Evil Recap: Seeing Double

As a long-time fan of the supernatural genre, I must say that I am both enthralled and disturbed by the latest developments in Evil. The series continues to pull out surprises at every turn, leaving me simultaneously appreciative and cursing it for the haunting images it leaves etched in my mind.


It was clear to me that Richard Kind wouldn’t just be sitting there with no significant role during Leland’s trial as a judge. Although his subsequent actions, such as murdering Leslie in his chambers and throwing her body into a dumpster, were certainly shocking, I had a sense that his judicial position was meant for something more. Watching him sell his soul to Satan was quite a spectacle! However, the judge’s unexpected turn — along with Leslie’s untimely demise as a potential witness for the prosecution — means Leland Townsend will likely escape these murder charges, despite Kristen’s compelling testimony, substantial evidence, and emotional account of Leland using Sheryl as a scapegoat. It was also expected that getting rid of Leland wouldn’t be as simple as it seemed.

The trial has disintegrated, as Ben puts it, with everything around our assessors appearing to collapse. Last week, we discovered that although David was made Pastor of St. Joseph’s, the Archdiocese decided to shut down the assessor program. This week, his efforts to preserve that program led to the Archdiocese closing down St. Joseph’s entirely. CongoRun, a stand-in for Evil on Amazon, is now giving millions for the building. All residents of St. Joe’s will be reallocated – including Sister Andrea and David. We don’t know where David will end up just yet, but it seems like the group is breaking apart, and there’s no stopping it.

Discussing David and Sister Andrea, their unique bond is vividly portrayed through their shared fear of the unknown. This week, it’s Sister Andrea who brings a pressing matter to the evaluators: The son of her past lover, Paul, whom she abandoned to join the convent, is being tormented by his twin, Paul Jr., who looks identical (both played by Nate Corddry). Paul discovered this man, Gregory, online. Gregory started posting videos about feeling haunted, and eventually, he filmed himself setting himself on fire. I have numerous queries regarding the video’s continued availability online, but we don’t have time — since Gregory took his life, Paul has felt his spirit within him, and now he’s terrified that he might harm his spouse and children. Sister Andrea has witnessed strange occurrences involving Paul at the hotel he’s moved into, and as Paul stated, some bizarre events start happening around 2 a.m. (a second man seemingly appears out of nowhere?). Kristen speculates it could be a case of the doppelgänger effect, causing Paul to doubt his own life. It could also stem from the fact that Paul’s father committed suicide — this might be an instance of generational trauma surfacing. Sister Andrea seeks an exorcism for Gregory; the evaluators want more evidence.

As a dedicated fan, I follow the assessors on their potential final ghost investigation at Paul’s hotel. While Ben may claim these investigations are just another job, we all can see through his tough exterior. Deep down, Ben, the Magnificent, has a soft heart that he hides well. Give this man a hug! However, the night’s events were far from cozy and comforting. As usual, things began to feel strange around 2 a.m. Sister Andrea arrived with her marshmallow demon bait, reasoning that “demons have a sweet tooth.” Not long after, Paul started sleepwalking. It wasn’t until Kristen interviewed him while he was asleep that he revealed he wasn’t really Paul; she was speaking to Gregory instead. He had taken his own life because “he wanted me.” The assessors watched as Paul fell to the ground, but Sister Andrea remained focused on the Gregory demon, who offered her a chilling grin when she finally caught up to him. I find myself both admiring Evil for continuing to surprise us as the series nears its end and cursing it because that image is now forever etched in my memory.

The investigators are persistently exploring the doppelganger connections. Using a website to find their doppelgangers, Ben and Kristen curiously examine the team’s look-alikes. Ben uncovers that his double, Baashir, is a family-oriented man – there’s a video of him enjoying a peaceful morning with his wife and child. This contrasts greatly with Ben’s life. Initially reluctant, Kristen opts to search for David’s doppelganger instead of her own. She finds that David’s double is a confident boxer who instantly triggers a sensual dream in Kristen. Later on, she learns that her own doppelganger is a bohemian musician residing in Amsterdam; much like Ben, this woman leads a lifestyle drastically different from Kristen’s, and she finds herself compelled to observe the musician’s life.

The primary objective they had when joining this site was to locate someone who resembled Paul, ideally living contentedly without any ghostly encounters. When they find such a person, it’s David who emphasizes that we have the freedom to decide our own paths in life, and there isn’t only one way to live. Are we setting up David to part ways with Kristen, or am I merely being overly romantic? Please refrain from answering that!

In this episode, when Paul, trying to live out his convictions, seems to lose control – he reportedly phoned his wife and suggested she hit their children with a car while under some influence – the heart of the story becomes clear. Though the twin-like character of Paul is intriguing, it’s Sister Andrea dealing with her guilt that truly takes center stage in this episode. I wasn’t necessarily seeking resolution for her tale, but it does serve as a testament to Andrea Martin’s talent on the show and the delightful friendship that has grown between Sister Andrea and Father Acosta – a bond that was initially unexpected.

One night later, she finds herself guarding Paul, who was distraught following their conversation with his wife. It seems as if some malevolent spirit tormenting him also targets her. In the encounter, she meets Paul Sr., but instead of a full face-to-face confrontation, she sees only half of him. She accuses this demon of going to hell, but then faces her own doppelganger-like demon. This entity labels Sister Andrea an “unholy demon” before attacking her with a shovel. This confrontation leaves a profound impact on the genuine Sister. The decision to communicate with David within the confession booth is intriguing, as she could have easily spoken to him directly. However, she chooses to confess through the partition, shrouded in secrecy. She feels responsible and ridden with guilt for leaving Paul, believing her choice led him astray from God and ultimately to take his own life and suffer an eternity in hell. Her confession of these feelings in such a formal setting demonstrates the depth of her guilt – it’s so profound that she believes she needs divine absolution, and her embarrassment prevents her from speaking to her friend openly. This emotional turmoil is evident on David’s face, and he yearns to aid her. He may realize that helping her as a priest, rather than a friend, could be more effective. He encourages her, reminding her that she had no control over Paul’s choices and emphasizing God’s forgiveness for both of them. He assigns her a penance, prompting her to flee hastily from there.

You know what’s really beautiful about that scene? David doesn’t even attempt to bring up the interaction again. Because he’s not supposed to, of course, but also because he must know it wouldn’t help. But still, isn’t it comforting to know that he knows exactly what Andrea is feeling when they finally do go through with Paul’s exorcism? It’s intense! The demon inside Paul once again turns into Paul Sr., this time berating Sister Andrea for betraying and abandoning him. She stands up to him, knowing this isn’t the real Paul Sr. Then, Paul Jr. suddenly speaks as if he is a child again, crying out about his father leaving him, about him not being good enough to make his father stay. It’s another layer of guilt to heap on our favorite nun. When Paul asks Sister Andrea why his father did it, she responds: “I don’t know. I wish I did. No one wants us to follow them into death.” Paul throws up his demon juice and that’s that for him. (I would love to know if his wife was willing to take him back, though we kind of just leave him hanging.)

Although it must have been tough for David to witness Sister Andrea’s struggles, he never compels her to discuss them. Instead, he encounters her playing the piano in the rectory at a later time and shares some personal insights with her – implying that this friendship is mutual. With the parish shutting down, David feels adrift in more ways than one. He confides in Sister Andrea that he believed adhering to “the righteous path” would bring him contentment, but instead, he’s “never felt more lost.” Sister Andrea lends a helping hand by having them both play a divine chord together, filling the room with light for both of them; demonstrating to David that God is always with him. The story concludes on an optimistic note. It remains uncertain what lies ahead for Sister Andrea – at best, she may be transferred; at worst, she could face off against the looming darkness headed to New York City whom she confronted in court – but wow, did this character enrich our experience.

Church Bulletin

As someone who has followed Kurt Boggs’ career closely over the years, I must say I was taken aback by his sudden change of heart during the trial against Leland and Team Demon. Having watched him for so long, I’ve come to expect a certain level of resilience and determination from him in the face of adversity. But seeing him crumble on the stand, only to regain his strength after witnessing Kristen’s disgust towards him, was truly surprising.

Leland’s response to Kurt betraying him was yet another exemplary delivery by Michael Emerson, reminiscent of his characters: “Indeed, he’s no more.”

The team is starting to devise strategies for life beyond evaluation. After Andy swindles her yet again, this time taking a large sum of money, Kristen decides she’s ready to establish her own clinic in her garage. Ben receives numerous exceptional job offers but finds it challenging to progress with any of them, prompting him to wonder, “Why are you so fearful of success?” Such a pity for poor, kind-hearted Ben!

Hearing Lila propose to her mom the idea of opening an OnlyFans account, solely for sharing foot photos, to generate income, left me chuckling.

• You do not know how hard I had my fingers crossed for David’s doppelgänger to be Lemond Bishop (Mike Colter’s character from The Good Wife).

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2024-08-09 00:54