Evil (2019): The Dark Comedy with a Surprising Message

Promotional image for Evil Season One, 2019

A psychologist and a priest walk into an exorcism. Both have different opinions on what’s wrong with the “possessed”, but who’s right? That’s the question raised in the hit television series Evil, originally released in 2019 on CBS.

Starring Katja Herbers as Dr. Kristen Bouchard and Mike Colter as David Acosta, the dark comedy is a fresh take on traditional procedural cop and demon hunter shows, complete with compelling characters and bizarre twists. Supported by a talented cast and brilliant script, Evil combines humor with horror to build a surprisingly sincere conversation about faith and the supernatural.

The show follows the personal lives and shared work of a forensic psychologist (Herbers) and priest-in-training (Colter) as they assess the validity of demonic possessions or miracles for the Catholic church. Each of the 13 episodes blends comedy with unsettling scenarios, including a viral video that brainwashes people into compulsive singing and violence.

An overarching mystery ties the devil’s dozen episodes together, leading to an unexpected cliff-hanger that in retrospect makes perfect sense. Nothing is accidental in Evil; every plotline, scene, and conversation is part of a bigger story that gradually reveals itself.

Looming over the entire series is an ongoing theme: science can explain everything… except for when it can’t. This idea shines especially bright during an episode featuring a return character who believes the church’s exorcism made her mental health worse. In an applause-worthy monologue, Dr. Bouchard explains that, while demonic possession is not listed in the DSM-V, psychiatric treatments are often no more an exact science than exorcisms.

Despite her own skepticism, Dr. Bouchard claims she observed an improvement in the woman’s condition after the exorcism. The real reason for the decline, she points out, is the woman’s new psychiatrist, who prescribed medication with dangerous side-effects and a controversial therapeutic method that puts patients through “their own personal hell.” The scene captures everything Evil does best, suggesting that although exorcisms are scientifically unproven, sometimes the treatment that works can’t be explained by science.

Evil handles real-world biases between psychology and religion with respect, and takes an honest approach to difficult moral questions not often seen on television. The friendship between a devout Catholic who became an atheist and an addict who joined the church in search of stability allows for a sincere discourse on the ethics of exorcisms, the hypocritical nature of miracles, the importance of empathy, and the value of having faith—whether it’s in a higher power, your family, or science.

While there are a few shortcomings and disappointing reveals, Evil’s writing, acting, and costuming are the perfect balance of hilarious and terrifying. Effectively creepy and hilarious, the show offers a much-needed subversion of old tropes and a cast of lovable main and side characters who are as relatable as they are ridiculous.

Evil is available on multiple streaming platforms, including Paramount+, Netflix, and Prime.