We typically review movies in this format, but today we will review a streaming series. As always, we provide talking points and questions to help explore spiritual topics and to share your faith experience with family and friends.
The Chosen (Seasons 1-2)
Unrated • 2017 • Historical Drama • 16 one-hour episodes
Starring: Jonathan Roumie, Elizabeth Tabish, Paras Patel, Shahar Isaac
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By Andrew Wood
Every generation needs to rediscover Jesus and tell his story in a way that touches not only the head but the heart. The multi-season streaming series The Chosen takes enormous artistic liberties with the historical facts of the Gospels. However, it convincingly portrays Jesus as enigmatically both human and divine.
HARNESSING 21ST-CENTURY MEDIA
The Chosen was produced and marketed in a unique way that takes advantage of 21st-century media to take the message of Jesus to new audiences. It was designed as a multi-season series of one-hour episodes, intended to be binge-watched much like similar programs on online streaming services.
Distributer Angel Studios is a video streaming company that is paying for the series’ production through crowdfunding—online donations from people who believe in the project. Contributors can be included as extras in future episodes. To date, the project has raised over $40 million, making it the most successful crowdfunded television project in history.
ACCURATE JESUS, ACCURATE SETTING
In some ways, the Jesus of The Chosen seems like the best cinematic depiction of the Messiah to date. American actor Jonathan Roumie portrays him with a tension between approachability and regality, simplicity and mystery, gentleness and strength. Watching him, it’s easy to imagine wanting to be in the presence of this charismatic man, yet at the same time feeling some trepidation at what unexpected thing he might do or say. It feels very much like the reaction we might have at meeting the real Jesus.
The cast of this production is diverse, including talented actors of Indian-American, Israeli-American, and other ethnicities speaking accented English. This is not just a nod to modern sensibilities; it’s actually a more historically authentic way to think of the cosmopolitan environment of first-century Israel under Roman occupation. Similarly, while the series is filmed in Texas and Utah, it succeeds in replicating a convincing Middle Eastern setting that feels deep, rich, and historically accurate.
This is no accident. The Chosen has three script consultants: a Roman Catholic priest, a Messianic Jewish rabbi, and an evangelical New Testament scholar (Dr. Doug Huffman of Biola University). Two members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints founded the production company that produced the series, but rumors that The Chosen promotes or benefits that church are unfounded.
AN IMAGINATIVE STORYLINE
The plot of The Chosen is another matter. While adhering to the general outlines of Jesus’ life and ministry, the script takes huge artistic liberties to create fictional backstories and drama for other characters.
Some of these seem generally consistent with the biblical account. We’re introduced to Mary Magdalene (Elizabeth Tabish) from the beginning of the series, and learn a little about her as a child, as an adult of questionable morals battling demon possession, and then her transformation into a devout woman after encountering Jesus. Other biographical story arcs stretch credulity, such as an intrigue that sees Peter (Shahar Isaac) informing on fellow Jews to Roman authorities to try to erase his debts.
It’s easy for those familiar with the Gospels to pick out the fiction; not so much for those who are biblically illiterate. The Chosen is perhaps best seen as Jesus in an “alternative universe”—how would he interact if the characters of the Bible actually did these things? From that perspective, the viewer can enjoy the story as a work of fiction while being inspired to consider the character and example of the real Jesus, and how he might interact with us individually today.
This does create a dilemma when showing the series to children or adults with poor knowledge of the Gospels. It can be a useful tool to inspire interest in Jesus but that should be followed up with intentional Bible study to help viewers distinguish fact from fiction.
HOW TO VIEW THE CHOSEN
Seasons 1 and 2 of The Chosen are available free for anyone with a computer, smartphone, or smart TV. Access episodes through the studio’s website (www.angel.com) or via multiple streaming services, including Peacock, Amazon Prime Video, and others. You can also download the app—The Chosen: Stream the Series.
The first two episodes of season 3 will be released in theaters nationally Nov. 18. Look for a review of those new episodes here at christianstandard.com in the coming weeks.
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If you’d like to take your discussion of this series with others to a deeper level, try some of these questions:
- How relevant do you think Jesus’ story is to our lives today?
- What qualities do you find appealing about Jesus as portrayed in The Chosen?
- How does this picture of Jesus compare to your previous ideas, including those you were raised with?
- Did you notice any inaccuracies in the movie when compared with the Bible?
- Did the series make you more interested in learning the real story of Jesus? Would you like to read it together?
Andrew Wood, a former missionary to Ukraine and professor at Nebraska Christian College, is a freelance writer.
As a woman who believes in Christ… guys.. I loved what you did. I have scored music for major feature movies. That said, where are the women in your production & writing team? There would be so much more you could have brought to the story through the women’s experiences. Since scripture states (written by the spirit through male hands) that women were brave enough to be at the cross when the apostles hightailed it into hiding (which is appreciated when we humans are not living up to who we all should be in our faith). Then again, scripture recording that women were the 1st to experience, be spoken to, spend time w/ the resurrected Christ.. THE event that created a direct connection to our creator. If scripture records such bravery & significant experience by the women… does it not merit putting women in as writers & producers to include their experiences?
I watched The Chosen tonight. Disappointed, it is not historically accurate. They told a vegetable joke about corn. It was almost 1,500 years after Christ before corn left the Americas.
In response to Blue Huxley: What does the fact that the Bible records women being the first to arrive at Jesus’ tomb have anything at all to do with including women as writers and producers in a Christian streaming series in the 21st century? I am a female Christian as well, but to make EVERYTHING about women these days is getting more than a little monotonous. Did you ever consider that the creator of the series just found the right “people” for the various roles he hired them for, regardless of their biological gender? . . . Not every decision in life boils down to feminism.
I love the show so far. It makes learning about Jesus much more approachable . . .
LOL ! The corn comment!
It’s good. I never realized he had such a large group of immediate followers. Let alone so many women in the group. But everything has to be ‘Inclusive’ these days. Because of that a lot of time is spent fleshing out things that are made up. Alsi I don’t think anyone used the word “weaponized’ of Jesus saying “You Got this”. Thw list could go on. Where’s Bartholomew?
I loved The Chosen; I feel much more closer spiritually as a Catholic. I am left with better understanding! I love every cast member that played an excellent part in the story. Truly got me is the best story movie show, I’ve seen about Jesus that got to the point and I understood it. Thank you! I’m telling everyone to watch it and they are and have! That’s what the Lord wants. Spread and share his love the truth to all his children. God Bless you all!
I hope it goes further than I ever imagine because I think that we really need that as a society. We need this right now. We need more of God and the culture. We need people to know that they are Loved as different as we all are. We are all children of God how can we teach our to those who are hiring and are in pain and if a TV show is able to kind of help, encourage people and and make them feel closer to Jesus and and more loved by God. And you know that’s that’s my ministry right there. – Jonathan Roumie (Jesus) The Chosen! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I am just now finishing up series 3. Of all the comments I have read, no one gets that this series has a “Jesus is a prophet and all-around great guy” motif. It is an amalgamation of New Testament statements about Jesus and his ministry. The one glaring omission that no one seems to understand is that Jesus has been lowered to be shown as a prophet and not the Son of Man. There is no statement about him being in conflict with the devil and that his ministry, in bringing the Kingdom of God to the earth, is to overthrow the hold that the forces of evil have on human history. He casts out demons but this is shown as just one of the things he does along with healing. The statements about the contrast between a person who wants to be dedicated to God and those who don’t are softened. Just read the Gospel according to Mark. The Jesus in that Gospel is not the Jesus on the screen. Very good human drama, but a wimpy representation of the Jesus of the Gospels.
In response to Jack Hess, I feel that you are sadly mistaken. Jesus repeatedly states that He is THE Son of God, and talks directly with The Father – No PROPHET would ever make this specific claim!! Season 4 makes this even more abundantly clear – He is By No Means simply a “Prophet and all-around great guy!” Throughout the series, He regularly shows His power and unequivocal faith requirements. Additionally, he is repeatedly questioning, guiding, testing, and admonishing his own deciples, as well as the Religious Leaders of His time.
Love the settings, sentiments, etc. BUT…I can’t find anywhere on the website or app anything that states that some of these characters and situations were completely invented in the writers’ minds. Yes, they are interesting (like Ramah). Yes, they give insight BUT please be true to the Word of God and at LEAST show somewhere which are the true gospel accounts and mention what has been added. Deut 4 :Do not add to the Word of God. Also see Rev 22