A lot better than it's original series "The Bible" as it goes a lot deeper into both the political aspect of the times and how it influenced the religion and a more diverse character gallery that is allowed to flourish and actually have personalities. It also helps that this show is even better acted than it's original show giving real flesh to several characters. Hans Zimmer also contribute to an excellent gripping musical score and the series has strong budget giving it great costumes, effects and sets. Unfortunately it should have been an event series though as it ends rather abruptly on a cliffhanger that will probably never be resolved due to low ratings. Luckily, it is possible to read the ending in history books so it is not as terrible an ending as a lot of other shows that I have seen.