Binged it all the other day. Started strong but then hit a lull a few episodes in. Ending was better.
Lull is an understatement, I feel like the idea for it is really interesting, but the execution 7 episodes in just isn’t great.
Watched. Definitely thought-provoking. Binged because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Will be looking forward to what I assume will be a second season. No way the story is done since so many arcs are incomplete, and I would be surprised if Netflix doesn't re-up. In regards to the story, the guy is either yet another nutball with the messiah complex, The Messiah, or... Spoiler ... the Antichrist. So far, I'm inclined to think that he's not just an average Joe. And if the show clings at least somewhat to Christian and Islamic eschatology, then the Antichrist -- or Dajjal -- precedes the true Messiah. Could be that Al-Masih is the Antichrist/Dajjal and Jibril is the Messiah.
Yeah, I think he's maybe probably... Spoiler ... the Antichrist/Dajjal. All of his "miracles" served himself. Outlasted the sandstorm to build a cult following. Instigated the shooting at the Temple Mount and saved the kid to show off, essentially. Walked on water to prove himself to an audience. "Saved" the prostitute, but that was in front of a camera. Flood to prove himself to the President. Throw in Aviram killing the kid in Megiddo, which is a town that is central to kicking off the Christian end times. It's where the term Armageddon comes from. And on top of that, his background is in trickery as a trained magician. Shows up at a church that is ultimately set on fire by the preacher. Shot the dog. Didn't cure the girl with cancer after decimating her hope. Questionable what good he has actually brought about. Granted, he could very well be just a regular human with great skills, powerful backing, and a lot of luck. And/or mental health issues. Could even be a fabricated persona that a group is using to bring about a fully man-made Apocalypse. This might be where Russia comes into play. What I don't think is that he's the true Messiah. Doesn't jive with Christian and Islamic eschatology. Think season 2 will be a "The Good Place" revelation. Torn between whether he's supernatural or just flesh and bones. Show is set up to go in what I think are four different directions: nutball, the Messiah, the Antichrist, or a fabricated Antichrist for political purposes.
finished last night. Spoiler I still think he's nothing more than a charlatan. I think the reveal will be the well-connected people he has following him. the convo with Oscar Wallace was telling. not sure if it's the president's chief of staff or whatever that guy is supposed to be, but someone rigged the plane. I also think it's possible Avi was drugged through the water and the "crash" wasn't as dramatic as we saw. the kid Malik was shown to be a liar and storyteller earlier in the episode so I don't think Avi was ever dead. a lot of unanswered questions. looking forward to season 2.
Just finished this week. Spoiler I think this is likely - just because I seriously doubt a story about the 2nd coming or antichrist would be greenlit (too much fallout or disinterest, respectively, from religious and nonreligious sides), but a couple things like the tornado appearance seem like unplannable events that are central to his growing lore. I guess they could have Russian weather manipulation as a plot device (tornado, flooding, sandstorm) but that seems hokey. So I really don’t know where they’re going.