A chilling finale: ‘Evil’ unleashes the Antichrist
A twisty end to a paranormal journey
In the final moments of the series Evil, the show delivers a relatively happy ending that includes the Antichrist being unleashed on the Vatican. Psychologist Kristen Bouchard (Katja Herbers) and Father David Acosta (Mike Colter) have relocated to Rome to continue their work on demonic possessions, following the deconsecration of their New York base. However, their team is now a duo, as scientist Ben (Aasif Mandvi) has chosen to stay in the United States. Additionally, the baptism of Kristen’s infant son Timothy, who might be the devil’s prophet, seems to have failed, placing a demonic harbinger of the apocalypse dangerously close to the Holy See.
A show allergic to clarity
Over its four seasons, Evil has shown a clear aversion to unambiguous storytelling. The creators, known for their work on legal dramas, have perfected a tone that is both morally nuanced and absurd. With Evil, they shifted their focus from secular politics to existential matters, exploring themes like eternal souls. Despite its title, the show never took a definitive stance on good versus evil. The final episodes may not have tied up every loose end, but the messiness feels appropriate for a universe filled with nuns, djinn, doppelgängers, and telepathic priests. The ending is both optimistic and ominous, leaving viewers uncertain about which side will ultimately prevail.
A complex narrative
Evil reminds me of The Leftovers in that describing any plot point out of context can make you sound like one of Dr. Bouchard’s patients. For instance, in the final season premiere, Anna Chlumsky plays a woman who claims to be one of Kristen’s daughters from the future, warning her family about impending catastrophes. However, she turns out to be having an affair with Kristen’s husband while wearing an animal mask in a mental hospital. Unlike The Leftovers, Evil does not leave any doubt about the supernatural. While not all cases are Satanic, there is definitely a conglomerate called DF Global run by a naked goat humanoid known as The Manager.
The struggle against cosmic evil
The central question for Kristen, David, and Ben is not whether cosmic evil exists, but how to live a decent life in a world where it stubbornly persists. Through numerous cases, the show is both critical and sympathetic towards the protagonists’ approaches. Ben is a skeptic who ends up wearing a tinfoil hat to prevent migraines, whether or not it’s scientifically sound. David is a committed Catholic who tortures himself by choosing the priesthood over his connection with Kristen, who serves as an intermediary. She is an agnostic who flirts with both belief systems. Ben’s absence might be more foreboding than Timothy’s apparent fangs, as David’s primary colleague and close friend is also his greatest temptation.
The ultimate antagonist
Besides their own worst instincts, the trio faces Leland Townsend (Michael Emerson), a menacing figure who is more terrifying than some of the show’s traditional horrors. Leland stole one of Kristen’s eggs to become Timothy’s biological father and nearly strangled Kristen in the finale. Only the intervention of Ben and David prevents Kristen from crossing the line again.
A masterclass in tone
Evil excels in its use of episodic structure, using the case-of-the-week format as a Trojan horse to explore various subjects, from social media to workplace misogyny. The show’s flexibility extends to genre, blending comedy, horror, and heartfelt moments within a single scene. For example, Andrea Martin’s Sister Andrea can lure demons with marshmallows in one moment and confront her guilt over a lost love in the next. The unpredictability of Evil is one of its greatest strengths.
A unique blend of faith and skepticism
While Evil follows in the footsteps of The X-Files with its spooky themes and believer-cynic spectrum, its religious emphasis sets it apart. The show is critical of the Catholic Church as an institution but takes faith seriously, presenting it as a framework to understand an increasingly chaotic world. The show suggests that while we may not understand or defeat the shadowy forces making life worse, we can place our trust in loved ones and, perhaps, a higher power.
All four seasons of Evil are now streaming on Paramount+.
For more information and to watch the trailer, visit Evil.