Recap / The Chosen (TV Series) S3E6 "Intensity in Tent City"

"Intensity in Tent City" is the sixth episode of season 3 of The Chosen.

Andrew and Philip discover their previous mission resulted in devastation that will require a return. Simon Z is finally forced to confront his past, but then two disciples of John the Baptist come to Capernaum with an important question for Jesus.

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This episode provides examples of:

• AcCENT upon the Wrong SylLABle: Pilate pronounces Capernaum with the accent on the first syllable ("CAP-er-naum") rather than on the second ("ca-PER-naum").
• Audible Sharpness: As the crowd disperses in compliance with Quintus' limit on public gatherings, Rabbi Akiva continues to shout at Jesus the he will report everything. Gaius draws his sword, producing this sound, and confronts Rabbi Akiva.
  Gaius: I said, "Go home."
• Bait-and-Switch: An unseen character breaks into the room where Andrew, Philip, and Judas are sleeping. He makes a noise that wakes the disciples. The intruder turns out to be Leander, a man that Andrew and Philip know from their earlier missionary trip to Naveh.
• Bear Hug: Barnaby gives one to Jesus after his lameness is healed.
• Blood-Stained Letter: A variant: Tamar's necklace has been passed down through generations, but its meaning is magnified because the cords that hold the beads are still stained with her mother's blood from when her village was massacred.
• Bluff the Impostor: Part of Simon's test of Avner and Nadab, the men who claim to have a message for Jesus from John the Baptizer.
• Culture Clash: Mary Magdalene thought Tamar's earlier response to Zebedee was rude, and that Tamar just does everything loudly and boldly.
  Mary Magdalene: I don't think I've ever heard a woman speak to an elder like that.
• Dark and Troubled Past: Tamar's entire village was massacred by a rival clan. She and her brother survived only because they were away on a business trip when the enemies attacked.
• Dramatic Irony: Pontius Pilate, when being told that Quintus is the sort of man who wants to be remembered, muses that "We are very different, then." Pilate will definitely be remembered and become infamous throughout the ages...
• Dreaming of Things to Come: In the Dream Intro, the wife of Pontius Pilate dreams about a serpent moving past the sleeping disciples towards an agonizing Jesus.
• Faking the Dead: Before the three Zealots leave Zee, the leader says he will report the truth: "Simon the Sicarius is dead."
• Family-Values Villain: When Atticus asks Pilate why he doesn't have wine and women with him, Pilate states that he doesn't drink to excess and that he's married. In other words, he's faithful to his wife even when Roman society wouldn't penalize him for not being so.
• Felony Misdemeanor: Discussed by Quintus as a way for Gaius to get rid of the tent city, by punishing the pilgrims severely for minor (or fabricated) violations.
• Gilligan Cut: Avner and Nadab ask how soon they can expect a response. Simon answers, "Let me tell you something about that word 'soon'..." and then we cut to James, John, Simon, Avner, and Nadab asleep in the alley (until the crowd's excitement over Jesus' return wakes them).
• Greater Need Than Mine: Barnaby insists that Jesus heal Shula of her blindness, but says that he doesn't need to be healed of his lameness. Jesus praises him as a true friend.
• Heroic BSoD: When Eden finally tells Simon about her miscarriage, he struggles to understand, and then they argue a bit. But after a few minutes, he drops to the floor, she embraces him, and they just hold each other and grieve together.
• Improbable Weapon User: Nathaniel says that Zee could turn his kippah into a weapon.
• The Last Thing You Ever See: One of the Zealots tells Zee this as he knees before them.
• Moment Killer: After Simon and Eden have been at odds for so long, they are just starting to reconnect over dinner. Then Big James pounds on the door. By the time Simon deals with John and James, Eden has left the table.
• "Not So Different" Remark:
  • While the disciples are sharpening knives, Simon and Matthew defend Gaius to the others.
    Simon: Gaius puts his sandals on one foot at a time, just like you and me.
  • Tamar and Mary Magdalene's discussion (leading to their reconciliation) also fits.
    Mary Magdalene: I—I lost my father suddenly too.
• Pet the Dog: Under orders from Quintus to get rid of the tent city, Gaius instead helps the pilgrims by helping move a cooking stand over a campfire, tying a tent frame more securely, etc.
• Pragmatic Villainy: While Quintus is dressing down Gaius for his failure to deal with the tent city, Quintus suggests killing Jesus publicly so the pilgrims have no reason to stay. But then he thinks through the consequences of that, and decides against it.
  Quintus: But then they will revolt, and it gets bloody, and I hate the wailing.
• Publicly Discussing the Secret: Avner and Nadab would like to discuss their message from John the Baptizer with Jesus privately. Jesus announces to the crowd that they are John's disciples, has them ask John's question publicly, and answers it publicly.
  Rabbi Yussif: [under his breath] Careful, careful...
• Reputation Apathy: While the disciples are sharpening knives, Big James points out that associating with Gaius could damage their reputation. Philip points out that Jesus doesn't seem to make reputation a priority.
• Resignations Not Accepted: Zealots tracked Zee to Capernaum and confront him in the tent city.
• Shameful Source of Knowledge: Mary Magdalene initially suggests that Ramah could introduce them to local grape growers (who might tell them how to improve the olive grove). After reconciling with Tamar, Mary admits that given her past, she knows the best vineyard in town and they don't need to ask Ramah.
• So Much for Stealth: Atticus' response to Pilate's tent and small entourage on the crest of a hill.
• Spiteful Spit: One of the Zealots' response when Zee says that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
  Zealot: This is no kingdom that I've ever been promised.
• Stealth Hi/Bye: Zealots are known for this:
  • Little James is discussing the threat of the Zealots with Zee. Simon's loud exclamation (upon learning that Zebedee left fishing to press olive oil) distracts Little James briefly, and when he looks back, Zee is gone.
  • In the tent city, Zee spots a Zealot who vanishes after a Whoosh in Front of the Camera.
• Throwing Off the Disability: Jesus heals several people in front of the crowd. Away from the crowd, he heals Shula of her blindness and Barnaby of his lameness.
• Torment by Annoyance: Pilate's reason for positioning his tent and small entourage on the crest of a hill.
  Pilate: Yes! I wondered, "How can I annoy a red-bottomed old man?" All it took was six men and this stupid tent.
• Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Leander tells Andrew and Philip that their preaching in the Decapolis triggered riots
• Well-Intentioned Extremist: Pilate confides in Atticus that he wants peace and for the people to get what they want.
• Whoosh in Front of the Camera: One enables a Stealth Hi/Bye from the Zealot that Zee spots in the tent city.

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