Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Spooky series has language, suicide, good diversity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Chosen One
What's the Story?
Twelve years ago, THE CHOSEN ONE's Sarah (Dianna Agron) escaped her abusive husband with her infant son, and fled to Baja California Sur, Mexico. Now Jodie (Bobby Luhnow) is soon to turn 13, and keeps hearing mysterious whispering voices, even as rumors sweep through town about a deadly siren who lives in the sea around the local salt mines. And then Jodie discovers he has supernatural powers. Is he a new messiah? Or something darker and more dangerous? This series is based on the American Jesus graphic novel trilogy by Mark Millar and Peter Gross.
Is It Any Good?
The sweet and supportive friendship group at the center of this spooky series keeps its wild plot twists firmly anchored in recognizably human emotions. Bobby Luhnow is compelling as young Jodie, a boy suddenly beset with god-like powers in The Chosen One. Luhnow's sky-blue eyes are ethereal and otherworldly, a perfect attribute for a narrative with many allusions to religion. Luhnow and the four other young actors who play a tight circle of friends also have wonderful, realistic chemistry. They feel like real friends with lived-in relationships, and they each get enough screen time for audiences to empathize with their struggles. It isn't easy growing up in their small town, where bullying and racism are common, and the salt mines are one of the few industries.
And then it's off to the races with a storyline that mixes supernatural elements with a mysterious Big Bad who's been watching Jodie from afar. Who is Jodie and just what is it we don't know about him? Viewers will itch to know the answers, and The Chosen One is without a doubt a delightful binge. It will remind you of both Stranger Things and older favorites like The Goonies and Stand by Me, and that's a good thing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about this show's setting. The comic book series this show is based on was set in Chicago; The Chosen One has relocated to Santa Rosalia in Baja California Sur, Mexico. How does this setting change the action? The characters?
Have you read the comic book series American Jesus? If so, did it increase your enjoyment of The Chosen One, or did it spoil some of the surprises? In general, do you prefer books to live-action narratives, or vice versa?
Movies and TV shows frequently feature a central character with mysterious powers. Why? What are the dramatic possibilities in this setup?
TV Details
- Premiere date : August 16, 2023
- Cast : Bobby Luhnow , Lilith Curiel , Dianna Agron , Carlos Bardem
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 5, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
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