By Hayden Mortensen
Reporter
The Chosen is the Game of Thrones of Christian television. It is a historical drama series that spread like wildfire in wake of the pandemic, becoming the largest crowdfunded TV project ever. It follows the lived experiences of down-to-earth characters including a gambling fisherman, an autistic tax collector, and a nomad from Nazareth.
In season one, racist Romans occupy Capernaum circa 26 AD. Unsettled residents of the “Red Quarter” resort to gambling, prostitution, and back-stabbing to cope with the trials of tyranny. Some like Simon Peter (Shahar Isaac) evade taxes by fishing on the holy day Shabbat, but their debts mount nonetheless. Hope for the long-awaited Messiah is almost nonexistent. Ritual tradition is the only anchor to reality, but even the powerful Pharisee, Nicodemus (Erick Avari), begins to question its worth.
Inexplicable anomalies occur, and they seem to connect to one soft-spoken, humorous stranger, Jesus of Nazareth (Jonathan Roumie). Jesus has important work to do, but he chooses somewhat incompatible individuals to assist him. They don’t know what for, but they assist anyway while juggling family obligations, social pressures, and the common pains of humanity.
The creator and director Dallas Jenkins provides a complete experience for viewers by closing the gap between scripture and contemporary reality. He implements historically accurate concepts and fills the unknown with detailed and creative drama. The language and circumstances in The Chosen reflect modernity and express how people weren’t much different 2,000 years ago. Season one metaphorically touches on some “contemporary” topics that range from pawn shops and catering to health stigmas and racial diversity.
The first episode is strange and slow because it involves demon possession and doesn’t progress the plot much. However, it is powerful because it shows the value of Mary Magdalene (Elizabeth Tabish) whom Jesus essentially chooses as his first “disciple.”
The remainder of the series is much more involved. It bounces between characters and subplots. Jenkins intends to make several seasons of The Chosen, so each episode is intentionally detailed to stretch out the New Testament stories. Jesus does not even choose all twelve apostles before season one ends. He chooses seven disciples (plus Mary Magdalene), and he finally permits them to reveal his identity during the season finale.
Avari is a critically acclaimed Broadway actor who has played in multiple blockbusters like Planet of the Apes, Independence Day (1996), and The Mummy. He brings to life a complex and distraught Nicodemus—an honest seeker of truth—who is too deeply entrenched in his career to follow his heart.
Brandon Potter, a long-time anime voice actor, plays Quintus, the commanding Roman officer over Capernaum. Kirk B. R. Woller plays Quintus’s sympathetic subordinate, Gaius. Woller played minor roles in Minority Report, Poseidon (2006), and Flags of Our Fathers. Both actors portray an intimate but toxic bond between Romans and locals.
Eden (Lara Silva) is Simon Peter’s wife. Silva fills the role with empathy and strength. She has relatively little screen time, but she gives her character an admirable presence that lingers in the mind.
Matthew (Paras Patel) is a tax collector and future apostle. Patel presumably studied well for the autistic interpretation of the character. He makes Matthew’s personal ticks believable which in turn makes the series more real and culturally inclusive.
Jesus carries a more intimate relationship with heaven, but he still labors in prayer to be sure of his Father’s will. Roumie presents an atypical Jesus figure. His character is supposed to be perfect, but he’s not lofty and he expresses a rawness. Roumie’s Jesus cracks jokes, cracks smiles at bad dancing, and even cracks his head open. Roumie emits intense compassion in this role with a bright smile and an understanding gaze.
The Chosen is not as intense as most popular TV shows, but it contains engaging story arcs that equal those of contemporary favorites. Jenkins wanted to make an entertaining series where viewers can “binge Jesus.” The Chosen is indeed binge-worthy. The only setback is there are so few episodes to binge—eight plus one pilot episode. Season two production is underway, but is still gathering necessary funds. Viewers can stream The Chosen and its related content on VidAngel.com, VidAngel app, or The Chosen.tv app.
