Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints: “Mary”(Christian TV Review)

Though it takes some creative liberties, the episode offers a compelling look at the gospel through the eyes of a loving mother. 

About the Episode 

Bible dramatizations on TV are plentiful these days, with shows like The Chosen, House of David, and Fox’s recent The Faithful: The Women of the Bible all drawing on biblical source material. But when a Hollywood legend like Martin Scorsese attaches his name to a project, it’s worth taking notice. The docuseries Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints (released through Fox Nation) continues with an extended hour-long episode entitled “Mary” premiering on March 27th, with the conclusion of season two rolling out in 2027.   

The series features a mix of dramatization and documentary-style reflection. “Mary” begins with Scorsese offering personal reflections on the importance of Easter and concludes with a roundtable discussion about the character of Mary and themes of the episode. In between these scenes is a dramatization of the life of Mary, from her engagement to her eventual death and entrance into heaven.   

Production

As a docuseries, the show lacks some of the cinematic production value of other recent adaptations, but it doesn’t look cheap. The craftsmanship isn’t flashy, though several great transitional shots demonstrate impressive camera work. It’s a relatively compelling drama, but its primary purpose isn’t mere entertainment. The Saints is a work of reflection rather than of discovery, better suited to helping Christian audiences view the familiar story from a fresh perspective than to evangelizing those outside the faith.

Adaptation

During the roundtable discussion at the end of the episode, Scorsese voices a question many viewers likely share: “How much dramatic license can one take with these stories, with these people, especially when we’re dealing with someone from the Gospels?” As an adaptation, “Mary” arguably maintains the “heart” of the gospel story, even if it doesn’t offer a one-for-one translation from Bible to screen. That said, it never veers too far from the biblical narrative, other than one notable original scene and some minor changes to the historic events and timelines. For example, the stable where Jesus is born is portrayed in a more culturally accurate manner than it is in many other adaptations that present it as a “barn.” But like most nativity dramas, the episode inaccurately depicts the wise men visiting baby Jesus in the stable, and it pushes Herod’s decree for the murder of babies forward in the timeline for dramatic tension.   

Mary as Mother

All adaptations are works of interpretation (even devotional reading of Scripture requires interpretation). Nevertheless, there’s value in learning from what each adaptation has to say. Regarding the overriding theme, Scorsese says, “In this episode, the key was to confront the reality of Mary as a human being, and as a mother.”   

The episode is at its best when it focuses on the relationship between Mary and her son. Scenes depicting Mary’s role in Jesus’s first miracle, or the adaption of Matthew 12:46-50 and Mary’s understandably conflicted emotions, highlight interesting nuances in the story that readers might easily overlook.   

One fictional scene features Jesus appearing to Mary after his resurrection. It’s speculative, not biblical, as Scorsese himself acknowledges. But it attempts to explore the relationship between Mary and Jesus even further. Mary tearfully repeats, “My son is home. My son is home.” It’s a beautiful moment.   

On the other hand, Jesus telling his mother, “You made everything possible. You brought salvation into this world. It was all because of you,” infuses Catholic theology into the story in a way that will likely make some viewers uncomfortable. It’s admittedly murky territory, and I’m personally apprehensive about any adaptation that puts words in Jesus’s mouth. The scene is one of the most poignant in the episode, but viewers should remember that it’s based on speculation, not Scripture.    

Final Thoughts

Overall, the mixture of dramatization and reflection lends The Saints a unique identity. At times, the episode gets sidetracked dramatizing key biblical events rather than focusing on Mary’s experience of those events. Even so, the episode portrays Mary with a good balance of reverence and humanity. Although not without some notable creative liberties, The Saints offers a compelling reminder that despite playing a unique role in the gospel story, Mary never stopped being a mother.