TV Show review
April 21, 2019 · 60 min · TV-PG · Returning Series
Woke Score
Lower is better
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Chosen.
Woke representation / casting
The series features actors from varied ethnic backgrounds in prominent disciple and supporting roles to match the multicultural reality of first-century Judea and the show's universal appeal goal, but choices serve story logic and historical context without audience-visible identity signaling or quota emphasis.
Woke political dialogue
All dialogue and interactions stay rooted in biblical teachings, personal encounters with Jesus, and first-century Jewish life with zero modern activist language, institutional critiques, or identity-based arguments.
Identity-driven story themes
The narrative centers on faith, sin, forgiveness, discipleship, and transformation through Jesus' ministry; no storylines or messaging revolve around race, gender identity, sexuality, or contemporary identity politics.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Roman authorities and religious leaders appear as historical opponents consistent with the Gospels; the show offers no reframing as critiques of patriarchy, capitalism, whiteness, or current Western norms.
Review
The Chosen is a multi-season television drama that portrays the life and ministry of Jesus Christ through the eyes of his disciples and the people who met him, drawing from the Gospels with added dramatic details for character depth. It follows Jesus from his baptism through key events like the Sermon on the Mount and interactions with followers such as Mary Magdalene, Matthew, and Simon Peter across seasons one through six. The series uses a multi-ethnic cast to reflect the diverse ancient setting and focuses on themes of personal faith, redemption, and following Jesus without inserting contemporary activist messaging.
Woke character or canon changes
Creative expansions add backstories and personality details to disciples for dramatic flow, but they preserve original biblical genders, roles, ethnic contexts, and events without ideological reinterpretations or swaps.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Conservative Christian audiences and media voiced clear complaints in 2023 that the show compromised by employing staff with visible LGBT symbols and by the creator's defense of broad hiring practices, treating it as pushing tolerance for woke culture despite its biblical core.
Creator track record context
Dallas Jenkins and key writers/producers maintain public conservative evangelical identities centered on faith media; one casting director carries a moderate diversity-advocacy record from prior work, but the team shows no recurring pattern of identity-driven or activist creative output.
Production
