Wednesday, November 09, 2022

Inside Man & the Vicar's Moral Compass

 


We've finished watching Inside Man,  the Netflix series which is sort of a murder mystery, or an almost-murder mystery, or a psychological thriller...it's complicated. As the credits rolled Ruth, my wife, stated that this is a series which invites conversation because it has a whole lot to say about the human condition and good and evil, and what any of us is capable of doing on our worst or most vulnerable day.

Overall, the acting is excellent but we were drawn to the show by two of our favourites, David Tennant, the Scottish actor, and Stanley Tucci. Tennant plays an everyday sort of vicar -- the term used to describe him often -- who lives with his wife and teen son in an impressive vicarage which becomes a creepy crime scene. 

I want to hear about how Tennant felt about this role because he is the son of a Church of Scotland pastor who served as moderator of the denomination. He was known as a passionate preacher who cared for his colleagues, engaged in social action, and spoke in favour of the right to die, even though this wasn't the position of the Church of Scotland. 

What did David Tennant, an occasional churchgoer,  bring to his role from his upbringing? He has observed that: 

Organised religion gave me a good moral compass. I grew up in a religious family in Paisley. Dad was a Church of Scotland minister and Mum was every inch the minister’s wife. They were both good people who had respect for others. They were liberal, progressive Christians. They didn’t allow the fact they had a belief system to limit them. They’re gone now, but I still feel them sitting on my shoulder, reminding me to be better.

This is interesting but the vicar played by Tennant,who speaks passionately about his faith at one point, will freak your freak.


                                                                  David Tennant and Stanley Tucci

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