TV Jesus
and real Jesus too
I first watched The Chosen at the insistence of my now-a-nun little sister. She assured me the show wouldn’t be cheesy, despite its subject matter. Still, I was skeptical.
I, along with probably everyone else, had long been conditioned to assume Christian TV (shows about really any faith based subject at all) would just be bad. Cheesy. Poorly lit. Terribly acted. Even worse writing.
But, Laura (now Sister Lilianna Petra) is no TV hound, and in fact generally avoids watching television at all, so for her to recommend a show was rare enough to catch my attention.
To no one’s surprise (least of all hers), she was right.
The Chosen is good. Like, really good.
It’s well paced. It’s written with depth and an attention to detail. It’s meticulously acted, with people inhabiting these roles with a precision and focus that rounds out these historical (and holy) figures in a human way. And perhaps best of all: it’s created by people who love the Lord even more than they love making a television show about the Lord.
Since Sister Lilianna Petra’s recommendation a few years ago, I went from casual observer and viewer of The Chosen to a diehard fan of the show. And because the Lord always has a sense of humor about these things, I’ve since been able to interview the cast on multiple occasions, visit the set in Midlothian, TX, cover the premiere of Season 5, and attend ChosenCon, a gathering of the most devoted fans for a few days of fellowship, celebration, and exclusive access to the world of the show.
You can hear the full set of interviews from this year’s ChosenCon over on the SiriusXM app.
Because the most loyal listeners of my show and followers are right on this Substack, though, here’s the conversation with Dallas Jenkins (creator, director, and showrunner), which kicked off our 2.5 hour special on The Catholic Channel.
Last August, I had the remarkable privilege to visit the set of The Chosen in Midlothian, TX. I was able to be on site for a few days while they were filming the scourging at the pillar for the forthcoming Season 6. To say those few days on set were intense (and hot, because central Texas in July is brutal) would be a massive understatement.
One moment stands out more than any other though, and it was a brief encounter with Jonathan Roumie, in between takes of a particularly intense scene.
Everything was being re-set for another take of the scourging — some makeup needed to be re-applied, lighting rigs had to be rearranged, and blood splatter on the ground had to be refreshed. There’s a lot that must be done on an active TV set, and I saw that as the worker bees hurried around making the television magic happen, Jonathan had stepped to the side, leaned against a wall, and had bowed his head. He was, I realized, praying. In the melee of movement, with everything happening with great precision and purpose, the guy playing Jesus was talking to Jesus.1
The moment deeply moved me.
He wasn’t running lines. He’d already taken a few notes from Dallas, the director. After the blood had been reapplied to his brow, to give as accurate a portrayal as possible of these intense moments, Jonathan stepped back and just quieted himself to talk to the Lord.
I asked him about that moment after, while still on set, and then again at ChosenCon. It’s one thing to play Jesus on TV. It’s another thing entirely to have a real relationship with Him. What do people need to know about that? What do people need to know about the real Jesus?
Here’s Jonathan Roumie’s answer:
If there’s one thing that’s secured my fandom of The Chosen more than anything else, it’s simply this: the people making this show, and playing these very real Saints that we love and consider as models in our faith tradition, care very deeply about doing so with deep respect and reverence for the material. In doing so, many of them have grown in their own relationships with the Lord, and certainly are helping viewers do the same. It’s evident and such a gift to know that faith is a key part of what is also just a very good television show.
Lent with The Chosen
My sincerest apologies for not updating things at the end of last week. Some travel woes led to a little bit of a delay, but here you go (if you need to catch up).
Day 3 (last Friday) - Season 1, Episode 3: “Jesus Loves the Little Children”
Read: Matthew 19:13-15, Jesus & the Children
Do I approach the Lord with a childlike trust or skepticism?
If Jesus were to gently teach me something, explaining it like a child, what lesson would He try to give me?
Day 4 (last Saturday) - Season 1, Episode 4: “The Rock on Which It Is Built”
Read: Luke 5:1-11, Jesus Calls His First Disciples
It’s quite clear Jesus sees Simon’s potential before He does. Why do you think Simon Peter doubts himself? What are you doubting within yourself?
As Catholics, we know this is a moment of establishing authority in guiding the Church, which will only be expanded later. What’s your relationship with the hierarchy and Church leadership? How do you relate to “Peter”?
Day 5 (today, Monday) - Season 1, Episode 5: “The Wedding Gift”
Read: John 2:1-11, The Wedding at Cana
Do I pray with trust, or do I make demands of the Lord?
What “empty jars” do I need to offer to the Lord so he can fill them up?
Mary challenges Jesus, and calls him into this moment of ministry. He responds, almost reluctantly. Have you ever been reluctant to act in faith?
This, by the way, was after we’d already had a lunch-break Mass in the middle of the day.