The Chosen

Scene from The Chosen

The Chosen, an online drama series about the life of Christ, has become something of a phenomenon in the last couple of years, commended in pulpits and on social media. It's vision is ambitious - seven seasons of eight episodes are envisaged - covering the whole of Jesus' ministry and the back story of several of its memorable characters, and the effect Jesus has on their lives.

These stories are cleverly if slightly implausibly woven together to form the arc of the plot - doubting Thomas is the guy who supplies the wine at the wedding feast of Cana!

Some of these sub plots work better than others. I wasn't so keen on Peter's. He is rather a hunk, a bit of a bad boy, with sleek shiny hair and much younger than in other film portrayals.

The arc of Nicodemus, however, I felt was particularly well done. He is visiting Capernaum, where as a respected holy man and scholar he is asked to exorcise Mary Magdalene. He fails to do this so is doubly intrigued when he finds that Jesus has set her free and he witnesses several other of Jesus' miracles. This leads him to the famous encounter in the Gospel of John Chapter 3. Jesus, seeing his sincerity, invites him to join Jesus' band of disciples. Realising who Jesus is, Nicodemus wants to join him, and we share in his agony as he debates what to do. Eventually pressure from his wife and a reluctance to give up his status, makes him remain in his old life. But it is with tears that he watches the disciples leave town without him.

There are many such moving and special moments in the series which stay in the mind: Matthew leaving his tax collector's booth to join the band at the look of love from Jesus; Mary Magdalene in a bar, about to reach for another drink, being gently told by Jesus, "this is not for you". These moments become moments of challenge for the audience too where we are invited to reflect what would we do in these circumstances?

Biblical epics are notoriously difficult to do. Sometimes reverence for the text leads to a very wooden representation or they go seriously off piste in the artistic endeavour to find something new and original to say. Whether they are done well or badly done, they can't help but reflect the faith of the writer and director.

The Chosen's Jesus, as portrayed by Jonathan Roumie, is very lovable and huggable. Like most of the Jewish characters in the story, he speaks with Mediterranean accented English. He laughs, jokes and gets on with kids and exudes great warmth. And it is warmth and humanity that is the key characteristic of this series as we are invited to journey with Jesus and his disciples in their travels.

Although the film makers have strived for a certain accuracy, it is very much a 21st century take on the story both in the language used and the attitudes expressed. Matthew suffers from Aspergers and although it is nice to see Mary Magdalene walking with the band of disciples and being accepted as one of the guys, it would have been unthinkable at the time for a woman to have been allowed to travel on her own with men in this way. But in a way it doesn't matter because the aim of the film is to be entertaining and evangelistic. And it is an attractive film to watch, with its candle lit interiors. It has very much a community feel and we vicariously experience Shabbat celebration and join in the preparation for the Cana wedding, where Jesus' mother is the best friend of the groom's mother, providing a very personal context for the well known miracle.

The series it has to be said, also has an undefinable something, which the director and script writer, Dallas Jenkins, attributes simply to the work of the Holy Spirit inspiring both actors and others involved in its production. For Jenkins, a committed evangelical Christian, The Chosen is more than just a film but a calling and an opportunity to spread the gospel message to a new generation.

Last Easter, during lockdown, when many churches were closed, the film's producers decided to make the first season of eight episodes available free to anyone who wanted to see it via a special app they set up. This ended up becoming a funding opportunity for those who saw it, to get involved in the financing of season two, so that this too could be made available free via the internet. About 300,000 people have now contributed $6million towards Season Two, which is yet to be completed.

So this Holy Week, why not do a binge watch and immerse yourself in the world of Jesus and his disciples. I am sure you won't regret it!

Watch The Chosen on Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCBXOFnNTULFaAnj24PAeblg

For more information and links see The Chosen website: https://studios.vidangel.com/the-chosen

See ICN interview with Jonathan Roumie: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/43480

Download The Chosen app and watch from your phone or tablet, or you can cast it to your smart TV.