Hi. Welcome to my recap and reaction to The Chosen, the crowd-funded, first ever multi-season TV series about the life of Jesus and his disciples. You can find my prior posts about the show HERE.
THE QUICK AND CLEAN SUMMARY:
via wiki:
In Nob, Israel, 1008 BC, as Ahimelech (Marty Lindsey) teaches his son, Abiathar (Major Dodge Jr.), about the shewbread, David (Jorge Franco IV) seeks him out for food. In Jericho, AD 26, Simon and Matthew try to get along as they search for Mary Magdalene in dark places. Matthew and Simon find Mary Magdalene, who is ashamed for leaving the camp and returning to her old life, and they convince her to return. At the camp, Jesus forgives Mary Magdalene for turning back. The group receives dreadful news about John the Baptizer's arrest by King Herod Antipas, distressing Andrew. Thomas informs Jesus of their lack of food, and the group goes to a synagogue at Wadi Kelt on Shabbat. In the synagogue, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand named Elam (Shaun Bedgood), upsetting the Pharisees Madai (Tony Sears) and Lamech (Sergio Lanza), and as the group leaves, Jesus permits his hungry disciples to eat and pluck grain. The Pharisees criticize them for doing this on Shabbat, and Jesus references David and the shewbread as he declares himself the Son of Man and Lord of the Sabbath.
THE EXTRA DUSTY RECAP:
In 1008 BC, Ahimelech teaches his young son, Abiathar, about shwwbread, which refers to the cakes or loaves of bread which were always present, on a specially-dedicated table, in the Temple in Jerusalem as an offering to God. Just then, David arrives and asks him for food. After a brief discussion, Ahimelech gives David the bread of the Presence, which has just been replaced by hot bread. (1 Sam. 21:1-6)
Simon wakes up alone, on a bed of straw inside a stable, and calls to Matthew. When he gets no answers, he prays and gets up, finding Matthew outside. Matthew is dirty, having not known to put down fresh hay before lying down. He asks Simon if he is hungry, and when Simon asks if he has made food, Matthew says no. Then he asks Simon if he knows how to prepare eggs, so when Simon says no, Matthew instructs him on how to do it.
Matthew suggests that they split up to look for Mary, but Simon rejects that idea pointing out that Jesus wants Matthew to return in one piece. They discuss where she likely went, with Matthew obviously having given it a lot of thought, and they agree to search in Jericho. Matthew tells Simon that he has already asked about her in the synagogue, to no avail.
Simon seems to notice Matthew's keen interest and asks him how he described her to them. When Matthew tells Simon that she is "unusually pleasant to look at" Simon smiles. They are interrupted by a Roman soldier passing by them, very drunk. Simon attempts to help the man, who is about to fall over, and is called a rat.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is walking with Ramah, teaching her about which flowers are edible. When Ramah asks her how she knows so much about this, Mother Mary replies that her family has been poor for her entire life.
Mary: You learn what the earth can give you.
Ramah: But your son...
Mary: My son is a homeless nomad who no longer brings in any income from carpentry.
Ramah: And you're smiling about it.
Mary: I'm smiling because He is doing what He was born to do.
Their discussion turns to Mary Magdalene leaving. Ramah is worried, but Mother Mary assures her that Simon and Matthew are competent searchers. Ramah tells her that they do not like each other, but Mary points out they will have to work together.
Ramah: She could be dead or dying in a ditch somewhere. Why would Jesus use her pain to united two men who are annoyed by each other?
Mary: We do not know that she is in danger.
Mother Mary reminds her that while some trust in chariots or horses, they trust in the name of Adonai. Ramah confesses that she wants to be a teacher like Mary Magdalene, and to be able to write down her thoughts. When Mother Mary tells her that she will, Ramah replies that she will not if Mary Magdalene does not return. Mary reminds her that one cannot fix anything by worrying about it.
In the tavern, Mary Magdalene is drinking and gambling. She abruptly feels some guilt and decides that she is done, but one of the men at the table with her - who wants to win his money back - is angry to lose the opportunity. She banters with him, but begins to grow frightened behind her bravado.
We see a flashback to her life, as a child, when her father tells her that when she is scared, she should "say the words" (a recited prayer.) She gets up, ready to cry, and leaves quickly.
Thomas and Andrew discuss how little food their camp has left, with Thomas pointing out that they are now literally on their last meal.
Thomas: He can make people walk, he can heal lepers, why can't he make food appear out of thin air.
Andrew tells him that when he followed John the Baptist, sometimes they would go for days without food, and then other times they would eat like kings. Andrew explains that John did not believe in money. Thomas replies that he sounds like someone who needs an accountant and suggests that they send Matthew to him.
Big James and John chop wood as Simon the Zealot practices his fighting moves alone in the distance. John tells his brother that he once thought about joining the Zealots. When James asks why he did not, John points out how faithful Jews already have so many rules, he did not want to add a lot of mandatory body exercises to the list. Big James jokes that they have had their moments, as well, and asks what their Ema will think about them being called "Sons of Thunder."
John: Maybe she will be glad we got a title.
Their conversation turns to Mary Magdalene, with John expressing his doubts about Simon and Matthew going together. Big James tells him that he does not understand a lot of what they are doing, but he is just following. John replies that he has a sinking feeling that a lot of what they are doing will take a long time to understand.
Simon and Matthew find the rough tavern where Mary Magdalene has been drinking and gambling. Simon advises Matthew to stay behind him as they enter together. Simon looks around the room once they are inside, studying it. Matthew gets impatient though and gets the attention of everyone inside, given them Mary's description. The man who she beat in gambling stands up and asks if they are friends with Lilith. He tells them that witch took him for everything in the game they were playing. Simon tells Matthew that this must be Mary, and then asks the man if he knows where she is now.
Outside the tavern, they argue over what to do next, with Matthew again suggesting that they split up, and Simon again refusing. He tells Matthew that Mary can obviously take care of herself, but that Matthew cannot.
Matthew: What if you were cut off from Jesus because of something from your past? Wouldn't you want help getting back to him as soon as possible?
Simon finally relents, but Mary sees them and calls to them at that moment. They find her sitting next to a nearby building. Simon asks if she can walk, and she replies that she's not going anywhere. She tells them that Jesus already fixed her once and that she cannot face him.
Matthew approaches her, confessing to her that he is a bad person. He tells her that for his entire life, everything was for himself and that he had no faith. Mary tells him that she has faith in Jesus, just not in herself. Matthew tells Mary that he is learning more about Torah, and God, because of her, and that he is studying harder because she is such a great student. Simon reminds her that the man who was lowered through the roof to meet Jesus managed that because she is the one who suggested it. Matthew continues, sharing that Ramah is beginning to read and write because of her.
Matthew: He saved you to do all these things.
Mary laughs and then vomits. Matthew stays next to her and asks Simon to get some water. Simon lets Matthew take care of her and goes.
Shmuel and Yanni meet with the Secretary for Shimon, who tells both of them that their case against Jesus is very thin and that Shimon is spending his time prioritizing reform to care for women and widows.
Later, Yanni is upset at being told the case is thin. Shmuel is hopeless, but Yanni tells him that they will now go to Shimon's rival, Shemai, who is by reputation much more legalistic with respect to obeying the law. Yanni points out that by going to Shemai, this will disadvantage Shimon, because it will put Shimon in a bad light for not taking the case seriously.
Shmuel: Why does it take all this?
Mary Magdalene returns with Simon and Matthew to their camp. Ramah runs to hug her and greet her, putting her head covering back over her hair for her also. Simon learns from Big James and John as they return that John the Baptist has been arrested.
Mary Magdalene asks Mother Mary if she should wait before going to see Jesus, but is told no, and that she will accompany her there right away. They find Jesus praying inside his tent. When He stands, He tells her that it is good to have her back.
Mary Magdalene: I'm so ashamed. You redeemed me and I just threw it all away.
Jesus: Well, that's not much of a redemption if it can be lost in a day, is it?
She tells Jesus that she does not think she can live up to what He has given her, noting that she did not even come back on her own. Jesus replies that this is true, but tells her she does not have to.
Jesus: I just want your heart. The Father just wants your heart. Give us that, which you already have, the rest will come in time. Did you really think that you'd never struggle or sin again? I know how painful that moment was for you.
MM: I shouldn't...
Jesus: Someday. But not here.
She tells him again, weeping, that she is sorry. Jesus tells her to look at His face, and He forgives her. We see Matthew outside the tent, smiling, listening to their conversation.
A group of disciples are discussing John the Baptist's arrest and apparent life imprisonment. Andrew weeps about never seeing John again while Simon the Zealot proposes breaking him out.
Philip: The Zealots against Herod's army. That's a fight I'd pay to see. It's maximum security up there.
Simon the Z: That would make it more fun.
Philip considers, but rejects the offer, reminding Simon that he belongs to a new order now. Thomas then tells them all that there is more bad news to share.
We see Thomas entering Jesus's tent as the women leave. He informs Jesus that they are nearly out of food. Jesus tells Thomas that this is something they should seek out His Father about, and suggests that they visit a synagogue which is close by. Thomas doubts they will get food there, but Jesus tells him to tell the others that they will head out first thing in the morning.
The next morning, Jesus and his disciples arrive at a rural synagogue. Once inside, Jesus spots a man with a withered hand and asks to see it. One of the Pharisees inside asks Jesus what He is doing, so He replies asking which of them, if they have a sheep that falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not retrieve their sheep? He tells them that this man is worth more than a sheep. Jesus then heals the man.
The leaders of the synagogue demand that Jesus leaves, and He replies that He will do so gladly. The group leaves the synagogue as one of the Pharisees shouts that Jesus is a blasphemer. As they leave, Jesus gives them permission to eat the grain growing from the crops on either side of the road on which they are walking. The Pharisees from the synagogue catch up to them and are now even more outraged. Jesus reminds them of what David did, when he was in need of food. David ate the Bread of the Presence in the time of Ahimelech.
Pharisee: You would compare yourself to David! It was an emergency!
Jesus: Or have you not read in the law how on Shabbat the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, but are guiltless?
Pharisee: That's for Levites! Are you a Levite of priestly lineage?
Jesus: Listen carefully, something greater than the temple is here, and if you had known what this means, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice," you would not have condemned the guiltless.
[Jesus steps closer to them]
Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So... the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.
As their group walks away from the enraged Pharisees, Matthew comments quietly to a beaming Philip that the title "Son of Man" seems to upset a lot of people. Philip promises to explain why later.
As the episode ends, a couple of Jewish religious leaders discuss the recent happenings and decide to report them to Jerusalem.
REACTION:
The scene with David and Ahimelech to start the episode was a little underwhelming, considering that it was such an important moment (it represents the textual answer/justification for some of Jesus's actions on the Sabbath.) David is a massive figure in history and it felt like a strange and somewhat casual way for the show to introduce him. I also thought the screenplay probably should have been closer to the text here, as that would have better conveyed David's righteousness.
The rest of the episode has a lot going on and is very self-aware of that fact, with its characters mentioning more than once how there is a lot going on.
John the Baptist's arrest was not a surprise (even to a Biblical novice) given how the parting between him and Jesus happened in the previous episode. It was interesting to see Andrew so much more emotional over it than Philip, but that probably reflects the difference between someone still relatively inexperienced and someone who has seen a lot and been through a lot. It would take a lot to shake Philip - at least as he is presented on the show.
The highlight of the episode was the search and rescue of Mary Magdalene. In most stories, wherein their are two people on the same team who don't like each other, there is eventually an "I see your value now" moment that happens between them. Simoon finally sees Matthew's value, and he does so in multiple ways. For the first time, he is able to relate to Matthew as a human because Matthew (who is played as thought he has a spectrum disorder) sort of unwillingly clues him in to the fact that he *likes* Mary Magdalene. This is a "ah, he's a human, too" moment for Simon and it clearly softens him toward Matthew. Next though, I think Simon is annoyed and impressed at Matthew's aggressiveness toward finding her. He had to reluctantly respect Matthew's nerve in the tavern and then after when he demanded that they split up. Finally though, when Matthew confessed his own sin to Mary Magdalene - something he'd never done to anyone else - you could see the lightbulb come on for Simon. Matthew is able to speak honestly with *anyone* who feels unworthy of Jesus and with a personal story that someone else might be willing to hear. I think Simon also just needed to hear Matthew admit that he was previously a bad, selfish person, because to this point Matthew had not done so. I don't know that these two will get alone well, going forward, but there's now a foundation for that to happen.
Elizabeth Tabish is again excellent as Mary Magdalene and as Lilith. The two personas are so different, and she is able to transition between them so seamlessly that it's really enjoyable to watch her work. The Chosen really lucked out when they were able to hire her and I got a sense that Dallas Jenkins wanted to make sure that he gave one of his best actors something challenging to do this season.
The reconciliation between Mary Magdalene and Jesus was extremely well-done also.
The plot of the episode is built largely around Luke 6.
6 On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?" 3 And Jesus answered them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?" 5 And he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."
6 On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come and stand here." And he rose and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?" 10 And after looking around at them all he said to him, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
The episode uses "literary license" to combine both of these events and places them on the same Sabbath. I was not bothered by this, though, as it fit well together thematically (obviously Luke thought so, too) and the end result was me going to the Scriptures to look into it further.
I am of two minds regarding Shmuel's on-going efforts to "get" Jesus. On the one hand, I am just not that interested in this plot, yet. On the other, to the extent that it is happening, I think it's a good choice that the show is presenting Shmuel as an earnest character, rather than as an overt bad guy. He earnestly wants the law to be followed. He is frustrated by the authorities around him who seem to see the world in shades of gray. However, his zeal and his black and white way of seeing things, is causing him to be both incurious and blinded to some questions he should be asking himself.
What if Jesus is who He says He is? If He is not, how does Shmuel explain these miracles? The key difference between Shmuel and Nicodemus is that the latter does not fail to be curious.
We are now quickly approaching the end of Season 2. I look forward to seeing where things go from here until the finale.
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