The Chosen

A few years ago, a friend of mine recommended The Chosen to me - a series based on the life of Jesus. I remember watching the first episode around that time, but it felt too brutal for me!

In context, I had stopped watching TV entirely for about six months, was meditating and living with really good habits. I was being very intentional about everything I consumed because I’d started to notice how everything I watched—movies, TV shows (and even the songs I listened to) had a way of manifesting in my life.

And honestly? I’d had enough of heavy, violent things, both on screen and off! So, I didn’t continue with it and eventually forgot all about it.

Cue now….

Having watched every single movie and tv show available that is not dystopian, violent or generally filled with drama and misery… which is a shockingly small percentage of what is available… I needed something new.

The Chosen came up. I had forgotten all about that episode I had watched, and that it had seemed rather violent… and put it on. I was hooked.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve had a lot of incredible conversations with people who’ve introduced me to scripture. What I found fascinating—mind-blowing, really—was how many things I’ve come to deeply understand through my own life experiences are actually echoed in scripture.

Universal truths, laws of the universe, ways of being that I’d learned the hard way. (The very hard way). I’d talk to people about life and my gained wisdom and philosophies, and they’d tell me, “Jesus said that,” and then quote scripture back to me.

It was incredible to discover that so much of what I had come to learn actually aligned with what Jesus taught. I wasn’t raised in a religious way, and I have never considered myself a follower of any religion (although I make no secret of my deep interest in learning from and cherry picking wisdom from all of them).

If anything, I had an aversion to Christianity. Decades of trauma from real life movies like the Magdalene Sisters, or the widespread and systematic abuse of young children at the hands of priests and subsequent cover up by the Catholic Church…. seeing the opulence of the Vatican whilst beggars line the street outside…. Or being pressured to donate money as a child when I was frozen to the bone, all left a bitter taste in my mouth.

So, long story short, when The Chosen came up again, it felt like the right time to watch it. My curiosity had now soared.

The series, in the director’s words, is an artistic interpretation of Jesus’s life. And it is beautifully done. The cinematography, writing and casting are all excellent. Whilst the first season was clearly made on a low budget, you get to see the production value increase with every season.

The acting and casting are absolutely superb, and there’s a depth to the storytelling that makes the characters feel so human and relatable. This isn’t your typical biblical adaptation - it’s warm, heartfelt, and has a surprising sense of humour.

One thing I particularly loved is how they gave Jesus this awkward, endearing sense of humour. I watched a behind-the-scenes interview with the actor who plays Jesus and the director, and they talked about this intentional choice—how Jesus can’t seem to land a punchline for a joke.

It’s woven throughout the series, and it’s hilarious to me because no one ever laughs at his jokes. And yet they are so funny! They seem to have mirrored my own sense of humour in his on screen character - because this is exactly what happens when I joke—I find me absolutely hilarious, and yet nobody else seems to get them (which somehow only makes it even funnier to me).

Beyond the storytelling and humour, what makes The Chosen stand out is its portrayal of the cultural and societal clashes of the time. It dives into the intense tensions between the Roman and Jewish cultures, but also tensions within those groups - highlighting the divisions between classes and beliefs.

It doesn’t shy away from showing the immense suffering of those times either. The land itself had already been severely degraded—much of it had turned to desert. I learned that the Romans would salt the soil of conquered lands to make it infertile, forcing people into poverty and displacement.

Watching this made me reflect on how little has actually changed in the last two and a half thousand years. The culture of “rule by fear and terror” that the Romans imposed still echoes in our governments and societies today.

In fact, this series had me researching how much of European culture—especially in England and Scotland—still operates on the same giver and social structures the Romans imposed on them. From education to governance, these systems of control remain deeply ingrained.

What’s even more striking is how land degradation plays into all of this. When nature is depleted—when there aren’t abundant forests providing food and fresh water—fear, scarcity, and disease take hold, and society breaks down. It’s fascinating to see how these same cycles were at play back then, just as they are now.

For me, this added a whole other layer of meaning to the show.

What’s beautiful about The Chosen, though, is that it’s not just for people of faith. The series is accessible to anyone because it’s ultimately about humanity, relationships, and universal teachings that resonate regardless of a person’s background.

Another thing that makes it special is how it’s distributed. The creators wanted it to be available to everyone, so it’s completely free to watch on the app. You can feel the generosity in this choice—it doesn’t feel like it’s pushing an agenda or trying to convert anyone. Instead, it’s a thoughtful, artistic exploration of historical events that is being shared from a sense of humanity.

Right now, there are four seasons, with a fifth one on the way soon. If you’re looking for something thoughtful, moving, and beautifully made, I can’t recommend it enough.

And if you’ve seen it, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!