Father Mulvehill asks the team for a confidential evaluation, as he fears that he might be the victim of diabolical oppression.
In 2020, the television industry aired 493 scripted shows across numerous outlets. The way people consume content now is different than it used to be. It happens according to one's own schedule. As such, it's less necessary to provide ample coverage of each episode in any given season from a show. Moreover, it is simply impossible to watch everything. As such, this site provides shorter episodic reviews in order to cover as many shows as possible. With all of that being said, here are my thoughts on the next episode of Paramount+'s Evil.
"Z Is for Zombies" was written by Patricia Ione Lloyd and directed by Nelson McCormick
David believes demons corrupt humanity. Kristen believes diseases and disorders corrupt humanity. Ben believes in more practical explanations for crazy events. They work together as a team. And yet, they still have lingering questions about what influences human behavior. That is always at the heart of the show and every story it tells. It's a profound question. One that probably will never have a meaningful answer. That can sometimes make the show seem like it is going around in circles. It talks about these subjects while always cutting things off before anyone can dig deeper. And yet, it inherently tells stories about the corruption of the world as well as the redemption that so many wish to share. Lila and her friend next door believe that zombies are invading their lives. It's not a physical representation of horror. It's a metaphor essentially for how big business treats its workers. They seek solutions that can dramatically change behavior in an instant. Life doesn't work like that. These children worry about their parents and the world that awaits them too. They are scared because of the suggestion of monstrosity. Lila is impressed by her mother's work. She is proud to share it with her friends at school. But she also views it as confirmation of the creatures that lurk in the dark. Her mother confronts them head on. As such, Lila is inspired to do the same. She does the research. She finds a solution. And yet, it's chilling to watch a new form of corruption take hold. A man goes from a zombie working the floor to the manager abusing the workers because they aren't as productive as the machines and supply dictate. The intentions were pure in every aspect of this story. Temptation can be so corrosive though. Solutions to systemic issues of injustice are never quick fixes. They have to be built over time. How the employees are treated at these big shipping centers is alarming. The interests of those at the top are far-reaching and powerful. They can crush the talk of unionization with a snap of a finger. All it takes is making the life of one more valuable than the concerns of the many. That plays out here. Everyone involved is human after all. The same plague dictates David trying to help Father Mulvehill with the newfound stressors in his life. It may not be the typical case that the accessors handle. They work alongside this priest though. He is the exorcist brought in when they determine that demonic possession is the culprit of heinous behavior. Mulvehill is the person who conducts this ceremony. He too is a man. He found a calling for this profession. He confronts demons in a unique way. It's a physical embodiment in his daily life. It's grueling and that makes it easy to tempt him. It appears that Leland did exactly that. He never took this process seriously regarding his exorcism. It's not a simple process either. It takes him being of pure heart and wanting to rid himself of the demon that has apparently latched on. He doesn't have those noble intentions. He just wants to prove to David just how silly and nonsensical all of this is. And then, Sister Andrea comes along to provide David with the necessary push to believe in the power of God. It's deceit as well. She makes him believe holy water actually burns Leland during the exorcism. It doesn't. She switched it out for a cleaning product. She is concerned about David's faith. He is lazy and needs the proper motivation. She sees things clearly when many are easily corrupted. And yet, the church reduces her responsibilities in the organization as being nothing more than a cleaning lady. Her faith remains strong. She guides David on his path. He appreciates that tutelage as well as how straightforward she is. Of course, he is still concerned for his friends. They too are dealing with lingering trauma as a result of this work. That may also compromise them in the field when the forces of evil or those who present as such target them with the intent of inflicting as much harm as possible. That wickedness never stops while the forces of good grow tired in a world with so many distractions and complications. Even the youngest among us aren't immune to this imbalance. That may be a dark and depressing thought. One where people need powerful coping mechanisms in order to handle everything that happens. The behavior for the central characters has changed. With Kristen, it may not always be for the better. That is an ongoing analysis that is constantly changing. It takes true awareness to deal with all of that. It requires true faith as well in those entities that provide clarity when it is most needed.
David believes demons corrupt humanity. Kristen believes diseases and disorders corrupt humanity. Ben believes in more practical explanations for crazy events. They work together as a team. And yet, they still have lingering questions about what influences human behavior. That is always at the heart of the show and every story it tells. It's a profound question. One that probably will never have a meaningful answer. That can sometimes make the show seem like it is going around in circles. It talks about these subjects while always cutting things off before anyone can dig deeper. And yet, it inherently tells stories about the corruption of the world as well as the redemption that so many wish to share. Lila and her friend next door believe that zombies are invading their lives. It's not a physical representation of horror. It's a metaphor essentially for how big business treats its workers. They seek solutions that can dramatically change behavior in an instant. Life doesn't work like that. These children worry about their parents and the world that awaits them too. They are scared because of the suggestion of monstrosity. Lila is impressed by her mother's work. She is proud to share it with her friends at school. But she also views it as confirmation of the creatures that lurk in the dark. Her mother confronts them head on. As such, Lila is inspired to do the same. She does the research. She finds a solution. And yet, it's chilling to watch a new form of corruption take hold. A man goes from a zombie working the floor to the manager abusing the workers because they aren't as productive as the machines and supply dictate. The intentions were pure in every aspect of this story. Temptation can be so corrosive though. Solutions to systemic issues of injustice are never quick fixes. They have to be built over time. How the employees are treated at these big shipping centers is alarming. The interests of those at the top are far-reaching and powerful. They can crush the talk of unionization with a snap of a finger. All it takes is making the life of one more valuable than the concerns of the many. That plays out here. Everyone involved is human after all. The same plague dictates David trying to help Father Mulvehill with the newfound stressors in his life. It may not be the typical case that the accessors handle. They work alongside this priest though. He is the exorcist brought in when they determine that demonic possession is the culprit of heinous behavior. Mulvehill is the person who conducts this ceremony. He too is a man. He found a calling for this profession. He confronts demons in a unique way. It's a physical embodiment in his daily life. It's grueling and that makes it easy to tempt him. It appears that Leland did exactly that. He never took this process seriously regarding his exorcism. It's not a simple process either. It takes him being of pure heart and wanting to rid himself of the demon that has apparently latched on. He doesn't have those noble intentions. He just wants to prove to David just how silly and nonsensical all of this is. And then, Sister Andrea comes along to provide David with the necessary push to believe in the power of God. It's deceit as well. She makes him believe holy water actually burns Leland during the exorcism. It doesn't. She switched it out for a cleaning product. She is concerned about David's faith. He is lazy and needs the proper motivation. She sees things clearly when many are easily corrupted. And yet, the church reduces her responsibilities in the organization as being nothing more than a cleaning lady. Her faith remains strong. She guides David on his path. He appreciates that tutelage as well as how straightforward she is. Of course, he is still concerned for his friends. They too are dealing with lingering trauma as a result of this work. That may also compromise them in the field when the forces of evil or those who present as such target them with the intent of inflicting as much harm as possible. That wickedness never stops while the forces of good grow tired in a world with so many distractions and complications. Even the youngest among us aren't immune to this imbalance. That may be a dark and depressing thought. One where people need powerful coping mechanisms in order to handle everything that happens. The behavior for the central characters has changed. With Kristen, it may not always be for the better. That is an ongoing analysis that is constantly changing. It takes true awareness to deal with all of that. It requires true faith as well in those entities that provide clarity when it is most needed.
