The profoundly satisfying and perplexing halfway point between “Law and Order” and “Hannibal,” “Evil” follows a team of researchers employed by the Catholic Church who investigate supernatural occurrences. Like “Law and Order,” it’s fun to watch charming actors play endearing characters who are good at their jobs. Like “Hannibal,” it’s scary and perplexing and works overtime to slip under your skin and make you itch. “Evil” is such a great show that you sometimes forget about its capacity to terrify and bewilder — so many of the mysteries the core team investigates remain deliberately unresolved, a dangling ellipsis that never confirms if they’re dealing with the supernatural or something very human. That balance, so carefully maintained, gives the show its power. The characters driven by faith read each storyline one way, the secular characters offer their own perspective, and the series blurs the lines between the two outlooks. Does it really matter if the cause is a destructive human or a demon? What defines evil in the first place?
With the series coming to an end, I wonder if the show will finally “pick a side,” so to speak. But I hope not. “Evil” is at its best when it leaves you slightly exasperated and infuriated, not entirely sure what you just watched, but aware that you’ll be picking it apart for some time. It’s twisted, scary, thoughtful, and wily (and very, very modern in its targets and subject matter). The television landscape will be lesser without “Evil.”
Paramount+ hasn’t revealed exactly when the final season will premiere in May, but we’ll keep you posted.