"The Bible" Series on The History Channel: Most Realistic Depiction of Scripture Yet?

"The Bible" series on The History Channel has been all the buzz the last few weeks after airing its premiere episode on March 3rd.  The premiere episode became the highest rated of a series on cable TV for the whole year so far.  Now after finishing episode 3 this past Sunday, the ratings have stayed strong and social media has been blowing up talking about the series.  

A movie mini-series on the most popular and polarizing book in the world is going to always have been up in arms on both sides, praising it and criticizing it.  

There are critics who say that it is too violent or that since they skip over certain stories that they are telling the bible inaccurately.  However, I would say that this is the most comprehensively realistic and accurate portrayal of the bible that we have had on film to date.  

"The Passion of the Christ" directed by Mel Gibson was a fantastically realistic and heart wrenching display of Jesus life, death and resurrection.  However, since it only covered the books of the gospel, it can only share a portion of the story.  I will say though, that

"The Bible" series has a high standard to live up to in terms of the crucifixion of Jesus to do it as well as "The Passion of the Christ" movie.  I believe that Mark Burnell and Roma Downey know the importance of those scenes and will do them wonderfully.  We will find out in the next few weeks.  

In terms of what we have seen though, in covering the Old Testament up through Jesus birth, I think that "The Bible" series has shown us a more authentic and true to life picture then we have ever had.  The people come across as rough, rugged and dirty as they most would be in those times (besides a few of the actors having teeth a little too white).  The angels portrayed as tough, strong warriors was spectacular.  We have never seen angels on film like this.  Whether or not you believe thats how they would really look, I appreciated the thought of trying to make them different and help the viewer think of them as true warriors of the spiritual world and not just sissies who fly around and in their bleached white robes.  

It is always humbling to remember how Jesus was brought into this world.  The Saviour of the world, brought in with the animals.  I felt they showed the humility and humanity that Jesus was born with well in episode 3.  Also, when Jesus was just a young boy and they were traveling past the other crucified bodies and Jesus seemed to be fascinated by them.  Of course we don't know if that actually happened, but there were many crucifixions in that day and they did put them by the road as a way to make people fear the government.  So just to see Jesus as a little boy looking at them and have the viewer wondering if Jesus knew at that young age that he would have to face the same death was a very compelling scene.  
What have you guys thought so far?