I have had several people tell me I should check this series out. I finally sat down to watch it and ended up binge watching all 5 seasons in less than two weeks. It is amazing. It is the story of Christ and his disciples but it is unlike any religous show you have ever seen. It started out as a crowd funded project, mostly from churches. It has grown into a worldwide phenomenon. It has been seen by an estimated 280 million people around the world. It has been translated into 170 languages. It just won the Dove award for best series. For an independent, privately funded, Hollywood and studio free production. So what makes it so special? The way it presents the story. It has a disclaimer at the beginning that states that it is biblically accurate but that it tells the story in a creative way. It makes the characters come to life. It presents them as people. With all the natural issues. The disciples argue among each other and get jealous of each other and have issues they have to deal with. Other shows that are based on Gospel stories present the characters as these wise and holy men and their words are sage and profound. Not this show. It personalizes the characters. Makes them real and relatable. It shows their struggles. Especially the character of Jesus. They show him as an ordinary man who laughs and tells jokes. He plays pranks on his disciples and kids around with them. I laughed so many times watching it. Other shows have what I call, the clouds parting and trumpet sounding, everytime christ speaks. Not this show. The actors are all amazing. The character of Jesus is played by Jonathan Roumie and he does an amazing job. The creator and director, Dallas Jenkins says that they get about a 3rd of the emails and online comments from non believers. Who love the show for its acting and story telling. And the cast is made up of actors from many different faiths and even none at all. The woman who plays Mother Mary is an athiest, one actor is a Hindu. One a Jew, and one a Muslim. One is an Egyptian Coptic. They have a panel of clergy made up of a Rabbi, a Catholic priest and an evangelical Christian who review the scripts and consult on the accuracy of them. Many facets of the series they adapted things that aren't specifically in scripture but can be assumed to be at least plausible. For an example. The character of Matthew is played as slightly autistic. A reading of the gospel of Matthew shows him to be very precise and detail oriented. A typical autistic trait. Some of the events portrayed are scriptural but they combine some for the story. There has been some criticism about that. But I have no problem with it. They are not taking anything away or adding anything to the scripture. Everything in the storyline is scripturally accurate. I am an ordained minister, I've been through seminary and I've studied the Bible for over 40 years and I learned things watching this show that I didn't know. For example, Simon the Zealot. I have read that name thousands of times. I always assumed it meant someone who was passionate, zealous, fervent in their faith. Nope. It was a cult of assassins. They trained for years in hand to hand combat and weapons. Their sole purpose was to assassinate Roman officials. When they were fully trained they recieved a ceremonial dagger. In one scene Simon is telling Jesus he will follow him and defend him amd fight for him. Jesus asks to see his dagger. He is admiring it and saying how special it is. Then he tosses it in the river. The look on Simon's face! I will post several of my favorite scenes so you can see what I am talking about. Whether you are religous or not at all you will like this show I promise you. The 6th season premiers Nov 15th. Check it out!
