Ep 3. Exile: By the Waters of Babylon

In Messiah season 1 episode 3 titled "Exile: By the Waters of Babylon," tensions rise as Al-Masih (Mehdi Dehbi) continues to garner attention and followers in Texas while Eva Geller (Michelle Monaghan) and her team work to uncover his true identity and intentions. The episode opens with Al-Masih at the border of Mexico, where a group of migrants are attempting to cross into the United States. As he approaches, the river miraculously parts and the migrants are able to cross safely. This event draws even more attention to Al-Masih, with many believing he is a messiah sent to save them.

Meanwhile, Eva and her team are still investigating Al-Masih and trying to find out who he really is. They track down a man who claims to have known Al-Masih from his time in Syria, but he is hesitant to speak to them. Eventually, he tells them that Al-Masih was a con artist who made a living off of scamming people. This information causes Eva to doubt Al-Masih's intentions and question whether he is really a savior or just a fraud.

Back in Texas, Al-Masih continues to gain followers and makes an appearance at a televangelist's church. The pastor, Felix (John Ortiz), introduces him to the congregation and allows him to speak. Al-Masih delivers a powerful sermon, drawing more people to his cause. Among the crowd is a man named Joshua (Stefania LaVie Owen), who becomes instantly enamored with Al-Masih and his teachings. She invites him to her home and they continue to discuss his message.

As Al-Masih's following grows, tensions rise among those who believe in him and those who do not. A group of protesters gathers outside Felix's church, expressing their concerns about the "false prophet," Al-Masih. The situation becomes violent and the police are called in to disperse the crowd. During the chaos, Joshua is injured and taken to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Eva and her team use the information they gathered about Al-Masih's past to track down his family in Syria. They hope that speaking to them will shed some light on who he really is and what his motivations might be. However, when they arrive in Syria, they find that Al-Masih's family has been killed in an airstrike. This revelation adds another layer of mystery to Al-Masih's story, and Eva begins to wonder if he is hiding something even more sinister.

The episode ends with Al-Masih visiting Joshua in the hospital, but it is unclear whether he will be able to heal her injuries. As tensions continue to rise and doubts about Al-Masih's true intentions grow, it remains to be seen whether he truly is a savior or a master manipulator.