When I last wrote about Evil, it was back in its first season – when the series was a solid, if not remarkable, drama on CBS. I’ve spent the last few weeks binging the second and the first half of the show’s third season and I’m here to tell you that the series is in fine form, perhaps even stronger since I last wrote on it. In fact, I’m now willing to officially state that Evil is the best show you aren’t watching.
So, what made the series go from good to batshit crazy great? For one, the series is now airing exclusively on Paramount+ – which, in turn, means that the series now has the ability to be even more creepy and scary, since on streaming anything goes. The series has also streamlined its seasons in a way that allows for its individual episode “story of the week” structure to exist alongside season (and in some case, series) long arcs that dole out bits of information here and there (a change we’re starting to see more and more on television, as shows start moving away from the complex serialization that has dominated television drama for the past few decades). Showrunners Michelle and Robert King, along with their writing staff, have also – finally – given the great Christine Lahti something worthy of her talents to play, while also making the key new addition of Andrea Martin to the show’s already great cast (which also includes perhaps television’s only bearable gaggle of child actors who actually enhance storylines rather than detract from them) as a badass nun.
If you’re new to the Evil game, allow me to provide a quick rundown about just what this show is about. Much like The X-Files before it, the series looks at supernatural events (in this case, of a religious bent) from the point of view of believers (here, Mike Colter’s Father David Acosta) and skeptics (Katja Herber’s forensic psychologist Dr. Kristen Bouchard and Aasif Mandvi’s scientific expert Ben Shakir), as the trio investigate cases for the New York City Archdiocese. Yes, instead of aliens, this show is tackling Catholic mysticism – demons, exorcisms, angelic intervention, the whole nine yards. Pitted against the powers of good are various forms of evil incarnate, but none as complex and delightfully fun as Michael Emerson’s Dr. Leland Townsend. Two and a half years into the story and we’re still trying to pin down just what Leland is up to in any given episode, but boy is it a trip watching him do what he does so well.
And that’s what really makes Evil as good as it is: This is a cast that is having a blast. When you’re dealing with supernatural storylines – stories that often have actors interacting with other actors in heavy demon make-up – you can approach it in one of two ways: super seriously, making sure to stress just how important it is to stop the villains and save the day, or you can have a bit of fun with it. And Evil is all about the latter. Yes, there are stakes to the stories. Yes, there are hugely impactful emotional beats that occur throughout the series. Yes, we care about these characters – both the series regulars and the episodic guest stars – and want what’s best for them. But nothing ever gets too heavy and there’s always room for humor in the stories. And that’s what makes Evil a cut above the rest of the shows out there – the tone is always on point.
If you’re looking for a series with both jump scares and a heart of gold – and some blisteringly topical social and political comedy to boot – Evil is the series for you. The writing is strong, the acting is stronger, and you’ll get to see the ultimate battle for the fate of humanity play out weekly with a touch of humor to make the terror go down smoothly. My one piece of advice? Don’t eat while watching the series – I made that mistake once, and well, when I said the move to streaming allowed the show to get more creepy, I wasn’t lying. If you’ve been missing having a show like The X-Files in your life, Evil is the one for you.
Evil is currently streaming on Paramount+.
