Despite the obvious low budget, the writers really shouldn't have attempted to portray Esther and her mother figure as two man ruling feminists, even if they meant to be funny, it is absurd to think that they'd behave this way as Jews during the exile. Even the whole "boy-crazy" scene at the beginning defies any attempt to accurately portray the conditions or the story. We literally first meet the adult "Esther" making goo-goo eyes at a married monarch in a town square!?!?! Are they mixing Esther up with Delilah or Gomer?
The Vashti tantrum and complete contempt for the guard's head leads viewers to want to see her banished and shamed for her inhumanity, but the writers miss this opportunity and exchange a dramatic opportunity for a few more gossipy whisper scenes among the other gossipy whisper scenes. Then go on to show Esther discuss how she would be just like Vashti. The idea that Vashti could be completely unaware of her own culture is entirely implausible, the historic context was completely missed in this rendition. She must have only arrived moments before in a time machine from the 21st century! It's a frustrating plot line to say the least. The more likely (and historic) scenario is that her husband was drunk and while it was the custom of the time for Queens to remain out of public view, he ordered her to be paraded and she would have been more likely embarrassed and less likely a raving post-sexual-revolution-feminist with no care for the life of royal staff. The role should have been played much differently. Instead all of the crowd is whispering how they expect to see Vashti. The facts of history are completely ignored.
By that point you will have seen enough of the sappy writing to find something better. Even with the low budget and exact same actors, if they could have demonstrated something resembling humility from any of the main characters they may endear them to the audience. Instead, they seem more like the gabby and arrogant personas found on evening television in the 21st century. You know, the sort who wouldn't keep their heads long in ancient Persia.
The Vashti tantrum and complete contempt for the guard's head leads viewers to want to see her banished and shamed for her inhumanity, but the writers miss this opportunity and exchange a dramatic opportunity for a few more gossipy whisper scenes among the other gossipy whisper scenes. Then go on to show Esther discuss how she would be just like Vashti. The idea that Vashti could be completely unaware of her own culture is entirely implausible, the historic context was completely missed in this rendition. She must have only arrived moments before in a time machine from the 21st century! It's a frustrating plot line to say the least. The more likely (and historic) scenario is that her husband was drunk and while it was the custom of the time for Queens to remain out of public view, he ordered her to be paraded and she would have been more likely embarrassed and less likely a raving post-sexual-revolution-feminist with no care for the life of royal staff. The role should have been played much differently. Instead all of the crowd is whispering how they expect to see Vashti. The facts of history are completely ignored.
By that point you will have seen enough of the sappy writing to find something better. Even with the low budget and exact same actors, if they could have demonstrated something resembling humility from any of the main characters they may endear them to the audience. Instead, they seem more like the gabby and arrogant personas found on evening television in the 21st century. You know, the sort who wouldn't keep their heads long in ancient Persia.