The Chosen: Last Supper

Shelly Henley Kelly attended the Season 5 premiere of The Chosen, a Scripture-based show designed to inspire conversation and holy imagination.

Father Patrick Peyton says the family that prays together, stays together. Yet it's likely that more families watch TV together than pray together. In our house, there is one television show that brings everyone together and this same show inevitably leads us into prayer together: The Chosen.  

What is The Chosen? 

You’ve probably heard of the series even if you haven’t watched an episode. What started out as a crowd-funded project released in 2019 has grown to more than 280 million viewers and 17 million-plus social media followers.  

This groundbreaking historical drama based on the life of Jesus seen through the eyes of his followers and friends, offers an authentic and intimate look at Jesus’ life and teachings.  

Under the direction of series creator, writer, director, and producer Dallas Jenkins, Jesus and the apostles are relatable. In addition to revealing Jesus’ divinity through His radical love, mercy, and miracles, the series also personifies Jesus as a man, with all the human emotions, including sorrow, frustration, and a charismatic sense of humor.  

Season 5 Leads Us into Holy Week  

Season 5, Episodes 1 and 2 arrive in theaters this Friday, March 28. At the end of the last season, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead before setting off with his disciples to Jerusalem for the upcoming Passover celebration.  

Each of the first two episodes opens with the end in mind — an emotional scene from the Last Supper with the disciples listening and responding to Jesus as He speaks the words of Scripture: John 16:25-33 and Matthew 26:31-35.  

During last week’s Season 5 premiere, actor George H. Xanthis (John the Beloved Apostle) reminded us:

The beginning of Holy Week is a jubilant time and the whole season is basically us realizing slowly that this is not what we thought. They [Jesus’ followers] think the Messiah is … going to be this soldier on a horse to defeat the Romans, but He’s actually going to surrender Himself for our sins. It’s never what you expect and that’s what surrender is all about, not knowing.

A series based on the Bible doesn’t need a spoiler alert. We all know what’s coming at the end of the week; however, The Chosen presents Scripture in a combination of brilliant writing and acting with cinematic finesse. When this season begins with the palm-waving crowds full of excitement welcoming the Son of David, we know they’ll be saying quite the opposite by the end of the week. Combine this with Jonathan Roumie’s aching portrayal of Jesus with full foreknowledge of what’s to come, and there’s no holding back the rising emotions. Hint: bring the whole tissue box to the theater when you go! 

Enjoy this clip of my interview with actor Jonathan Roumie during the red-carpet premiere event:

“We’ve been writing towards these moments the whole time.” 

According to Dallas Jenkins, in this season he aims to give us the “personal intimate relational human aspects” of all the major points of Holy Week, from the triumphal entry and the turning of the tables to Judas’ betrayal and the Last Supper.  

Yet he admits that wrestling with the multiple range of emotions and levels of understanding was the hardest part of writing this season. 

How do we set it up so when we get there it’s more emotionally impactful and not just a [beautiful, yet formal] stained glass window or a painting. We want to make sure [the viewer] … realizes that these were human beings and dear friends, being told by their leader, their shepherd, their friend that he’s not going to be around them much longer. How do they wrestle with that?  

You Don’t Need to Be a Scripture Scholar to Get It.  

No theology degree is necessary for understanding the various themes and significance of events as they unfold, because one thing the show does particularly well is to create a stronger contextual understanding of the political and religious culture of first-century Israel during Roman occupation. Why has the temple turned into a marketplace? What’s the significance of entering the city on a donkey? And why does Jesus enter Jerusalem through that specific gate? 

Each episode pushes us to pick up the Bible, turn to the Gospels, and search for the true scriptural foundation for each major scene. Dallas Jenkins hopes that his show inspires conversation and a certain amount of holy imagination.  

There are many moments in each season and episode to draw you into contemplation and there are no easy answers or one way to feel. If we consider the Gospels like fossil bones, hard evidence of what was, then The Chosen  uses additional Scripture studies, historical evidence, and inferences to create a fuller picture that helps us understand the message. 

Tickets Available Now 

All eight episodes will be released in movie theaters across the U.S. in three parts. Episodes 1 & 2 begin on Friday, March 28.  Episodes 3-5 on Friday, April 3, and the emotional conclusion of Episodes 6-8 arrive on Friday, April 11. All parts of the fifth season will be available in theaters on Palm Sunday (April 13) and Easter weekend (April 19-20).  

Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2025 Shelly Henley Kelly
Images: copyright © 2025 The Chosen. All rights reserved.