Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		2.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

The Chosen: Season Two Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 3, 2021

The second season of the Biblically based show The Chosen continues in the same style as the first season, exploring Jesus' ministry through the eyes of, in this season, an increasingly large gathering of disciples witnessing His teachings and miracles firsthand. However, this is not the Bible verbatim. Creator Dallas Jenkins has built a show that essentially colors in the black-and-white Biblical text, bringing more life and detail to the characters while still remaining fully true to the letter and spirit of the gospel. It's very well done, from performances to production values and certainly, after two seasons, stands as one of the giants in the faith-based entertainment arena.

Season two explores the growth of Jesus' (Jonathan Roumie) ministry and healings. His popularity surges, the ranks of his disciple swell with newcomers like Nathanael (Austin Reed Alleman). Phillip (Yoshi Barrigas), and Simon the Zealot (Alaa Safi) joining his side. Jesus' ministries also begin to attract the attention of the Romans, who fear the possibility of insurrection, and the Pharisees, who take exception to Jesus' unorthodox teaching and blatant disregard for Sabbath day law. As these two factions close in on Him, He begins to prepare to deliver the famous "Sermon on the Mount."

Season two does what season one did best: humanize the characters, bring them to life beyond the Bible’s pages, depicting, with some liberty, what daily life may have been like for Jesus and His disciples. The Biblical accounts remain the central grounding and the story finds its way through the pages with adherence to the text, but Jenkins and company seize the opportunity to fill in gaps with cultural realities, personal struggles, and authentic characterization that are born of the Bible, though not necessarily found in it. Viewers will become privy to the production’s take on the story of the Good Samaritan, for example, and find a connection between Simon the Zealot, the apostle of whom the least is known, and the crippled man who was healed after decades in wait at the Pool of Bethsaida. The disciples interact in believable ways. Tensions frequently flare amongst the diverse group, particularly between Peter and Matthew. They also speak in-depth about the history they are witnessing and the part they are playing in Jesus’ ministry.

The season includes a number of well rounded episodes that play well individually, such as episode four following Simon the Zealot’s training to assassinate a Roman official, and episode eight as Jesus, with Matthew’s help, prepares for the Sermon on the Mount. Much of the season’s thrust follows the juxtaposition between Jesus’ ministry and the Pharisees’ attempts to shut him down. Jesus’ healing of the man at the pool is in many ways the driving catalyst for the season. Not only does the event add a fiery disciple into the mix, it also adds fuel to the Pharisees’ fire over Jesus Sabbath day activities. Another season highlight involves Mary Magdalene straying from the group when an encounter with a demon possessed man brings back the pains of her old life; the event is a catalyst for a discussion of sin, salvation, and the staying power of Jesus’ redeeming love and grace.

The show is blessed with excellent actors in every role; while there may be few, if any, household names on the roster, the level of depth and sophistication are certainly obvious, even from some of the secondary and tertiary players both in Jesus' inner circle and in the world beyond. Production design is well up to par as well; costumes are fully believable, locations are alive and breathing, and the entire production easily and effortlessly transports viewers 2,000 years ago, bringing new life to the Bible's pages in a way never quite captured on film before.

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

It is not an understatement to say that there are some major trouble spots throughout the entire eight episode run. Season two's Blu-ray compares similarly to the season one effort in terms of video ups and downs. The trouble begins almost immediately at the 4:17 mark of episode one where viewers will find an example of some severe macroblocking, rendering full backgrounds inorganic, littered with digital chunks rather than smooth clarity. Unfortunately, such egregious issues run rampant throughout, persistent through the season's entire run. This particular example is a low light sequence, taking place indoors, at night, lit only by mild candlelight. It is in these sorts of scenes where the macroblocking is at its most severe, but even in some daylight or otherwise moderately- or well-lit locations such macroblocking is in evidence. Heavy noise is also in evidence in low light, notably during a single long take early in the season as dusk turns to night. This take betrays the lower quality of the photography as the noise becomes increasingly dense and the compression issues more readily evident.

However, the picture holds relatively stable in good light, such as the many outdoor scenes taking place during the day as Jesus and the disciples are traveling about the land. Here, viewers will find impressively defined clothing details revealing frays and dirt and other imperfections with impressive stability and clarity, Likewise, facial hair, pores, and other skin and body details are reproduced with excellent definition. Location clarity is strong, whether considering grasses and trees, dirt terrain, or the various manmade structures of the day. Color reproduction is fine. The picture is saturated with many examples of earthen colors but there are likewise many examples of lush natural greenery abounding in various scenes as well as numerous examples of colorful clothes. Many costumes are beige, brown, or off-white, but Thomas, for example wears a more colorful tunic, as do the ladies, the Roman soldiers, and even the Pharisees, though color is used more sparingly on these latter costumes, offsetting the dominant black, which does hold deep on these clothes and at night as well. This is hardly the stuff of Blu-ray perfection but it looks decent in the aggregate, the macroblocking notwithstanding.

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

Performing somewhat better is the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack which is more than adequate to handle the show's modest sonic needs. A light rain falls outside during the season's open, with some sharp, cracking thunder near and lingering far making for a fine ambient setting. Environmental details are vital in bringing the show to life, and these are handled without flaw or flub as viewers will feel transported to various open grounds, inside densely packed streets, or inside the offices holding high ranking Romans or Pharisees. Listeners will appreciate the definition apparent with the musical presentation in addition to excellent width, clarity of individual instruments, and some accompanying choral vocals as necessary. The season's bread-and-butter is, of course, dialogue, which is clear and center focused for the duration.

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

This "Premiere Edition" season two release of The Chosen includes no supplemental content. However, it does ship with a full color, glossy, stapled booklet that includes a message from Creator Dallas Jenkins who outlines the remainder of the booklet, writing "my wife Amanda and I wrote some content for this booklet. We want to give you some spiritual context to the stories you'll be watching and hopefully enhance your experience a bit." Indeed, what follows is a blurb on each episode on one side, a color photo opposite, and a message from a fan embedded in a small box with the photo.

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

The Chosen's second season is every bit as good as the first, if not better for its established roles and styles that this season only builds upon. The video quality is questionable at best and the audio quality is only adequate. It's also unfortunate that the season two two-disc set includes no extras, but considering the quality of the show itself it's impossible to offer anything less than a hearty recommendation.