Evil Review: Exorcism Part 2 (Season 1 Episode 9)

Evil Season 1 Episode 9, “Exorcism Part 2,” is the cat’s meow, or more specifically, its hiss. 

Once again, this freshman series leaves us breathless and confounded, and darn entertained. Evil forces me to bust out a thesaurus to search for more ways to say “horrifying” and “unsettling.”

I can admit, this show is outsmarting me. I’m surprised every week, and “Exorcism Part 2,” is no exception. Still, it is worth it to take a stab at unpacking what it all means and how it’s getting us there.

Ben the Magnificent, the Evil-trio’s contractor, is acutely uncomfortable with not knowing what is real and what is fake.

His character provides a perfect, skeptical lens on the phantasmagorical elements of the show (I have been waiting so long to use this word in a review. Thanks, Evil!). While Kristen voices ardently that she is an atheist that doesn’t believe in possession or demons, we see the great chasms of doubt that are beneath the surface. 

While she is perhaps getting pulled into unlapsing, and David is getting pulled into relapsing, Ben is rooted in the realities of science and the natural world. He’s as stubborn as he is magnificent, so he’s not likely to move. 

Typically, the team looks at things that appear supernatural and determines the reality, if possible. On “Exorcism Part 2,” the tides are turned a bit in the sense that what we see as real may actually be more supernatural than it appears. 

There are (at least) two parts on the episode that could be phantasmagoric. 

First, Renée’s seduction of David. The scenes where she confronts the priest in training with her quickly escalating crush are set apart from the group scenes. 

How do we know they are real and not figments or hallucinations? I would argue that we don’t. 

We know that David has a sexual addiction or at least a great difficulty with resisting sexual temptations. We also know that evil is coming for him. We have seen Leland Townsend visit David and hiss sexually salacious things. He’s seen and talked to Annie, his long-dead ancestor.

On Evil, a vision of someone doesn’t mean they are really there. So, perhaps, a cat visits Kristen and Renée visits David, each a symbol of the sexual passion they are hiding because it is a violation of their vows. 

If the sharp as a knife lawyer is a projection of David’s lust, she offers a fascinating glimpse into the man’s thinking.

He loves smut.

As Renée spread her legs, a gesture paralleled by Kristen when Andy spreads her legs on the bathroom sink, David looks on at her, reclined but simmering with desire. 

The explorations of desire, morality, and reality are provocative and deeply uncomfortable. 

Evil never lets us just chill and watch. It is constantly stirring us is new and surprising ways. 

This show is incredible. 

As for Kristen, Daddy Andy is back and his inclusion in the fold adds a shakey uncertainty and almost manic strangeness to Kristen’s life. 

Kristen is gleefully in synch with Ben and David. Yes, there is flirting and sexual connection between all of them (I’m not open to argument at this time). But, there is also a balance and easy understanding in their trinity. 

Andy is completely out of synch with Kristen. He just doesn’t get it. 

Look, we have been teased with the hot hotness between David and Kristen, and the flirty slow burn between Ben and Kristen. We also have a canon thrupple on the show. 

I do not imagine that I am alone in wanting Andy gone as quickly as possible. 

However, Evil is not a show that is here for giving us what we want. Then again, we know we are getting at least a second season, so we can patiently wait for the hot trinity to become real. 

The second part of “Exorcism Part 2,” which may have phantasmagorical elements is Sebastian’s story. 

Cults use repetition, isolation, and false promises of never-ending loyalty to trick members into believing a false reality. It’s not a ghost or a demon, but the process of indoctrination has elements of the supernatural. 

The Stanford Prison Experiment, the Jonestown Massacre, and other cult suicides are unbelievable. Truly, it doesn’t seem possible that people could some completely believe something so demonstrably false. 

Yet, cults exist and continue to do harm. 

The ABC mantras Leland uses and his bullying into readiness with false accusations of not being able to trust Sebastian are calling cards of cult behavior. 

It works. Sebastian is ready to do the unthinkable. 

Then, in one of the most horrifying scenes I have ever seen because I do not expect it at all and it is graphic, Sebastian accidentally shoots himself. 

Leland’s reaction is so dramatic and emotional, there is more to his anger than just disappointment in the kid’s ineptitude with firearms. 

There is a battle going on and I believeHeall we witnessed a supernatural intervention. Sebastian is looking in the mirror as he blows on the guns. What if, in his image of himself he has the gun placed in front of his lips, not under his neck like in reality?

Vanessa’s arms and hand is, according to her, under the influence of her dead sister. So, what if Sebastian’s trigger finger is under the influence too? 

These are possibilities that Evil opens up for us to consider as we take on the impossible journey of figuring out what is real. 

Hallelujah! I love this show.

Confessional

• Oh, Andy, you definitely should be worried about Ben the Magnificent. It’s just that he’s not the only one you should be worried about. There’s David, George, and Leland too. You’ve missed a lot, buddy.
• If it were me, I’d be pulling out that Evil TreeMap and looking for a cat symbol.
• Lemonhead is perfectly sour on the episode. She brings a delightful dose of humor to the episode.
• The episode should come with a trigger warning. Sebastian’s death is deeply disturbing.
• Incel culture is terrifying and very, very sad. Leland scrolling through all the options he has for his next target is nauseating.
• Kristen as a strategic thinker is very cool to watch. Smart women helping smart women, without being threatened by each other’s strengths? Yes, please. 
• Ben and Kristen on the couch is nearly too much for me to handle. They look so good together!!

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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