As a devoted Christian and media critic, I eagerly anticipate new faith-based film and television projects. Unfortunately, many come off as subpar knockoff productions pandering to religious viewers yet lacking compelling storytelling.
Not so with The Chosen – this innovative streaming series on the life of Christ stands out in nearly every way. With superb directing and production, layered writing, and a creative vision engaging culture, The Chosen deserves highest acclaim.
Cinematography and Music Enthrall Viewers
Coming from a professional background as an executive producer and director for Warner Brothers television, showrunner Dallas Jenkins brings exceptional technical excellence. The Chosen leverages the latest tools in digital cinema like drone landscape footage and moving camerawork to immerse viewers in rich settings.
With detail-oriented care, Dallas conjures: a rustic agrarian feel in Nazareth, the commercial exoticism of seaside Capernaum, and flair of Hellenized Roman cities contrasting orthodox Jerusalem. Shooting across multiple picturesque global locations with exceptional cinematography, production design, and color grading makes each episode visually arresting.
So too is the musical scoring. Emmy-winning composer Ryan Taubert imbues The Chosen with a uniquely memorable instrumental soundtrack. Mixing folk instruments like mountain dulcimers with soulful violin solos and driving percussive beats, the music dances between tender intimacy and swelling grandeur fitting this Gospel retelling.
Vivid Storytelling Echoes Scripture‘s Nuance
Some Christians instinctively mistrust creative license taken in portaying biblical stories. So let me reassure: The Chosen‘s additions promote engagement while faithfully aligning with the spirit of the Gospels. These enhancements unpack the subtle richness of Scripture without contradicting its authoritative accounts.
For example, imagined pre-ministry backstories help us grasp identities Jesus sees beyond surface appearances when calling broken followers. Peter‘s brash impulsiveness feels truer witnessing formative losses and humiliations fueling his bravado. And redeemed sinners like Matthew resonate more when we glimpse conditional upbringings instilling feelings of perpetual unworthiness.
Do such elaborations fabricate errors? No – because Scripture explicitly tells us enough about each apostle‘s core wounds and weaknesses that conditioning their emergence makes sense. And locating gospel figures psychologically strengthens reciprocity when Jesus heals and commissions them.
We watch Jesus transforming not stereotypes, but relatable people wrestling with authentic hopes, bitterness, shame – and shock at glimpsing their truly beloved existence in the Savior‘s smiling gaze.
Sparking Healthy Theological Debates
Yes, seeing divine Jesus genuinely sorrow, weep, dance with exultation, or stare angrily at hypocrites sparks mixed reactions. For theretofore abstract Savior embodies palpable human passion…with its uneasy reverberations.
And the show‘s organizers welcome this earnest debate within the church. Participating producer Stephen Kendricks explains:
“Dallas wanted to create a story to emotionally connect people with Jesus while encouraging them to go deeper into Scripture. If there are areas where they think we could improve theologically, we want that constructive conversation.”
So no, imagining episodes like young Jesus mischievously racing his friends contradicts no Gospel tenet. But highlighting the mystery of Christ’s humanity fused inseparably with deity prompts reflection upon passages like Hebrews 4:15:
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."
This tension between Jesus’ familiarity with human experience and divine otherness echoes through centuries of theological dialogue since biblical times. The Chosen compels us to wisely mine these question marks of faith themselves.
Quantifiable Cultural Impact
But beyond intellectual appeal, we must also examine The Chosen‘s measurable impact since its 2019 debut given the producers‘ expressly missionary motivations. The metrics here testify to unprecedented evangelistic connections beyond Christian circles:
- 50 million total episode views across platforms
- Funded by 275,000+ unique Kickstarter backers
- Translated into 50+ languages by streaming partners
Such sensational statistics outstrip all previous small-screen Bible adaptations. Facebook groups teem with agnostics profoundly touched. Missionaries testify use of The Chosen opening formerly unreceptive hearts. Truly, these Kingdom fruits reveal Spirit-led wind at this endeavor‘s back.
Relatable Role Models Struggling Toward Redemption
We yearn for models, and The Chosen provides. Simon Peter‘s brusque bluster, Mary Magdalene’s defensive pride… unveil our own pretensions shielding shame. These crucibles of convolution forge disciples as protagonists on transformation journeys.
Matthew too – ostracized as treacherous tax collector – moves us by the painful hope his backstory illuminates. We ache as misunderstanding parents misjudge his longing for connection and meaning.
“You don’t have to take money from our people to gain Rome’s favor!” his father protests.
“But I want more than money – I want a seat at the table!” Matthew insists.
This resonates with all who felt distressed difference alienating us from belonging we crave. The Chosen makes biblical figures not plaster icons, but mirrors: their individual healing endows collective permission to shed false fronts fortressing fragile conviction of worthlessness.
In learning to receive Christ’s unlikely grace and calling, they model the path for outcasts everywhere on society‘s fraying fringes to step into destinies awaiting rediscovery. We see in Peter, Matthew, Mary Magdelene and more the process of gaining "life to the full" described in John 10:10.
Additional Praise and Platform Growth
I‘m clearly not alone in my enthusiastic appreciation for Dallas Jenkins‘ series. In an interview with The Christian Post, pastor Kyle Idleman praised various aspects of the show:
“I love what The Chosen is doing creatively by helping us see some of Jesus’ most famous miracles from different points of view. They are also breathing incredible life into the disciples and others that followed Jesus. The cinematography and the writing is brilliant.”
The runaway success of early seasons spurred exciting expansion plans. Upcoming seasons will dramatize Jesus‘ later Judean/Jerusalem ministry, while a new series titled The Chosen: Acts of the Apostles will depict the early church‘s growth. With expanding source material, future efforts seem poised to enrich understanding of biblical history.
Given surging global streams, five-star audience reviews, and more multi-language translation partners in Asia, Africa and Latin America boarding this viral sensation, we can expect The Chosen‘s resonant impact to intensify for years.
Verdict: Edifying Viewing Carrying Kingdom Purpose
In case I haven‘t made it clear yet – yes, The Chosen receives my highest recommendation as captivating and constructive viewing for Bible-focused followers of Jesus today. Dallas Jenkins synthesizes the artistic leadership of a showrunner with a pastor‘s passion to insightfully illuminate Scripture and prompt hunger for deeper Gospel exploration.
The Chosen challenges and inspires on many levels by reminding us just how radical, convicting, and ultimately redemptive Christ‘s message proves when not reduced and distorted by institutional religion or cultural domestication.
So gather friends and family to stream this series portraying Jesus‘ world-shaking revolution of reckless grace and spontaneous joy. Watch it prompt laughter and tears in equal measure. Then prayerfully dialogue about impressions left imprinting your shared spiritual walk. The viewing experience proffers richer relationship with Scripture‘s accounts and modern application to transparently emulate the 1st-century church in 21st century life.