Lazarka from the village of Kozichino in Pomorie municipality, Burgas province, Bulgaria
"There is a willow; there is no willow
I have only one mother!
She didn’t give me [in marriage] where I wished,
where I wished and wanted…"
A Lazarka refers to a young girl participating in the traditional Bulgarian spring ritual called Lazaruvane, as celebrated in the village of Kozichino in the Burgas region.
Once again, my biggest problem with the writing is about the timeline, which is very specific at some points and ambiguous at others. The biggest example: There are a few months in between Hanukkah and Passover in the Jewish calendar, yet they make them seem merely a few days or weeks apart! I like that they had an episode explaining the history of Hanukkah and showing everyone having fun celebrating … I just don’t like how they’re playing fast and loose with the timeline!
Episode 4x1: “Promises”
~ This is one of my favorite standalone episode of the series! I love how it covers the beginning and end of John the Baptist’s life.
~ Whoever cast the two actresses who play teenage Mary and middle-aged Mary did a fantastic job! They have the same mannerisms and way of speaking.
~ That is the most beautiful reenactment of the Visitation I’ve seen! (Not that I’ve seen many, just two that I can think of, but this one feels the most human, the most realistic.)
~ I give props to the actress playing Princess Salome!
~ Would a woman really wear pants (or whatever it is Princess Salome is wearing) at that time and place? Even most of the men in this show don’t wear pants (Simon Z being one exception because he does martial arts involving his leg).
~ John the Baptizer seems to be reciting two different prophecies as he is moved in the prison: the one Jesus quoted to John’s disciples, and the one the angel made to Zechariah before John was born.
~ Why does Ramah come back with a blue headpiece instead of red? Costume changes are important in visual storytelling, and it’s a noticeable contrast against her signature color. What is it supposed to signify?
~ That proposal is so cute and nerdy!
~ This episode feels like a storyline out of A Game of Thrones, with the lavish royal court, family scandal, and political intrigue. Come to think of it, Ned Stark’s death is much like John the Baptist’s: both accused the queen of incest, and that queen’s child then called for their execution!
~ Having Salome whisper her request in Herod’s ear, instead of saying it out loud, negates the social pressure that Herod placed on himself by making that oath in front of his guests.
~ When I saw this episode for the first time, I didn’t recognize Zechariah’s actor by sight, but when he finally spoke in the final scene, I realized it was Gepetto from Once Upon a Time! It seems fitting that the same actor (Tony Amendola) played those characters, since they have similar backstories of longing for a child and finally having their wish/prayer granted in old age.
~ How did John’s followers get word of what happened to him? And how did Avner know where to find Jesus, when even Jesus’ disciples usually can’t find where he is camped out? He might more easily have sought out Andrew or Simon.
~ Matthew is so happy for Thomas, he overcomes his dislike of physical contact to shake his hand in congratulations!
~ Where is Philip supposed to be? Did he stay in or return to the Decapolis to keep the peace after they left?
~ The Canticle of Zechariah is one of my favorite prayers/Bible passages, and they absolutely do it justice! Kind of like how the Christmas special “The Messengers” paid homage to Mother Mary’s “Magnificat.”
~ After watching the after show, I have one question: why do they think Salome’s dance was probably more sensual than depicted in the show? Is that based on anything substantial, or is it just a misogynistic assumption that was passed down over the centuries, like misconceptions about Jezebel and Mary Magdalene?
Episode 4x2: “Confessions”
~ That is an impressive zoom-in, even if it’s slow!
~ John the Baptist “prepared the way” for Jesus in death as well as life!
~ What is up with Atticus? What has him so “spooked,” as Quintus says? Why is he so urgent? And why is he putting so much pressure on Quintus? I can’t figure out what he wants!
~ The cuts between the Gates of Hell and the Sanhedrin meeting … are they making a point?
~ No wonder why Jesus keeps camping apart from the bickering disciples!
~ These exchanges between Quintus and Gaius about the tent city are getting old.
Episode 4x3: “Moon to Blood”
~ Is this episode’s title a reference to Joel 2:31?
~ The subject of time, and how no one knows how much they will have, is discussed from the beginning to the end of the episode. Jesus mentions that he has limited time on Earth; and at the end, he says it’s not Ramah’s time.
~ How are the pilgrims to blame for Quintus being in the red?
~ Salome (wife of Zebedee, not the princess) is her most mom-like in this episode! James and John can deflect Zebedee’s questions and comments, but she just has to ask a single question to get an answer out of them. And their reactions when she says she might go to Jesus herself are so much like schoolboys! “Mom, don’t get involved!”
~ The viewer can guess at Ramah’s impending death just from her conversation with Thomas.
~ How did Shula and Barnaby, of all the characters, learn about the edict? Do they even go to synagogue? It might have made more sense for Jairus or Zebedee, or some other community-oriented recurring characters, to tell Jesus this news.
~ I love Mary’s little smirk when Jesus starts talking back at the Pharisees (and mentioning herbs and plants, which seems to be her motif)!
~ I understand Gaius taking a stand against Quintus, but Jesus might actually have been safer in Roman custody than Jewish. And Gaius has his wife and children to think about; his being arrested or executed would leave them vulnerable.
~ Julius may be a jerk, but he looks truly sorry about arresting Gaius!
~ I like Big James’ passionate reaction to Ramah’s death, even though John was right to stop him from doing anything violent. They weren’t particularly close to Ramah, but she was part of their group, their sister in a sense, and the fiancée of Thomas, their brother, whom Big James was actually jealous of. It makes me think Big James would have reacted that way if any of the disciples were hurt or killed.
~ The disciples generally follow the rule in their culture that men and women who aren’t related don’t touch each other. Here we see the exception in urgent/emergency/emotional situations, when they are trying to get everyone to safety, and reacting to Ramah’s death. The boys even comfort Tamar, a Gentile, who would have been unclean for them to touch.
~ Jesus sensing Ramah’s death and coming back to the scene somehow makes his refusal to heal/revive her worse.
Episode 4x4: “Calm Before”
~ Who made the decision to promote Gaius to the role of praetor? Is it automatic since he has the role of primi?
~ Tamar hardly ever wears a veil over her hair; I wonder if she is wearing one in the funeral procession to participate in shiva.
~ I want to know who prepared Ramah’s body and hearse. Did they have undertakers back then, or would the closest relatives/friends of the same gender prepare the body? If it’s the latter, I suspect the job would have fallen to Mary Magdalene, Tamar, and maybe Salome or some other older woman who had more knowledge of what to do after a death.
~ Why are Shula and Barnaby part of the funeral procession? I’m not sure they even met Ramah properly.
~ Judas has no spoken lines in this episode, but you can see his anxiety and wrestling in that shot of him keeping the books, and holding up the moneybag like he is depicted in so many paintings and stained glass windows.
~ It’s unusual that an episode specifies what month in which it takes place. Salome says James and John have been closer over the last six months, so it’s probably been that long since Ramah’s death.
~ From Peter and Andrew’s side argument, it seems Peter has daddy issues!
~ Matthew sounds like Sheldon Cooper trying to give comfort! “There there, dominus.”
~ It’s hard to believe that Salome, James and John are still thinking about their positions and desiring influence after what happened to Ramah.
~ Gaius’ faith is so strong, he does all that shopping for his family before he even confirms that his son has been healed! I like that he patronizes all those vendors, supporting the local economy, instead of taxing them dry on the one hand or giving charity on the other.
~ Mary watches the olive pressing at the base of the press, just as she will watch Jesus’ blood poured out from the base of the cross!
Episode 4x5: “Sitting, Serving, Scheming”
~ Tamar mentions that Fatiyah from the Season 3 finale gave them a gift after the feeding of the 5,000, but the women weren’t there. Did Fatiyah seek them out in Capernaum later?
~ I don’t think those other gemstones would be valuable “beyond rubies”!
~ The timing of Jesus’ story, about someone sitting idle, basically describes Martha’s perception of her sister.
~ I love the biblical character of Martha, and her nervousness about welcoming guests feels very real. But I think her outburst could have been better written, and there could have been more buildup of her frustration and clashing with her sister. The scene was clearly written with women in mind, wanting to be fair to Martha and those who relate to her; but it doesn’t sound like it was written by someone who has seen sisters fight, or who has felt the stress of hosting people and figuring out whether to be present with guests or work to meet their needs. It might also have made more sense as a side conversation rather than a confrontation in front of everyone.
~ They must have sent word to Mother Mary about Ramah’s death, right? They interacted at the wedding in Cana and spent time together in Season 2. And she was rooting for Ramah and Thomas’ betrothal. It seems strange for her not to mention Ramah or ask how Thomas is doing.
~ Yussif looks so sad and lonely after the session ends!
~ The fact that Rabbi Lehad says “the death of a man’s daughter” instead of just “the death of a woman” speaks volumes: in their view, and perhaps the wider culture, a woman is only as important as her connection to a man.
~ That final scene is one shot, moving across the whole company!
Episode 4x6: “Dedication”
~ I don’t like how they portray Jesus’ decisions and announcements in this episode. He doesn’t give any warning or acknowledgement of the danger they may face during or after his sermon. He doesn’t give any instructions, like whether to stand firm or retreat if they encounter trouble. He has spoken about turning the other cheek, but what about protecting others, especially Little James and the women?
~ I like the scene between Yussef and his father, but I feel like it could have had more setup. How often does Yussef see his parents now that he is working in Jerusalem? Does he live with them now? What did they think of his decision to join the Sanhedrin?
~ Tamar’s singing voice sounds nice! I wonder how it sounds without the accent she uses for the show?
~ In a way, Judas’ desire to “remove obstacles” comes true: he becomes a key instrument of Jesus’ death, which will bring about the Kingdom.
~ Are Zebediah and Gadera continuing the same debate from the previous episode? (Did I get those names right? It’s hard to keep track of all the minor characters, though I think I’m getting better at it by watching these episodes close together.)
~ Thomas looks like he is having a full-on panic attack when the stoning begins.
~ Does no one think of the possibility that Jesus could heal Big James’ injury? And why does he not do so?
~ Someone give Tamar a blanket! She’s the only one without any sleeves.
Episode 4x7: “The Last Sign”
~ How many of the apostles must have died by the time of the flash-forward if Matthew is now Mary’s oldest friend?
~ Tamar seems to be wearing the scarf (or whatever it is) that Mary gave her for Hanukkah!
~ Judas clearly does not have the making of a Christian martyr. Maybe Jesus’ Resurrection would have changed his view, but he would have needed a radical conversion to be able to be part of the early Church. He does not seem able to cope with so many losses, nor able to see victory in what seems to the world like defeat.
~ I recognize Jabez: it’s the same actor who plays Aaron in The Promised Land! And the Sadducee who comes into the house and tries to condole Martha looks like Chisisi! So Aaron, Miriam, Moses, and Chisisi have all played characters in The Chosen!
~ Like in Season 3, Martha gives the correct Sunday School answer.
~ Peter’s flashback seems unnecessary. He and the others could have made that connection already, and it takes us out of Jesus’ perspective in the present moment.
~ Tamar kindly and discreetly takes Thomas’ bag to carry on the way to the tomb.
~ Lazarus actually looks pale as death upon emerging from the tomb!
~ Jesus said “It’s not her time” when Ramah died, but now says “It’s time” to James.
~ Thomas swatting away the canteen offered to him is such a toddler move, like batting away the bottle at feeding time.
~ The way Mary Magdalene lingers at the tomb and looks inside, she seems to have some kind of sensitivity or intuition regarding what is happening, or about to happen.
~ That room doesn’t look like it’s in “total disarray.”
~ Jabez gave that key to Martha; how does her sister have it now?
~ John realizes what a mistake Judas has made, and how Thomas will react, even before Thomas moves.
~ Big James was Little James’ partner on their two-by-two mission, so it makes sense for Big James to be the one who brings up the question of why Jesus has not healed Little James.
Episode 4x8: “Humble”
~ Abigail looks so similar to Bathsheba, I had to look her up to make sure it wasn’t the same actress.
~ So glad to see Jesse and Veronica! She first heard about Jesus from him, and he must have been thrilled to see her after her healing. She seems like a completely different person, full of confidence and conviction, to the point she can talk back to a religious leader.
~ There must have been some passage of time for the news of Lazarus rising to spread, and for Gaius to be on such amiable terms with Eden, Salome and Jairus; but it still is too soon after Hanukkah for it to be Passover! Zebedee told Salome he would only be gone for a week or so; and Mary of Bethany was shown taking the money from the safe after Lazarus was raised, implying she was about to use it soon.
~ Did the tent city remain as it was after Ramah’s death? Have the pilgrims been there all those months? How did Gaius becoming praetor affect them?
~ Was there a reason why they showed Thomas’ actions from Judas’ perspective? Why is it important that Judas sees what Thomas is doing?
~ Tamar and Andrew wouldn’t be the only ones who recognize Yussif: Zebedee also knows him from their olive oil sales, and Peter, James and John know him from the day Jairus’ daughter was raised!
~ I’ve become more convinced over time that Yussif is Joseph of Arimathea, the one who will donate his own tomb for Jesus’ burial. They have established how wealthy he is, and in this episode, he is the one who repeats Jesus’ words, “For burial?”
~ The way Judas keeps talking about Jesus uniting their people, he seems to have completely forgetten what Jesus said about creating division in Episode 4x02.
~ Joanna and Claudia’s conversation is one of my favorite scenes, and IMO one of the best written and acted in the show! So many emotional beats and verbal negotiations, and they take their time with each of them. They both have their guards up, sizing each other up and gauging how much they can be trusted; but they also show vulnerability and share confidences.
~ I think Claudia’s final words are part of what inspire Joanna’s drastic decision later!
~ I had not caught this before: Veronica calls the donkey keeper Zechariah, the same name as the prophet that Simon Z quoted to him!
August 16 is generally when many celebrate the feast for Omolu/Obaluayê (who is associated with St. Lazarus and St. Roche).
Obaluayê (oh-baloo-ai-YAY) is the praise name meaning “King of the Earth” and is strongly associated with infectious disease and healing, as well as the earth itself. Legend has it that Obaluayê was born to Nanã Buruku who abandoned him as a baby as he had wounds all over his body. Yemanjá found him and covered him in straw and took care of him as her own. Because of that, he became the orixá of diseases and the healing of them. Also referred to as Omolu, meaning “son of the Lord of Heaven”, the orixá’s face is thought to be so scarred by disease and so terrifying that he appears covered with a raffia/straw masquerade that covers his whole body. “Atotô” is said to greet this orixa, and grains and popcorn are common offerings.
[Note of Aqua:
It’s funny that this seems to be a mixture of Obba Nani, Papa Legba and the Ibeji Twins.
Tomorrow, June 21, we will have our second in-house ritual to Papa Legba! June 21 is the feast day of St. Lazarus, whom we also honor as one of the saints syncretized with our beloved Papa! Dogs are sacred to Papa Legba as well as St. Lazarus! You can still send in your request to be included in the Papa Legba rituals! Just send an email to [email protected] Also, if you want to name your special pet in the comments below, we will say a special blessing prayer for your favorite pets! :-)
