“The Chosen” Cast Reflects on Season 4 Finale

Bringing the story of Jesus and his followers to life comes with both cost and honor, agreed Elizabeth Tabish and Noah James as they discussed the final scene of “The Chosen,” Season 4. Tabish, who portrays Mary Magdalene, and James, who plays Andrew, joined six other cast members to share their thoughts on the season finale.

“Just being friends with Jonathan [Roumie] and knowing what he’s going to go through in performing this role, and seeing the weight it puts on him,” said Tabish, “is just devastating, you know?” Roumie stars as Jesus Christ.

“It does take a toll on our hearts in many ways,” Tabish continued. “But doing it with wonderful people who take care of each other makes it all worthwhile. It’s wonderful.”

“There is an honor in doing it, but also a cost,” James added. “You can’t forget the cost, but it is an honor to bring this story to life.”

Currently, the cast and crew of “The Chosen” are filming Season 5, which covers Holy Week. Season 4 concludes with an emotional scene showing Jesus mounting a donkey as he and his followers head towards Jerusalem. Tabish noted it was “one of my favorite scenes to film because we were all together, and we didn’t have to do very much.”

The scene captures the heaviness that Jesus and his followers, including his mother, feel as his death approaches. Joey Vahedi, who plays Thomas, highlighted that the music makes viewers sense “they’re headed towards doom.”

“It’s incredibly sad to think of a mother knowing where she’s leading her son,” said Amber Shana Williams, who portrays Tamar. Alaa Safi, who plays Simon the Zealot, mentioned that the moment Jesus puts the bridle on the donkey (which Tabish called “the sweetest” donkey) “was a one-take thing.”