'Messiah' Episode 9: Officials may have to put 'Al-Mesih' on the back burner with Jihadists plotting to disrupt peace
This article contains spoilers for 'Messiah' - Season 1
The two main characters on the show - Jibril Hassan, and Aviram Dahan - seem to be two sides of the same coin. Motivated to a cause deeper than themselves, both experienced a turning point when their mothers passed away. While one looks to faith for reassurance, the other dedicates his life to the noble job of being a government agent.
Episode 9, titled 'God is Greater', takes us back to a young Aviram and his family life, more specifically when he became a Jewish 'man.' Zev, an Israeli official, finds Aviram, who missed his trial hearing and offers him a way back into the job he was suspended from. At the end of the episode, we get an inkling of what that job may consist of.
Amidst political and religious riots, Jibril, the young follower of the 'Messiah', is asked to deliver a public statement, because of his current infamous influence. The speech talks about how the Palestinian people have suffered for a while, and he's calling for people that recognize Isreal to also recognize the State of Palestine. It seems that a young vulnerable mind is being taken advantage of, being asked to say things he himself does not understand. "You must believe that you can speak the words. Remember, my son, this is not for you or me, but for our people," he's told.
A crack in the case, Eva Geller, the CIA agent on the case confirms that Payam Golshiri, the 'Messiah's' real name, has past psychological records with a diagnosis of - ironically - 'Delusional Disorder/ Messiah Complex'
He holds the belief that in saving people, he is destined to become a savior himself. She finds out that Payam does infact consider Oscar Wallace, a known terrorist, a friend, confirming their ongoing communication, which makes it a federal offense.
In this web of lies, she finds an unknown number on the call list being monitored by U.S. officials, and tracks it to Russia - to Wallace himself.
Wallace tells her that she should be worried about Payam, instead of him, as he's just serving the Messiah's cause. His hint? His book is credited, to Payam Golshiri and hold's the Messiah's thesis - Wallace is just another disciple.
Most of this episode takes into account personal character development, we're unsure of the reasons behind the ending of this episode. Jibril, now called a Palestinian activist, is getting ready to deliver the speech he has been practicing and the 'Messiah' ditches a televised church service set up by Felix and leaves with Aviram.
In the midst of this incredible political and religious traction, Sameer, Jibril's friend from Syria, who was under the care of Brother Zaid with strict lessons on religious teachings, is strapped with body bombs but stops himself from pressing the button - the bomb explodes anyway because Zaid activates it from outside the mosque. Is this the introduction of the concept of Jihad?
All episodes of Season 1 of 'Messiah' are now streaming on Netflix.