THE CHOSEN IN THE WILD WITH BEAR GRYLLS: Episode 1.5: “Paras Patel”
A rugged desert adventure about courage, belonging, and finding strength beyond fear.
Should You See It?
Yes. Families who love outdoor adventures and seek opportunities for faith-filled discussions will enjoy this episode. The excellent cinematography and evocative soundtrack underscore an exciting and emotional journey across the desert.
Paras Patel and Bear Grylls tackle dangerous rappelling challenges, encounter a snake, and learn survival skills, including how to find food and water. The wilderness challenges build tension throughout the episode and spark great conversations about finding belonging, overcoming fear, and persevering through challenges.
Unlike previous episodes, the faith conversations remain more surface-level and focus on Patel's experience playing Matthew in THE CHOSEN rather than personal testimony. Patel openly shares his Hindu faith while Grylls presents Christian perspectives on acceptance and loving your neighbor.
Although the episode does not explore faith in depth, it offers families a chance to discuss religion, faith, and belonging.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESBear Grylls takes Paras Patel, who plays Matthew in THE CHOSEN, on an extreme adventure through the Great Basin Desert. Equipped with a bag of rope, a small amount of water, and a compass, Patel steps out of his comfort zone and navigates four miles of terrain that includes ridgelines, sheer drops, and narrow slot canyons. High winds and scorching desert conditions challenge him further as he navigates unfamiliar terrain and faces the uncertainty of what lies ahead. Along the way, Patel and Grylls discuss their faith, explore feelings of not fitting in, and discover the courage to keep moving forward.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this episode delivers where it counts. The stunning cinematography features sweeping landscapes and aerial views of beautiful arches and desert scenery, complemented by intimate close-ups from multiple angles of the Great Basin Desert.
The musical score enhances the emotional connection, swelling during tense moments and underscoring heartfelt scenes. The mix of dangerous challenges and sincere conversations creates a captivating story with strong pacing.
Grylls and Patel showcase courage and perseverance while exploring emotional themes of fear, belonging, and acceptance. Beautiful scenery, excellent cinematography, high-stakes challenges, and sincere conversations come together to create a well-rounded episode that celebrates courage, perseverance, and the importance of finding one’s place.
The Worldview
This episode contains a moral, biblical worldview of acceptance and belonging, yet maintains interfaith openness that avoids drawing a clear line between Christianity and other faiths. It praises courage, perseverance, acceptance, and the need to belong. Patel struggled to fit in as a child, and his story reflects the idea that everyone deserves a seat at the table.
These themes align with the biblical call to love our neighbors and treat every person with kindness. However, the episode’s message of acceptance falls short of presenting the fuller biblical picture; it omits discussions of repentance, redemption, or reconciliation with God. Nevertheless, the episode highlights a universal ache: people seek recognition, acceptance, and welcome into a community.
Patel discusses his Hindu faith openly and accepts the opportunity to listen to and learn from God’s Word, despite his different religious background. Grylls frames Christ’s message around love and acceptance, and the two engage in a respectful conversation across faith lines. This openness fosters real dialogue about their differences, yet the episode fails to explain how Christianity differs from Hinduism. Scripture reserves salvation for faith in Christ alone in Acts 4:12.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
A strong Christian worldview, characters speak openly about the Word of God and faith. False religion and pagen worldviews as a character discusses his Hindu faith. The host frames Christ’s message around love and acceptance, and the two engage in a respectful conversation across faith lines, yet the episode fails to explain how Christianity differs from Hinduism
No foul language
Light survival and outdoor peril
No sex
No nudity
No alcohol use
No smoking or drug abuse;
No other objectionable content.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Patel discusses how he frequently felt as though he didn’t fit in. Have you ever experienced this and how can your faith in God help? John 14:18
When have you felt afraid? How can you find courage through this fear? Isaiah 41:10
Why is it important to make others feel welcomed and included, especially when they seem different from us? How can you show Christ’s love to someone who feels left out? Romans 15:7
Patel openly shares his Hindu faith, and Grylls responds with love and acceptance, but never explains how Christianity differs from Hinduism. Does a sincere search across faiths lead to salvation, or only faith in Christ? John 14:6.
The Final Word
Families that enjoy excitement and the great outdoors will find this episode engaging. It emphasizes the importance of acceptance, connecting these themes to Christ’s teaching of loving your neighbor. Bear Grylls and Paras Patel conquer dangerous obstacles while exploring courage and faith in this fast-paced adventure. Parents of young children should note the outdoor peril, a snake encounter, and introduction of Patel’s Hindu faith.
