Horror has finally grown up. No more zombie knockoffs, with shock shots and gross-out things to cause viewers to scream. Some of the episodes were more disturbing than anything I've seen in a long time - the virtual reality goggles segment, the multiple personalities woman in Vatican III, the mother-babysitter's irresponsibility, the masked little girl persuading the kids to play "Funeral", etc.
It's still not clear what the show's attitude on the supernatural, religion, the Catholic Church, and psychology is: is it trying to present little slivers of unexplainable occurrences without really committing to "yes, there are indeed demons and all the stuff the exorcists believe"? Or is it debunking them? That tension, and how it keeps seesawing between those points of view, keeps the show going - that and the recurring evil characters, especially Leland, who (to me) is scary in his utter lack of scariness. He's terrific in embodying evil in a soft-spoken and likeable man, and then he starts talking and you realize that he's effortlessly one of the worst people on TV.
One of the underlying themes of the show seems to be that with or without a supernatural element, there are people in the world who want to do evil things. So this means that it isn't necessary to have a supernatural connection or demon connected to every character or plot line, which makes this, as the title says, a show not about ghosties or beasties but about evil itself - what does it look like and how does it act?
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MotoMike3 December 2019
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I love this show... Great story with a lot of scary Scenes... The acting is excellent all the way around. Doesn't get to corny or political. But... Those 4-girls and the All the Screaming is soo annoying! Why does the Director insist on all the screaming over and over. I cringe every time I see these girls. Why? Maybe just one time it might be funny. But every time? Why?
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Skyblue901257 October 2020I like the show, it's fun and entertaining.
But
How many times do the writers think they need to remind us that the girls all talk over each other and scream. With few exceptions their lines descend into a cacophony of gibberish. Sure, I know real kids do that but why do we have to be subjected to it repeatedly in every episode?
On the other hand, I think this aspect of the story is a good way to promote birth control. -
imdborphan15 January 2020I had given up on network television, finally cancelling cable/satellite/live altogether two years ago. This show really intrigued me, so, against my better judgement, I am now paying to watch it. The fresh writing, unique perspective and curious nature of the show had me hooked, and I binged eight episodes at once! It is addictive.
One reason for the success is that the lead actress is simply a star (rare to find someone not just likable but also inherently watchable). She could carry this show on her own, sure shoulders, but her chemistry with her partner is off the charts. The whole team works very well together; the cringe is minimal, storylines solid, humor top notch, and it changes the game where the stodgy procedural is concerned.
Everything I have ever loved on network TV has been cancelled; I still pine for shows ten years' gone. I paid for this, signed up for this IMDb account to write a review, and am sharing this with you in hope that this smart, creepy and fun show is given a chance...by its overlords and potential viewers. Watch two episodes. You'll be hooked! -
kskehan-6374211 October 2019It is a very interesting show with the supernatural twist on it. It is intelligent and just good. I hope CBS really gives this a chance, they put it in tough time slot against the NFL and great Shows. It just needs time. I look forward to Watching it!
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odead8227 September 2019So I was skeptical about this show at first but I'm glad I watched it, it was creepy and engrossing and I like the direction it took, In the vain of X-Files and "true crime" style shows, this mixes them together very well with good lead characters. Hopefully a show with so much potential will stick around for awhile.
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newpapyrus29 October 2019After watching five episodes, Evil has turned out to be a surprisingly good show with very interesting principal characters and minor characters-- including the children.
While suspected supernatural occurrences in each episode are usually rationally explained, there are also strong hints of supernatural forces at work. And that makes this show both interesting and rather unnerving.
I really hope Evil gets a second season! -
NickAMG20 June 2022The show is pretty good, except the way they've written the kids is mind-numbingly overbearing and quite unrealistic. Almost every scene with them is a babbling noise of choreographed arguing. It's just too much!
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emanuelasmith16 August 2022It's a great, quirky and dark show. But I have to turn the volume HELLA down every time the girls screech. Then turn it back up to hear what they're saying.
It's 2022, can we please equalise sound a bit? It's seriously so aggravating. -
Havishamesque23 November 2019Please, for the love of anything holy, shut the kids up. Do they really need to shriek and scream All. The. Time??
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Ed-Shullivan27 September 2019A perfect 10 for 10 rating
Excellent writing. Exciting plot. Great character development. I don't think a lot of people realize how difficult it must be to write, edit, direct, then perform a complete story line within a restricted 42-46 minute episodic time frame. If this the pilot episode is an example of what we can expect each week then count me in.
Lead actress Katja Herbers has proven once again that she cannot be pigeon holed nor type cast in any way. She possesses chameleon like attributes that allow her to seamlessly slip into one characters skin and then into another characters skin as if she was born to play any part. In Evil, Katja Herbers plays psychologist Dr. Kristen Bouchard who works as an independent contractor mainly working for the prosecution to bring criminals to justice. She is approached by another independent contractor named David Dacosta (Mike Colter) who works for the Roman Catholic Church to assess whether people are actually possessed by a demon of some kind or if there is a logical and/or scientific explanation for what would otherwise be considered an unexplained phenomenon. David Dacosta also is assisted by Ben Shakir (Aasif Mandvi) who is another non believer in demons and whose role is to dig deep into what may have caused someone to believe they are possessed.
There are some really lame films and television series that attempt to address the super natural but Evil is at the top of the class for holding great suspense, intrigue and is complimented by some superb acting. If this the pilot episode is an example of what we can expect then count me in as a true believer.
A perfect 10 out of 10 rating -
skt946-149-66792124 December 2019Really like the show except for the most annoying thing on this show. When the 4 girls are all babbling and bickering all at once like cackling hens without coming up for air, especially the youngest one, ANNOYING as hell (no pun intended).
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It's watchable and the acting is decent.
But the story is extremely bland.
There's so much potential with stories about heaven and hell, Good and evil.. but this so bland.
Every episode is about some new haunting or possession.. it completely takes away from the seriousness of the subject matter. And there's always some silly explanation as to why its happening. If your story is about heaven and hell dig into that subject matter, add something to the lore, don't just blame a water pipe, or some other logical reason for the phenomena. Sometimes they don't even explain it at all.. Like I said the show is watchable but I'm only watching it because I just paid for now t.v and couldn't find any of the shows I thought were on this streaming service.
4/10 and that's because I enjoy this subject matter. -
Joulin-1300510 July 2022Evil is one of the most well written shows I've seen in a while . A common source of tension in the show is scientific notions of reality versus religious perspectives and practices. The show excels at creating mystery by leaving many questions unanswered and open to interpretation. What seems to be dark spiritual forces at play, sometimes has a rational explanation. But more often than not is the result of spiritual malevolence. Evil does a wide range of horror tropes in a way that is both fresh and absolutely terrifying. I really hope Evil doesn't get canned.
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Well written, well executed with excellent actors. I don't usually go for scary stuff, but the show is that good, I am hooked. Two problems mar the scenery. First, the daughters. Maybe the writers have kids who act like this so they think it's normal. It is not. It's awful, distracting, annoying and overdone. Ever since the beginning of season 1, when they come on the sound is off. Hurray for mute and subtitles. 90% of reviews have the same complaint but apparently the writers don't care if we hate it.
Second problem is the neverending saga of the same bad guy. Michael Emerson is a really good actor, but come on. If there will be a season 4 please freshen it up with a new antagonist.
Finally, the train. It has been clearly stated that the train passes three times a day. But every time the scene moves to Kristen's house the we have to listen to the train. Kristen arrjves home. Train. Scene wih kids. Train. Sheryl in the yard. Train. Kristen trying to sleep. Train. So, as wih the kids, less is more. -
dyvigil30 December 2019It's a really good show but those kids are so damn annoying!!! They need to go!!!
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mellissacousins28 January 2020Brilliant series! Has you wanting more after each episode. Haven't watch a series this good in a long while and pretty scary too on some episodes. I hope this series continues as I am currently left wanting more!!
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jon_anderson778 August 2023So we started watching this last week having put it off for a couple of years and have binged through a season and a half. Season 1 was great. An X Files type affair but centered around the Catholic church / religion. This was straightforward and worked well as a semi serious drama and I suspect most of the good reviews on IMDB are based on this first season but season 2 takes a weird turn and the show has become a really odd and quirky mess that borders on farce. The female lead is a murderer, the male lead is almost redundant as a character, the comedy relief skeptic is dating a woman who has a supernatural twin sister and all 3 of them regularly see demons and creatures yet never mention this to each other despite what they do for a living. None of this lends to the show in a good way. The writers really changed direction and it's more of Grimm type show now for fantasy and Sci Fi fans which is a shame as the format of season one was so much better. We've stuck with it but not really sure why as it's already passed the point of plausibility. Don't even get me started on the plotline with her mother. Ridiculous.
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LOVE this show!!! Binge watched for 3 days. You never know where it's going next! Only complaint is, PLEASE for the love of God, give those 4 girls some chill in 1 scene!!! WE GET IT. 4 girls is chaos. But every scene?! Just stop. Great story lines & highly recommend
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PowergirlsMom10 January 2020This show is imaginative, in a horror movie kind of way. It is well-acted. But I am worn out on Moriarty-type characters that never get caught. Unbeatable evil that is everywhere and seemingly unstoppable. I don't think I can stand to watch. Nothing is ever really resolved.
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Her-Excellency11 August 2022DEFINITELY one of the best shows on right now. I would actually gauge it ALMOST up there with Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul in the entertainment and intelligence factor with that bit of humor mixed in. Sadly, for those less-evolved, there is a lot to hate about it: a good-looking black male lead; an adorable, but strong, female lead; a muslim protagonist and character ... whew! I can practically see the "love" melting the faces off of those who probably still have bumper stickers and flags on their vehicles while they stomp and stutter about "Hollyweird" and how there's nothing "original" on or made anymore. :) Well, THIS is original, and it is GREAT.
If there is ONE issue with it, it is something other reviewers have mentioned: the main character's daughters SQUEALING in unison almost every given time that they are on screen together. It was cute to begin with, when they were smaller, and given that at times a house full of girls may sound like that, but the showrunners push it way too far now, and it can get annoying. Barring that, this is definitely a show to watch! -
texasreaderstacy9 July 2022This show is unique and gives several points of view on what's evil. But, the one very irritating aspect of this show, is her 4 daughters who are always loud and yelling over each other. It's obnoxious. I me the tv when they appear.
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matthew-4124331 December 2019Ok show but I turned off due to the kids screaming all the time. Just no need! Seems a lot of people have the same problem looking at the reviews. Bin the kids!!!
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esmith-997499 October 2020Please stop the girls doing that annoying rambling they do every time there is a scene with them. It is over done..
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UniqueParticle24 January 2020Katja Herbers is great and the way Evil is filmed is captivating! I'm late to watching the series but I'll definitely watch the rest. I love anything with psychological horror, supernatural, and creatures I'm so in plus it's very well written! Also in my opinion there's not enough horror shows out there, I need them.