I cannot speak highly enough of this series and encourage everyone to help get this and pass it around their friends and family. It is freely available on YouTube so why buy it? The whole programme is self-funded by Christians without any sponsorship, so buying the dvd means we are helping future episodes be made; plus it can get wearying to hear the director explaining and talking all the time on the YouTube channels. This is one of the most beautiful and realistic portrayals of Jesus and the disciples, and the fact it is a multi reason production means that it can take time and focus on small but important details, where films have to rush and stick to the only most well-known sections. Every episode is so poignant and sensitive that I end up crying in at least one place for different reasons. This first season looks at the back-story of the disciples, intelligently and sensitively using any hints the bible gives with realistic life in the times to weave a very realistic life pre-Jesus. Just the settings are helpful to understand the times that Jesus and the disciples lived in, including the automatic Jewish customs that would be part of life and taken for granted - the touching of the mezuzah on the door lintel and the tsitsit tassles under their clothing. When some things jar with the modern audience, when you think about it i actually it fits the time an customs (Jesus has a smart leather backpack which I thought was incongruous and then realised - why not?! They had leather works at that time). This series focusses on a few of the main people we come to know and love through the bible - mainly Nicodemus, Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter and Matthew take centre stage; ,and to a lesser extent Andrew, Zebedee and James and John. Matthew is explored fully and lovingly, reminding us of his difference as a tax collector and what that might mean to the local people; and he is portrayed as on the ASD spectrum with his love of detail. I love the sensitive portrayal of Nicodemus as he genuinely struggles with the possibility of a healer and what it means and when he finally meets Jesus it is incredible. We often forget that Simon Peter is a married man, as his mother in law is talked about in the gospels, and this is an important part of his life pre-Jesus. We may also forget that Jesus comes at a time when there has been no prophetic activity for many hundreds of years and the faith has become more dull - much like today's secular society. The relationship with the Roman occupiers is very helpful to remind us of their occupied context and the expectations of the Messiah. The writers say that they made a choice that Jesus had a sense of humour and he really does seem very realistic and less otherworldly and separate as many other portrayals have him. He is three dimensional but does not lose his holiness and specialness for this. The third episode has the most beautiful introduction to Jesus' character through the eyes of children. There are many beautiful moments of wry humour which lighten the mood and help capture the friendships and normality of life in Galilee. The only episode that might not be completely family friendly is the first one as it covers Mary Magdalene with her backstory of the demon possession. This is covered extremely sensitively but young children might find it upsetting. The second series is out now, and the episodes to date have been of equal power and sensitivity. I pray that they continue to the end with the same careful authenticity.
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