Prosper

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.

When the trailers for this series first started to come out, I was skeptical at first as it seemed to be taking the approach of attacking the church and villainising modern Christians rather than presenting a balanced view of the current state of the modern church today.

As a man of faith myself, also processing the realities of faith and belief, I found this series pleasantly surprising. It masterfully takes on many of the current cultural issues of Christian Churches developed in the western world and the reality of creating more harm than good, despite the best intentions, as we see very human and relatable characters throughout, especially if you have ever spent any significant time in a mega church.

For one, they nail the culture of these types of churches, from the theological perspectives, to the buildings, the little nuances in rituals, and even some of the more unpleasant cliche's of Head Pastors with a dysfunctional family. The acting and cinematography is stellar, and the message conveyed by the end of it I think is very important, although uncomfortable for some modern Christians who may still feel compelled to defend the churches they dedicate themselves to. All in all, this is certainly a very niche topic, but brilliantly made and informative, thumbs up from me.

The accuracy with which the show captures the performative faith and lack of self awareness of Megachurch incredibly accurately to be quite honest.

The preaching and coded language has drawn some ire in other reviews for being cringe-worthy, but frankly that is astonishingly true to Megachurches and the people that run them. The Megachurch jargon is also accurately captured, and much like real life the characters use it to deflect their predatory behaviour.

There's a surprising amount of good in this show for Christians who are to put it politely disenchanted with Megachurches. The show is certainly not anti religion, and it easily could have gone that way which is a credit to the writers.

The main weakness of the this show is the utter lack of humour within it. If you're going to compare yourself to Succession, one of the funniest shows of the last decade or so, there needs to be at least an attempt to engage in humour in some form. Given the actors involved, this is certainly a surprise, with Roxburgh in particular having done Rake in the past, which struck the balance of comedy and bleakness in the way Prosper desperately needed.

I'd definitely recommend the show to anyone interested in the subject matter and all it entails, but if you're looking for something funnier, this show probably isn't for you.

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.

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.