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David Oyelowo’s ‘Government Cheese’ Mirrors Jonah’s Journey in Epic Apple TV+ Episode

BBG News

If you’ve been following the show “Government Cheese” on Apple TV+, you’re aware that David Oyelowo’s latest series isn’t shy about moments of divine intervention. It offers a distinctive television journey that’s both amusing and contemplative at the same time. This week’s episode maintains this theological theme in an engaging way. The character Hampton, brilliantly portrayed by Oyelowo, is on a fishing trip with his son Harrison. If you’re familiar with the Bible, you might remember the tale of Jonah, a disciple who disobeys divine instructions and ends up being swallowed by a large fish – literally speaking.

In the sixth installment of “Government Cheese”, Hampton disregards the stern counsel of a quirky acquaintance during his fishing excursion and ultimately ends up falling overboard. This predicament surprisingly echoes that of Jonah’s, as he encounters a monstrous whale. MovieWeb had an exclusive interview with Paul Hunter, one of the show’s creators whose personal tales influenced Hampton’s character development, to delve deeper into how this biblical story was incorporated into this week’s episode.

Hunter explained to MovieWeb that the source of the inspiration was Hampton’s time in prison, symbolizing the depths of the whale, as it were. Hampton had a mission: to escape, reconnect with his family, and sell his drill to bring them back together.

Hunter elaborated, “My father served as the inspiration for Hampton while he was in prison. Upon his release, however, he became more of a motivator, sharing insights with us. This experience is essentially where the story originates… Raised within the church, I’ve always been drawn to depicting this character’s journey graphically. I thought it would be captivating to blend those aspects and introduce that setting into the narrative.

Paul Hunter Is Adept at Playing in Different Mediums

Prior to “Government Cheese,” Hunter has accumulated a wealth of experience in directing music videos and commercials throughout his career. In an open conversation with us, he shared insights on how this varied professional journey has contributed to enhancing the final product of his upcoming Apple TV+ series.

I draw inspiration from various projects I’ve tackled throughout my career. Each project serves as a stepping stone, allowing me to express creativity and build self-assurance. Over the years, these diverse experiences have equipped me with the confidence to explore and narrate stories visually.

In advertisements and music videos, you often find narratives woven within them, particularly commercial spots that are comedic in nature follow a clear structure – they have a start, middle, and end. This same approach is used in series, where each episode has its own story arc, and every scene within an episode follows a narrative progression. It’s been a rewarding experience to work across various mediums and apply these skills to this specific one.

Government Cheese is now streaming on Apple TV+.

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2025-05-05 16:02

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