Can you weigh a soul?

One of my favourite shows of recent years, Evil, is back on Paramount+, this time with a season that’s been designed for the streamer, rather than moving over from CBS pretty much after completion, as happened with season 2. That gives creative freedom in a number of ways – the episodes aren’t locked to the very particular demands of network broadcast in terms of length (although as we’ve seen on some other shows, that’s occasionally led to pacing issues where tightening up for the 42 minutes would have benefitted the episode); they’re also not concerned about the use of language, and – rather like the opening episode of Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood – that’s put to the test in this first episode, almost because they can. (That doesn’t stop at least one creative use of cursing courtesy of Christine Lahti being laugh out loud funny – in part because you’re absolutely sure the character was thinking that every time previously anyway!)

It’s a strong ensemble tale, with the cliffhanger from season 2 reprised and continued – there’s no question of ignoring what happened between David and Kristen, and your jaw may drop at some of the early scenes between them. Mike Colter and Katja Herbers continue to be the emotional heart of the show, with a lot of questions still to be answered. It’s David’s turn to have a night visitor this season, taking a form familiar to anyone watching the show, which gives the actor involved plenty of opportunity for a Jekyll & Hyde split of character as they’re playing both demon and human.

The main plotline deals with an area that I’m a little surprised the show hasn’t opened up before – the apparent difference in weight immediately after death, and whether that shows the weight of a soul as it departs the body. That investigation opens up a whole new can of worms, and there’s a lovely guest performance by Wallace Shawm as the terminally ill priest who consents to be part of this. Aasif Mandvi also gives a nicely nuanced performance as Ben tries to find logical reasons for what’s happening, and I’m looking forward to seeing where this is going to lead this season (as well as fully expecting a meta reference to his hosting of the US version of Would I Lie to You?).

And of course Leland is still around, the focus of one of the funniest strands of the episode – as well as a terrific moment early on when Kirsten tries to deal with him once and for all. Michael Emerson and Katja Herbers’ sparring is a good counterpoint to the scenes featuring Kirsten’s daughters, who take a very 2022 route to revenge.

The other thread features the return of Andy and what that means for Kirsten’s mother, Sheryl – the scenes between Patrick Brammall and Christine Lahti are flecked with venom, promising much for the coming weeks.

Verdict: With some strong directorial touches throughout the episode from Robert King, this sets the stall out well for the show’s return. 9/10

Paul Simpson