A compelling, thought-provoking thriller laced with controversy, Netflix’s “Messiah” is the first must-binge series of 2020.
Mehdi Dehbi stars as Al-Masih, a mysterious figure to whom miracles have been attributed. The arrival of his excited throng on Israel’s border draws the attention of Israeli intelligence officer Avrim Dahan (Tomer Sisley), as well as a CIA case officer, Eve Geller (Michelle Monaghan).
“Messiah” does a great job of keeping its audience and its characters off balance. Is this miracle man an Iranian asset, a madman, charlatan or, most startling of all, the real deal?
Action quickly shifts from the Middle East to the sandy stretches of remote Texas, where a tornado destroys the entire town but leaves a church standing. That and the sudden, unexplained presence of Al-Masih in town shift the media focus from a “foreign” curiosity to an all-American sideshow.
In addition to contemplating the notion of how social media and 24/7 “news” might treat a second coming, “Messiah” does a masterful job of playing with characters’ mixed motives. John Ortiz stars as Felix, the pastor of the failing church that was miraculously spared. Is he filled with the spirit, or merely excited at the prospect of becoming the messiah’s frontman?
His father-in-law (Beau Bridges) also sees this as a chance to boost his TV ministry. This is at least the second series (after “Greenleaf”) in which Bridges plays a slick megachurch operator.
Created by Michael Petroni and produced by Mark Burnett, “Messiah” runs for 10 episodes that easily could have been condensed to eight. But that’s a small quibble about this speculative thriller, a binge-worthy offering that always inspires that most essential question: “Gee, I wonder what’s going to happen next?”
— The 2019 documentary “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice” (9 p.m., CNN) profiles the pop singer from her upbringing in Tucson to her domination of the pop charts in the 1970s, a later embrace of her Mexican musical roots and her retirement in 2011 after a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— Syfy continues its “Twilight Zone” marathon through 4 a.m. Thursday.
— The early 1990s saw Winona Ryder in a spate of literary adaptations, including “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” “The Age of Innocence” and her turn as Jo March in the 1994 remake of “Little Women” (7 p.m., Showtime).
— On three helpings of “Evil” (CBS, r, TV-14): a secular therapist is recruited by the Church (8 p.m.), a dead patient rises again (9 p.m.), a theater producer shows signs of possession (10 p.m.).
— Three “Chicago” franchises follow a crossover crisis. Bacteria spreads on “Chicago Fire” (8 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14); quarantine follows on “Chicago Med” (9 p.m., r, NBC, TV-14) and the search for a bioterrorist proceeds on “Chicago P.D.” (10 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14).
— Rhythm and romance on “Flirty Dancing” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG).
— Time is of the essence as “Doctor Who” (8 p.m., BBC America, TV-PG) enters its 12th season.
— Roxy makes amends on “Almost Family” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
— Hugh Bonneville hosts a “Great Performances” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-G, check local listings) annual event, “From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2020.”
— Dex finds a mentor on “Stumptown” (10 p.m., ABC, r, TV-14).
— Tory Belleci and Streetbike Tommy host “The Explosion Show” (10 p.m., Science), a look at advances in demolition that can reduce buildings and hillsides to rubble.
CULT CHOICE
After losing too much money on his annual celebrity death pool, a gambler takes desperate measures in the 2016 satire “Killing Hasselhoff” (9:35 p.m., TMC).
SERIES NOTES
Theme park promotion on “The Goldbergs” (8 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG) … Sad news on “Riverdale” (8 p.m., CW, r, TV-PG) … Cinematic inspiration on “Schooled” (8:30 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG).
A secret ceremony on “Modern Family” (9 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG) … A socialite’s slaying spurs a teenage sleuth on “Nancy Drew” (9 p.m., CW, r, TV-14) … Sophie seems changed on “Single Parents” (9:30 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG).
LATE NIGHT
“The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” and “Lights Out With David Spade” are pre-empted … Edward Norton and Alex Edelman appear on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS, r) … John Heilemann and Alex Wagner visit “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (11:35 p.m., CBS, r) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes Chris Evans, Naomi Scott and Earthgang on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC, r).
Sienna Miller, Matthew Rhys and Jacqueline Woodson visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC, r) … Aaron Paul, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Brittany Howard appear on “The Late Late Show With James Corden” (12:35 a.m., CBS, r).
