Key Takeaways:

The season five finale of "The Chosen" provides a strong and emotional portrayal of Jesus’ experiences leading to the crucifixion, especially in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Laura and Ben highlight the creative liberties taken by the show's creators in illustrating biblical themes, particularly the traumatic events surrounding Jesus' betrayal.

The flashbacks and imaginative backstories of the disciples serve to deepen understanding, although not always directly woven from scripture.

The inclusion of significant Old Testament imagery and its implications for Jesus' mission are critically analyzed by the hosts.

Notable Quotes:

"The Chosen team wanted to give us these imagined embellished backstories on the disciples before they met Jesus in black and white." – Ben McEachen

"Was his sorrow more anchored in knowing that he was about to be the source of so much pain for what everybody else was about to witness?" – Laura Bennett

"This is why I'm not writing for The Chosen." – Ben McEachen

"You could have the best, most A-plus Bible knowledge, but if you don't actually understand the person of who Jesus is, that does not matter." – Laura Bennett

"The opposites happened for me in this episode with the Chosen… here I am again in another moment of the Chosen, appreciating that you're presenting something to us." – Ben McEachen

Laura Bennett hosts Hope Afternoons in Sydney, Australia, and UNDISTRACTED podcast. Laura has reviewed TV and movies for Hope 1032 for more than a decade.

Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings in Sydney, Australia, and co-hosts Money: Faith and Finance. Ben has reviewed TV and movies for Empire, News Ltd and Hope 1032.

Have you heard of The Watchlist? Catch this amazing podcast here!

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you want to hear us speak of next? Season 1 and 2 of The Chosen, or House of David, or something else???

Thanks so much for dropping by and listening to Following the Chosen! Did you know that we get about 1000 listeners per ep? Thanks so much for your interest in this pod!

As always - drop your questions, your thoughts comments and reflections everywhere you can find us! And where might that be, one might ask?

Here in one of our episodes on Spotify!

Here on Youtube!

Or here on our Hope Podcasts Website!

Laura Bennett hosts Hope Afternoons in Sydney, Australia, and UNDISTRACTED podcast. Laura has reviewed TV and movies for Hope 1032 for more than a decade.

Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings in Sydney, Australia, and co-hosts Money: Faith and Finance. Ben has reviewed TV and movies for Empire, News Ltd and Hope 1032.

Have you heard of The Watchlist? Catch this amazing podcast here!

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Key Takeaways:

"The Chosen" uses flashbacks as a narrative device, but their effectiveness is questioned in this episode.

Significant moments, such as Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, underscore themes of servant leadership.

The narrative choices in the episode invite viewers to revisit and explore biblical texts in greater depth.

We discuss how well the show balances creative storytelling with maintaining theological accuracy.

Notable Quotes:

"The Chosen is prompting us to dig a little deeper into the assumptions we make about the Bible." — Laura Bennett

"We set the table anyway: a reflection on obedience when we don't understand God's plan." — Ben McEachen

"I find myself with less moments of deep reflection and more thinking about creative storytelling." — Laura Bennett

"Using visions and dreams to guide the Last Supper setting was a fresh insight." — Ben McEachen

"This episode is one of the more messy, disjointed, and odd seasons out of all of them." — Laura Bennett

Laura Bennett hosts Hope Afternoons in Sydney, Australia, and UNDISTRACTED podcast. Laura has reviewed TV and movies for Hope 1032 for more than a decade.

Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings in Sydney, Australia, and co-hosts Money: Faith and Finance. Ben has reviewed TV and movies for Empire, News Ltd and Hope 1032.

Have you heard of The Watchlist? Catch this amazing podcast here!

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Key Takeaways:

Reintroducing Nicodemus, whose character grapples with connecting Old Testament prophecies with Jesus's actions, adding a layer of mystery and fulfillment to the narrative.

Laura pointedly discusses the discomforting depiction of Mary Magdalene's abduction, expressing concerns over the choice of storyline and its implications.

Ben observes that the sympathetic portrayal of Judas Iscariot challenges typical viewers' perceptions and raises questions about his true motivations.

The episode is marked by the significant roles of women who influence key biblical figures, hinting at their possible contributions to the narrative outcomes.

The episode offers fewer humorous moments than previous ones, reflecting the rising tension and gravity as the series progresses toward critical events in Jesus's life.

Notable Quotes:

"Nicodemus's scene does have that sort of 'serial killer movie' vibe, yet it's not." – Ben McEachen

"To think that she would just trust that that's okay is just… no, you just would not." – Laura Bennett on Mary Magdalene's abduction

"Because I've seen too much… because I haven't seen enough." – A line portraying Judas's conflicted struggles.

"Jesus can't make the funny little comments that he did before because his emotional state is different." – Laura Bennett

"The wives behind all of these figures…it reminds you of the context around these men in leadership." – Laura Bennett

Resources:

• Hope 103.2 Website - Check out more episodes of "Following the Chosen" and related content.

Tune in to the full episode for an insightful discussion that pushes the boundaries of conventional biblical narratives, providing a fresh perspective through the lens of "The Chosen." Stay connected for more thought-provoking conversations ahead!

Laura Bennett hosts Hope Afternoons in Sydney, Australia, and UNDISTRACTED podcast. Laura has reviewed TV and movies for Hope 1032 for more than a decade.

Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings in Sydney, Australia, and co-hosts Money: Faith and Finance. Ben has reviewed TV and movies for Empire, News Ltd and Hope 1032.

Have you heard of The Watchlist? Catch this amazing podcast here!

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Key Takeaways:

• The Last Supper is effectively employed as a recurring framing device, resonating spiritual significance.
• Current season episodes serve as narrative bridges, setting the stage for upcoming pivotal events.
• John’s portrayal reveals profound emotional interaction, enhancing understanding of key Biblical moments.
• The depiction of Mary Magdalene’s scene provokes reflection on storytelling methods and audience perception.

Notable Quotes:

• "Watching this show makes you just double check that you know what you know or that you think you read what you thought you read." – Laura Bennett
• "Whoops. We're always meant to come back to the Last Supper. That's what our faith should sort of, you know, kind of hinge upon in some respects." – Laura Bennett
• "God could have stopped Jesus crucifixion and didn't. But there was reasoning behind that." – Laura Bennett
• "Can we take him literally? What does he mean? What is going to happen?" – Ben McEachen
• "He has actually said it, but also why wouldn't we take him at his word?" – Ben McEachen

Laura Bennett hosts Hope Afternoons in Sydney, Australia, and UNDISTRACTED podcast. Laura has reviewed TV and movies for Hope 1032 for more than a decade.

Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings in Sydney, Australia, and co-hosts Money: Faith and Finance. Ben has reviewed TV and movies for Empire, News Ltd and Hope 1032.

Have you heard of The Watchlist? Catch this amazing podcast here!

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Key Takeaways:

• The episode focuses on Judas Iscariot, providing context beyond the typical "villain" narrative, exploring his internal struggles and motivations.
• A central theme is understanding Jesus's teachings and how his original followers might have wrestled with comprehending and conveying these messages.
• Bookending techniques, such as the Jewish tradition reference and their adaptation to illustrate Jesus's significance, enrich the storytelling.
• The conversation underscores the challenge faced by the disciples in being the first to spread Jesus's messages, an aspect skillfully depicted by "The Chosen."

Notable Quotes:

1. "I'm really starting to appreciate the way the Chosen seems to be filling out the context of the characters even more so, giving us more historical context for what's happening in the lives of these characters." - Laura Bennett
2. "The Chosen team is doing a great job of stopping and thinking about just possibly what might have been going on for Judas." - Ben McEachen
3. "It was a real showcase of [the women's] connection to Jesus's life and their support of it." - Laura Bennett
4. "The idea of even if you didn't, you are enough and even if you didn't… It actually gave a nice summation of what's happened in the four seasons up to this point." - Laura Bennett
5. "Imagine being the very first people going, how do we repeat this stuff (sermons and teachings)?" - Laura Bennett

Resources:

• Hope Media: hope1032.com.au

Laura Bennett hosts Hope Afternoons in Sydney, Australia, and UNDISTRACTED podcast. Laura has reviewed TV and movies for Hope 1032 for more than a decade.

Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings in Sydney, Australia, and co-hosts Money: Faith and Finance. Ben has reviewed TV and movies for Empire, News Ltd and Hope 1032.

Have you heard of The Watchlist? Catch this amazing podcast here!

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Takeaways:

The disciples are confused by Jesus' actions and seek understanding.

Historical context enriches the narrative of Jesus' time.

Understanding is a recurring theme in the episode.

Matthew's conversation with Jesus highlights the difference between surprise and shock.

The Last Supper serves as a recurring narrative device.

The portrayal of Jesus' interactions with Jewish leaders is significant.

The emotional turmoil of Jesus is palpable in this episode.

The relationship between Jesus and his disciples is central to the narrative.

Laura Bennett hosts Hope Afternoons in Sydney, Australia, and UNDISTRACTED podcast. Laura has reviewed TV and movies for Hope 1032 for more than a decade.

Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings in Sydney, Australia, and co-hosts Money: Faith and Finance. Ben has reviewed TV and movies for Empire, News Ltd and Hope 1032.

Have you heard of The Watchlist? Catch this amazing podcast here!

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Evoking reflections on character development, scriptural interpretations, and personal faith insights, this episode explores Jesus' narrative within its historical and spiritual context. Ben and Laura discuss the show's imaginative takes on biblical characters and events, particularly focusing on the potent depiction of Jesus overturning tables in the temple. The series illuminates Jesus' righteous anger and controlled intensity, enriching viewers' understanding of his mission. They commend "The Chosen" for its ability to humanize often one-dimensional biblical figures like Thomas, giving them a broader narrative that extends beyond their defining scriptural moments. Their conversation touches on the show's effective portrayal of biblical history, particularly concerning themes like sacrifice and religious customs at the temple. This episode exemplifies how creative storytelling intersects with scriptural truth, producing a compelling drama that resonates with contemporary audiences.

Laura Bennett hosts Hope Afternoons in Sydney, Australia, and UNDISTRACTED podcast. Laura has reviewed TV and movies for Hope 1032 for more than a decade.

Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings in Sydney, Australia, and co-hosts Money: Faith and Finance. Ben has reviewed TV and movies for Empire, News Ltd and Hope 1032.

Have you heard of The Watchlist? Catch this amazing podcast here!

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.