EVIL (2019-2024)

It’s shocking that the CBS/Paramount+ show EVIL exists.

On paper, it reads like a spiritual version of the X-FILES: psychiatrist, ex-climbing enthusiast and mother to four daughters, Kristen Bouchard (the flinty Katja Herbers) is enlisted by the Catholic church to investigate potential demonic circumstances.

The church pairs her with priest-in-training David Acosta (the always solid and endearing Michael Colter) and science skeptic Ben Shakir (played by the fantastic dramatic actor/ex-Daily Show correspondent Aasif Mandvi) — as the voice of reason. Each week they investigate a new ponderous negative spiritual incident, while trying to navigate their own wants and needs and also dodging the dark, deft steps of occultist Dr. Leland Townsend (Michael Emerson, clearly having the time of his life chewing the dialogue and the scenery).

While that does sound very X-FILES, even down to the chemistry between Kristen and David. It even features its own Smoking Man later on in the series and similar institutional hurdles via Vatican members.

It’s the emphasis on religion, of angels and demons, of seeing all sorts of matters that others cannot that make it more MILLENNIUM than X-FILES.

If you aren’t familiar with MILLENNIUM, you can read my prior posts but in short: ex-FBI Frank Black can see demons and he’s tapped by a Christian sect that may or may not have the best interest of humanity in mind, all while trying to juggle the weight of his family and his responsibility and need to help others.

It’s not difficult to draw parallels between it and EVIL.

I digress.

While on paper, EVIL sounds bleak and dispiriting — and yes, the characters do suffer a number of very traumatic, difficult situations — the show is often thrilling and has more than a few moments of levity. Laughs come from the absurdity of calling out a predator in a kids social MMO, the amped-up energy of Kristen’s four daughters, constantly cross-talking in a way that realistically and genuinely portrays large groups of siblings, Leland’s twisted laugh and cavalier attitude towards those who want him out of everyone’s life, Ben’s cynical quips, or even pop-up books like The Pop-Up Book of Terrifying Things or The Pop-Up Book of Demons that introduces the theme in the second and third seasons. (We can expect The Pop-Up Book of Angels in the fourth!)

Also? Andrea Martin as Sister Andrea’s dry sense of humor as she slyly but enigmatically peppers knowledge towards the group.

Visually it’s sumptuous. Dark, foreboding, but still very visible — no murky shots here! The use of color and vibrant liquids of all types make each shot striking and creepy. The creature designs are remarkable and often appear to be practically executed, and each has their own visual look to them. There’s one scene late in the third season where you see a cluster of demons huddled together that underscores just how distinct all of them are.

The season three title sequence is a real stunner, all stark black and white and red all over, the cello and cymbal crashes escalating faster and faster like a tarantella until you’re left breathless. It’s one of my favorite title sequences since HANNIBAL.

EVIL is certainly an overlooked gem, primarily because it’s a CBS/Paramount+ show. (As of the second season it went Paramount+-only and now everyone swears a lot more.) It does have a rabid fanbase, but it’s hard to imagine CBS’s core demographic of boomers glomming onto something so batshitcrazy and off the wall and relentlessly horny.

That’s exactly why I’m shocked that EVIL does exist. It doesn’t fit the network — especially given how starting with the third season it became a Paramount+ exclusive — however? It’s from Robert & Michelle King, the creators of THE GOOD WIFE, THE GOOD FIGHT, ELSBETH, and the equally batshitcrazy BRAINDEAD.

My guess is that CBS wanted to appease the Kirk’s because I find it difficult to see how it’s lasted this long, despite near-universal critical acclaim. However, their decisions have given us four seasons of immensely entertaining, scary, and humanly substantial emotional and spiritual heft and for that I thank both CBS and Michelle & Robert King.