• The Airport Chaplain

    From Rhino@no_offline_contact@example.com to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 29 10:36:42 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    I just watched the first two episodes of The Airport Chaplain and
    thought I'd write a short review of it. It's a new Australian series consisting of 8 episodes in its initial series. The stars are Hugo
    Weaving who I've seen in a variety of shows over the years, the latest
    of which was as River Cartright's dad in Slow Horses, and Shabana Azeez,
    best known for her role as a young doctor in The Pitt.

    Weaving's character is the chaplain at a major international airport in Australia and Azeez plays the new terminal manager who is a by-the-book manager. Weaving is a guy who gets things done creatively and isn't
    afraid to skirt the rules. Clashes are inevitable between the two.

    We see a surprising amount of variety in the chaplain's role. He isn't
    just praying with people as you might imagine, he's actively solving
    problems. He's also dealing with his daughter, with whom he is estranged.

    IMDB only rates it 6.4 but I think that under-rates it. It's at least in
    the low 7's. It's a welcome change from the usual formulas.
    --
    Rhino

    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Adam H. Kerman@ahk@chinet.com to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 29 15:23:27 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:

    I just watched the first two episodes of The Airport Chaplain and
    thought I'd write a short review of it. It's a new Australian series >consisting of 8 episodes in its initial series. The stars are Hugo
    Weaving who I've seen in a variety of shows over the years, the latest
    of which was as River Cartright's dad in Slow Horses, and Shabana Azeez, >best known for her role as a young doctor in The Pitt.

    Weaving's character is the chaplain at a major international airport in >Australia and Azeez plays the new terminal manager who is a by-the-book >manager. Weaving is a guy who gets things done creatively and isn't
    afraid to skirt the rules. Clashes are inevitable between the two.

    We see a surprising amount of variety in the chaplain's role. He isn't
    just praying with people as you might imagine, he's actively solving >problems. He's also dealing with his daughter, with whom he is estranged.

    IMDB only rates it 6.4 but I think that under-rates it. It's at least in
    the low 7's. It's a welcome change from the usual formulas.

    Is he genuinely helping travelers or is there an international criminal conspiracy?

    When I am at hospital or an airport and I want silence, I look for the
    chapel. I've never encountered the chaplain who would typically be paged. I
    did once encounter a minister who told me he was a chaplain at O'Hare.
    It's a part-time gig, and unless he conducted a scheduled service, he
    was on call.

    Oddly I don't recall chapels at major train stations but we used to have Traveler's Aid societies, mostly volunteers who could steer travelers to
    social services if they found themselves in dire straights like lost or
    stolen belongings. That went away in the '80s.
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From danny burstein@dannyb@panix.com to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 29 15:28:35 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    In <116uthf$3anoi$2@dont-email.me> "Adam H. Kerman" <ahk@chinet.com> writes: [dnip]

    Oddly I don't recall chapels at major train stations but we used to have >Traveler's Aid societies, mostly volunteers who could steer travelers to >social services if they found themselves in dire straights like lost or >stolen belongings. That went away in the '80s.

    a big, related, "service" of theirs was... to provide
    the visitor a train ticket back home (usually along
    with a small amount of "have lunch on us" cash)
    --
    _____________________________________________________
    Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
    dannyb@panix.com
    [to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Rhino@no_offline_contact@example.com to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 29 11:46:35 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    On 2026-08-29 11:23 a.m., Adam H. Kerman wrote:
    Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:

    I just watched the first two episodes of The Airport Chaplain and
    thought I'd write a short review of it. It's a new Australian series
    consisting of 8 episodes in its initial series. The stars are Hugo
    Weaving who I've seen in a variety of shows over the years, the latest
    of which was as River Cartright's dad in Slow Horses, and Shabana Azeez,
    best known for her role as a young doctor in The Pitt.

    Weaving's character is the chaplain at a major international airport in
    Australia and Azeez plays the new terminal manager who is a by-the-book
    manager. Weaving is a guy who gets things done creatively and isn't
    afraid to skirt the rules. Clashes are inevitable between the two.

    We see a surprising amount of variety in the chaplain's role. He isn't
    just praying with people as you might imagine, he's actively solving
    problems. He's also dealing with his daughter, with whom he is estranged.

    IMDB only rates it 6.4 but I think that under-rates it. It's at least in
    the low 7's. It's a welcome change from the usual formulas.

    Is he genuinely helping travelers or is there an international criminal conspiracy?

    When I am at hospital or an airport and I want silence, I look for the chapel. I've never encountered the chaplain who would typically be paged. I did once encounter a minister who told me he was a chaplain at O'Hare.
    It's a part-time gig, and unless he conducted a scheduled service, he
    was on call.

    Oddly I don't recall chapels at major train stations but we used to have Traveler's Aid societies, mostly volunteers who could steer travelers to social services if they found themselves in dire straights like lost or stolen belongings. That went away in the '80s.

    I have no idea whatsoever if this show accurately depicts the lives of
    airport chaplains; I had no idea such a role existed. Maybe it doesn't
    and this is a product of someone imagining what the job might be if it existed.

    There are no signs yet - I just finished the third episode - of any
    criminal conspiracies, international or otherwise. We *do* have some
    scenes around a supposed Ethiopian (with a distinctly American accent)
    engaged in smuggling and that's about as close as it comes.

    Our chaplain is basically a do-gooder. He tracks down a lost plush toy
    to get it to a child who is freaking out about its loss. He takes in
    stray animals. He helps keep an abusive husband away from his wife and
    child. He helps de-escalate a situation with a foreign woman in the
    airport prayer room. His job is closer to the Traveler's Aid that you
    describe than one of spiritual counsel.

    There *is* one scene where he's in a church but it's away from the
    airport: he crashes his estranged daughter's baptism for her son. That's
    where we learn that he is apparently Catholic. The only other bit of
    actual religion we see is when he attempts to say a Buddhist prayer for
    an East Asian man who died during a flight to Australia.
    --
    Rhino
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From anim8rfsk@anim8rfsk@cox.net to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 29 09:29:14 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:
    On 2026-08-29 11:23 a.m., Adam H. Kerman wrote:
    Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:

    I just watched the first two episodes of The Airport Chaplain and
    thought I'd write a short review of it. It's a new Australian series
    consisting of 8 episodes in its initial series. The stars are Hugo
    Weaving who I've seen in a variety of shows over the years, the latest
    of which was as River Cartright's dad in Slow Horses, and Shabana Azeez, >>> best known for her role as a young doctor in The Pitt.

    Weaving's character is the chaplain at a major international airport in
    Australia and Azeez plays the new terminal manager who is a by-the-book
    manager. Weaving is a guy who gets things done creatively and isn't
    afraid to skirt the rules. Clashes are inevitable between the two.

    We see a surprising amount of variety in the chaplain's role. He isn't
    just praying with people as you might imagine, he's actively solving
    problems. He's also dealing with his daughter, with whom he is estranged. >>
    IMDB only rates it 6.4 but I think that under-rates it. It's at least in >>> the low 7's. It's a welcome change from the usual formulas.

    Is he genuinely helping travelers or is there an international criminal
    conspiracy?

    When I am at hospital or an airport and I want silence, I look for the
    chapel. I've never encountered the chaplain who would typically be paged. I >> did once encounter a minister who told me he was a chaplain at O'Hare.
    It's a part-time gig, and unless he conducted a scheduled service, he
    was on call.

    Oddly I don't recall chapels at major train stations but we used to have
    Traveler's Aid societies, mostly volunteers who could steer travelers to
    social services if they found themselves in dire straights like lost or
    stolen belongings. That went away in the '80s.

    I have no idea whatsoever if this show accurately depicts the lives of airport chaplains; I had no idea such a role existed. Maybe it doesn't
    and this is a product of someone imagining what the job might be if it existed.

    OK, that was my question. I’ve talked to hospital chaplains and I
    understand the reason for them but an airport Chaplin? Or for that matter
    an airport chapel?



    There are no signs yet - I just finished the third episode - of any
    criminal conspiracies, international or otherwise. We *do* have some
    scenes around a supposed Ethiopian (with a distinctly American accent) engaged in smuggling and that's about as close as it comes.

    Our chaplain is basically a do-gooder. He tracks down a lost plush toy
    to get it to a child who is freaking out about its loss. He takes in
    stray animals. He helps keep an abusive husband away from his wife and child. He helps de-escalate a situation with a foreign woman in the
    airport prayer room. His job is closer to the Traveler's Aid that you describe than one of spiritual counsel.

    There *is* one scene where he's in a church but it's away from the
    airport: he crashes his estranged daughter's baptism for her son. That's where we learn that he is apparently Catholic. The only other bit of
    actual religion we see is when he attempts to say a Buddhist prayer for
    an East Asian man who died during a flight to Australia.

    --
    The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From danny burstein@dannyb@panix.com to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 29 16:35:30 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    In <1344947035.809713580.495502.anim8rfsk-cox.net@news.easynews.com> anim8rfsk <anim8rfsk@cox.net> writes:

    [snip]

    OK, that was my question. I’ve talked to hospital chaplains and I >understand the reason for them but an airport Chaplin? Or for that matter
    an airport chapel?

    back at least to the 1960's JFK (or even Idlewild) had a modest
    chapel which was semi shared by different fiaths. I recall heading
    there with my grandparents to bring some of our books there.

    It was moved and rebuilt a few decades ago and I'm not sure if
    it's still around.
    --
    _____________________________________________________
    Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
    dannyb@panix.com
    [to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Adam H. Kerman@ahk@chinet.com to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 29 16:47:49 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:

    . . .

    There are no signs yet - I just finished the third episode - of any
    criminal conspiracies, international or otherwise. We *do* have some
    scenes around a supposed Ethiopian (with a distinctly American accent) >engaged in smuggling and that's about as close as it comes.

    Thanks. That at least sounds like the show sticking to a premise.
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The True Melissa@thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 29 13:22:41 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    Rhino wrote in article <116uqpr$37v4p$1@dont-email.me>:
    Weaving's character is the chaplain at a major international airport in Australia and Azeez plays the new terminal manager who is a by-the-book manager. Weaving is a guy who gets things done creatively and isn't
    afraid to skirt the rules. Clashes are inevitable between the two.


    Hmm, that does sound interesting. I'll see if it's available to
    me.
    --
    The meek shall inherit, we're told,
    But I'm not so easily sold.
    For supposing they should,
    It would do them no good --
    They'd lose it at once to the bold.
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The True Melissa@thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 29 13:28:23 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    anim8rfsk wrote in article
    <1344947035.809713580.495502.anim8rfsk-
    cox.net@news.easynews.com>:
    Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:
    [quoted text muted]

    I have no idea whatsoever if this show accurately depicts the lives of airport chaplains; I had no idea such a role existed. Maybe it doesn't
    and this is a product of someone imagining what the job might be if it existed.

    OK, that was my question. I?ve talked to hospital chaplains and I
    understand the reason for them but an airport Chaplin? Or for that matter
    an airport chapel?


    People who are afraid of flying might want to pray for loved ones
    in the air, and disasters like a hijacked flight might set people
    praying. I don't know why they need a chapel, but perhaps a
    terminal is too noisy for proper concentration.

    I've only seen one airport chapel, and it didn't look like a
    chapel to me. It was just a room with some chairs and a table at
    the front. It could easily have passed for a presentation room.
    --
    The meek shall inherit, we're told,
    But I'm not so easily sold.
    For supposing they should,
    It would do them no good --
    They'd lose it at once to the bold.
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From BTR1701@atropos@mac.com to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 29 17:29:42 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    On Aug 29, 2026 at 7:36:42 AM PDT, "Rhino" <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:

    I just watched the first two episodes of The Airport Chaplain and
    thought I'd write a short review of it. It's a new Australian series consisting of 8 episodes in its initial series. The stars are Hugo
    Weaving who I've seen in a variety of shows over the years, the latest
    of which was as River Cartright's dad in Slow Horses, and Shabana Azeez, best known for her role as a young doctor in The Pitt.

    Come on, you can't mention Hugo Weaving and leave out Agent Smith and Elrond!


    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From BTR1701@atropos@mac.com to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 29 17:32:13 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    On Aug 29, 2026 at 8:23:27 AM PDT, ""Adam H. Kerman"" <ahk@chinet.com> wrote:

    Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:

    I just watched the first two episodes of The Airport Chaplain and
    thought I'd write a short review of it. It's a new Australian series
    consisting of 8 episodes in its initial series. The stars are Hugo
    Weaving who I've seen in a variety of shows over the years, the latest
    of which was as River Cartright's dad in Slow Horses, and Shabana Azeez,
    best known for her role as a young doctor in The Pitt.

    Weaving's character is the chaplain at a major international airport in
    Australia and Azeez plays the new terminal manager who is a by-the-book
    manager. Weaving is a guy who gets things done creatively and isn't
    afraid to skirt the rules. Clashes are inevitable between the two.

    We see a surprising amount of variety in the chaplain's role. He isn't
    just praying with people as you might imagine, he's actively solving
    problems. He's also dealing with his daughter, with whom he is estranged.

    IMDB only rates it 6.4 but I think that under-rates it. It's at least in
    the low 7's. It's a welcome change from the usual formulas.

    Is he genuinely helping travelers or is there an international criminal conspiracy?

    When I am at hospital or an airport and I want silence, I look for the chapel. I've never encountered the chaplain who would typically be paged. I did once encounter a minister who told me he was a chaplain at O'Hare.
    It's a part-time gig, and unless he conducted a scheduled service, he
    was on call.

    Oddly I don't recall chapels at major train stations but we used to have Traveler's Aid societies, mostly volunteers who could steer travelers to social services if they found themselves in dire straights like lost or stolen belongings. That went away in the '80s.

    They're installing Muslim foot baths at the Dallas airport now because without them, the barbarians were crawling up on the counters and sticking their nasty feet in the sinks.

    So of course, instead of telling to cut that shit out and enforcing it, we're spending millions to construct special foot bathing facilities for them.

    FFS


    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Rhino@no_offline_contact@example.com to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 29 13:44:45 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    On 2026-08-29 1:29 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:
    On Aug 29, 2026 at 7:36:42 AM PDT, "Rhino" <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:

    I just watched the first two episodes of The Airport Chaplain and
    thought I'd write a short review of it. It's a new Australian series
    consisting of 8 episodes in its initial series. The stars are Hugo
    Weaving who I've seen in a variety of shows over the years, the latest
    of which was as River Cartright's dad in Slow Horses, and Shabana Azeez,
    best known for her role as a young doctor in The Pitt.

    Come on, you can't mention Hugo Weaving and leave out Agent Smith and Elrond!

    I've never seen either but I'm a big fan of Slow Horses :-) By the way,
    Season 6 of Slow Horses starts on Sept. 16, less than 3 weeks from now.
    --
    Rhino
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Rhino@no_offline_contact@example.com to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 29 13:46:20 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    On 2026-08-29 1:22 p.m., The True Melissa wrote:
    Rhino wrote in article <116uqpr$37v4p$1@dont-email.me>:
    Weaving's character is the chaplain at a major international airport in
    Australia and Azeez plays the new terminal manager who is a by-the-book
    manager. Weaving is a guy who gets things done creatively and isn't
    afraid to skirt the rules. Clashes are inevitable between the two.


    Hmm, that does sound interesting. I'll see if it's available to
    me.

    It's a nice change from the usual cops, bad SF, superheroes and reality
    crap that the networks think we crave.
    --
    Rhino
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Adam H. Kerman@ahk@chinet.com to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 29 18:57:45 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:

    They're installing Muslim foot baths at the Dallas airport now because without >them, the barbarians were crawling up on the counters and sticking their nasty >feet in the sinks.

    So of course, instead of telling to cut that shit out and enforcing it, we're >spending millions to construct special foot bathing facilities for them.

    FFS

    Can't one moisten a paper towel then wipe the foot? No sink is designed
    for bodyweight.

    In places with these baths, how is the dirty water flushed? I don't want
    to think about it.
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Adam H. Kerman@ahk@chinet.com to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 29 19:24:42 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> wrote:

    . . .

    People who are afraid of flying might want to pray for loved ones
    in the air, and disasters like a hijacked flight might set people
    praying. I don't know why they need a chapel, but perhaps a
    terminal is too noisy for proper concentration.

    People travel for illness and funerals. If changing flights, they might
    use the chapel.

    I've only seen one airport chapel, and it didn't look like a
    chapel to me. It was just a room with some chairs and a table at
    the front. It could easily have passed for a presentation room.

    Yes, it's ordinary office space. It's interdenominational, so decorations
    must be kept to a minimum.
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Adam H. Kerman@ahk@chinet.com to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 29 19:28:49 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:

    . . .

    It's a nice change from the usual cops, bad SF, superheroes and reality
    crap that the networks think we crave.

    Reality tv has no actors, no writers, no stuntmen, just a smarmy host.
    Networks like the relatively low production costs.
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Adam H. Kerman@ahk@chinet.com to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 29 19:38:10 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
    Aug 29, 2026 at 7:36:42 AM PDT, "Rhino" <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:

    I just watched the first two episodes of The Airport Chaplain and
    thought I'd write a short review of it. It's a new Australian series >>consisting of 8 episodes in its initial series. The stars are Hugo
    Weaving who I've seen in a variety of shows over the years, the latest
    of which was as River Cartright's dad in Slow Horses, and Shabana Azeez, >>best known for her role as a young doctor in The Pitt.

    Come on, you can't mention Hugo Weaving and leave out Agent Smith

    Mister ANDERSON

    and Elrond!

    When did he play Elrond Hubbard?
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Rhino@no_offline_contact@example.com to rec.arts.tv on Sat Aug 29 16:50:42 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    On 2026-08-29 3:28 p.m., Adam H. Kerman wrote:
    Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:

    . . .

    It's a nice change from the usual cops, bad SF, superheroes and reality
    crap that the networks think we crave.

    Reality tv has no actors, no writers, no stuntmen, just a smarmy host. Networks like the relatively low production costs.

    I realize that. But it is cheap to make and puts enough bums in front of
    TVs to make the shows more attractive to the networks than something
    that is more expensive to make so we're presumably stuck with it for
    many more years to come.
    --
    Rhino
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Your Name@YourName@YourISP.com to rec.arts.tv on Sun Aug 30 10:56:20 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    On 2026-08-29 17:28:23 +0000, The True Melissa said:

    anim8rfsk wrote in article
    <1344947035.809713580.495502.anim8rfsk-
    cox.net@news.easynews.com>:
    Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:
    [quoted text muted]

    I have no idea whatsoever if this show accurately depicts the lives of
    airport chaplains; I had no idea such a role existed. Maybe it doesn't
    and this is a product of someone imagining what the job might be if it
    existed.

    OK, that was my question. I?ve talked to hospital chaplains and I
    understand the reason for them but an airport Chaplin? Or for that matter
    an airport chapel?

    People who are afraid of flying might want to pray for loved ones in
    the air, and disasters like a hijacked flight might set people praying.
    I don't know why they need a chapel, but perhaps a terminal is too
    noisy for proper concentration.

    I've only seen one airport chapel, and it didn't look like a chapel to
    me. It was just a room with some chairs and a table at the front. It
    could easily have passed for a presentation room.

    Many airports have multi-faith prayer rooms and / or other quiet spaces
    that can be used on request.

    Some of he bigger airports do have an actual multi-faith chapel and
    chaplins as well. Heathrow Airport in London for example: <https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/terminal-facilities/heathrow-multi-faith-chaplaincy>

    In some cases, these will be local chaplains who also work part time
    (perhaps just "on call") at the airport, rather than full time airport employees.


    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The True Melissa@thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM to rec.arts.tv on Sun Aug 30 09:31:43 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv

    Rhino wrote in article <116v5tc$3e5im$2@dont-email.me>:
    On 2026-08-29 1:22 p.m., The True Melissa wrote:
    Rhino wrote in article <116uqpr$37v4p$1@dont-email.me>:
    Weaving's character is the chaplain at a major international airport in
    Australia and Azeez plays the new terminal manager who is a by-the-book
    manager. Weaving is a guy who gets things done creatively and isn't
    afraid to skirt the rules. Clashes are inevitable between
    the two.

    Hmm, that does sound interesting. I'll see if it's available to
    me.

    It's a nice change from the usual cops, bad SF, superheroes and reality
    crap that the networks think we crave.


    I would like to see more superheroes if they'd actually do
    superhero stuff. The recent offerings seem to focus more other
    issues.
    --
    The meek shall inherit, we're told,
    But I'm not so easily sold.
    For supposing they should,
    It would do them no good --
    They'd lose it at once to the bold.
    --- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2