Last year, my parents got hooked on the series The Chosen, and then they got me hooked when I decided to watch it with them. It is, hands down, the best screen portrayal of the life of Jesus Christ that I have ever seen. It has inspired me to develop a greater sense of spirituality, something I have been trying to do for years. Jonathan Roumie's incredible portrayal of Jesus has moved me beyond any words I can find, and the way His disciples are all given individual life stories and unique characteristics has also added to my love for and enjoyment of the series. I find that I am most fond of the show's take on Matthew, played by the amazing Paras Patel. I relate to him so much as an autistic young woman who often has dealt with the frustration of not being understood, and I applaud the show's efforts to represent neurodivergence. I also love how loyal, docile, and compassionate he is, and how much he aims to grow from his past mistakes, cast off the labels society placed upon him, and gain forgiveness. My favorite scenes including him so far are his reconciliation with his parents and when Simon/Peter finally forgives him!
This was intended to be a birthday present for my mom, but I got too caught up in work and other life matters to properly finish it in time. I should also note that I aimed to include some symbolism with the flowers: purple hyacinth (forgiveness), daffodils (renewal and change), and white asters (wisdom).
I CANNOT wait for season 5!!
