"Two by Two" is the second episode of season 3 of The Chosen.
Jesus is a problem for the Romans. With pilgrims from everywhere setting up a tent city at the gates of Capernaum to see Jesus, tensions rise. Jesus officially sends the twelve apostles on an exciting but dangerous mission, causing Little James to ask why he hasn't been healed.
This episode provides examples of:
- Because You Can Cope: Jesus tells Little James that he could heal him, but he won't because he trusts Little James to glorify God in spite of his malady.
- Big Damn Reunion: Matthew's visit with his parents turns into this, complete with apologies all around and a big hug between Matthew and his mother.
- Big Guy, Little Guy: When Jesus sends out the disciples, he pairs Big James with Little James.
- Call-Back: In the season 1 episode "I Am He", Gaius gives the key to Matthew's home to his father, who refuses it. Gaius replies, "Sell it, give it away, burn it down—I do not care." After reconciling with Matthew, his father returns the key and Matthew refuses it. His father replies, "Give it away, tear it down, burn it if you want."
- Change the Uncomfortable Subject: Tamar's response when Mary Magdalene asks about where she comes from.
- Declining Promotion: Matthew formally declines when Philip nominates him to be the ministry's treasurer.
- Didn't Think This Through: Julius wants to enforce a law against consuming wine on public property. Gaius pokes a hole in this plan, stating that it wouldn't actually stop someone from just going into a tent, consuming the wine, and then coming back out, sidestepping the "public property" part.
- Forgiveness: The result of Matthew visiting his parents upon returning to Capernaum.
- Healthy in Heaven: Jesus promises this to Little James.
- Heartfelt Apology: Matthew offers one to his parents for shaming them and for causing his father to lose his business. Then Matthew's father offers one to Matthew for disowning him.
- I Warned You: Nathanael's reaction after Zee tries to get people in the tent city to follow Capernaum law about fire safety.Nathanael: How is fire patrol working for you?
- I'm Not Doing That Again: Due to his history as a publican, Matthew gets nominated to take charge of the group's finances, but now that he's following Jesus he doesn't want to touch anything money-related anymore and proposes Judas as his replacement.
- Internal Reveal: Zee learns that Matthew used to be a tax collector only after Jesus pairs them together when he sends out the disciples.
- Keeping the Handicap: Jesus could easily heal Little James' condition, but chooses not to do so.
- Le Parkour: Zee drops his bucket and tries to escape his pursuer this way.
- Let No Crisis Go to Waste: When Quintus is informed of the tent city to the west of Capernaum, he tells Gaius to force them out. Atticus suggests instead redrawing the city boundary to encompass the squatters, thus allowing them to be taxed.
- Let's Split Up, Gang!: Jesus sends out the disciples in pairs:
- Simon and Judas (north to Caesarea Philippi)
- Andrew and Philip (east to Naveh)
- Nathanael and Thaddeus (south to Perea)
- John and Thomas (southwest to Joppa)
- Big James and Little James (west to the Plains of Sharon)
- Matthew and Zee (down to Jericho)
- The Movie: The first two episodes of season 3 ("Homecoming" and "Two by Two") were originally shown in theaters as a "theatrical event".
- Non Sequitur: In the middle of a discussion of Zebedee's olive press and the oil he produced with it, Thomas blurts out, "I think I'm gonna ask Ramah to marry me."
- Parental Substitute: Thomas and Ramah want to be married, but the first step would normally be for their parents to meet to discuss the joining of the two families. Thomas approaches Jesus, as a substitute for his father, who is no longer living.
- Pet the Dog: In a single scene, Atticus uses his rank and his diplomatic skills to protect a slave, Gaius, and the pilgrims from Quintus' wrath.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Gaius acts as this in the tent city when his subordinate Julius wants to enforce Capernaum law against wine on public property.Gaius: So he should duck inside [his tent], drink it, and come back out? What difference would that make?
- Resignations Not Accepted: Atticus informs Zee that the Zealots are pursuing him.Atticus: You were a Zealot. Now you're a traitor, and they won't stop.
- Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: When Jesus sends out the disciples, he pairs Matthew with Zee.
- Shipper on Deck: When Jesus sent out the disciples in pairs, Thomas is sent to the region where Ramah's father lives specifically because Jesus knew that Thomas wanted to ask for Ramah's hand in marriage.
- Sidetracked by the Analogy: During his apology to his parents, Matthew gets sidetracked explaining that his father isn't his brother, but that Jesus' command to be reconciled to your brother "is in many ways a metaphor." His father encourages him to move on.
- So Proud of You: Matthew's parents' response now that Matthew is no longer a tax collector, and is following a rabbi (Jesus), and is even acting as his rabbi's scribe.
- Third Wheel: Even when Nathaniel and Zee are in the other room, Simon and Eden can't ignore their presence.
- Whoosh in Front of the Camera: The first indication that someone was following Zee when he went to the well.
