Unchosen Recap Episode 2: Repent

Was it the appearance of Sam in her life that led Rosie to the path of rebellion? Perhaps his physical magnetism, the allure of the forbidden, hastened Rosie’s move toward pushing against the strict boundaries of the cult, but the seeds were already there. Rosie’s love for Grace pushed her to disobey Mr. Phillips and search for her daughter herself in the woods, in the middle of a rough storm. She called out her husband’s betrayal of his own brother Isaac, when Isaac revealed the forbidden cell phone to help their daughter. Rosie was a believer, but there was in her a streak of independence and independent thought. And, in her dreams, the desire she could not quite consciously process flowered. Rosie, naked, saved from the river by Sam, a voice demanding ‘Repent’. Later that day, she opted to commit a few more sins.

Rosie was in Isaac’s house to help with the birth of his youngest child. In a procreation focused community, the other women felt bad for Rosie because whilst Hannah has had multiple children, Rosie only had Grace. Rosie was tasked with feeding the children and preparing food for the confined Isaac. When she tried to get Isaac’s son Anthony to bring up his father’s food, Anthony declined because he said he did not want to be tainted. 

The conditioning started disturbingly young.

Rosie took up the food herself, and it was then that Isaac first asked for her help. He gave her a piece of paper with a phone number. He claimed it was his friend Charley, and that they would be worried.

Perhaps Rosie would have called Charley as Isaac asked, but faced with the possibility of young Grace accidentally revealing Rosie’s Sam secret, she made a quick decision to save herself and betray Isaac. With Rosie out of the house, Adam had sent Grace to the shed to get some eggs for breakfast. Sam was still hiding inside, and though Grace said she could not talk to Sam because he was an unchosen, she accepted the corn dolly he gave her. It was this corn dolly that she innocently showed her mother Rosie, but before she could mention Sam, Rosie cut her off and gave Charley’s phone number to Adam.

Adam apparently already knew who Charley was, a woman Isaac fell in love with. Having been recently promoted as an Elder, Adam was determined to prove himself worthy, and so he was especially harsh on his brother in a ceremony where the men surrounded him and Adam forced him to drink whisky. Mr. Phillips even brought in Anthony, and the boy spat on his father and called him the devil. Hannah, thoroughly indoctrinated into the cult, was proud of what her son did to his father. Only Rosie appeared disturbed by the ceremony.

Feeling guilty about betraying him, Rosie took the newborn baby Noah to his father Isaac. Isaac begged for Rosie’s help to escape; he told her all she needed to do was get Adam’s van keys, and he would do the rest.

At the gathering of the congregation where Adam’s appointment as an Elder was announced, along with the birth of Noah, Rosie pretended to be upset at having only one child. Mrs. Phillips told her to go outside and take a breather; she even signalled Mr. Phillips that all was well. Rosie got out, ran to Isaac and Hannah’s house, freed Isaac, and gave him the key she had earlier stolen from Adam’s jacket.

I thought they would at least stage an escape, maybe have Isaac kick at the door, but no, Rosie simply unlocked the door. Isaac was still ill from all the alcohol he was forced to consume, and he told Rosie she needed to drive him. For someone who has never even been to town, Rosie drove reasonably well. Once Isaac was out of the van and reunited with his beloved Charley, Sam revealed himself to have been hiding on the back seat.

With the police around, Sam forced Rosie to drive out of there. Sam seemed to just want the van, but Rosie begged him not to leave her there. She helped Isaac escape; if found, she would be locked in and her daughter would be taken from her. Sam agreed to drive her back home.

Parked in front of Rosie’s house, with the quiet night fallen, Sam confessed that he had been in prison. He was 16 years old, and it was a fight over a girl. Mason, whom Sam called on the previous episode, and who called Rosie’s house earlier looking for Sam, was his younger brother. Sam asked Rosie if her God forgave everything. Rosie told him yes, if there was true repentance. When a vehicle showed up behind them, Rosie told Sam not to run.

The second episode did a better job at showing the horror of life within the cult – the mind conditioning, the torture disguised as an attempt to save one’s soul, even the abuse (Mr. Phillips groped and kissed Rosie, and though Adam witnessed it, he said and did nothing). ‘Repent’ was the constant refrain, as Isaac flew toward freedom, and Rosie invited her secret in. 

Rating: B+

Strays

🏡When Adam told Isacc he was ‘in the grip of an ungodly perversion’, Isaac slyly replied, ‘And you know all about that, eh, brother?’ which hinted at something Adam kept hidden. I have a guess on what this is.

🏡Young Grace told Sam that since he was an unchosen, she could not be his friend. She could also not play music or cut her hair. 

🏡Hannah resented Rosie for Adam’s rise within their group. 

🏡Mrs. Phillips seemed to have lost her son in some way. Mr. Phillips kept a photograph of himself and a boy hidden in his desk; this could be their son.

🏡The Fellowship secured land for a new school, and Harrison’s Sawmill (seemingly, Adam’s business, or at least where he worked) would provide the timber, a significant contract. 

Episode Writer: Julie Gearey

Episode Director: Jim Loach

Original Release Date: April 21, 2026

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