So I belatedly began watching seasons 1 & 2 a month or so ago, and got through S2E8 last night.
I’ve read your episode by episode commentary shortly after watching each one, and have appreciated the additional details and actually learned a few things.
Haven’t felt the need to comment on much myself until this episode.
I too found it unusual that what has always appeared to be “organic” ministry growth in the gospels - Jesus speaking to crowds because he simply attracts them - is replaced here by his disciples planning out the details of his most famous “sermon” - scouting locations, building a stage, handing out leaflets - essentially modern day marketing strategies.
In a way I kinda get what the writers might be doing here - an early depiction of each disciple using his/her natural gifts to further Jesus’ ministry, perhaps as later discussed / extended by Apostle Paul as “spiritual gifts”. But describing a modern marketing campaign also feels like a cheapening of the power of the Holy Spirit to attract people to Jesus.
Perhaps this is just somewhat distasteful residue of having personally experienced multiple such marketing campaigns in modern evangelical circles - reducing something so personally life changing in my own life, to a slogan.
While watching the disciple hand out leaflets, I couldn’t help thinking of the 1970’s “I Found It” bumper sticker marketing.
Anyway, thanks for the in depth coverage of this series, which I actually have found pretty creative and interesting overall.
I do think there's an element of autobiography in this series, and particularly in this season: the director has talked about how one of his own biggest career setbacks was the inspiration for Nathanael's setback in S2E2, and a lot of the language Jesus uses -- like when he talks about the "impact" of his ministry in S2E1 -- echoes the language that the producers of this show have used when talking about the show itself. So the promotional campaign around Jesus' sermon seems, to me, to be a reflection of some of the PR efforts around this show.
So I belatedly began watching seasons 1 & 2 a month or so ago, and got through S2E8 last night.
I’ve read your episode by episode commentary shortly after watching each one, and have appreciated the additional details and actually learned a few things.
Haven’t felt the need to comment on much myself until this episode.
I too found it unusual that what has always appeared to be “organic” ministry growth in the gospels - Jesus speaking to crowds because he simply attracts them - is replaced here by his disciples planning out the details of his most famous “sermon” - scouting locations, building a stage, handing out leaflets - essentially modern day marketing strategies.
In a way I kinda get what the writers might be doing here - an early depiction of each disciple using his/her natural gifts to further Jesus’ ministry, perhaps as later discussed / extended by Apostle Paul as “spiritual gifts”. But describing a modern marketing campaign also feels like a cheapening of the power of the Holy Spirit to attract people to Jesus.
Perhaps this is just somewhat distasteful residue of having personally experienced multiple such marketing campaigns in modern evangelical circles - reducing something so personally life changing in my own life, to a slogan.
While watching the disciple hand out leaflets, I couldn’t help thinking of the 1970’s “I Found It” bumper sticker marketing.
Anyway, thanks for the in depth coverage of this series, which I actually have found pretty creative and interesting overall.
Thanks, Marty (and pardon the delayed reply!).
I do think there's an element of autobiography in this series, and particularly in this season: the director has talked about how one of his own biggest career setbacks was the inspiration for Nathanael's setback in S2E2, and a lot of the language Jesus uses -- like when he talks about the "impact" of his ministry in S2E1 -- echoes the language that the producers of this show have used when talking about the show itself. So the promotional campaign around Jesus' sermon seems, to me, to be a reflection of some of the PR efforts around this show.