exorcist-1-9Pazuzu takes control…

The show’s producers promised that this would be a memorable season finale – and they weren’t joking. Each episode of this series has built on the previous to create a tapestry of interwoven stories that ramp up the stakes, taking seemingly disconnected people and revealing the many links between them, so that by the time we reach this penultimate instalment, we’re engrossed in all their stories. And it’s been done so skilfully that you find yourself almost feeling sorry for Kirsten Fitzgerald’s Maria Walters when Pazuzu pulls the rug out from under her and destroys the underpinnings of her life…

Everyone’s performances are dialled up: from the “alternate take” to Casey’s exorcism to the aforementioned verbal destruction to the horrendously creepy stroking of “her” daughter’s hair, Geena Davis is commanding as the re-possessed Angela/Regan. The scene between Alan Ruck and Alfonso Herrera regarding the title number goes from heartbreaking (the description of how Henry feels about his progress or lack of it) to unnerving. The force of Marcus’ anger is palpable in Ben Daniels’ performance. The love between the two sisters likewise shines: we are almost certainly seeing Hannah Kasulka’s Casey as herself for the first time in the series while Brianne Howey’s Katherine has come so far from the grief-stricken daughter of the pilot.

Franklin jin Rho and Jeremy Slater’s script and Bill Johnson’s direction don’t allow the pace to slacken for a second, yet still manage to give space for us (and the characters, notably Marcus as he goes from crime scene to crime scene) to take in what’s going on and acknowledge just how bad things are getting. Watch for the little details, like Angela taking some food while Katherine is still saying grace. And then there’s that final scene – the Rance family all together… and a true hero moment for Herrera…

Is it time for the next episode yet?

Verdict: Firing on all cylinders, this is a strong series at its best. 10/10

Paul Simpson