The haunting premiere of Evil's Season 4, Episode 5 commences with Kristen (Katja Herbers), accompanied by her daughters, navigating the treacherous journey home from visiting Andy, who's voluntarily sequestered himself in a facility following the tumultuous events of the past week. The girls' innocent queries echo through the car: "Is Dad crazy?" "Are we the reason?" Kristen, her voice laced with reassurance yet tinged with uncertainty, assures them that Andy will be alright, though her own doubts linger like a shadow.
Upon their return, the girls concur that their father's demeanor was far from his usual self, while Kristen retreats to the bathroom, turning on the faucet as a veil to mask the sobs that wrack her body. In that secluded space, the Demon of Grief lurks, attempting a furtive embrace that's abruptly disrupted by a call from David (Mike Colter), his voice urgent with news of a botched exorcism.
The victim, Vicki (Mary Cavett), a flight attendant, has inflicted grievous harm upon herself, her wrists slashed in a desperate act. Kristen, David, and Ben (Aasif Mandvi), as the designated assessors, are summoned to salvage the Church's legal standing, a task complicated by Father Jeffries' (Darrin Baker) unilateral decision to conduct the exorcism without their consent. Mr. Flowers (Reg Rogers), the Church's counsel, lays down the gauntlet: unless they can substantiate a spiritual rationale for the intervention, the Church stands accused of premature action.
Vicki, though expected to pull through, bears the telltale signs of her ordeal—vicious boils marring her back. Her husband, Marcus (Bryce Pinkham), a pilot by profession, recounts their unconventional lifestyle, their shifts keeping them apart, even in sleep. He remains unscathed by his uniform, a stark contrast to Vicki's plight. He further reveals Vicki's self-harming tendencies and her habit of leaving her uniform at a "crash pad"—a sanctuary for weary pilots and attendants between flights.
Kristen, David, and Ben embark on a mission to the crash pad, seeking clues amidst the chaos. As they approach the door, Ben senses Kristen's turmoil, gently challenging her denial. She finally breaks down, confiding in her friends about Andy's confinement in a psychiatric hospital. David offers solace, while Ben assures her that Andy is receiving the care he desperately needs and will eventually heal. David proposes to shoulder the assessment alone with Ben, allowing Kristen some respite, but she insists on staying engaged, determined to keep herself occupied. This fleeting moment, filled with empathy and camaraderie, underscores the profound bond that binds these characters, a testament to the show's nuanced portrayal of human connections amidst the supernatural.
As our heroes step into the crash pad, they're greeted by a lively scene of flight attendants indulging in a pre-layover revelry, their laughter and chatter echoing through the space as they unwind with drinks in hand. Amidst this revelry, they cross paths with Tori (Sydney Lemmon), a colleague of Vicki's, who shares a chilling tale.
Tori recounts a red-eye flight from Rome where Vicki confided in her, whispering of an encounter with Captain Lemire – the spectral figure of a doomed pilot whose flight plunged into the Atlantic, now haunting transatlantic flights during turbulence, seemingly seeking to repeat the tragedy. Following this spectral sighting, Vicki collapsed, her body wracked with convulsions, foam flecking her lips.
Tori delves deeper, revealing that Vicki was entrusted with relics from Rome, one of which she kept hidden, declaring, "I must destroy it, or it will consume me." The air thickens with an ominous aura, reminiscent of the sinister Evil that we all know and relish.
Marcus unveils the enigmatic relic to Kristen, David, and Ben, revealing an ancient box that houses nothing less than a fragment of wood. The revelation is all the more intriguing when Father Dominic (Chukwudi Iwuji), upon meeting Kristen and Ben at the church, firmly asserts, "There is no Entity." This raises questions: What has LeConte been up to all this while? My fingers are crossed for a swift reunion with that sly character.
As for the wooden fragment, Father Dominic declares it to be a missing piece of the True Cross – the very cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified. Our heroes are tasked with a sacred mission: to deliver this relic to the Vatican for verification.
This week's intro gag, though not as punchy as last week's, still manages to charm with its cheeky suggestion, "How to stop the haunting? Watch the intro twice." I, for one, find no need for persuasion, as the intro is a must-watch for my weekly cast research, and I'd rather avoid any spectral encounters. But beyond that, the intro music is a bona fide banger, setting the perfect tone for the spine-tingling adventures ahead.
Returning the ancient relic to the Vatican and reuniting it with the revered remnants of the True Cross might just be the ultimate exorcism Vicki requires, yet the gang's opinion isn't sought: their departure is etched in stone for the dawn of the following day. Kristen and Ben's discontent is palpable, yet Father Dement (Patrick Breen), their de facto patriarch, brooks no dissent. Kristen swiftly arranges for a babysitter in the form of Yasmine (Dana Gourrier), amid Lynn's (Brooklyn Shuck) insistence that she could attend to her younger siblings. Fate, however, steps in as Yasmine is abruptly summoned away by an emergency call, granting Lynn her moment in the spotlight.
Little do they know, chaos awaits. As Lila (Skylar Gray), Lexis (Maddy Crocco), and Laura (Dalya Knapp) unwittingly trip the circuit breaker by indulging in a trio of hairdryer sessions, the house plunges into darkness. Desperate for a solution, the girls turn to a YouTube tutorial starring the absurdly attired Bob the Built Builder, a man with suspenders and no shirt, for guidance. Lynn leads Lila to the basement on a quest for the elusive circuit box, where their conversation delves into Lynn's spiritual awakening, under Sister Andrea's tutelage, much to Kristen's dismay. Lila's concern for her mother's mental state echoes, leaving a lingering uncertainty.
Their search uncovers a cavernous hole in the wall, unleashing a swarm of bats with eerie glowing red eyes. The house echoes with the terrified screams of the Bouchard sisters as they flee the basement, only to be confronted by more horrors upstairs: a crashing branch, a raging thunderstorm, a monstrous centipede lurking behind a fake rock, and ultimately, finding themselves locked out of their own home. Desperate and petrified, the sisters reach out to Sheryl (Christine Lahti), their cries for help piercing the stormy night.
As the limousine glided towards the Vatican, Kristen, Ben, David, and three priests with stern visages shared the ride. A reassuring text from her daughters, assuring all was well, alleviated Kristen's persistent anxiety, a testament to her maternal intuition amidst the turmoil her little ones faced back home. Ben's rumbling stomach interrupted the tense silence, while Kristen longed to capture the grandeur of the Colosseum through her lens. However, the priests remained unyielding, denying even the simplest of requests—food or a window's respite—until the sacred relic was safely returned.
Ben jested about their linguistic barriers, prompting Kristen to break the tension with a bold, albeit highly inappropriate, rendition of "Sodomy" from Hair, her voice echoing through the confined space. Her observation that the priests' expressions betrayed their disapproval was met with David's amused, yet telling, glance.
Their destination, a nondescript alleyway far removed from the Vatican's grandeur, greeted them with a jarring contrast. The sternest of the priests, credited simply as Vincenzo Amato, tersely instructed, "You get out here," his English unexpectedly fluent, adding a comical twist to the situation.
Descending into a tunnel, they encountered Father Dominic, sheepish and defensive, insisting his absence from their flight was unwarranted. His awkward denial of Ben's accusation—that he feared the relic's curse would doom the plane—hung awkwardly in the air.
Reaching the chamber where the base of the True Cross resided, Dominic and David reverently dipped their fingers in the bowl of Holy Water, tracing the Sign of the Cross. Ben remained aloof, hands in pockets, while Kristen hesitated, her fingers hovering over the water before withdrawing.
As Father Dominic attempted to integrate the relic into the True Cross, the truth dawned: it was a forgery, leaving Vicki still in the throes of possession. With a vial of Pope-blessed Holy Water and instructions to explain the counterfeit nature of the relic to Vicki, the trio was sent back, their mission incomplete but with a newfound understanding of the power—and peril—of the sacred.
Over the phone's muted hum, Lynn weaves a reassuring tapestry for her mother, painting a picture of perfect tranquility, all while shrouding the truth—Sheryl's impromptu visit and her triumphant expulsion of the bats from their abode. The girls, united in their awe, coo over the enigmatic figure Sheryl has brought along, Leland's youthful ineptitude rendering him unfit to nurture this so-called Antichrist, Timothy, whose moniker, be it truth or fallacy in this realm of Evil, hangs precariously in the balance.
As Kristen, David, and Ben soar towards home amidst the clouds, fate conspires to intertwine their journey with an unlikely acquaintance—Tori, their flight attendant. Tori's face betrays a mix of dismay and disbelief upon spying the relic box perched precariously on a seat, Vicki's dire prophecy of a plane-dooming artifact still echoing in her mind. David's firm assurance, coupled with Ben's reassuring whispers of aviation safety, fail to quell her apprehension.
Throughout the flight's serene expanse, a peculiar phenomenon plays out: the overhead light, positioned directly above the relic's resting place, flickers to life, defying Kristen's repeated attempts to quell its glow. Amidst this supernatural dance, David receives a call that chills the air—Father Dominic's voice, imbued with gravity, reveals that while the wooden fragment may be a counterfeit, the vessel housing it is anything but. It is a demonic relic, a cog in a sinister machine orchestrating an Ultimate Corruption in the heart of New York.
"An Ultimate Evil, looming over New York?" David inquires, his voice tinged with disbelief and a foreboding sense of impending doom.
"The words, 'It's already there,' echoed ominously, igniting a maelstrom within the aircraft: bolts of lightning flaring, turbulence raging like a tempest. As David struggled to regain his footing, Father Dominic's stern voice pierced the chaos, urging him to prevent that relic from reaching New York's shores. The plane lurched, and amidst the chaos, David's vision was assailed by fleeting glimpses of Captain Lemire's spectral form, haunting him with every jolt. The captain's soothing voice over the PA morphed into demonic howls, jolting David into action. Realizing the urgency, he grasped the vial of Holy Water entrusted to him by Father Dominic and began to sprinkle its blessed contents upon the cursed box. With each drop, the vessel disintegrated, and instantly, the tumultuous skies calmed, restoring order to the tumultuous flight. A breathtaking climax indeed!
Sheryl's confession about the Antichrist shattered the silence, her voice with unshed tears as she imparted the shattering news: he was their own brother. What was her motive? Her love for the girls shone through, yet perhaps the weight of the secret proved too burdensome to bear any longer. Or, could this be a strategic move to rally the girls against Leland, in her relentless crusade? Yet, such a revelation would undoubtedly deepen the rift between Kristen and herself, fostering resentment. I have no doubt that sooner rather than later, one of the girls will confront Kristen, seeking clarification.
This week's episode of Evil returned with a renewed sense of eeriness, a treat for those who revel in the spine-tingling. While not quite matching the exhilaration of last week's installment, the intricate tapestry woven around Christ's cross, the witty jabs at Vatican secrecy, and the ghostly encounters transformed 'How to Fly an Airplane' into a captivating hour. As we reach the midpoint of what was initially envisioned as a ten-episode Season 4, Paramount+'s generosity in granting an additional four episodes has us eagerly anticipating the crescendo to come. How will the narrative escalate in the weeks ahead? How will it all tie up neatly in those final episodes? We'll embark on this journey together, unraveling the mysteries of Evil, one thrilling moment at a time!"
