Lord Of War: Pilot Episode, Blessings

Lord of War is an historical drama series that follows the life of Zumbi, a 17th Century Brazilian warrior king, the last to rule its vast jungle nation of fugitive slaves know as Palmares. This time in history is in constant upheaval - politics, war, marauding, the slave trade and the Inquisition are some of the difficulties our hero endures.
The pilot episode, Blessings, introduces us to Zumbi as an adolescent known by his Christian name, Francisco. For his entire life, Francisco has been a ward of the church in the colony of Porto Calvo, Brazil. He has been raised by a progressive-thinking priest who teaches him to read the classics and history. He is well versed in Latin, speaks proper Portuguese, and serves as an altar boy. The priest uses the boy as an example (to the White slave holders) of the potential in Blacks beyond slavery. Francisco has no connection to Palmares, the jungle nation, from which he was kidnapped as a baby. His place in his own life is a mystery to him. He is caught between the slaves (for whom he has sympathy) and the Whites he mimics. He is resented by both. Naturally curious about his origins, he romanticizes the jungle nation, but also fears the “savages.” Everything becomes more complicated when Francisco falls in love with the mayor’s daughter.