{"id":40520,"date":"2021-07-30T12:46:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-30T17:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mbcpathway.com\/?p=40520"},"modified":"2021-09-01T14:18:55","modified_gmt":"2021-09-01T19:18:55","slug":"the-chosen-makes-great-tv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mbcpathway.com\/2021\/07\/30\/the-chosen-makes-great-tv\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018The Chosen\u2019 makes great TV"},"content":{"rendered":"

Six reasons to watch this creative, biblically faithful show<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

KANSAS 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>\n

\"\"

Dallas Jenkins<\/p><\/div>\n

1. It\u2019s faithful to Scripture<\/span><\/h3>\n

The 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>\n

An 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>\n

2. It\u2019s good\u2026 REALLY good<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you don\u2019t get hooked right away, try to last through Episode 4, and I suspect you\u2019ll be sucked in.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond 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>\n

Since 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

3. The characters grab you and won\u2019t let go.<\/span><\/h3>\n

To date, there have been zero fancy special effects; the show relies on strong character development instead. You\u2019ll grow to love Mary Magdalene, Peter, and Matthew (Elizabeth Tabish, Shahar Isaac and Paras Patel are three talented standouts among the cast). You\u2019ll root for the moment when Nicodemus (Erick Avari) finally comes face to face with Jesus (Jonathan Roumie), and when they meet under cover of darkness, it\u2019s a truly marvelous scene. <\/span><\/p>\n

Matthew\u2019s character is memorable, in part due to him being written and performed as having Asperger\u2019s Syndrome. It\u2019s a very interesting creative choice that has been confirmed in interviews, and it meshes well with the real-life Matthew\u2019s penchant for detail. <\/span><\/p>\n

Patel\u2019s portrayal is not pandering, patronizing, exploitative or over-the-top in it; it\u2019s simply good. Take the opening scene of Season 2: We see a flash forward into the future, with John interviewing the remaining disciples long after Jesus\u2019s death and resurrection, presumably for the Gospel that will bear his name. During his interview with John, Matthew chides him for not including enough minute details in his notes. John is intent on starting his Gospel \u201cin the beginning, but which beginning?\u201d Matthew, on the other hand, grumbles to himself, \u201cMy account will be precise.\u201d Character moments take biblical realities and use them to undergird a lovely and effective story: Matthew is very deliberate and detailed in presenting the case that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, while the Gospel of John opens with a twist on Genesis 1:1.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. There are no glaring weaknesses.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Too often, I come away from watching Bible-based stories or media aimed at Christians by praising the high points, but apologizing profusely for the low points. With \u201cThe Chosen,\u201d the biggest drawback I can see is I\u2019m not fond of the song that plays over the opening credits to each episode. When that is my only complaint, we\u2019re in great shape.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. It\u2019s meant for all ages.<\/span><\/h3>\n

If a younger viewer has the attention span for an hour of live-action TV, it\u2019s appropriate for him or her. I\u2019d still suggest watching alongside them to guide discussion about what is taken directly from Scripture and how everything relates to the Gospel, but there\u2019s nothing sexual, graphic or objectionable here.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. It\u2019s free.<\/span><\/h3>\n

For the time being at least, it\u2019s costs nothing to watch both seasons of \u201cThe Chosen.\u201d The show raised its production costs through crowd funding, an unusual method in entertainment, and especially so given the quality. More than 75,000 people donated $10 million in 2019 to fund the first season and 125,000 people raised the same to fund season 2 last November. <\/span><\/p>\n

At press time for The Pathway’s <\/em>July 20th print edition, season 3 was 38 percent funded. According to the show’s website<\/a>, “the next five seasons [seasons 3-7] will cost $100 million to produce.” There are no commercial interruptions or pushy requests for funds; there\u2019s zero obligation or expectation from viewers. Seven seasons in total are coming if the creators get their way. Judging by the quality and fidelity to Scripture in these first two, I hope we get them all.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you aren\u2019t watching \u201cThe Chosen,\u201d I think you\u2019re missing out. Let me offer six reasons to watch this creative, biblically faithful show about Christ’s life, as seen through the eyes of his followers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":40522,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_wpscp_schedule_draft_date":"","_wpscp_schedule_republish_date":"","_wpscppro_advance_schedule":false,"_wpscppro_advance_schedule_date":"","_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_selected_social_profile":[]},"categories":[177,8,293],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018The Chosen\u2019 makes great TV<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you aren\u2019t watching \u201cThe Chosen,\u201d I think you\u2019re missing out. 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