Little Demon Season 1 Episode 8 Review: Domestic Disturbance VIII

Little Demon Season 1 Episode 8, “Domestic Disturbance VIII,” pins mother against daughter in an epic battle for the ages while revealing painful truths along the way. It’s a solid outing for the series. 

Chances are you probably quarreled with your parents during adolescence. It’s a rite of passage before adulthood. “Domestic Disturbance VIII” takes that concept, parent-child bickering, even full-blown arguing, up to an 11. Of course, Laura and Chrissy’s impressive display of demonic powers and magical abilities isn’t the point here. 

Strip away those powers, and you have two people who are hurting. Chrissy feels unloved by her mother and an overall nuisance since Laura bent over backward to provide for her. Meanwhile, Laura’s hardened shell finally cracks — she admits she’s afraid of being a bad mom. 

For being a series centered on the Antichrist, her witchy mother, and her father, Satan, Little Demon wears its humanity on its sleeve. The supernatural stuff is merely the cherry on top. It spices up the very human story at the center. 

Stories about mother-daughter relationships aren’t new. Some might say it’s tired and overdone. However, Little Demon addresses the intricacies and messiness of that bond through a “demonic” lens. Laura and Chrissy’s complex relationship is more than relatable, and “Domestic Disturbance VIII” deftly explores the more volatile aspects of it. 

The series brilliantly lays the groundwork for Chrissy and Laura’s tipping point, making the explosive battle between them a meaningful, impactful display. Laura’s confession is heartbreaking, as is Chrissy feeling like she’s unwanted. 

The cockroach versus rat fight is a fun B-plot for the episode. It’s almost reminiscent of the Ezekiel and Admiral Whiskers showdown in Doom Patrol, but with considerably less making out. Okay, maybe it’s just because the same animals are involved. Anyway, it showcases the ramifications of Laura and Chrissy’s all-out magical war. 

Bennigan and Darlene pulling away is a sad moment, and it feels like the tip of the iceberg in terms of the group disbanding. With Chrissy staying with Satan now, Laura’s officially abandoned. We only have a few episodes left in the season. Undoubtedly, the show’s setting the stage for a monumental finale. 

Overall, “Domestic Disturbance VIII” is a strong episode in the Little Demon arsenal that’s perhaps more melancholic and poignant than full-on hilarious. Its dark, sardonic wit comes into play while putting Chrissy and Laura’s relationship, the crux of the series, on display. 

Stray Observations: 

• We need a spinoff featuring the cockroaches and the rats. What happens to them after the war? Does that one roach ever make it back to his sweetheart? We crave answers!
• The Bennigan/Chrissy rift widened in this episode, and now Darlene seems to be turning her back on Laura and Chrissy. Here’s hoping they mend fences when the finale rolls around. 
• “Total Eclipse of the Heart” is a banger of a karaoke song, and this reviewer won’t be convinced otherwise. 
• “Domestic Disturbance VIII” probably makes many parents grateful their kids aren’t the Antichrist. 
• Will we see Maximus Dawnus come to light by the season’s end? It’s looking increasingly likely. 

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

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Little Demon airs Thursdays at 10/9c on FXX, with next-day streaming on Hulu.

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