Evil Review: 177 Minutes (Season 1 Episode 2)
Evil Season 1 Episode 2, “177 Minutes,” builds on the strengths and smoothes out most of the issues from the pilot, while crafting a unique and layered identity that makes us crave more.
It is a stellar second episode of the new series.
The show’s greatest strength so far is its tenacity and joy in delving into the deep, keep you up until 2 AM, questions in life.
Importantly, the show is NOT about whether angels and demons exist. It is not about proving anything.
Instead, it is about why evil, miracles, and fate matter to all of us walking the earth. It is far more a character study than a horror story.
It remains scary, but on this second episode Evil literally unmasks the nightmare demon, George.
It is an incredibly effective move. It gives us a show within a show, a nod to what Acosta says, “God has designs within designs”, and increased suspense because we don’t really believe Kristen when she tells her daughters “it’s all make-believe!”
On top of all that, it lets us viewers know that Evil is smart. George is a ridiculously over the top demon who pisses in the corner. Turns out, he is a literal character from a comically bad horror show. The choices in one episode are going to unfold and reveal new “truths” on the next.
Brilliant.
Like Evil Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot, “177 Minutes,” makes me stew in thought, rolling around the complexity of belief and fate and guilt and worthiness in my mind. I don’t even need to shroom to be in awe of the interwoven circles of life the show depicts.
And then, AND THEN, Evil manages to tastefully fold the evil of implicit racial bias into the story.
The complexity of the stories give us enough meat to chew on for two weeks, but the characters are far too exciting to wait that long for another episode.
The performances from series stars Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, and Aasif Mandvi match the show’s audacious complexity. The characters are complex and I love learning more about David Acosta and Ben Shakir.
But, it’s the actors’ portrayals that really do the trick for me. Herbers is so cute, bold, and flirty. She’s fun. But, then she’s terrified and clinical too.
I don’t get it. Her facial expressions, voice, and mannerism combine together in almost nonsensical ways. But, that is how people actually are!
We are individuals and Herbers crafts Kristen Bouchard as an individual.
Mandvi too is not even close to an archetype or easily pegged. Kristen even comments laughingly about his anger.
Indeed, he seems angry but not really at anything in particular. We know he is an atheist, but what is he searching for?
You wouldn’t know that Mandvi is a comedian by how he plays Ben with compelling passion and seriousness. He has massive sex appeal. And, it is so clear that his character is not on the show for just one thing.
It is wonderful that a South Asian man can get a role like this to dig into.
Colter’s take on David Acosta is just as intricate and alluring as Hebers and Mandvi’s takes on their characters.
The show still needs to address how to light Colter’s dark skin. But there are at least three scenes that use effective colors and lighting schemes, so it seems the show is improving in this area.
We learn that Acosta is one of the chosen people that Kristen alludes to in her discussion of the problem with miracles. Not in that Acosta has had a miracle granted, but in that he has a special gift to communicate directly with God through visions.
Acosta is not addicted to sex or drugs. He is addicted to seeing God’s plan through drug-induced trips.
That is a satisfying reveal. I am eager to explore what it means and Colter’s subtle, warm, and intense way of showing the character makes us believe in him even though we don’t really know him at all.
“177 Minutes” might be my favorite second episode of a show EVER. I will pray that episode three can top it.
Confessional
- There is certainly room for more than one Hot Priest on TV. Welcome, David.
- Michael Emerson is so good as a psychopath, he must be quite empathetic in real life!
- The mother-daughter relationships between Kristen and her mom, and Kristen and her daughters provide the heartbeat of the show. I am so glad we’re getting time with them.
- Kristen’s husband is an idiot. There’s no way he deserves her.
- Nearly all of the guest characters are people of color. Fantastic.
- Love the repetition of a plan within a plan, a nightmare within a nightmare, and a story within a story. The mazes of life reflect God’s complexity.
- The miracle scene is scarier than the possessed scene from the pilot!
What did you think of this episode of Evil? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Evil airs Thursdays at 10/9c on CBS.
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Janelle Ureta
Janelle Ureta is equal parts Veronica Mars, Raven Reyes, and Rebecca Bunch, but she aspires to add some Tammy Taylor to the mix. An attorney turned teacher, Janelle believes in the power of a well-told story. She is currently exploring how to tell short stories, 140 characters or less, on twitter. She loves to talk about TV, and right now she can't shut up about Timeless, Dear White People, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The 100, or Younger.
One thought on “Evil Review: 177 Minutes (Season 1 Episode 2)”
Couldn’t get that Kristen’s questions about Ben’s attitude was thoughtful, thought her question to David was a snap-response to his surprisingly agitative response — given she doesn’t know both of them sufficiently, although that’s the case far more with the former than the latter.
And I thought the point about subconscious bias in your exceptionally-received chronologically-2nd episode( also note,/TRIVIA: one of the very few series involving a writing-staff which has the very-first 2 episodes of it credited strictly to the creators — something which is notable not just because of WGA East’s/West’s guidelines on receiving the “created by” credit, but also because even if the introductory-plot of a committee-written TV project is a 2-/multi-parter, seldom do the same number of very same writer[s] are/is very, very rarely credited, let alone when such story-structure comes afterwards) was spot-on.. But boy.. Whilst as somebody who’s so Philosophically immersed that you would rather save yourself by dismissing me as deranged( “crazy-shaming”), I still found it quite underwhelming that the show went that route for the debunking the “miracle”, than say.. As your competing-blog from which I was unceremoniously-banned, I totally agreed with what they said: Because thanks to that FOX®’s dark medical-drama you review and No Thanks to my own medicine-practicing mother, I went “Ahh… Sounds like Lazarus Syndrome to me!” early in the episode when they showed the CCTV footage first-ever time.
But alas..
Speaking of, found it totally unconvincing that “the Angel”( or “unexplained apparition” in David’s own words) was that white cisfemale who died an hour earlier, so boy.. Either that security-guard had a sixth sense, or x-ray vision or some paranormal-power, indeed — because can you seriously vouch that you noticed any of her facial-features in that flash? I mean, I know what this show is but whether it was the budget or whatever, the CGI( VFX) couldn’t sell it enough for me to suspend disbelief that there was an average-shaped humanoid-feature in that flash.
Which is such a shame…! Because it was the biggest mystery of this episode! And they couldn’t even manage THAT.
My disappointment with this show is getting incremented. No, seriously. It’s not like it’s not interesting, I’ve already explained how it is and personally, “why” even for myself. And to their credit, they did answer about “George” THAT SOON but possibly not-answering it, either. But it’s a matter of fact that things that draw me to this show are getting deftly neutered by such off-putting factors for my VX.
And you know what? Never thought of Mr Emerson this way, even though I’m a Philosophical nerrrrd. Indeed, people keep throwing the word “sympathy” around — as if what a biggie it is! Whereas, it’s actually empathy which should be more cherished and nourished — given what a hard-work it is! But since I’m Philosophically woke: Ohhh… The humanity!
Ahh… As a proud POC, I didn’t seriously notice that there are so many characters of colour in this show. You sure you’re only referring to ‘guest starring’ by the term “guest characters”, and not ‘co-starring’ as well? Because I certainly did find the hospital’s shady-turned-cocky manager, the “Miracle Priest” and certainly, David’s mentor is Monsigñor who’s being dubbed by other critics for his disaffection towards the note of “unexplained apparition” by David( to be precise, I did consider it as well — but also dismissed as him being a bureaucracy stand-in, a trope well-popular in Christian exorcism dramas).
And oy vey…! Didn’t knew that not just you fell head-over-heels for Ben, but are endlessly ecstatic about his characterisation, given Mr Mandviwala’s opportunity to play him — as well! I wonder what would happen when and IF the role is sufficiently fleshed-out.( Assuming it will be consistent.) Get yourself prepared, huh?
Shedding retroactivity**: Yikes! When I originally read this post a week ago or so, I was initially confounded and then immediately apprehensive about “light” on Mr Colter’s body! Thought you were referring to applying “fairness” cosmetics/makeups on his body. Took me sometime to convince myself that you were confidently asserting about the failure of lighting department, as in: Spotlights! And nothing to do with the role’s appearances. Fortunately, it got confirmed when I read your review for “Genesis 1” by diving deep into Google®’s indexes 2 days ago. Phew…! 😅
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