Dig (2015– )

Overall, I like Dig. After all, who doesn't like conspiracy theories that have a veneer of fact? It is a fact that there is a Temple Society that is actively searching for the ashes of the Red Heifer and training students in ancient Temple ritual to resume sacrifices when the Third Temple is rebuild. Another fact is that there are evangelical Christians who support the Jewish Temple Society and also look for the Temple to be rebuilt. Where Dig deviates from these facts is that these people are quite peaceful and content to wait for the Messiah to come (return) rather than take an active art in destroying the current occupants of the Temple Mount. It's also a fact that archaeological digging around the Temple Mount has religious and political hazards.

And that's the basic problem with Dig's broad popularity. It asks us to extend our intellect beyond the usual car chase/shoot-em-ups/bedroom scenes that are the standard made-for-TV miniseries. You need to have some knowledge of Judaism and evangelical Christianity to navigate the premises in Dig. From many of the comments on IMDb, it's obvious that many would rather watch the standard TV fare than extend their intellect. I don't object to being asked to think a little bit but why not go all the way and make a completely intellectually satisfying show.

Dig has just too many plot holes to give it a ten rating. Let's consider Agent Connelly, Jason Isaacs' character. Does the FBI send agents into foreign countries? I thought that was the CIA's job. Even if the FBI is into operations in Israel, would they use an agent who apparently doesn't know a single word of Hebrew? I realize that English is the most common second language in Israel but you can get on an Israeli's good side with a few well chosen words in Hebrew.

Dig ignores the fact that the Essenes really are extinct. They appear in the history of Josephus and some other contemporary historians but they seem to have disappeared during the First Jewish Revolt of 70 AD. It seems that that Essenes were a dead end of Judaism. Current scholarly opinion is that the Essenes had no connection to the Dead Sea Scrolls or to Qumran for that matter. Whether or not the Essenes existed in Qumran in the First Century or now, I think that the many people involved in excavating the Dead Sea Scrolls might have noticed all those dudes in white robes dancing around fires in the area.

Another hoot that Dig offers up is the scene with Anne Heche walking around the Negev in high heels and a cocktail dress. This is just after a miraculous escape from her kidnappers by strangling Noa Tishby, shooting the driver and surviving a SUV crash without wearing a seat belt. Folks, do not stroll the Negev without full hiking gear and lots of water.

Despite the aforementioned sensitivity of digging around the Temple Mount, apparently one can enter the dig through a door on a busy locked by a key that is not so cunningly hidden behind a rock in the wall. Israeli security can't be that lax.

In a way, Dig makes me disappointed in Gideon Raff, one of the creators. I loved Hatufim (on which Homeland was based) mini-series because it was so plausible. The characters in Hatufim, as in Homeland, have an ambiguity that is lacking in most miniseries. However, Hatufim was entirely plausible with the premise that the Israel security agencies employ double and triple agents. Dig's evil and good characters stay pretty much as they are throughout the series. Also, Dig lacks the implied homoerotica of Hatufim, although Ori Pfeffer's character is openly gay.

There are some high points in Dig that help overcome its defects. Angela Bettis, Regina Taylor and Noa Tishby play three of the most evil women to ever grace the small or large screen. Jerusalem is lovingly photographed, warts and all. Overall, I would still recommend Dig as something better than average.