Evil Review: Let x = 9 (Season 1 Episode 6)

The daycare lady in Flushing blows things up on Evil Season 1 Episode 6, “Let x = 9.”

Her prophecies build on past discoveries of evil and set the trio in motion towards a grander, epic purpose.

Not too bad for a bunch of nobodies from Queens, right Ben?

The episode is remarkably detailed. We could examine and speculate for hours based just on the apocalyptic sex.

The religious imagery is powerful there! Lelands “just one last kiss” harkens to Eden’s one bite of the poisonous apple. 

Biting comes up regularly on the show; George actually does it to Kristen and Leland haunts David with a sexualized version of biting. 

Other flash-in-the-pan nuggets we get are the child demon antagonizing David, the discarded prophetic note to the guard, and the twenty minutes for twenty stitches slicing Kristen delivers.

Evil‘s storytelling is intentional. We don’t know what these tidbits mean, but they certainly mean something.

The patterns and clues are fascinating and entertaining.  “Let x = 9,” places those layered details perfectly within the stories on the episode. They actually enhance character development and world-building because they are so wonderfully interlaced. 

It’s a miracle that we even notice the details given that entirely distracting dream that Kristen has.

David and Kristen are so hot for each other. Yet, at the same time, there is so much evil involved in their attraction. 

The dream hook-up is one of my favorite tropes of all time.

We get to see the passion and rawr between David and Kristen without any actual impact on the characters’ relationship. Honestly, this should be a device used for every single slow or slowish burn couple on TV. 

Amidst the serious sexual tension between Kristen and David is a wonderful dose of levity. Drugged up David is pretty darn funny. 

Evil does this so well. It oscillates seamlessly between grief and sarcasm, terror and camp. The result is a delightfully surprising and intriguing journey, full of (almost) as much comedy as dark philosophy. 

Life is, after all, completely ridiculous. Evil reflects the fullness and brazen audacity of life. 

I need to confess, I have a problem.

I have fallen so hard for Ben and Kristen! Dear readers, I got it BAD.  

The chemistry between the two skeptics is friendly with a serious edge. The two seconds of flirting in the hallway are powerful enough to fuel a whole season of feels. 

There’s something about Ben’s lopsided smile and Kristen’s shy admissions that just sing OTP. 

I am in for years of misery, though, because it seems that the show is heading in the direction of a David and Kristen romance.

WORTH IT. 

It is actually no problem waiting for the ships on the show to develop because Evil is packed with enticing and satisfying content. 

Timely issues like ICE raids, indoctrinating Chinese schools, and even Epstein’s suicide make meaningful appearances on the episode. 

The social issues are folded into the episode in non-preachy ways. They naturally contribute to Evil‘s ever-expanding story

The rich and colorful episode has us seeing red and wanting to know more.

It isn’t the scariest episode of Evil but “Let x = 9” is the best episode so far.

 

Confessions

• Grace’s frank answers about God are an absolute delight. The best is “sometimes, God is like a fortune cookie.”
• I’d like to hear God referred to in non-gendered terms. They is a very cool pronoun. Just saying.
• Those are bomb little ottomans at the school.
• How can you afford Whole Foods, Kristen?
• Drooly George is the scariest George.
• The way Kristen confidently grabs a big ol’ butcher knife and a cleanup towel is BOSS. She is the strongest of them all.

What did you think of this episode of Evil? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

Evil airs Thursdays at 10/9c on CBS.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

A Ranking of the 13 Scariest TV Shows You Can Watch Right Now