The gripping episode "How to Slaughter a Pig" from Evil's Season 4, Episode 3, kicks off with David (portrayed by Mike Colter) revisiting the eerie facility from last week. Father Dominic (Chukwudi Iwuji) strides into the room, a somber indication that LeConte's presence, for now, seems but a fleeting memory. David's hands unwrap an envelope, divulging coordinates to a "situation" that the Church yearns for a glimpse into, and David is their chosen conduit.
Father Dominic engages in a ritualistic exercise, drawing a line on the floor, termed "Stepping into the target," emphasizing that the mind awakens as the body crosses that invisible threshold. The fate of eight devoted Christian missionaries hangs in the balance, yet when David obediently steps over, his vision remains devoid of insight.
Kristen (Katja Herbers), David, and Ben (Aasif Mandvi) embark on a mission to unravel the mystery surrounding a pig farm rumored to churn out "possessed pork." Consumers of the farm's products have exhibited erratic, violent behavior, though Kristen speculates it could merely be the latest viral "challenge" circulating online.
Arriving at the farm, they encounter Chet (Tony Plana), his son Anthony (Joshua de Jesus), and a cacophony of agitated pigs, their squeals piercing the air. An unfortunate mishap sees Kristen slice her leg on a pen door, exacerbating the pigs' frenzy. To add fuel to the fire, the neighboring farmer has been spying on both properties with drones, alerted by the pigs' tunneling beneath the fence. Nightfall brings whispers of Anthony darting across the farm, limbs akimbo, a spectacle that only deepens the enigma.
A glimmer of clarity surfaces when Anthony seeks solace with the Trio of God, a rogue band of self-proclaimed "exorcists" that evoke David's profound disdain.
After a hiatus, the iconic Kurt Alert returns with renewed vigor, providing a jolt of excitement. In a therapeutic session, Dr. Kurt (Kurt Fuller), his intentions hopefully genuine yet tinged with uncertainty, apologizes profusely to Kristen for his past conduct. He divulges that his back pain treatment led to hallucinations, orchestrated by a therapist named Leland (Michael Emerson).
Dr. Kurt's commitment to Kristen's well-being is palpable as he urges her to resume weekly sessions and discards his eccentric belongings, once used for his bizarre book, after her departure. His eagerness could stem from genuine concern or an ulterior motive, leaving viewers to ponder the true nature of his intentions. My gut leans towards the former, but with Evil's track record of unpredictable twists, my predictions have proven as fickle as the wind.
One certainty emerges: Dr. Kurt's receptionist is in cahoots with Leland, alerting him of Kurt's sudden purge, setting the stage for an intricate dance of deception and revelation yet to unfold.
Ben, armed with Ziprasidone and a camera, embarks on a quest to quantify the extent of his djinn sightings, determined to banish the spectral presence through the lens of science. His room remains adorned with banners, serving as a dual-pronged strategy alongside his antipsychotic medication, to gauge the djinn's presence and clarity.
In the solitude of his quarters, David's prayers are interrupted by a familiar angelic vision, this time accompanied by the Ethiopian flag and the haunting images of multiple bodies, eerily echoing Father Dominic's dire tale. Later, as they convene, David confides in the priest about his vision, his heart heavy with the hatred it ignited. Father Dominic, tracing the Sign of the Cross, dispels the illusion as PSI—Perfect Sight Illusion—revealing it as a glimpse into a general's barracks, where David momentarily became the very personification of salvation for eight priests trapped within. David, frustrated, insists that his visions of Hell and the end of days are mere phantasmagoria, unreliable beacons. Father Dominic, desperation etched on his face, insists, "They are if they're all I've got!" as David storms off.
Meanwhile, in the office, Sheryl (Christine Lahti), a force to be reckoned with, rallies the troops, celebrating their achievements while singling out Leslie (Molly Brown), the pregnant surrogate carrying the Antichrist's child, for her extraordinary role. Sheryl's vendetta against Leland finally gains traction, but her unpredictable nature clouds the horizon with uncertainty.
Suddenly, Leslie's pregnancy takes an unexpected turn, her waters breaking amidst a flurry of activity as she's rushed to DF's secluded facility. Sheryl and Leslie share a moment of dread as they witness strange, ominous movements beneath Leslie's skin, as if something within strives to break free. Sheryl's panicked screams summon a nurse, and lo and behold, it's Nurse Bloch (Tara Summers), a menacing figure from the past, returned from the depths of Season One, where she subjected David to a nightmarish hospital ordeal. Her mere presence spells danger, and as she administers an unknown substance into Leslie's IV, sedating her almost instantly, the air thickens with foreboding, reminding us that Nurse Bloch's touch is never without consequences.
As Leslie awakens later, her ears inadvertently pick up snippets of a sinister conversation between Leland and Nurse Bloch, their words muffled yet her eyes betraying her horror as they widen in disbelief. Swiftly, she feigns slumber, her heart pounding as the curtain is drawn aside, revealing nothing but her pretended peace. Sheryl emerges from the bathroom's sanctuary, only to find the ominous duo vanished into thin air.
Leslie, shaken to her core, whispers her fears to Sheryl, claiming that Leland and Nurse Bloch conspire to slay her and offer her flesh as sustenance for the dreaded Antichrist. Sheryl, seeking clarity, confronts Nurse Bloch, who, with her insidious, phony smile and those infuriatingly squeaky shoes, merely acknowledges their conversation's existence while dismissing the grotesque accusation with a wave of her hand. My contempt for that nurse knows no bounds!
Leland, reappearing to visit Leslie, verifies her chilling eavesdropping, but twists the tale, revealing that it is Kristen, her biological mother, who stands as the intended nourishment for the Antichrist's dark designs. He pleads for Leslie's assistance, his words sending shivers down her spine. Nurse Bloch interrupts, pulling Leland away, their subsequent whispers hushed yet menacing as they turn to beam eerie smiles at Leslie, sealing her fate in panic.
Fleeing the confines of that grim facility, Leslie's desperation propels her to make a frantic call to Kristen, invoking the nurse's name as the catalyst that finally prompts Kristen's reluctant intervention. Leslie is rescued, transported to a genuine hospital where she can safely bring forth her child.
In the tense atmosphere of the delivery room, Leslie's pleas for Kristen's presence are fraught with terror. Kristen, initially hesitant and hovering at the threshold, is eventually drawn to Leslie's side, guiding her through the arduous birthing process. The scene crackles with intensity, briefly plunging us into the abyss of a feared stillbirth, only for the baby's wails to shatter the silence, relentless until Kristen, against her will, takes him in her arms. Instantly, the cries cease, leaving us to ponder—is this mere maternal instinct honed by four previous births, or a mystical bond forged by blood as the Antichrist's mother?
Within the confines of the car, Kristen and David's dispute over their individual truths escalated, their voices rising in a heated exchange. David stood firm in his spiritual convictions, while Kristen steadfastly argued the improvements in her life since forgoing church visits with her children. The tension simmered until Ben's sudden interjection disrupted the flow, revealing his encounters with a djinn. In turn, David confessed the Entity's resurgence in his life, experimenting with remote viewing, where he bore witness to slaughter and channeled the fury and malice of a dictator. Ben leaned forward, a wry smile on his lips, quipping, "We're a messed-up trio, that's for sure." Yet, Kristen countered with a fierce determination, demanding David halt the car as they all embraced, a heartwarming moment that diffused the tension and underscored their profound bond amidst their differences.
The revelation about the pigs' aggressive demeanor—a result of "feedback," or the macabre practice of feeding the carcasses of deceased pigs to the living—offered a chilling insight, though it barely scratched the surface of the demonic-like swine that had nearly claimed Ben's life during his foray into the field. This revelation only solidified Ben and David's decision to sever ties with the farm, symbolically tearing up the nondisclosure agreements that had bound them to silence.
"How to Slaughter a Pig" ticked all the boxes of an exceptional Evil episode: a captivating mystery, rich in lore, laced with eerie moments, and a touch of campy charm, all intertwined with heartfelt sweetness. Despite my initial disdain for her, Nurse Bloch's reappearance delighted me, hinting at the weaving of new storylines and the potential return of past characters in the weeks ahead. Season 4 is undeniably heating up, and I eagerly anticipate the unfolding drama to come.
