Here's a surprisingly thought-provoking but ultimately disappointing and truncated tale about a modern-day Son of God returning to Earth. Director Adrian Shergold can't be faulted for the method in which he tackles some huge questions, but the screenplay by Russell Davies, in the end, bites off more than it can chew. The Second Coming—a two-part 150-minute BBC television miniseries—starts off rather spectacularly in its first half but falls apart dramatically in its second half, leaving you to wonder how great the story might have played out had more time been devoted to it.

Steve Baxter (Christopher Eccleston) is regular guy who likes to hang out with his friends—Peter (Ashen Bhatti), Judith (Lesley Sharp), and Fiona (Annabelle Apsion)—at the pub. There's not much to this fellow—that is, until one fateful night when after drunkenly kissing his old friend Judith, he finds himself infused with the Holy Spirit and comes to the full understanding that he is the Son of God. After going missing in the countryside, Steve returns to civilization still confused but bearing a message for humankind: Write a third testament or face Armageddon. Following this momentous announcement (as well as an accompanying miracle), Steve does a weird thing: He recedes into the background, into confusion, and goes back to the pub and his friends, in an effort to recruit them as modern-day disciples. The most interesting aspect of this production—aside from the well-done suspense around the question of whether Steve is for real—is the dynamic that develops between the friends.

The story becomes a study of faith between individuals rather than a global view of implications. In many ways, the relationships between the central characters become a microcosm for what's probably happening in societies around the world as they face the reality of a Second Coming—you have the blindly faithful, the hysterical and disturbed, and the nonbeliever. And on the other side of the coin, the story introduces a subplot involving demons—disciples of Satan, I presume, although the existence of these nasty, silver-eyed devils is never fully realized. It's a story thread that never really goes anywhere except to introduce empty tension.

The performances are universally fine, particularly in the cases of the leads. Eccleston (whom you might remember from 28 Days Later) portrays a believable Christ, full of confusion and fear and wonder, and Sharp plays an interesting Judith (Judas?), frustrated by doubt but full of love. This fine stable is nearly enough to hold up this promising endeavor, but unfortunately its second half dissolves into a resolution that's too easy, considering the build-up of ideas and circumstances that comes before it. The wrap-up doesn't match the pace of the rest of the film.

Although The Second Coming was shot for UK television, it boasts impressive production values. Apparently shot in 1.85:1 widescreen, the series looks as if it might have been right at home in theaters.

Shout Factory presents The Second Coming in a pretty good anamorphic-widescreen transfer of the film's original TV broadcast. I'm unsure of the original aspect ratio, but the film seems to have been framed at this ratio and not squeezed from 4:3. Detail is adequate, but backgrounds suffer under an ever-present grain. Colors are accurate but tend toward muddiness and bleeding. I noticed quite a lot of digital artifacting, mostly in the form of mosquito noise, giving the production a low-rent look. Blacks, however, are fairly solid.

The disc's Dolby Digital 2.0 track isn't terribly dynamic and is in fact mostly centered at the screen. I noticed very little separation across the front, let alone any appreciable surround ambience. However, dialog is clear and free of distortion.

The disc contains a few noteworthy supplements, not least of which is a nonstop Commentary by director Adrian Shergold and writer Russell Davies. This is a very happy, chatty affair, and they're both quite proud of their production. They do tend to talk more about performances, location shooting, and behind-the-scenes minutia than about the film's ideas.

I quite enjoyed the disc's selection of Deleted Scenes, 34 minutes of some strange and enjoyable snippets, alternate and extended takes, and even excised subplots. Watch for an interesting scene involving Steve's mother—a subplot completely removed from the finished film—and a long, almost experimental sequence involving the temptation of the disciples.

You also get a short sequence of Outtakes that are mildly amusing.

A not-bad British TV production, The Second Coming is full of ideas but tries for too much, and it's over before it really starts. The DVD presentation is slightly above average, with good image and sound quality, and very good supplements.