The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4 Review: Clean, Part 1
On The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4, “Clean, Part 1,” the apostles navigate through the complicated emotions of healing someone through the power of Jesus’ name. Seeing themselves perform miraculous wonders gives some of them the feeling of self-importance, while others feel hypocritical.
As the episode begins, we get an artistic black-and-white view of the apostles traveling to the sick, blind, and maimed to free them of their oppression. Without a color palate, we can focus on their phenomenal efforts.
By preaching the name of God, these people are freed from their extreme ailments.
Something as simple as removing color from a scene proves effective in raising many elements of the segment, but most importantly, the emotions are off the chart. The stark contrast between the weary ones’ faces compared to the well-lit background, magnifies the passions each person possesses. Hat’s off to the one who decided to take this direction.
Shortly later, the apostles gather around the table to discuss their experiences. Things become heated quickly when Philip, John, and Nathaniel have mixed emotions over what they just did.
This is something not particularly discussed in the Bible, but an interesting stance nonetheless. Who knows exactly how the apostles felt when they were given these abilities? Nobody alive today, that’s for sure.
John: I felt powerful, like I could do anything!
But this added human element is more than welcome. By introducing these complications, the characters come to life in ways they might not otherwise.
The first thought that comes to mind at this time is the old Spider-Man adage, “With great power comes great responsibility.”
By using these abilities, Matthew, Simon, and the others are representing something greater than themselves. If they choose not to wield them responsibly, not only are they giving a bad witness but they also may have their mission removed from them.
With John’s confession of having the feeling that he can do anything, he is denying the power’s source. This is a dangerous path for him to go down. John needs to recognize that he was nothing before Jesus entered his life.
These abilities say nothing about who John is but everything about who Jesus is.
While the apostles never come to a firm conclusion about who has the right attitude, several opinions are explored respectfully — never treating the odd man out as a lunatic.
Eventually, someone mentions they can discuss it with Jesus when He arrives, and this proves to be the most sound advice offered.
Elsewhere in the episode, Eden meets with a woman who has been bleeding for the past 12 years.
As they travel down to the river together, the two discuss the difficulties she has had in life. Of all her struggles, abandonment has hurt her the most.
Everyone will suffer an ailment at some point in their life. Most people will give you an amount of empathy up until an allotted time.
After that, friends and family disappear, making excuses about why they can no longer visit. Eventually, no one comes knocking on your door, and you feel utterly alone.
This is why the woman is abrupt at times. This is why she isn’t quick to befriend Eden. She has been hurt before, and she is in no hurry to be hurt again.
No one can blame her. After all, even the doctors who promised to help her have only made things worse. It is enough to make anyone callous and closed off.
While the apostles’ dilemmas prove interesting, Eden’s side quest isn’t exactly exciting. Neither character is developed enough to give the viewer an intense desire to know more about the situation. The scenes come off as space fillers and time wasters.
When the credits roll, there is no obvious reason why this episode is being stretched into 2 parts. Beyond the busted cistern and bleeding woman, there is no immediate complication that needs to be resolved.
Without a cliffhanger or element of suspense, the episode seems fairly standalone — at least to the same degree most other episodes are. Adding 10 minutes of footage could have quickly tied together a few plot points, leaving the viewer satisfied enough. But attaching another hour-long episode only seems like lazy writing.
What did you think of this episode of The Chosen? Who will be the one to heal the bleeding woman? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Chosen airs Sunday at 8/7c on The CW.
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Charles E Henning
Charles E. Henning lives in a quaint town of Illinois with his ever-loving wife since 1998. He is new to writing reviews, but has over thirty years of fictitious writing for his own personal fulfillment. His interests range from science fiction to character-based dramas, but he is a sucker for anyone in a cape.