'Messiah' Season 1 premiere depicts the 'second coming of Isa' as CIA agent Eva Geller expresses her concerns
'Messiah' has been embroiled in controversy much before it premiered and it began when the trailer was released in December 2019. Some users predicted that the titular character in question would, in fact, be the Antichrist based on Islamic eschatology. Many found the premise of the series to be offensive, even launching a change.org petition to boycott Netflix and the series.
American television has faced a lot of criticism over its portrayal of the Middle East and its conflicts. Shows like 'Jack Ryan' and 'Homeland' have come under fire for its racist depictions as well, and 'Messiah' is already facing the same. The first episode, in spite of misgivings viewers might have, starts off slowly, by showing where many of the main characters will be. The show starts in the hotbed of Syria where ISIL is attacking civilians following its resurgence.
At this time, a man starts preaching in Damascus, reassuring the Syrians that everything will be okay when a sandstorm comes. We later learn that the ISIL insurgents were buried in the days-long sandstorm, leading the people to believe that he is the second coming of Isa (Jesus). It is then that he leads the Palestinian Syrians through the desert "to their destiny". It is not until later that we realize he means Israel.
On the other side of the world in the United States of America, CIA agent Eva Geller gets news of this "messiah" and keeps an eye on the developments. While her superiors don't seem too concerned about this one man, Eva is. It is also hinted that Eva might be sick.
Meanwhile, Aviram Dahan in Israel is called into work on his day off to interrogate the "messiah" after he was captured on crossing the Israel border. However, he is shaken when it seems like the "messiah" knows a lot about him -- including about "the boy in Megiddo". When Aviram goes later to check on him, he sees that the "messiah" has escaped.
Whether 'Messiah' might avoid the pitfalls of 'Homeland' remains to be seen. However, in an age where representation and diversity are being called for with more fervor, we wonder whether this would be applicable to people around the world.
All episodes of Season 1 of 'Messiah' are now streaming on Netflix.