The end times are 38 days away in the Evil Season 4 premiere. “How to Split an Atom,” written by show creators Robert and Michelle King, introduces our demon investigative trio to a particle accelator thought to house the gates of hell. An intriguing set up that once again pits science, faith, and the supernatural against each other. Will answers be as elusive as they have been for the past three seasons? While this episode puts the show’s events on a new timeline destined for answers, plenty of new questions arise in this haunting Season 4 premiere.
The atmospheric horror of Evil
Evil has always been great at creating its horror atmosphere, using interesting set pieces and playing with sound and framing. The long white and red corridors of the particle accelerator that Kristen (Katja Herbers), Ben (Aasif Mandvi) and David (Mike Colter) visit do well to create a never-ending sense of dread as their investigation continues. The empty expanse provides a tapestry for the imagination to run wild. Since a lot of Evil deals in what is real and what is not, this works perfectly for the mystery of the gates of hell.
David staring into the dark of the sinkhole also provides interesting questions surrounding the events at the particle accelerator. While he sees giant centipede monsters and severed heads, what do the others see? The scientists and workers at the particle accelerator are aware of the sinkhole, but how much do they really know, and how much are they covering up?
The particle accelerator started off as a case-of-the-week, but it’s looking like it will have implications for the rest of the season. Ben gets zapped with some radiation, leading to one of the best parts of this premiere. The radiation shows Ben images of a demonic figure, but it’s not until the end of the episode we meet that demonic figure. In one of the coolest uses of camera framing, the demon only appears in Ben’s periphery. The quick pops into the side of the frame work well to put us into Ben’s shoes. And it’s not just sight we’re working with here — Ben reaching out next to him and physically feeling the demon next to him and still not being able to see it is such a great introduction to this new demon. Whoever he is, he’s got a very religious-type stature to him.
New dynamics
With the Monsignor’s death last season, Father Ignatius (Wallace Shawn) returns in “How to Split an Atom” to take his spot until the Vatican can appoint someone new. Despite his miracle survival in Season 3, Father Ignatius doesn’t believe in demons to the extent that the Monsignor did. Still, he sends our team out to investigate regardless. He’s still deep in his grief about the Monsignor’s murder; it’ll be interesting to see how he further fits into his role at the church and leading David’s team.
Speaking of new dynamics, things in the Bouchard household are relatively back to normal. You know, except for the demon gathering in the unfinished part of the house at the end of Season 3. But Andy (Patrick Brammall) and Kristen are adamant about things returning to normal, despite the fact that Kristen is still going on demon hunts.
This desire for normality of course in the wake of Leland (Michael Emerson) revealing himself to be the father of Kristen’s missing egg. Sheryl’s (Christine Lahti) compliclity in this betrayal of Kristen gets her kicked out of the house.
Unfortunately, these efforts for normalcy are constantly being swayed by Leland and Sheryl. Leland has created a sleeper cell in Andy, and while his call to Andy only summoned him back to his prison in order to manipulate him, there’s no telling what else Leland can make Andy do or believe at the drop of a hat.
Leleand and Sherly aren’t the only ones conducting secret meetings. Lynn (Brooklyn Shuck) is visiting with Sister Andrea (Andrea Martin) at the church. Her interest in being a nun started last year, but while she’s not entirely sure if she does want to be one, this clandestine meeting is a curious development.
38 days until the end of the world
Last season, the saint from David’s dreams visited him and told him “38 days, woe to Bablyon.” This quote leads David to Revealtion 18:10 in the Bible, which says: “Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Bablyon! In one hour your doom has come.”
Babylon is a metaphor for the world’s evil. The closing moment of “How to Split an Atom” had David reveal the message from the saint to Ben and Kristen. When he says the world is ending in 38 days, Kristen laughs, and further reveals that she’s having a kid in 38 days.
Since the child is fathered by Leland, who works for the forces of evil, the child could very well be part demon. Considering Leland has also been trying to groom Lexis (Maddy Crocco), perhaps this child is a backup plan if, according to the prophet Grace (Li Jun Li), Lexis has too good of a heart to become what Leland wants her to become.
Planting seeds
Evil’s overarching plot throughout three seasons has been both intriguing and vague. Any answer that’s been given has been wrapped around even more questions. It never felt particularly like the show was in a rush to answer them, either. However, with the show’s cancellation earlier this year, it’s clear “How to Split an Atom” is planting seeds for an endgame, even if that endgame is coming faster than originally planned.
Evil Season 4 drops new episodes every Thursday on Paramount+
Images courtesy of Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount+
REVIEW RATING
-
'Evil' 4x01: "How to Split an Atom" - 8/10
8/10
Katey is co-founder and tv editor for InBetweenDrafts. She hosts the “House of the Dragon After Show” and “Between TV” podcasts and can be read in various other places like Inverse and Screen Speck. She wishes desperately the binge model of tv watching would die, but still gets mad when she runs out of episodes of tv to watch.
