"Chosen," the action-packed Crackle original series, is back for another season with Chad Michael Murray holding the dreaded box this time around.
The show's premise is a bit complex, so jumping straight into Season 2 uninitiated isn't really advisable. It kicks off with little Ellie Mitchell cowering inside of a closet. If you missed the first season, you'll definitely be lost right off the bat. The good news is that Season 1 is available online on Crackle, which is free. That means there are no barriers to catching up.
Last season followed Ian (Milo Ventimiglia from "Heroes") as he did bad stuff to keep himself and his family from being killed. His estranged wife Laura (Nicky Whelan) and his daughter Ellie (Caitlin Carmichael) got dragged into the mess along the way. The bad stuff all began when he received a mysterious box filled with a gun and a photo of a target. The deal? Kill said target within a certain amount of time, or else.
We see Laura and Ellie dealing with last season's fallout in the first episode of Season 2, and Ian is nowhere to be found. The bulk of the episode follows Jacob (Murray) as he's dealt his own mysterious box. He's got a lot to lose, including his disabled kid brother, King (Joey Luthman), his rich best friend, Max (Brandon Routh from "Superman Returns") and a pretty doctor love interest, Avery (Sarah Roemer).
The episode is action-packed, but it also features plenty of intense, moody scenes as Jacob stews over his predicament. In a sign that the evil scheme is widening, he faces off against a distraught gun-toting dad who has his own box -- with Jacob's photo inside. Jacob is simultaneously designated the hunter and the hunted, but it's not clear why.
Murray is actually pretty good as the brooding Jacob. He's clearly trying to shake his pretty boy image with his scruffy facial hair and -- gasp -- a bad haircut. He's still got his heartthrob swagger, though, which helps explain why a hot doctor throws herself at him at a swanky party.
If you're worried that an original show by an online-only network might not be on par with its network and cable TV counterparts, don't be. Like Netflix, it's obvious that Crackle has invested a lot of money in its original programming. The production value on "Chosen" is high, and it's well-acted. Whelan is particularly strong, so hopefully we'll be seeing more of her throughout the season.
"Chosen" has already been renewed for another round. Season 3 promises plenty of action with badass Rose McGowan on board, so you'd be wise to catch up now.
"Chosen" is available at Crackle.com.
