Posted by: @fantasia .

@Glenwit and @gracepevensie15, how far along are you?

Episode 8 tonight!

"Get used to different"

*chills*

@fantasia I finally caught up! I just watched S2 E2 last night. I had no idea that they were premiering E3 last night or else I would have carved out some more time to watch it. Overall, this show is blowing my mind. It’s SO good!

We managed to squeak in Season 1, episode 2 yesterday between family video chats. These are the scenes that really stood out in my mind:

I do like that Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay) is one of the main composers in this series, as we have appreciated his music for years.

Hopefully next Sunday will be episode 3.  

Brett McCracken first wrote this article on "Four Reasons Why The Chosen Works" around a year ago now, but I wanted to post the link here. Interesting read! https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/four-reasons-chosen-works/

@jo, Maybe season 2 is going to, in Fantasia's words, throw him under a bus, but I really liked Peter's character in season 1. In the Bible, after the miracle of the fish, Peter told Jesus to leave him because he was a sinner, but we're never told what he did that was so sinful. Since the show's about speculating on the backstories and personalities of the disciples, it makes sense to me for them to get into that. 

Re: Brett McCracken's article, it was accurate when he wrote it, but the Chosen production people have opted to do seven seasons instead of eight, just FYI.  

There's a push from us commoners to continue on with Acts/church history afterwards and I think they may be considering it. On the other hand, everyone except Apostle John is martyred soooo..... But it'd be cool to see Thomas go to India and Andrew go to Asia, etc etc.

Ahh, good, okay, fantasia.

I would love to see Jenkins and crew continue on with Acts/church history. That would be fascinating!

Thanks for that, @col-klink. This does make sense, to be sure, but I'm having trouble getting into his character for some reason. Hoping that will improve as Peter's narrative progresses.

For those of you who have seen S2:E3 - Matthew 4:24, I have a question for you all. Don't read the following spoilers if you haven't seen this episode.... 😉 

We watched episode 3 of Season 1 last Sunday ("Jesus Loves the Little Children"), and thought it really good. I teared up when Jesus gave Abigail His reason for being there.

I intentionally read your Spoiler, @fantasia, even though I have not yet begun Season 2.

Aiming to watch episode 4 this Sunday!  

Glad you liked that episode, Jo. I think it remains my favorite so far.

Oooh yes, @stargazer. I forgot to mention that sweet scene (your Spoiler). The conclusion of episode 3 was very meaningful. Glad to hear those two are going to come in to a future episode.  

We saw episode 4, Season 1 yesterday. I am gradually softening towards Peter, I must admit.

Spoiler

Spoiler

The abundant catch of fish at Jesus' words and Peter's falling down in humble worship of the Lamb of God greatly moved me. I am intrigued with Nicodemus' storyline, and recognize where it is leading, but still find these scenes quite interesting. Plus I think the pet name, "Nico" is fun. And Matthew I find quite endearing, no doubt about that. I can hardly wait until Jesus calls him to "Follow Me"!

Interesting aside: either John or James (I am not yet sure which one is which, although I think it's John) looks very much like a close friend of one of our sons, whose name is also John. That's kind of cool.

Just as an fyi Jo, the character of James, son of Zebedee, is recast halfway through Season one.  Not sure why, but it threw me the first time I watched the show. And then they recast him again for Season two, but that was because the actor who finished out Season one had a "family emergency" and couldn't return for Season two. Thankfully all of the other actors have remained consistent. 

And as far as Peter is concerned

I rewatched Season 1 episodes 2&3 over the weekend and enjoyed them all over again.  

^ Thanks! And I am totally okay with that, otherwise it would not at all be realistic.  

Good to know about James, thanks for the heads up there. Sad and hard for him, though.

Yes! I have no doubt we will want to start reviewing the episodes we have seen not too far down the road.  

Edit: Another bit I must add is how much I appreciate Zebedee. His reaction to Jesus calling his two sons is great!

We made time to view Season 1, episode 5 on Saturday; episode 6 on Sunday. Thankfully they are not too long, so they can be tucked nicely in between other activities of the day.

I don't think there is anything too spoilerish below.

Episode 5: I really appreciate how Nicodemus' storyline is building! I can hardly wait for episode 7 when things, erm, develop more. Good to meet Thomas and Ramah! There were a few lines from characters when we had to put the episode on pause to discuss right then and there: they were so potent. At the end, the joy at the wedding was palpable!

Episode 6: Jesus' meeting with the leper brought me to tears. It was a brief scene, but really powerful and poignant, as the leper expressed his deep need, hence showing Jesus' depth of compassion . Beautiful. It was cool how most of the main characters we have already met converged in this episode as they were, in one way or another, compelled to come to the house to hear Jesus talk. The healing of the paralyzed man was beautiful. Loved the support and faith of his friends who brought him.

Have I said before how much I am drawn to Matthew?! And it was good to briefly see Abigail and Joshua again!

Zebedee's wife, Salome, seems quite star-struck with Jesus (as in fan-girly ). No doubt this is leading to the point where she later boldly and foolishly asks if her sons can sit by Christ's sides in His kingdom, for which Jesus calls them to task, and which causes division amongst the other disciples.

Episode 7 this coming Sunday!

One thing that nobody has raised is that this looks to be the modern equivalent of the wonderful Biblical historical novels that I enjoyed in my twenties.  They will have been written and published in the 1950s and 60s, I think, perhaps as a follow-on from the massive boom in Hollywood Bible epics.

One was The Big Fisherman (which endeared Peter to me forever),  another How Far To Bethlehem (leading up to the birth of Jesus).

[I wonder whether the writers of The Chosen intend to publish books of the stories, perhaps with a disclaimer across the front saying 'This is not the Bible', or 'Read the Bible for the true story'].