Evil

I just watched Episode 7 of the Second Season of Evil on Paramount+.

It's primarily set in a monastery where talking is forbidden, so for the vast majority of the show there is no dialogue. (They cheat a few times, but not enough to let you feel comfortable.) Who has the balls to do something like that in a network tv show?

The title of the episode, of course, is "S Is for Silence." And? It was a fascinating show.

In fact, this whole series has been pretty damned fascinating. There were 13 episodes in the first season, all of which appeared on CBS. For the second season, they moved the show to Paramount+. I wasn't happy about that. I didn't want to add another for pay streaming service to my ledger. But it's not too expensive--$4.99 (+ tax) per month. And I really wanted to watch this show. (Matter of fact, it's the only show I've watched on Paramount+...and I still don't feel ripped off!)

For the most part, the show skirts a fine line between Is what just happened due to evil of the Satanic / demonic kind? & Is what just happened explicable by scientific reasoning? I think they've tilted a little bit more into the Nope, it's Satan for the second season, but in a way that I'm okay with. And by the way...for a network tv show, this is pretty scary shit.

Also, all of the lead people are great. Mike Colter (the actor formerly known for playing Luke Cage) as Father David Acosta is just brilliant. He conveys the strength and solidity of a truly good man, a devout man...but he also shows some chinks in his armor...such as his obvious struggle with the temptation to fuck Katja Herbers as Kristen Bouchard. And Katja / Kristen does a good job of playing a woman who is a faithful wife, devoted mother, and a gal who kind of wants to take a walk on the wild side. (She's also a murderer, but I'm not going to get into that.) Aasif Mandvi as Ben Shakir rounds out the Paranormal Investigation Super Squad (they decided not to go for an acronym for some reason), and here's a revelatory character: a Moslem who is not only not a terrorist, but who is a kind and generous human being. Yep. And then there's Michael Emerson as Leland Townsend. If you don't want to punch this guy in the mouth a few minutes after he appears on screen, then you're not really paying attention. 

The Season One ratings started at 4.56 million with the first episode and sank steadily to 3.19 million by the 13th episode, and I'm guessing that was one of the reasons CBS decided to push it over to Paramount+. Which is why I am hoping you will give this show a try. I want those numbers to rise, because I want to keep watching this show for a long while. Hey, you can get a free one week trial of Paramount+ and binge the first season and the seven episodes of season 2, and long before you hit that 7th episode you'll be with me on this, guaranteed.

So yeah, hop on.

P.S. I just found out that Season 3 has been given the green light, so I am pleased to know that I do not have to fear no Evil.

BULLETIN, BULLETIN, BULLETIN, THIS IS A BULLETIN, BULLETIN, BULLETIN.

A mere six weeks ago I was writing to extol the virtues of Evil Seasons One and Two. And now, 6 episodes later, I have to say...never mind.

Yep, they drove this show straight over a cliff so far as I'm concerned. 

And it's mostly about tension.

The primary tension was that which existed between the reality of evil (as in demons, the devil, etcetera) and a rational, scientific explanation for what was going on. The show did a masterful job of maintaining that tension in the first season. In the first part of the second season it started tipping over towards the Nope, Evil Is Real side, but in ways that I found acceptable. But now? The tension is gone. Evil is loose in the world, demons cavort around trees in the middle of the night, and Satan wants to suck your soul out of your body through your nostrils. In other words, it's just another stupid horror movie. So to speak.

And the secondary tension...the obvious sexual attraction between priest-to-be David and trollop-to-be Kristin? That's all gone, too. 

There are other things, too, but I don't want to talk about it. I just wanted to say if you followed my recommendation and watched this show, then I apologize. Or better yet, if you followed my recommendation and watched the show up until Episode 20, "S Is for Silence," then take some even better advice and Stop Now! The last six episodes of season two are only going to ruin the good buzz you've gotten from the first season and a half.