As The Chosen enters its fifth season, the groundbreaking Christian series continues to reach new heights—both artistically and financially. The show’s cinematic release of Season 5 is now its most successful yet, grossing over $19 million with just its first two episodes. But beyond the impressive numbers, it’s the profound portrayal of the Last Supper and the emotional journey of the disciples that’s resonating with audiences during this Holy Week season.
Reimagining the Most Sacred Supper
In an interview with Catholic News Agency, creator and director Dallas Jenkins shared the heart behind his vision of the Last Supper. “We do it The Chosen way,” he said. “We take stories that are famous… stained-glass windows, paintings… and we’re going to reveal the humanity of it.”
Rather than present the Last Supper as a distant, overly reverent tableau, The Chosen draws viewers into the intimate and bewildering emotions experienced by Jesus and His disciples that night. “It was 13 brothers who were very close… being told by one of them, ‘I’m not going to be with you much longer,’” Jenkins explained. “They’re trying to make sense of it.”
Jenkins noted that the grandeur of the moment can often cloud its emotional reality. “It’s easy to distance yourself from it emotionally,” he said. “We’re trying to bring you back into what it would’ve been like to be in that room.”
John’s Journey: From Thunder to Love
A central figure in this season is John the Apostle, portrayed by George Xanthis, who said viewers will witness a new side of his character. “He’s starting to pay attention and he’s sticking very, very close to Jesus,” Xanthis said. While John begins the season confused, it’s through his closeness to Mary Magdalene—who began to understand Jesus’ mission in Season 4—that he begins to catch on.
Xanthis described it as “a foreshadowing of where they’re both going to end up,” as John transitions from the “Son of Thunder” to the “Beloved Disciple.” It’s a process of humility and listening, something many viewers may find relatable in their own spiritual journeys.
Raised in a Greek Orthodox family, Xanthis reflected on the tension between knowing the Gospel and stepping into the shoes of a disciple who doesn’t. “Even as John is beginning to catch on to it, he doesn’t believe that it’s going to happen at the end of the week,” he said.
Trusting When We Don’t Understand
One of the most powerful messages of Season 5 is the challenge of faith during uncertainty—a theme especially relevant during Lent and Holy Week.
“I’m hoping viewers watch this going, ‘When I don’t understand something or someone, can I still trust and follow? Can I still have faith?’” Jenkins shared.
That struggle is poignantly illustrated in the contrast between the disciples and those who rejected Christ. “Judas didn’t understand and rejected,” Jenkins said. “The religious leaders didn’t understand and rejected. We have a tendency to still do that today.”
It’s a call to humility in a culture often driven by certainty and self-righteousness. “Things I don’t understand, people I don’t understand, I’m going to reject. And I think we see in Season 5, more than ever, what it’s like to follow and trust even when you don’t fully understand.”
Light After Darkness
Paras Patel, who plays Matthew, underscored a recurring theme in the show: hope. “There is light after darkness,” he said. “This is going to be a hard season to watch… but I think at the end of the day, people will leave feeling a little bit of hope… and have some strength.”
As Christians around the world prepare to enter into the Passion of Christ, The Chosen offers a deeply personal and emotional reflection on what it means to be a follower of Jesus. It’s not just a reenactment of Scripture—it’s a spiritual experience.
