The Chosen (Season 4)

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⭐ 9/10

All the positives of my last 3 season reviews are still here, this show continues to be great. I like how this season slows down a bit, at least in the second half, as we get to Lazarus and the lead in to Holy week (timely). The thought of this show really slowing down in season 5, covering only a couple days, is very exciting. As Gandalf says, the board is set, the pieces are moving. They have set up so so many characters, and finally seeing dominoes fall is very satisfying.

This show did have an arc in the middle, actually dead center of the entire series, where there is a moment that does not happen in the Bible but has massive implications. This led to good conversations with our Bible study, I don't want to spoil what happens but I can't say I was a fan. However, as the show has moved on from that point I understand the choice, and its playing a direct role in getting one of the disciples to his key moment.

I've probably said it before, but I love how this show is about the disciples more than Jesus. We all have images and moments in our heads for Peter, Matthew, Thomas, Judas, etc, and seeing fictional versions of their characters and what could happen to bring them to their pivotal moments is terrific writing. Great adaptation, the core benchmarks are all there, and the writers add in backstory and flourishes to make them memorable. These are the faces I will see in my head for every sermon I hear for the rest of my life, and that is an incredible testament to everyone involved in this show.

It makes always makes me laugh how the bad Romans are white guys with North American accents, and there are a couple new ones this season with costumes that felt borderline racially insensitive! I am impressed with how large the cast is, and how large crowd shots are filled with actual people, but if you pause and look you can tell its a bunch of white crew members and their families in costume. Not a negative, just a side-effect of this being essentially a crowd funded show, and its actually really sweet how tight-knit the community who makes this is.

I so badly want to keep moving forward, since season 6 comes out later this year, but its better to savour and discuss with a group. No spoilers!

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