Congregants are isolated and marginalised as the money raising intensifies and people at the top get rich. Eventually this same hubris brings them tumbling down.

There is also the exploitation of staff, volunteers and Hillsong College students, which has led to a revolving door of burned out, disillusioned assistant pastors, leaders and church members.

Don't get me wrong, Pentecostal/Charismatic churches are a real true blessing (so maybe don't binge-watch this?). Technically, any church that has a membership of over 1500 people is a "megachurch", but if you happen to be a member of a charismatic megachurch this series will help you be more critical and less naïve; simply because of the large amounts of tax-free money changing hands with no external accountability.

It should also motivate you to question and hold to account the ethics of any large Pentecostal/Charismatic church (regardless of size) that mimics/models the methodology of Hillsong. Question your Pastor's motivation and ethics. Check the percentage of tithing actually going directly to the needy and not just 'building funds' and hidden tax-free fringe benefits for elite leaders and payments to/from your pastors to reciprocating guest speakers.

Definitely worth watching but please don't let it turn you off finding a good, ethical Bible-based Pentecostal/Charismatic church to attend!! But if you are already attending one as a congregant and you feel you are either being marginalised, disconnected or exploited, then you should probably find another church.

Accurate and powerful, the exposes people who who they are and portrays man's follies. The church is bigger than the people who run it, however is it? The people who run become the focus and is this spiritual or real greed? The Bentleys, private jets and helicopters, the Sydney Harbour cliff top views, the clothes and cash- is this what God would want, or is this man tricking mass people. As a Christian watching this I found it uncomfortable and accurate in sections and is so well written and acted. Brilliant Aussie drama at its best, I do have trouble not seeing Roger Rogerston and Mrs Ratter, however what talents they are ! Loved this show.

This show took my surprise, firstly with the quality of cast involved & secondly, the timeliness of the subject matter. The focus on the inner workings of a commercial church provide a "fictional" & credible insight into such organisations.

The quality of the script & the "master-class" interpretation & delivery of the script by Richard & Rebecca was a true testament to Australia's uniquely gifted actors. Ewen Leslie & Jacob Collins-Levy were stand-outs from the supporting cast, with Ewen's portrayal of a highly conflicted heir apparent living in his fathers shadow delivering a truly remarkable insight into the mental anguish of the character. Jacob delivers a brilliant performance of being both caring son but also the skeptic mirroring the views of many who will enjoy the benefit of this great series.

Lets hope they can secure the same quality cast for Season 2 🤞🏻