As the curtain drew to a close at the tail end of last week's episode, the police escorted Timothy to Kristen's (Katja Herbers') doorstep, leaving us on the precipice of a decision: whether Kristen would embrace him into her home or consign him to foster care. The suspense hung thick in the air until the screen went dark. Fast-forwarding to the dawn of Evil's season 4, episode 11, titled "Fear of the Future," we discover that Kristen's heart prevailed, choosing to nurture Timothy under her roof.
The scene opens on a haunting choral melody, fading into the haggard visage of Leland (Michael Emerson), imprisoned within the confines of his cell. His misery is palpable, and we find a twisted satisfaction in witnessing his plight. Amidst a cacophony of fellow inmates, Leland's eye catches a faint horizontal line etched on the floor. He took a bold step and attempted to cross over to David's territory, but was instantly drowned out by the exciting marching band music. He staggered into the arms of another memory, followed by a heavy punch that knocked him ruthlessly. Knocked to the ground.
The narrative then seamlessly shifts to Dr. Kurt (Kurt Fuller), his mission to deliver Sheryl's envelope to Andy at his rehab sanctuary. As he slides the envelope beneath the door, an unintended nudge sends it swinging open, revealing a naked woman clad in a tiger mask amidst the bed, while a surprise guest in a gorilla mask lurks behind her. Dr. Kurt's apology is met with a hasty retreat, the envelope abandoned on the floor. Andy (Patrick Brammall), a picture of embarrassment, sheds his gorilla disguise as the frame once again plunges into darkness.
Next, we are introduced to David (Mike Colter), the newly appointed Pastor following Father Ignatius' (Wallace Shawn) retirement. David's appointment, however, is tinged with reluctance, labeling it a "Black Bluff" – a tactic where a struggling parish brings in a Black leader to maintain a veneer of diversity.
At Sheryl's post-funeral gathering, guests toast her memory with libations and reminiscences. Kristen finds solace in a newfound bond with Ellie (Anna Chlumsky), who recalls Sheryl's babysitting days and seeks refuge from the crowd in the kitchen. As Ellie ascends to the bathroom, she happens upon Laura (Dalya Knapp) in her bedroom, admiring the artwork adorning the walls. Ellie encourages Laura to pursue her artistic dreams, confessing her own thwarted aspirations, overshadowed by her mother's expectations of a more conventional path.
Deep in the heart of the kitchen, Kristen's voice echoes, probing David about his eulogy's sincerity—the assertion that Sheryl now resides in heaven's embrace. David's response is steadfast, a quiet affirmation of his belief. Kristen's interrogation intensifies, challenging the notion that mere profession of faith in Jesus grants absolution for heinous acts like murder and betrayal. David counters, weaving a tale of complexity, hinting at nuances beyond simplistic redemption.
Kristen finds solace in David's unwavering faith, yet at times, he remains an enigmatic figure, a relic from medieval times, shrouded in mystery.
Meanwhile, within the hallowed walls of the courtroom, Leland's fate hangs in the balance as he confronts his legal representative: Henry Stick (played by the eccentric John Carroll Lynch), a man whose clumsiness and ill-fated hairdo seem to mirror his struggles with even the simplest tasks, like opening a briefcase. The judge's (Richard Kind's stern visage) denial of pretrial freedom, coupled with news of the People Juice prisoners' demise, only fuels Leland's ire. He demands a lawyer worthy of his cause, muttering darkly about the impending arrival of "the 60" and their dire need for his guidance.
Later, amidst the aftermath of the Bouchard household gathering, Ellie's gentle hand guides Kristen through the task of tidying up, eventually leading to a heart-to-heart over a final drink. It's here where the veil of reality begins to fray. Ellie, with a subtlety that belies her words' weight, reveals that David harbors a secret love for Kristen. Kristen deflects, seeking refuge in safer topics, like the particle accelerator that heralded the season's opening.
Kristen's disbelief at the accelerator's newsworthiness is met with Ellie's cryptic prophecy, speaking of future revelations and the wonders of mini black holes tearing open wormholes to unimaginable realms. She refers to Ben with a reverence—"Ben the Magnificent"—a moniker unfamiliar to Kristen but hinting at a long-standing connection. Ellie's revelation crescendos: in six months' time, David will forsake his clerical robes to share Kristen's life, and tomorrow, Kristen will discover Andy's betrayal.
Yet, the true shocker lies ahead. Ellie peels back another layer of her identity, declaring herself to be none other than Laura—Kristen's daughter, but from three decades hence, having traversed the particle accelerator's wormhole to reach her mother's present. Kristen's disbelief turns to anger, demanding that this "Future Laura" leave her home. But her visitor persists, detailing personal milestones and tragedies—Lynn's path to the convent, Lila's crypto endeavors with her spouse, and her own rebellious aspirations towards art school, against Kristen's wishes. She cites intimate knowledge of Kristen's heart surgery and Andy's desperate actions before his rehabilitation, proof of her authentic bond. Kristen, shaken to her core, insists on her sanity and banishes this stranger from her life.
Kristen, her emotions a tumultuous mix of exhaustion and fury, collapses onto a seat as a gruesome, '70s-inspired title card slashes across the screen with a deafening thunderclap, devoid of any whimsical pop-up antics. The week's playful opening credits gag takes a dark turn, mockingly warning, "Skip the intro and the show will be cancelled…Oops," a jarring reminder of the weighty matters at hand.
In the dead of night, Kristen jolts awake to a haunting sight: Sheryl standing sentinel in the room's shadowy corner. But as her mother turns, the illusion shatters, revealing George (Fedor Steer), donning a wig and nightgown, taunting Kristen with whispers of Future Laura's fate and Andy's betrayal. Desperately trying to shake off the nightmare by wiggling her toes, Kristen watches in horror as George violently rocks Timothy's cradle, his eerie rendition of "Rock-a-Bye Baby" echoing through the room.
Finally breaking free from the nightmare's grasp, Kristen immediately dials Andy's rehab center, her voice steady but masking a seething rage. Andy's confession of an encounter with another woman sets her composure ablaze. Upon arriving, Kristen maintains a veneer of calm, but it shatters as she listens to Andy's feeble explanations. Without hesitation, she sweeps the contents of his table to the floor, her anger escalating when Andy dares to mention her own encounter with David. In a fit of rage, she smashes his laptop, gathers scattered family photos, and announces, with finality, that she will no longer finance his stay at the facility before storming out.
Meanwhile, Stick visits Leland in prison, armed with damning evidence from Sheryl—proof of Leland's gruesome experiments involving draining the blood and brains of his captives. Proposing the insanity defense as a way out, Stick suggests it could lead to Leland being prescribed medication and a swifter release. However, Dr. Kurt remains skeptical, refusing to endorse the plan. But Leland, ever cunning, wields his influence, threatening Dr. Kurt with the loss of book sales, his reputation, and even his life. The scene hangs precariously, leaving little doubt that Leland's days behind bars may be numbered given the doctor's apparent malleability.
Kristen stumbles into the house, her emotions frayed and raw. Ben, amidst fixing the shattered windows left by last week's catastrophic storm, immediately senses her distress and wraps her in a comforting embrace. As they cling to each other, Kristen's voice trembles as she recounts the revelation from Future Laura about the secret affair, unaware that their daughters eavesdrop intently from the upstairs.
Gathering her composure, Kristen ascends the stairs, only to be confronted by her girls, who have gathered in her room, their eyes brimming with questions and concerns about the enigmatic Laura, the surgery, and the looming possibility of a divorce from Andy. Kristen insists that the woman was delusional, yet the girls' skepticism lingers, particularly over how she seemed to know so much. She soothes their worries, but once they disperse, Kristen's fury takes over, as she frantically gathers Andy's belongings, tossing them into a box labeled with scathing contempt.
Ben, determined to mend the rift between David and Kristen, urges David to visit her, but he hesitates, haunted by his own demons. Frustrated, Ben departs, leaving David to confront a vision of Kristen, a demonic incarnation dressed in a schoolgirl's attire, perched at his desk, her words laced with suggestive innuendos about his feelings for her.
David eventually yields, making his way to Kristen's office where the air is thick with an unspoken tension, palpable as Sheryl's impenetrable attire. The scene unfolds with cinematic finesse, capturing the slow dance of their bodies as they inch closer, their embrace tightening in a series of exquisitely choreographed shot-reverse shots. Just as the moment threatens to consume them, Kristen pulls back, suggesting he leave. The near-miss leaves a palpable charge hanging in the air.
Later, the church's lawyer, Mr. Flowers (Reg Rogers), interrupts David's thoughts with grim news: the Archdiocese has decided to discontinue the assessor program, effectively ending Ben and Kristen's employment. Financial struggles have forced the parish to prioritize a spiritual call center over the assessments. David bears the burden of delivering this news to Ben, choosing to spare Kristen for the moment, and the two men drown their sorrows in a few well-deserved beers.
Ben confronts David with a poignant question, querying the very essence of his vocation as a priest, vehemently arguing that David and Kristen are destined for each other, their hearts entwined in a tapestry of love. This sequence transcends mere dialogue; it's a fiery clash between faith and skepticism, faith personified in David and skepticism embodied by Ben. David's soliloquy, raw and unfiltered, resonates deeply as he confesses his daily turmoil, bound by a vow to God amidst his yearning for Kristen. He passionately declares his weariness with the world's broken promises and the omnipresent specter of evil, vowing not to shatter his commitment, even if it shatters him or leaves him longing for Kristen's embrace. Mike Colter's portrayal in this scene is nothing short of magnificent, perhaps his finest hour in the series, drawing out every nuance with impeccable finesse.
Laura's world is disrupted by a knock at the door, revealing not just a visitor but a glimpse into her own future. Future Laura stands there, seeking Kristen or Lexis, both of whom are absent. Her gift for Timothy serves as a pretext, but Laura's skepticism is palpable as she interrogates her own future self with shrewd questions. The authenticity of Future Laura's identity is affirmed by a trivia question from school days, yet Laura's vigilance remains unwavering. Allowing Future Laura entry, albeit reluctantly, Laura's curiosity gets the better of her as she snaps a photo of the license plate on her future self's car, a subtle act of preparation amidst the mystery.
Meanwhile, in a courtroom drama of a different kind, Stick's summons takes an ominous turn. Leland, already frayed at the edges, is met with a shocking revelation – his lawyer has been replaced by a towering demon, a grotesque specter of terror. This demon, my personal favorite in the series' pantheon of horrors, is a monstrous amalgamation of chained corpses and a grotesque face, seemingly stitched together from the agonized expressions of countless deceased souls. Its threat to Leland is chilling, promising to feast on his brains like a savory broth if he dares to seek another counsel. Leland's realization that this demonic Stick is the harbinger of evil descending upon New York sends him scurrying to retract his request, his fear palpable in every hurried gesture.
It transpired that the innocuous onesie Future Laura had brought for Timothy was fatally laced with poison, and the sleek automobile she piloted was nothing but a stolen conveyance. Late into the night, as Lynn patrolled outdoors, armed with her demon-detecting app, Future Laura materialized once more, her agenda resolute: to confront Lexis. Brandishing a menacing box cutter, she disclosed a chilling prophecy – in the future, Lexis and Timothy would embark on a devastating path, igniting a war that would lay waste to the very fabric of Earth.
Lynn, swift and cunning, evaded harm's way just in time, as Future Laura stormed into the house, her target clear – Timothy, who lay vulnerable in Kristen's room. In that chamber, George's cruel game of sleep paralysis held Kristen captive, popcorn in hand as he gloated. Yet, Future Laura's sinister plan to suffocate Timothy with a pillow was abruptly halted by Present Laura's intervention, an air horn blast ringing out, jolting Kristen awake and empowering her to retaliate with a stun gun.
The tense sequence unfolded with a breathtaking suspense, underscored by a spine-tingling choral chant that amplified every heartbeat. As David and Ben arrived, too late to warn of the tainted onesie, Future Laura seized her moment, escaping through the bedroom window, leaving chaos in her wake.
Kristen and David's return to the rehab facility found Andy's room vacant, its occupant having fled with Ellie – his newfound love and the true culprit behind the stolen car. The nurse presented David with a USB drive, Ellie's constant companion, revealing Sheryl's dire warnings about an impending apocalypse entwined with Lexis and Timothy. The layers of Laura's facade peeled back, revealing Andy's fabricated tales of his daughters' lives.
Outside, David's revelation of the assessor program's termination met with Kristen's exasperated disbelief, her scoff a testament to the turmoil within. Though the heart whispered the truth – that no wormhole could facilitate Future Laura's mission to avert disaster – the masterful storytelling kept me enthralled, each twist tightening the noose around 'Fear of the Future.'
As the first of Evil's final quartet of episodes, the stakes are high, and the narrative weaves a intricate web, leaving ample room for closure yet teasing possibilities of a renewal on another streaming platform. The series' soaring popularity on streaming platforms fosters a glimmer of hope, but for the moment, we eagerly await the unfolding of the remaining three chapters, each one a pivotal piece in the grand finale.
