Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

The Chosen: Season One Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 20, 2021

Opening text reveals that ’The Chosen’ is based on the true stories of the gospels of Jesus Christ. Some locations and timelines have been combined or condensed. Backstories and some characters or dialogue have been added. However, all biblical and historical context and any artistic imagination are designed to support the truth and intention of the Scriptures. Viewers ae encouraged to read the gospels. The original names, locations, and phrases have been transliterated into English for anything spoken. Essentially, this is not a word-for-word Biblical translation, but it is, for all intents and purposes, a thought-for-thought recreation. The Chosen does not stray from, or dismiss, Biblical writings, but it does fill in some of the blanks to create a fuller story fit for the screen, to allow for dramatic ebbs and flows and build characters beyond the portraits presented in the Gospels themselves. And it does so exceedingly well. Rather than blasphemous, most viewers will see it as a blessing. Perhaps never before have the Gospels been so accessible to modern viewing audiences as they are here.

While The Chosen is not necessarily strictly about Jesus – it could be argued that the main characters in season one are everyone impacted by Him, or at least more specifically Simon (Peter), Mary Magdalene, and Nicodemus – the show certainly revolves around Him and it is when much of the focus shifts to Him after the first two episodes that it begins to find its footing. For the first time in episode three Jesus is not simply a presence but rather the focus. This is a touching episode in which He interacts with several children who find Him living in seclusion in a wooded area, working on His carpentry (building a wooden lock and key and, later, crafting a small playset for the episode’s other main character, a little girl named Abigail, portrayed by Reina Ozbay). It is in this episode that The Chosen establishes its own Christological portrait, a man who is both Son of Man and Son of God, full of divine power yet fully human as well.

The show builds a fascinating Jesus portrait, helped immensely along by Actor Jonathan Roumie in a defining role. The way the writers have extrapolated from Scripture while staying wholly true to it, imbuing Jesus with real human emotions and responses without betraying His perfect divinity, is quite spectacular. Small looks, smiles, physical actions, and verbal exchanges build a compelling image of Jesus Christ. “Are you dangerous?” He is asked. “Maybe to some," He responds.” His favorite food is bread, “for many reasons” and He also likes goat cheese. “Not too shabby,” Jesus says after healing a grateful leper and clothing him in a fresh clean green tunic. The Gospel of John says that "the world itself could not contain the books that would be written" if all that could be written about Jesus were committed to paper, so with the show's careful extrapolation it seems an honest portrait of Jesus as he may very well have been between the lines, so to speak, rather than just red letters on white paper.

The Chosen hits a number of highlights from Jesus' early ministry (series Creator Dallas Jenkins has plans for eight seasons) including, of course, assembling many of the twelve apostles, meeting with the Pharisee Nicodemus, healing various individuals, and meeting with the woman at the well. But it is most interesting as these events are experienced by those around Jesus, and the trio of Simon (Peter), Mary, and Nicodemus offer three compelling perspectives. Simon is the commoner who has simply been called, who at first did not believe and, later, when Jesus allows his fishing net to be full following a long night of fruitless fishing, believes. Jesus drives a demon from Mary in the first episode. Nicodemus is a Pharisee who, unlike most of his contemporaries, believes there may be something more than blasphemy about this man Jesus. These characters are well written and performed and, indeed, the entire production, for something made from crowdfunding money, is quite the technical accomplishment.

The Chosen: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Vidangel Studios brings The Chosen to Blu-ray with a transfer that is heavenly in some places and...not so heavenly in others. In ideal conditions -- well-lit exteriors, primarily -- the picture is exceptionally sharp and clear. In most every such occurrence, which are many throughout the season run, the picture reveals superb facial details, particularly thick facial hair but also period garb -- tunics, mostly -- that show fine fabric detail and edge frays with ease. Natural exteriors, various wooden and stone structures, and the like also maintain visual excellence. The image runs into trouble inside where everything is dark and lit by candle or whatever natural light can seep into the limited window spaces. Here, the picture is clearly in a place of distress. Look just two minutes into the first episode. The backgrounds are littered with banding and compression artifacts. These are seen again at the 12 minute mark, and throughout most any darkened, low light interior these problems are legion. It's impossible to escape them, and there was no point in continuing to keep a running tally because they infest every low light shot. This is the picture's major downfall. The daytime scenes look good-to-great, the interiors mediocre-to-poor. Otherwise, colors are good, again offering good depth and pop to natural greens and balance to the earthy tones that populate most every frame in one way or another. Black levels are decent if not a little murky in some places and purple-ish in others. Skin tones are healthy in good light. Vidangel has crammed four episodes (plus bonuses) onto two BD-25 discs; some more breathing room and more careful compression and authoring work would have assuredly yielded a better final product in the many low light scenes found throughout.

The Chosen: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Chosen descends onto Blu-ray with several audio options: English 5.1 and 2.0 lossy and Spanish 5.1 and 2.0 lossy. The English 5.1 track was selected for the purposes of this review. The presentation lacks the fidelity and finely faithful audio cues found in better tracks sourced from more intricately engineered elements. But even for a show made on a relatively small budget, and presented in lossy format, the presentation is perfectly capable in all areas of operation. Ambient effects open around the various locations, particularly little things like light blowing wind, background chirping birds, the small things that fill in the background to better draw the listener into the locations. More aggressive supports, like densely packed crowds and wedding celebration din, are likewise full and flavorful. Musical delivery satisfies for detail, width, and surround balance. There are certainly no intense, whiz-bang action type sound effects on tap. Music and flavorful atmosphere are the main components beyond, of course, dialogue, which is center positioned, well prioritized, and detailed for the duration.

The Chosen: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of The Chosen's first season includes one supplement on disc two. Message from the Director (1080p, 3:56) features Creator Dallas Jenkins discussing the show, its origins, the motto "Get Used to Different" and other scriptural inspirations, and the show's distribution model. Prior to episode eight, Jenkins also discusses the series' future and how viewers can contribute to its future (1080p, 2:49). Much of the content is similar, if not identical, to the second half of the Jenkins feature on disc two. Also included on disc one is a bonus short film, The Shepherd (Christmas Special) (1080p, 21:00), created by Jenkins for his church that was the catalyst for getting the show off the ground. No DVD or digital copies are included with purchase. This release does not ship with a slipcover.

The Chosen: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Chosen is remarkable television. From its timeless story to the novel construction, it's a compelling look into the life of Jesus and those closest to Him. The series is not exclusively of the Bible, extrapolating -- tastefully and within a Biblical context -- a larger picture of the story and world as depicted in the Gospels. Superbly well performed, technically sound, and narratively compelling, this is must-see television. Vidangel's Blu-ray is a bit short on special features and a lossless soundtrack would have been nice. The picture quality could be tighter, too, but altogether this is not a poor Blu-ray presentation. Highly recommended, though primarily on the strength of the show, not the mediocre Blu-ray.