We've been watching the BBC version of "Father Brown" lately, though we aren't yet through season 3. I was vastly curious to see how the BBC would portray G.K.Chesterton's priestly detective, as the company's views are hardly those of either the Catholic Church or even the social mores of a hundred years ago. They've done very well at times with some of their adaptations while others have been a little unsettling. Overall, I must say I have been rather impressed at their mostly respectful treatment of christianity and christians, at least I don't feel that they don't stereotype and degrade doctrine or faithful characters any more than they do any other character or creed. Actually, it is a very human experience, with mystery and humor and warmth and curiosity and beauty and fear and anger and sorrow and joy, mercy and grace and forgiveness. It is a refreshing change compared to most modern American productions, which are really just a celebration of vanity, selfishness, violence, sex, and politically approved social trends. There's no complexity, no depth, no real virtue or vice, no plot, no characters, no interest save a carnal delight in individuality and selfishness in most American shows.
I've never been a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes, the books or the various live action versions, while somewhat interesting, they aren't very interesting because they aren't human. Holmes might be brilliant but he doesn't have a heart, sort of like reading a story written by a computer, while factually stimulating, it must needs be rather flat in every other aspect. There's no charm, no humor, no philosophy, no heart, no emotion save horror and disgust, and nothing but the cold calculations of a nearly inhuman mind. Chesterton's detective is anything but brilliant but he's everything human! And the BBC has captured that, heart and soul. They've made significant changes to the original stories, they really had no choice, but each one has been well written, well acted, beautifully filmed, and is a solid, quality piece of art. And nobody is pushing a political agenda. A character isn't inherently evil or good or brilliant or insipid because of his political or spiritual views; people can have a discussion without hating one another simply because they don't agree. What a difference from our modern political and social climate and most modern TV!
I'm not saying I agree with everything they've done, but overall, I believe they have captured the spirit of the character and the stories, especially the pervasive attitude that this bumbling priest is a superstitious fool because he believes in things unseen but somehow earns the respect of those around him, even his enemies, by his whimsy, warmth, willingness to listen, and keen understanding of human nature; he neither swerves from the truth nor uses it as a bludgeon against those who don't yet see things his way. A lesson it would be well for the church as a whole to learn, for so does the world view us, it always has, but by being who and what Christ has called us to be, we too can earn the grudging respect and curiosity of the skeptical and cynical world!
