Six reasons to watch this creative, biblically faithful show<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\nKANSAS CITY \u2013<\/b> If you aren\u2019t watching \u201cThe Chosen,\u201d I think you\u2019re missing out. <\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThe Chosen\u201d is an independent television show depicting the life of Christ through the eyes of His disciples. Its 16 episodes range from 35 minutes to an hour in length, and the Season 2 finale came out, July 11. Season 1 is available on NBC\u2019s streaming service, PeacockTV; I watched both seasons at watch.angelstudios.com\/thechosen. You can also watch on your phone or tablet (just search for \u201cThe Chosen\u201d on the Apple or Google app store). Regardless of your viewing method, here\u2019s why I think you should give it a shot:<\/span><\/p>\nDallas Jenkins<\/p><\/div>\n
1. It\u2019s faithful to Scripture<\/span><\/h3>\nThe first episode offers this important note: \u201cThe Chosen is based on the true stories of the Gospels of Jesus Christ. Some locations and timelines have been combined or condensed. Backstories and characters or dialogue have been added. However, all biblical and historical context and any artistic imagination are designed to support the truth and intention of the Scriptures. Viewers are encouraged to read the Gospels.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nAn unequivocal truth claim and an encouragement to read the Gospels are a very strong start for \u201cThe Chosen,\u201d even as it makes clear it\u2019s not meant to be an expositional sermon. Dallas Jenkins, the creator and director of the series, has put it this way: \u201cWe take Bible stories, we work our way backwards to add the context, to add backstory: some of it’s historical, some of it’s cultural, some of it’s artistical imagination. All of it’s intended to support the character and intentions of the Gospels.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n2. It\u2019s good\u2026 REALLY good<\/span><\/h3>\nIf you don\u2019t get hooked right away, try to last through Episode 4, and I suspect you\u2019ll be sucked in.<\/span><\/p>\nBeyond the quality of acting (all very solid), it\u2019s the respectful creativity that drew me in. For example: Before meeting Jesus, Peter is deep in debt and has to resort to tattling on tax-evading Jews. \u201cThe Chosen\u201d imagines this debt is why he is fishing all night to no avail in Luke 5. When Jesus shows up on the shore and tells him to cast out his nets once more for a life-saving catch, it is miraculous indeed and an extremely timely intervention. <\/span><\/p>\nSince we\u2019re already familiar with most of the plot points, foreshadowing happens often, but it\u2019s never annoying or overly wink wink.\u00a0 <\/span>They\u2019ve found the perfect sweet spot of the viewer knowing what\u2019s coming and not knowing how we\u2019re going to get there (a certain father-of-the-bride in Cana is worried about not having enough wine). Other times, we stumble into a parable we didn\u2019t see coming until it\u2019s right on top of us (an achingly beautiful retelling of the Good Samaritan).<\/span><\/p>\n