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THE CHOSEN’s Paras Patel Reveals Unscripted Season 3 Moment

Photo from The Chosen’s Instagram

THE CHOSEN’s Paras Patel Reveals Unscripted Season 3 Moment

By Movieguide® Contributor

In a recent Instagram video, Paras Patel, who plays Matthew on THE CHOSEN, reflects on an unscripted moment that touched many viewers.

The scene comes at the beginning of episode two in season three. Matthew sits at a table with his parents, with whom he’s had a strained relationship. His former profession as a tax collector brought shame to his family, and in this scene, he asks for forgiveness.  

In the midst of confessing his mistakes, his parents admit that they, too, were wrong for disowning their son. Matthew and his mother share an emotional embrace, and Matthew’s father forgives him fully. 

“That wasn’t scripted. It was something that just happened on the day, like the feeling of it,” Patel said in a recent Instagram post. “And for me, with Matthew, I think he really wanted parental figures or just some kind of reconciliation with his family.” 

“I just remember everyone yearns to have a hug, and when you don’t get it, or when you don’t feel it, it doesn’t matter who it’s from, it’s a feeling you want to feel accepted and seen. And to me, it was like the perfect tie in for the moment of what has happened,” he added.

Until this moment in the show, Matthew had been completely rejected by his family. Even after leaving everything to follow Jesus, he believed that his parents would not accept him because he used to be a tax collector.

“You know, in season one you see Matthew on Shabbat dinner, trying to go to his family and then realizing…he’s not part of the family, and so he kind of walks away and has dinner alone with his dog on the street.  So it was something that he’s always wanted,” the actor explained. 

Patel also shared about the impact the moment when Matthew finally lets go of his handkerchief had on the character.

“I use it as a way [of] when Matthew is nervous,” he explained. “So whenever I feel that impulse is when I bring [the handkerchief] out, it’s not like a calculated thing…I try to bring it depending on how I feel in that moment.”

“And I just remember…just having that embrace and that warm feeling. It kind of just relaxed Matthew. And that’s why, you know, he kind of leans into it and it’s like his comfort blanket in a way but it’s a parent and it’s kind of everything that he probably wanted,” Patel concluded. 

 

Movieguide rated this episode a +4. Part of the review reads:

The two-episode feature contains many quotations from Scripture that will inspire and uplift viewers with the hope, truth and peace that can only come from Jesus Christ and God’s Word Written. The episodes provide a firm launching point for the rest of the season, as the disciples struggle to obey their Messiah and trust his plan for the ministry of the Father amidst increasing dangers all around them.

Movieguide® previously reported on why THE CHOSEN continues to succeed:

THE CHOSEN creator Dallas Jenkins recently opened up about the success of the crowd-funded TV show during a recent interview with Chicago WGN Radio.

Jenkins explained what makes it stand out from other biblical shows.

“The thing that makes it different…you see Jesus laughing with his friends, you see him dancing with his friends at a wedding.You see the disciples and even the enemies of Jesus as real human beings with lives and struggles and questions and doubts, dealing with the same issues that we’re dealing with today,” he said.

When asked what about the show connects with viewers, Jenkins responded, “I think the biggest thing is…the humanity of it, I think I hear that term more than anything, it’s like ‘wow these people feel real.’”