I am a fan of the show, though I cooled on it quite a bit last season. The Ramah / Thomas story line was ridiculous. The thought that a very protective, very conservative father would let his young, beautiful, virgin daughter go hang out with a bunch of young, unmarried guys is laughably unrealistic. It also bugs me that, in Season 2, they took a description of Nazareth verbatim from the not-particularly-good book, "Zealot" by Reza Aslan. I will continue to watch and support the show but I see it for what it is, interesting fiction, based on the bible.
I remember thinking why there wasn’t a woman scholar on the round table especially since so much of the show (and the Bible let’s be real) centers women. I believe I commented on one of the show’s Social Media pages in hopes of getting a response to no avail. I stand by my question and feel affirmed as I read your Substack article. Keep digging, learning, and sharing! 🙏🏽
The thing that makes me feel crazy about all this is that this whole thing with The Chosen started with a TikTok video where a lady just says something is in Exodus 12 that literally is not. And then just everyone... rolls with it.
An ongoing frustration for me, when things that aren't true are treated as if they are, particularly if a little research or some biblical knowledge (like on vs before) is easily available. It is sad that as you note the experts seem to be there to lend credibility rather than establish truth.
I stopped watching ‘The Chosen’ when they portrayed Jesus entering to make His ‘Sermon on the Mount’ from a stage. There is a lot of really cheesy stuff put into that show. The director came to Salt Lake City I read somewhere and said that Mormons were Christians too. Don’t want to waste my time on this show. Don’t want to see the man portraying Jesus in my head every time I read about the real Jesus in my Bible.
I've loved this series on The Chosen! I mean, I love all your writing, but this time I cancelled my financial support of the show, and promptly came here to become a paid subscriber. There must be some mistake! You won't take my money even if I want to give it to you! Bananas!
I agree with you, in that the consultants seem to be there to prove to everyone that Dallas is above reproach and that all of his literary-minded decisions with regard to scripture are "accurate," rather than being allowed to challenge him on them. (I think if he were truly confident and transparent, he would invite / allow for arguments and debates and people pointing out what is inaccurate in his show, and be able to just laugh it off and say "I'm telling a story here.")
What bugs me, even though I appreciate the show and the details that go into it, is that he will double down on things that are flat-out wrong / you can prove him wrong, and insist it's accurate -- like Claudia Procula having a pixie cut. I commented on a FB Chosen post in a conversation with someone else that it was inaccurate, and that Roman women took great pride in their beautiful hair / the more elaborate it was, or the way gold was woven into it, or even the bigger the wig in a desirable color showed other Roman women your wealth / stature / position, and the wife of a Roman governor, even in Judea, would not be sporting a "slave haircut." Dallas noticed my comment, reassured me that it "is indeed accurate," and when I invited him to prove it, because I haven't been able to (like you and the pass-over lamb, I scoured the internet, looked at portraits and sculptures from the period, did a deep dive on hairstyles), he never answered me.
At the beginning of this piece, in the 5th paragraph, where you mention Jalein’s TikTok video being the source for the anointing practice, you reference Ex.14. Did you mean Ex. 12, or did I miss something?
I am a fan of the show, though I cooled on it quite a bit last season. The Ramah / Thomas story line was ridiculous. The thought that a very protective, very conservative father would let his young, beautiful, virgin daughter go hang out with a bunch of young, unmarried guys is laughably unrealistic. It also bugs me that, in Season 2, they took a description of Nazareth verbatim from the not-particularly-good book, "Zealot" by Reza Aslan. I will continue to watch and support the show but I see it for what it is, interesting fiction, based on the bible.
I remember thinking why there wasn’t a woman scholar on the round table especially since so much of the show (and the Bible let’s be real) centers women. I believe I commented on one of the show’s Social Media pages in hopes of getting a response to no avail. I stand by my question and feel affirmed as I read your Substack article. Keep digging, learning, and sharing! 🙏🏽
this entire thing is bananas.
you may have stumbled upon you new career, Laura
The thing that makes me feel crazy about all this is that this whole thing with The Chosen started with a TikTok video where a lady just says something is in Exodus 12 that literally is not. And then just everyone... rolls with it.
Did no one seriously even just check Exodus?...
An ongoing frustration for me, when things that aren't true are treated as if they are, particularly if a little research or some biblical knowledge (like on vs before) is easily available. It is sad that as you note the experts seem to be there to lend credibility rather than establish truth.
Thank you for your determined follow up!
I stopped watching ‘The Chosen’ when they portrayed Jesus entering to make His ‘Sermon on the Mount’ from a stage. There is a lot of really cheesy stuff put into that show. The director came to Salt Lake City I read somewhere and said that Mormons were Christians too. Don’t want to waste my time on this show. Don’t want to see the man portraying Jesus in my head every time I read about the real Jesus in my Bible.
I've loved this series on The Chosen! I mean, I love all your writing, but this time I cancelled my financial support of the show, and promptly came here to become a paid subscriber. There must be some mistake! You won't take my money even if I want to give it to you! Bananas!
I agree with you, in that the consultants seem to be there to prove to everyone that Dallas is above reproach and that all of his literary-minded decisions with regard to scripture are "accurate," rather than being allowed to challenge him on them. (I think if he were truly confident and transparent, he would invite / allow for arguments and debates and people pointing out what is inaccurate in his show, and be able to just laugh it off and say "I'm telling a story here.")
What bugs me, even though I appreciate the show and the details that go into it, is that he will double down on things that are flat-out wrong / you can prove him wrong, and insist it's accurate -- like Claudia Procula having a pixie cut. I commented on a FB Chosen post in a conversation with someone else that it was inaccurate, and that Roman women took great pride in their beautiful hair / the more elaborate it was, or the way gold was woven into it, or even the bigger the wig in a desirable color showed other Roman women your wealth / stature / position, and the wife of a Roman governor, even in Judea, would not be sporting a "slave haircut." Dallas noticed my comment, reassured me that it "is indeed accurate," and when I invited him to prove it, because I haven't been able to (like you and the pass-over lamb, I scoured the internet, looked at portraits and sculptures from the period, did a deep dive on hairstyles), he never answered me.
He can't STAND to be or to admit to being wrong.
I’ll have the burger and fries, please.
At the beginning of this piece, in the 5th paragraph, where you mention Jalein’s TikTok video being the source for the anointing practice, you reference Ex.14. Did you mean Ex. 12, or did I miss something?
Just a small nitpick, keep up the good work!
Yep! You're right.