VimalaNowlis I loved "The Red Tent" and really looked forward to the story of Masada from the women's point of view. But this show is so disappointing as it shows nothing but re-affirming the ancient Judaim prejudice of self- righteous myopic racism that only the Jews are the chosen people and everyone else is scum and not entitled to live much less any consideration. This show made no concession that anyone else could possibly be right except those in the Masada and no other view is allowed because the freedom-fighters are exempt from any criticism. When they kill the Romans, it's justified. When the Romans kill them, it's atrocity. Unfortunately, one minority group's patriots are another people's terrorists. The only modern people who can still accept the premise of this show is the ultra-conservative-Zionists.However, if this concept is allowed the Zionists, why not the Muslim Terrorists who are the latest incarnation of the most terrifying and revolting aspects of the bigoted Judeo/Christian/Islam religious tradition? Shouldn't they be allowed to use the same arguments and the same rules as the new "freedom-fighters"?What about the Palestinians? The Jews went into Canaan when it was already occupied. The Palestinians were there long before the Jews and continued to be there before the "return" of the Jews. If the Romans were wrong for invading and conquering Judea, what about the Jews for invading and conquering Palestine and massacring everyone who were there before and for walling-off those there are there now? And what's with those women? Can't wait to sleep with the first good- looking man they see? Just because they are "in love", they selfishly dived in with eyes closed. It doesn't matter who they hurt because love excuses everything? It doesn't matter who they use or betray because they are in love? Absolutely ridiculous!And poison the water of the Roman camp? How did the Jews like it when the Christians used to accuse them of doing the same in Europe? Now it's "heroic" when a Jewish woman did it? Killing by any means should be permitted because it's done by a Jewish woman? How shallow is the writer and the producer? They need to look in the mirror first before they accuse others for what they are doing and they should looking around twice before taking sides. I give the show a rating of "3" because the costume is nice, the color scheme is pleasant, and the set seems authentic. But I don't think I can stomach watching the rest of the show.

bhkermit This was trash. I only watched the first night. I kept thinking this must get better. Nope. I should have given up on it improving. The message night one sends was that it is okay to have sex with married men. I couldn't even figure out what the main plot of the movie was supposed to be about.I also didn't understand the supernatural aspect. Where these just dreams or a guilty conscious.I have not read the book. One review said the movie does not reflect the book. I would like to hear from others that have read the book. I would be tempted to give the book a try.

dajonesholdstl This show aired March 31 & April 1st, 2015 on CBS: Having an interest in history and all things pertaining to the Bible, I was at first surprised by the way this story came to be - through 2 women survivors. Yes the 2 night idea made for a slow pace but that was to introduce you more fully to the characters which it accomplished very well. We all know that all the people killed themselves so that was a given but Roma Downey managed to flesh out the story so that we cared for these people and what happened to them. Historically speaking I often wonder how the people of the Bible actually thought and lived since we are so removed from that perspective today. Speaking of the main character and her potions: these are all herbal remedies however I was not sure sometimes if they were not something else - this was upsetting as it mixed Godly worship with witchcraft (white witchcraft). Maybe they did that or maybe they did not historically speaking. And there was too much emphasis on passion taking precious minutes that could have been used for the story. And last but not least, what happened to the babies - one in the womb & one living & being carried at the end when they are telling their story..? Did this story actually get written down in a Roman Library by a Jew as seen in the show? Overall, I liked the show, the costumes, the actors. Cons: commercial time between breaks was so long I could watch parts of another show. Am looking forward to Roma Downey's next efforts this Easter Sunday.

televisionseriesreviews When I first heard that Revka was left out of this story, I was slightly disappointed having read the book by Alice Hoffman beforehand, but after watching only a few minutes of Night One it became clear that this mini-series is only inspired by the book, and although it has all other leading characters, Shirah, Aziza and Yael it does not follow the same pattern.Night One begins with Shirah (Cote de Pablo) and shortly after Yael (Rachel Brosnahan) being interrogated by Josephus (Sam Neill). As the plot unfolds it soon becomes clear that Shirah and Yael are the only survivors remaining in Masada, and they are there to tell their story to Josephus who in exchange for the truth will grant them their life. As they begin relating each of their stories and describing how they entwine we are introduced to the other characters.Yael describes the turbulent relationship she always had with her father Joseph Bar Elhanan (Manuel Cauchi), for causing the death of her own mother at birth. This is were we see the connection between a young Yael (Maia Attard) and Shirah, who is hired as her nursemaid. We then get a glimpse of Shirah's love interest, Eleazar Ben Ya'ir (Mido Hamada) who is married to another woman. Having committed adultery, Shirah who is pregnant with Eleazar's child is cast out of Jerusalem and sent to the desert to die.Next we are introduced to Amram (Diego Boneta) who is Yael's brother. Yael describes how Amram together with another few warriors initiate an attack on the Romans who are trying to invade Jerusalem. The Romans rebel and at Flavius' (Sam Hazeldine) command begin killing all the jews. Yael and her father, who are soon followed by a large crowd decide to flee from Jerusalem which is now up in flames.Shirah recounts how Sa'adallos (Andrei Claude), a wealthy and strong man from Moab saved her and the child, Aziza (Kathryn Prescott) after she was exiled. Sa'adallos married her and raised her child, Aziza as his own. Although later Shirah and Sa'adallos have a son together, Adir (Andre Agius), Sa'adallos decides to train Aziza to be an able warrior like himself. Despite of all the good that Sa'adallos has done, for which Shirah claims she was grateful,she decides to escape from the Moabite village, and together with Aziza and Adir returns to Jerusalem, believing that her fate is to be with Eleazar. Along their journey we discover that Aziza is in fact a girl, who has been disguised as a boy by her mother in order to protect her.Meanwhile, Yael and her father continue their journey towards Masada, where they will reunite with Amram. Along the way a one of Amram's fellow Sicarii, Jachim Ben Simon (Luke Roberts) who is married to an older and frail looking woman, Sia (Marama Corlett) initiates a passionate affair with Yael.Finally Yael and Josef arrive in Masada and are greeted by Amram. Shirah, Aziza and Yael begin working together in the Dovecote. An intimate relationship develops between Amram and Aziza, which Shirah disapproves of, while Yael seems to fall in love with a slave (Diarmaid Murtagh) named Wynn who is held captive in Masada.As the Tenth Legion approaches and set camp right outside Masada, fear begins to spread amongst all the people. It becomes evident that the Romans are now too powerful to defeat, and rather than retreating and becoming slaves to the Romans, Eleazar orders a mass suicide.This is a great story about love, betrayal, courage and fear, with a cast that is diverse and interesting to watch. The editing and SFX is impressive. The acting is also very good. In the last scene, when their story reaches a climax, Shirah and Yael are set free by Josephus. Even before the credits begin rolling, I could only wonder where Shirah might go and what she will do, now that all the people in her life are dead, all except Sa'adallos actually, as I can only assume that Adir's life wasn't spared. Would she go back to Sa'adallos after what she did? That would be an interesting sequel to watch.