Rev meets God

My favourite clip from the BBC's comedy series Rev. Reverend Adam Smallbone (Tom Hollander) is at a low ebb on Good Friday - his reputation in tatters, and his church facing closure. On a hill in east London, he encounters a tramp (Liam Neeson) who somehow knows his name...From series 3. Sorry about rubbish picture quality.

[THS]

This is the most convincing portrayal of God I’ve ever seen in any film or TV show

[garythebarman]

I like the fact that Liam Neeson wasn't mentioned in the credits at the end. I don't know why but it just made this scene even more special.

[CentaurAI]

I am not religious myself, but genuinely find this one of the most powerful and moving scenes I have ever watched by any media. Makes me weep every time!  Nice that Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes take a day out to help out their mate Tom Hollander, who has been superb, like all the cast and writers, throughout all three brilliant series of Rev.  Glad they called it a day without dragging on to a fourth series.

[NickScottMusic]

Just one of the most underrated, clever, symbolic and lovely moments of TV. oop something in my eye..

[garythebarman]

Also, if you listen just before Liam says 'we all have our crosses to bear' you can hear the sound of nail's being hammered in. Just amazing.

[felixlamb]

Sometimes God appears to one man on a hill in the city with no crowds or cameras or spectacle. Every so often, he just says hi.

[lindypetts]

Am an agnostic, possibly an atheist. However, this series and importantly this scene had a profound impact on me. So many themes were explored and then portrayed so simply. The chance of redemption from things which we have deep pain from having done. The belief that there is something greater than than the most mundane of humanity. The sadness of failure and then a chance to recover from failure. The chance of something just a little bit unknown in our boring lives. And all in the context of the most ordinary of our lives. This series moved me deeply and this scene was the most profound and touching of them all

[carouselcakes]

One minute I’m howling with laughter, the next I’m sobbing with sadness. Rev truly was one of those one in a million brilliant comedies. It’s just a shame more people didn’t watch it.

[ultimateninjaboi]

Honestly one of my favorite moments in television history. Even just saying to someone "everything's going wrong for him, he's a priest, this is his favorite song, " and showing them this, you can still see them hit with its impact. magnify that with someone who's watched the show, and it's just incredibly powerful, while still maintaining a wonderful levity to it. it doesn't so much punch you in the face with how powerful it is, but rests a gentle (albeit large and heavy) hand on your shoulder, as if to comfort you. And I think that sort of tone and feel fits what's happening in the scene quite well. x3

[richardparker]

Brings tears to my eyes every time. Tears of consolation more than anything.

[spikeep]

That costuming they have given him to wear is just absolutely SUPERB, it deliberately enhances and adds to the ambiguity as to What He Is — because it’s dawn, around 6 a.m. in a deserted corner of an obscure public park, on Easter Sunday : you can’t precisely tell anything about What this guy is (in Life), or Who He Might Be on the basis of how he is dressed or what he is wearing (or APPEARS to be wearing) — because his tracksuit is OLD, but CLEAN, so he might be a homeless street-person like Colin, OR he might be a jogger out for an early morning run, OR he might be a guy heading back home from an all-night rave (and he •appears• to have a can of cheap lager….. although, he •doesn’t• actually drink from it at any point;

And then when he rattles of that final proverb he makes you think that he must be a military veteran of some kind, because he sounds like a Soldier that has known frontline combat in more than a few Wars prior to the present day….

[iluvb]

Superb, understated and moving scene; in particular, when the camera pulls back at 2:49 after Liam Neeson's character has stood up from the bench, the fact that he is no longer in shot is such a subtly effective way of depicting God-like status.

[garythebarman]

Thank you for posting this as i have watched it about a dozen times on BBC IPLAYER. The five minutes leading up to this scene is full of little bit's from the Bible story like Colin denying he knew the Rev three times before the Cockrell crowed, only it was the alarm at the fried chicken restaurant. Also look out for the good samaritan asking Adam if he wanted a hand with his big cross. Genius TV that we don't see much of these days.

[cymrogogogoch]

 I come here a lot, just makes it all seem a bit more worthwhile.

Thanks for the upload

[stevenparker]

This is amazing, still!  Can't stop dipping in to watching this.  When people feel indifferent to God (as we all can at some point) I direct them to this.  More amazing than any sermon I've ever heard!  The whole episode was brilliantly written too. 

[andrewmundin]

I've watched this time and time again I know what happens but still now when Liam touches the revs shoulder I still cry

[japagowtrio]

I've watched this seven times in the last 24 hours. It fills me with hope.

[hopefulheart]

I cry every time, I just love thus scene! Great show!! Thank you!

[ravingbonkers]

Thank you for putting this on YouTube. I used to have it on my PVR, but it broke. I often wish I could ask Liam Neeson for advice - he just has the most reassuring voice. When Liam says: 'I understand', 'I'll always be here', I believe him. And he will always be here, on YouTube! Ta, very muchlies!

[michaelritchie]

I've never been religious but Rev is the only thing that's ever made me "get it". Amazing show, I miss it.