Netflix’s Testament shines a new light on the life of Moses

The new series on the Israelite’s escape from Egypt is not perfect, says Tim Bechervaise. But it did inspire him to take a closer look at a Bible story many of us are overly familiar with. And that can only be a good thing

Isn’t it funny how adaptations of the same story can wildly differ and prompt very different reactions? Watching Testament: The Story of Moses, the new three-part series on Netflix, I turned to my wife and said: “It’s not quite the direction taken by The Prince of Egypt: The Musical!”

In the latter (spoiler alert!), Pharaoh and Moses gloriously unite as the Hebrews begin life away from the clutches of the Egyptians, helping provide the rousing and emotional climax befitting of a musical. Netflix’s take on the story, which is part documentary and part drama, avoids stretching the truth in the same way – and it leaves a different impression.