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REVIEW OF THE CHOSEN BY EARS TO HEAR
THE Chosen: The Last Supper Part 3 Review
April 10, 2025
With only the finale left to prove itself, The Chosen: The Last Supper might just be the series’ strongest outing yet. Part 1 delivered the show’s best premiere to date, Part 2 masterfully followed up on its events while setting the stage for the conclusion — all while offering deeply compelling character work. Now, the table has been set, and Part 3 brings us to the finale.
The Last Supper’s finale is my most anticipated in the series yet, but even with the season’s solid start, I couldn’t help but feel apprehensive. Last season followed a similar trajectory, but ultimately ended with a whimper, leaving all the momentum for this season. Once again, we find ourselves standing at the edge of a monumental moment, as naturally we are leading up to the biggest moment in The Gospels and the focus of the next season: the crucifixion. Yet even before that, Jesus’s arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane presents fertile ground for a climactic, emotionally resonant finale that both concludes this season’s themes and sets the stage for what’s to come.
Did showrunner Dallas Jenkins deliver this time?
Let me respond like a tried-and-true evangelical: heck frickin’ yeah.
Episode Six, the first of the final three, begins as previous episodes have — with an excerpt from the Last Supper — before continuing the lingering conversations teased in the previous chapter. At this point in the story, we’re just 24 hours away from Jesus being taken into custody. If there’s one word that defines this season, it’s weight. The crucifixion has loomed over the series more heavily with each passing season, but here it feels like a dark cloud overhead — ever-present, inescapable.
Sure, next season will undoubtedly carry even more gravity. But within Scripture itself, Jesus’s prayer at Gethsemane is the final breath before the plunge — the last intimate moment between Jesus and the Father before the path is set. If there’s any measure of this season’s success, it’s the growing knot in my stomach that tightened with each passing scene… all the way to the final minutes.
Without diving into spoilers, I’ll say this: these final episodes close an era of The Chosen in ways I didn’t expect. I’ll continue to respect viewers who are unable to make it to theaters by avoiding major spoilers outside of what’s directly depicted in Scripture. The biblical foundation for these episodes is drawn from Matthew 26:1–50, Mark 14:1–45, Luke 22:1–48, and John 13, 17–18:1–3. I’m including the Last Supper itself here, even though parts of it have appeared in earlier episodes, as the supper itself is chronologically reached.
A theme that stood out early on was how different groups interpret Scripture — some with humility and a genuine desire to follow God, others twisting it to serve their own ambitions, ultimately becoming the very thing they claim to oppose. But hey, good thing we’ve evolved past that today, right?
Before I dive into the good stuff, I’ll mention a small nitpick. While this season has taken a massive leap in set design (something I praised back in Part 1), there was one odd remnant from the show’s earlier, humbler days. In one scene, we see papers with Hebrew Scripture scattered about — but the text looked clearly printed, too modern and polished for anything from the first century. It’s minor and forgivable, but it stood out, especially against the backdrop of an otherwise visually top-tier production.
As usual, there are some standout performances in these episodes. I haven’t yet given a proper shoutout to ELIJAH ALEXANDER as Roman cohortes urbanae Atticus Aemilius Pulcher — but he’s easily one of my favorite original characters. Alexander’s charisma makes Atticus a scene-stealer, and we finally get to see more of what makes him tick. Part of what makes Atticus so compelling is that you never quite know what side he’s on. He’s so charming that it’s tempting to think he might be an ally to Jesus’s followers. Credit to the writers, who’ve crafted an original character that’s just as compelling as any biblical figure in the series — sometimes more.
There are plenty of other strong performances, but what stood out most in these final episodes was how many of the disciples were given their own meaningful moments. It’s a satisfying reward for longtime fans, and it left me wishing that each of these interactions could’ve been expanded into their own character-focused episodes.
On a personal note, I was especially happy to see Thaddeus (Giavani Cairo) finally get his moment — perhaps the most significant of them all. Every disciple has had their spotlight throughout the series, but Thaddeus has often been sidelined. As the first disciple to follow Jesus in the show, his moment here feels like a fitting bookend to the journey so far — and serves as a perfect juxtaposition for the final scene of the season.
As I’d suspected, the Last Supper was presented to us in pieces across the three episodes, with each portion building toward the full picture. The final episode moves beyond the meal and into the Garden of Gethsemane. On that note, while each piece of the Supper was intentionally paired with a thematic element (for instance, Jesus washing the disciples’ feet coinciding with deep character moments), I almost wish we could’ve seen the entire Last Supper presented uninterrupted — maybe as a bonus episode. Each scene was so well done, it would have been incredibly powerful to see it all at once.
Once the disciples reach the garden, the weight truly settles in. We’re really here. Too often, depictions of this moment in the Gospels feel like just another checkbox. Even in repeated readings of Scripture, it can become so familiar that the significance gets lost. The Chosen earns it. This moment feels important not just because of what’s happening, but because of the journey we’ve taken to get here.
This is also where the season’s increasingly prominent spiritual elements culminate. I realized during this final episode that the visions we’ve seen — used more liberally this season — function in place of the Old Testament scenes that served as “pre-scenes” in earlier seasons. Because the Last Supper itself now acts as each episode’s prelude, those Old Testament echoes are woven more naturally into the story rather than prefacing it. Whether intentional or not, it’s another example of how The Chosen has matured in its storytelling, leaning into thematic cohesion.
One moment that truly moved me came when Jesus returns to find his disciples asleep in the garden. After a moment of disappointment, he looks upon them — and sees them as children. As a parent, this hit hard. In my own relationship with God, nothing has deepened my understanding of His love more than fatherhood. God has reminded me again and again that He looks at me not with disappointment, but the way I look at my own sons — with an abundant love too deep for words. That scene captured it perfectly. It’s yet another example of how The Chosen, while an artistic adaptation of the Gospels, mirrors how a pastor might teach: here’s the historical context, here’s how it connects to the Old Testament, and here’s how it applies to you.
Of course, the moment is sold by Jonathan Roumie’s performance. At this point, is it even a review of The Chosen if I don’t sing his praises? It’s just so dang true. It could be easily argued that Jesus’s time in the garden is the pivotal moment for an actor’s performance. Not to minimize what is to come, but the set design, special effects and the prosthetic department will be crucial in selling those moments in addition to the performance. But here, in the garden, it’s all on Roumie to embody “sorrowful, even unto death.”
“And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.’ And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’” — Matthew 26:39–41
Likewise, Judas’s defining moment is here, and Luke Dimyan plays it with heartbreaking nuance. He’s a man torn by his own vision of the Messiah — desperate to find his place, only to tragically fulfill it in the most ironic way possible.
These episodes are some of the hardest to write about — not because there’s little to say, but because they’re best experienced firsthand. And hopefully, that speaks for itself.
Hats off to Dallas Jenkins.
Conclusion
It’s official — The Chosen: The Last Supper isn’t just the best installment of the series so far. It might be the finest biblical depiction ever put to screen. Not only does it bring key Gospel moments to life, it gives them the proper emotional weight through years of careful buildup and character work.
9.5/10 — so that next season still has room to top it.
REVIEW OF THE CHOSEN BY CATHOLIC SKYWALKER
April 17, 2025
TV Review: The Chosen - The Last Supper
There is a reason that The Chosen is a world-wide phenomenon. Christian movies and TV shows are a dime-a-dozen. But creator Dallas Jenkins understands that if you are going to make good Christian art, you must first focus on making good ART. So many well-intentioned Christian projects fall short because they lack the skill to match their earnest enthusiasm.
That is not the case with The Chosen. This is especially true about this 5th season, subtitled The Last Supper.
This season focuses on Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday and going all the way through the Agony in the Garden. One of the things that struck me as I watched these episodes in the theater was how cinematic it all was. For a show that is completely crowd-funded, the cinematography is gorgeous. You get the feeling for the immensity of Jerusalem on this truly epic scale. At the same time, the lighting and colors highlight the deeply intimate moments of love and heartbreak throughout.
One of the things that is fascinating about Jenkins and his writers is that they are able to take a story that is the most familiar in all of human history and he is still able to get you on the edge of your seat. As in past seasons they take liberties and elaborations with the Gospel stories, but it is always done in a way to enhance the depths of the story and the characters. Even though we all know where things are headed, he makes you feel the tension and the sorrow.
This season such an intersting framing device. Each episode begins with a flash forward to the Last Supper and then the rest of the episode is a flashback to earlier in the week. What makes it more interesting is that Jenkins shows us the Last Supper in reverse chronological order. The first episode shows us the end, right before they head to Gethsemane and then shows at the end Jesus (Jonathon Roumie) washing their feet. It had a fascinating effect to watch. By breaking it down this way, the creators once again force us to see something familiar from a new perspective. Doing this shakes us from our apathy and throws us into the drama.
There are two particularly powerful moments that are inventions of the show. The first involves the Hebrew Dayenu prayer. Traditionally, it is a prayer that remembers the the great things that God has done. For example, it says "If He had brought us out of Egypt, but not executed justice upon the Egyptians, it would have been enough. If He had executed justice on the Egyptians, but not upon their gods, it would have been enough..." And it goes on like this for many stanzas. In the show, the evening before the Last Supper, Jesus has dinner with his female disciples and they recite their version of the Dayenu that had many people in tears.
A powerful moment occurs in the Agony in the Garden. To help get us int Jesus' mind, we see that He has visions of Abraham and Isaac, Ezekiel, and one other person. It was this third person that almost broke me down and was a touching meditation on the vulnerabilty of Christ.
One other elaboration that I was very happy with was the calling of Little James (Jordan Walker Ross) and Thaddeus (Giavani Cairo). The series began with these two already as Jesus' disciples. So there was an immense sense of satisfaction to finally see this.
But it is not just the elaborations that are powerful. Jenkins and his crew are able to bring to life the power and shock of the Gospel stories. When Jesus cleanses the Temple, you can feel the tension, fear, anger, and outrage of everyone involved. It is one of the most dramatic and stressful parts of the entire season.
All of the performances are excellent. This is a cast that has worked together for many years and their chemistry is evident. Roumie in particular is wonderful. As the Jesus, he lets us feel all the wide range of human emotions our Savior must have felt, all of them feel honest and profound, but he never loses that sense of Divine grace in his performance. Besides Roumie, the biggest standout is Elijah Alexander as Atticus Aemilius. He has such commanding charisma that he seizes your attention every time he is on the screen. He seems like the master of the world who is in complete control of all the elements around him. His arrogant humor does not feel like bluster, but a projection of his intelligence and power. I sincerly hope that his character will have a direct encounter with Jesus next season to see if that cynical shell will crack or harden.
The one thing I am not a big fan of is the portrayal of Pontius Pilate. Andrew James Allen is doing a fine job in the role. But the writer portray him as weak and disengaged. Historically, Pilate was a violent monster who crucified hundreds of men, women, and children. The writers attempt to balance this with the character of Atticus, who carries this hardened demeanor. But I would have prefered a more menacing Pilate.
Watching The Chosen has been a moving experience and has shaped my spiritual imagination. I recommend to everyone who wants to see one of the best pieces of Christian art in years, please check out this past season.
