Scenes from movies and television that once inspired fear—the laughter of a demon possessing a girl’s body, the dark prophecies about the number 666, the preacher warning a frightened congregation about the “Father of Lies”—now seem dated. increase.
Described as “‘X-Files’ meets ‘The Exorcist,'” the stylish sequence follows the adventures of Roman Catholic priest David (Mike Colter) and skeptic-turned-Christen (Kacha Habers) is. Clinical psychologist Ben (Aasif Mandvi) is a tech-savvy atheist who investigates mysterious events on behalf of the Catholic Church. Their mission is to uncover and verify alleged miracles, demonic possessions, and other unexplained phenomena.
But “evil” is more than brutal entertainment. In three ways, it also offers an unlikely rescue from some of the most terrifying divisions that divide America.
Shows that you don’t have to be obsessed with politics
The inability to summon and fight priests is a form of modern-day possession.
Friends and relatives fall down the political rabbit hole. They get into political conspiracy theories. They obsessively watch cable news. I can’t recognize people I once knew, so I can’t talk to them about politics or religion anymore.
When modern politics is reduced to fighting good versus evil, it’s hard to find examples of people who aren’t divided by their differences.
Not so with “evil”. Her three main characters in the show are divided by race, culture, and religious beliefs. Yet they deeply respect, listen to, and support each other. they change each other’s minds. they make each other laugh. The warmth of their friendship is one of the pillars of the show.
In one of the key scenes of “Evil’s” third season, Catholic priest David takes skeptical psychologist Kristen aside to mend a crack.
“I know you don’t believe in God, but I do,” he tells her. When demands something from me, I must obey.”
“I wish you would understand,” she said, almost crying.
David assures her that she does not have to understand or adopt his faith. It means that there is
In today’s polarized cultural climate, that scene could be considered a miracle.
In crafty ways, the show offers an alternative model of how people in modern America can remain intimate even when they disagree.
“It was intentional,” says Robert King, part of the husband and wife team that created and produced “Evil.” (Robert and his wife, Michelle King, are also the creators of his two acclaimed series, “The Good Wife” and “The Good Fight.”)
Michelle is the child of a Holocaust survivor. She believes she provides answers to what science and psychology call evil.
Her husband has different beliefs.
“I come from a Catholic family,” says Robert King, who believes in personal evil and demons. “I believe the world is under the umbrella of original sin.”
Their series reflects the couple’s relationship. Robert is Roman Catholic and Michelle is a secular Jew. During their 30-year marriage, they have debated many of the issues covered on the show.
“I wanted to show that people can have different perspectives on faith and still have meaningful dialogue,” said Robert King.
In an age of absolutes, it embraces ambivalence
There was a time when the rise of the Internet was greeted with optimism. The commercial enthusiastically portrayed the ‘global village’. Proponents said it brings the world closer together. That belief seems as outdated as the classic horror movie The Creature from the Black Lagoon.
There is growing recognition that social media can harm people’s mental health and threaten democracy. The rise of the internet has even cemented dictatorship through what some call “digital authoritarianism.”
One of the things that makes Evil so effective is that it blends traditional horror elements with modern evils that lurk online.
In one episode, a priest is believed to have been possessed. But the real culprit is online he is a gambling addict.
In another example, two boys are threatened by an entity that stalks them at night. However, the malicious originator turned out to be someone who wanted to make himself known on his platform, Social, a thinly disguised version of TikTok.
The show addresses contemporary fears such as gun violence, racism, and the fear that women are no longer in control of their bodies, heightened by the overthrow of Roe v. Wade.
It does this by shoving its message into a chilling and unpredictable storyline. It makes room for the existence of personal evil. The show also incorporates ambivalence. Some seemingly supernatural events turn out to have rational explanations, while others are open to explanation.
He said the show reflects today’s political climate, where people often disagree on basic facts. Some say the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Others do not. Some believe that the fetus has a soul. Others do not. Some believe the news is fake. Others do not.
The show affirms both believers and non-believers, he says.
“It made ambivalence a mode of entertainment,” he says. “That’s the beauty of entertainment. It’s a great way to intervene in these questions and allow[the audience]to think about it individually at home.”
It portrays organized religion as a force for good, not just a division
“All heroes finally get bored.”
This quote from 19th-century philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson reflects a truism about the horror genre. People are more attracted to villains than heroes. His horror franchises such as ‘Alien’, ‘Predator’, ‘Halloween’ and the Hannibal Lecter franchise are built around villains. Many actors say they’d rather play villains than heroes.
Those who try to portray goodness in faith shows face another challenge. It is a growing distrust of organized religion. Clergy sex scandals in the Roman Catholic Church, the rise of white Christian nationalism, and church schisms over issues such as racism and abortion are turning many Americans away from organized religion.
But “evil” does bold things. It depicts institutional religion as a force for good. Its main character is a devout Catholic priest, and primarily portrays believers of the Catholic Church as good and well-meaning people.
“The show isn’t just about the supernatural, it’s about hope,” Faust told CNN. That’s why I think I do. [the show] It makes you think about what really makes you happy. ”
One critic believes the show’s portrayal of David helps enhance the image of the Catholic leader.
The series also makes goodness compelling through the character of Sister Andrea, a small, unremarkable nun who is often seen holding a broom. Yet she’s also the show’s spiritual powerhouse, someone whose white-hot faith makes the devil tremble.
Sister Andrea may have been portrayed in a divine way, but she’s one of the funniest and likable characters on the show.
Michelle King credits the character’s appeal to the actress Andrea Martin, who plays her.
Neither can it be “evil”, at least for now. The show has been renewed for a fourth season.
It’s fitting that the show airs on Sunday night. It offers something for those who believe that humanity remains “under the umbrella of original sin,” as Robert King puts it. It also offers something for those more concerned about the horrors of the modern world.
A TV show speaks to so many people at such a divided time in our history, explaining how we can disagree without becoming mortal enemies. It’s not bad when you can. It’s good.
Source: www.cnn.com
