After the gripping three-part premiere of "House of David," lingering questions persist concerning the enigmatic giants secluded within the Valley of Giants, as vividly depicted in "The Anointing." Continuing from that intriguing narrative thread, Episode 6 unfolds with Orpah (Sian Webber), imbuing the scene with an air of mystique, as she elucidates the genesis of the Nephilim—the colossal lineage to which her sons proudly belong.
The celestial fall of angels unfolds before our eyes, revealing how some of these divine beings succumbed to their earthly desires, lusting after mortal women. The fruits of their forbidden unions gave rise to the giants, celebrated as "men of renowned prowess and formidable abilities." As punishment for their transgressions, the fallen angels were condemned to eternal darkness, yet their progeny remained.
Goliath, filled with curiosity, inquires of his mother, "If all you recount is true, then why do we continue to dwell in this concealed cavern?" Soon thereafter, Goliath and Orpah find themselves in Gath, where they encounter King Achish (Alexander Uloom). He issues a summons to the four other Philistine kings, commanding them to convene their armies in the Valley of Elah. Achish bestows upon Goliath a colossal sword and shield, divine in craftsmanship, and Goliath trains alongside the terrified Philistine soldiers who shrink from his formidable presence.
Achish attempts to persuade Orpah to allow her sons to serve under him, promising them lives of regal splendor. However, Orpah firmly refuses after Achish declines her request to install Goliath upon his throne as his successor. "Kings?" she retorts scathingly. "They are akin to gods already. Be warned, Achish. Once you awaken the giants, their slumber is seldom reclaimed."
Elsewhere in Gibeah, David's melodies enchant the chambers of King Saul (Ali Suliman), his harmonious voice resonating through the halls. Mychal (Indy Lewis), wandering aimlessly, catches a snippet of his song. Mirab (Yali Topol Margalith) confronts Mychal, casting a pall of cynicism over her words as she declares, "Happiness and free will are but fleeting illusions." Probing if Mychal is succumbing to love's tender embrace, Mirab mocks her sister's hesitation to confess. Mychal confides in Mirab, revealing a revelation imparted by their mother, Queen Ahinoam (Ayelet Zurer), about David, one she finds perplexing.
In a poignant moment, Saul confides in David, acknowledging the latter's unique blessing. Saul, nostalgic for his simpler days on the farm, admits his envy of David's life. Reflecting on his humble origins as a donkey herder, he muses, "I was not born a king; I became one." He cautions David, albeit unwittingly ironically, "Let not the words of any mortal deprive you of your destiny. It is yours to claim and cherish." Unbeknownst to Jonathan (Ethan Kai) or anyone else, Reuben (Teym Joseph) finds himself in the clutches of Doeg (Ashraf Barhom), the Edomite assassin. Doeg interrogates the boy about the conversation between Saul and Samuel (Stephen Lang), amusement flickering across his visage as Reuben reveals the startling revelation that Saul has been supplanted as God's anointed.
Shortly thereafter, Abner (Oded Fehr) and Jonathan engage Saul in discourse about the looming Philistine peril. Impatient for action, Saul urges a preemptive strike. "With God as our ally, victory is ours," he declares, though his words lack conviction among the listeners. When Jonathan attempts once more to broach the subject of giants, Saul brushes it aside. "I am encircled by fragility," he confesses to his son, underlining his resolve that no one shall usurp his throne. Elsewhere in the regal abode, Mychal and David converse anew. She inquires why David concealed his bastard birth from her, prompting him to confess his fear. "When people uncover my true identity, they flee, and I am left behind," he elucidates. He suggests they escape together, to a place beyond the reach of the military. "Desire and duty are worlds apart," she replies. "My fate is not in my hands to decide." Mychal acknowledges her affection for him but laments that their union is impossible.
Meanwhile, in Gath, Achish observes Goliath's departure, only to be visited by Doeg with a fresh proposition, revealing his duplicity. Back in Gibeah, Besai (Eden Saban) and Ahinoam undertake a mystical ritual on a worsening Saul. Besai draws Saul's blood and incorporates it into a potion, which he drinks readily. Amidst this scene, David roams the palace in search of Mychal but encounters his brother Eliab (Davood Ghadami) instead. Just as Eliab prepares to expel him, Jonathan arrives, asserting that Saul alone will decide David's departure. "My brother has been a bane upon our family all his life," Eliab tells Jonathan. "I pray he does not bring the same curse upon yours."
Left alone with David, their conversation is abruptly interrupted by Saul's cries. Jonathan rushes to his chambers to find Besai performing the ritual, which he halts forcefully. "God reigns in this house," Jonathan asserts, pushing Besai away from his father. The priestess accuses David of causing the commotion, but Jonathan removes her. "I have witnessed enough to know the truth," she tells the prince. "You shall never reign."
Following this, David plays for Saul for hours, his fingers eventually bleeding. Saul commands him to cease and attends to his wounds. "Though your music soothes me, I cannot allow it to harm you," he says. Saul blames himself for the unfolding events, his soul troubled by the knowledge of another anointed king. "Not knowing his identity torments me, stripping me of all joy," he remarks about the future monarch, and the scene transitions. "When you assume my throne, this truth will apply to you as it does to me," he tells David, mistakenly believing him to be Jonathan.
In the mist-laden Valley of Giants, Goliath engaged in discourse with his brethren, all bound by the conviction that their swords should have gleamed in Achish's cause. Yet, Orpah's voice pierced through their armor of resolve, whispering that their ancestral home had been rendered a sanctuary no more. As twilight enveloped them, the siblings' harmonious voices rose in a melancholic chorus, their bond unyielding despite the encroaching shadows. Orpah, her eyes gleaming with unspoken promises, raised her cup in a toast to her offspring, declaring that the world would bow to them as their destinies dictated. With a flask of wine emptied in a single gulp, she departed to fetch more for her sons, her steps resolute yet foretelling an impending storm.
In the solitude of her quest, Orpah's path crossed with the sinister figure of Doeg, who, in the chilling words, "in the name of the House of Saul," dealt her a fatal blow. Goliath's heart skipped a beat at the sound of her distressed cries, and when he rushed forth to seek his mother's solace, she imparted her dying wish – to seek vengeance in her name.
Meanwhile, at Gibeah, David's departure was loomed with an air of finality, yet not before Mirab sought him out, her heart laden with questions about Mychal. David's gaze softened as he imparted his truths, "I've come to terms with the fact that our futures diverge like rivers to separate seas. Yet, this does not diminish the profound love I hold for her, one that is both genuine and infinite." With these words, he set forth towards his homeland.
Jonathan, left adrift in a sea of uncertainty, resolved to seek solace from Samuel, ascending the hallowed grounds of Mount Sinai – the same sacred peak where Moses conversed with the divine. There, amidst swirling mists and the echoes of ancient wisdom, a harrowing vision unfolded, depicting his own and his father's fate in an impending battle, a vision that haunted Saul as well. inquired about his grim foresight. The seer's eyes bore into his soul as he murmured, "Time will reveal its truths to you."
Jonathan pressed further, inquiring about the persistent curse upon Saul. Samuel's voice carried the weight of centuries as he recounted, "Your father has deified himself, refusing to relinquish the throne that was never meant solely for him. I have begged the Almighty for a reversal, but some deeds cast shadows too long to be dispelled." The prophet's revelation carried both wisdom and sorrow, acknowledging the truth within the visions yet questioning their immutability.
Samuel then entrusted Jonathan with a bombshell truth – he had chosen another to bear the mantle of kingship, but only after Jonathan vowed unwavering allegiance to the Almighty. The revelation hung in the air like a shroud of anticipation, as Jonathan stood at the precipice of his destiny, grappling with the weight of prophecies and choices yet to unfold.
In Gibeah, Saul remains tormented, the vision clutching at his very soul until it finally passes, leaving Ahinoam to return to his side. When Saul enquires after "the musician" – for he has never uttered David's name aloud – Ahinoam informs him that he is gone. "We shall seek another, I vow," she whispers, subtly offering him another dose of Besai's potion.
Meanwhile, in Bethlehem, Jesse (Louis Ferreira) and Avva (Rada Rae) eagerly embrace David upon his return, while Jonathan gallops back towards the palace, his path cut through a countless throng of warriors gathering swiftly in the Philistine armies. Upon reaching Gibeah, Jonathan informs Abner and Joab (Aury Alby) of their discovery, prompting Saul to convene all twelve tribes for battle.
Elsewhere, the night before had witnessed the slaughter of a group of Hebrew travelers. Now, Goliath arrives in Gath to stand before King Achish, kneeling humbly. "Grant me the honor of battling their king," hepleads. "Allow me to slay them all, and in your name, I shall reveal to them the true deities."
