This series is
thoroughly immersed in faith, and yet is far less self-righteous than most
biblical entertainments. The writers are not only familiar with the storylines
of the Gospels, but are confident enough in their faith to allow questions and
interpretation.
The episodic, series format gives the Gospel stories breathing room that
allows for development of context around the scriptures. This is not merely a
rushed, two- or three-hour tour, but an extended contemplation of the meaning behind the
narratives . And perhaps because of the
expansive format, now in its third season, Jesus comes across much differently
here than in the many movies, and even in Franco Zeffirelli’s mini-series “Jesus
of Nazareth”, that also have drawn their plotlines from the Gospels.
One of the problems with portrayals of Jesus is that He never seems quite human – although
many of us have learned that He is both fully human and fully God, that doesn’t
seem to be the case in when He is portrayed as a sad, stoically suffering
sphynx. Whether portrayed by Max Von Sydow, or Jeffrey Hunter, or Jim Caviezel,
Jesus has always been a man without a personality. By contrast, the Jesus of
“The Chosen” actually talks to people and listens to what they have to say, gets angry, smiles and laughs. At one point he tells a "too soon?" joke. He clearly enjoys His ability to bring joy into the lives of
the beneficiaries of His blessings. The only comparable portrayal I have seen is the impatient, short-tempered Jesus played by Chris Sarandon in the long-forgotten (although not by me) TV movie, "The Day Christ Died." In that take on the Passion, Sarandon played Jesus much as he is depicted in the Gospel of Mark, I think.Granted, we haven’t gotten yet to the
Passion story, in "The Chosen," but I’m going to predict an eventual, fresh take even on that most overtold climax.
Also unlike most dramatic portrayals, the apostles are shown here as
having distinctive personalities, and given back stories that help to explain
their willingness to follow this nonconformist hero. Peter’s relationship with
his wife, here called Eden, is explored; Matthew is depicted as an autistic man
whose condition gives him the mathematical abilities that have made him a
successful tax collector. We see Matthew at his work, wheeling and deadling with
his Roman overlords, in a way that gives real color to the scene where Jesus
defends His association with those shunned by Jewish society (it is not the
healthy who need healing but the sick).
The first season of "The Chosen" ends with the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, from the Gospel of John. The second season begins with John conducting interviews to document Jesus' life for what will become his Gospel; that episode ends with a lovely scene that marries the opening of Genesis with the opening of John; two magnificent texts brought together in a logical and heartfelt way. Although episodes unique to John are prominent in the series -- the wedding at Cana, the nighttime visit from Nicodemus -- all four Gospels figure into the episodes. The series format gives space, I think, for the stories to be woven together more gracefully than in movies that rush to give a complete depiction of the events of Jesus's life. The second-season opening, for example, while elaborating on the backstory of the Samaritan woman, takes time to provide context for Luke's parable of the Good Samaritan.
There is a lot more that could be said about this series, but I think it is better for me to recommend it to anyone
interested in the Gospels. Enjoy it for yourselves, and most of all, think about
the depictions of the characters and the stories as they are portrayed here.
I was convinced to check out this series after reading the opening paragraphs of a New York Times interview by Tish Harrison Warren with Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus. Unlike Warren, I love Biblical dramatizations, but mostly because I so often find them ridiculous -- white men in frayed robes speaking an uneasy English meant to simulate, I suppose, Biblical language. But on many points I am in complete agreement with her. Having been duly impressed, I was inspired to revive this ten-years-dormant blog. I salute Tish Harrison Warren for providing this inspiration; if I have at times hewed too closely to her words, I apologize. The intent was not to plagiarize but to spread the good news.
