Evil

TV review by Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media
Evil Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Bloody, spooky visuals on solid supernatural mystery.

CBS Drama 2019
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Parents say

age 16+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 16+

Based on 8 reviews

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  • EVIL TV Series: Ben, Kristen, and David scheme together in a wood-paneled living room.
  • EVIL TV Series: Ben and Kristen sit on a truck bed; their faces are serious in conversation.
  • EVIL TV Series: In a night scene in front of what appears to be an urban civic building, Kristen stands on stone steps with a man in glasses behind her.

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Evil is a series created by Michelle and Robert King (The Good Wife) and revolves around a group of three disparate experts who attempt to confirm or deny reports of supernatural happenings under the auspices of the Catholic church. Plots about hauntings, demons, and miracles may spook young viewers, particularly scenes like one in which a rotted-looking demon visits a main character and cuts off one of her fingers (she wakes up and it was a dream). Scenes with demons and other otherworldly creatures are dark with scary music and noises, which ramps up the tension. Blood and gore are seen in crime photos, and there are flashes of violence like a man cutting another man's throat (the actual cut is obscured). Violence can be sexual in nature: a character kneels over a woman screaming (most of their bodies are hidden by a kitchen counter, but we hear that a man raped a woman). Language is infrequent: "damn," "hell," "bitch." One character has a habit of drinking canned margaritas, but we don't see her drunk. Evil's diverse cast is led by a strong female character -- who has sexual tension with the male lead, so expect romantic complications.

Community Reviews

LoveGrowsHere333
LoveGrowsHere333 Adult
November 18, 2020
age 18+

Hmm.. a little much for 14/15 year olds

The premise of this show is great. It’s captivating and is full of twists and turns. The plot develops well and the main characters are okay. The rating for this is not appropriate. There is no mention of sexual content in the rating warning that pops up. There are intensely suggestive sexual scenes, including seductive looks, seductive touching, and even a scene including oddly positioned sex while the bed underneath them becomes engulfed in flames. This is something I would not approve my child to watch. In addition to consistent sexual content there is frequent drug use. There is quite a bit of scary thriller content From violence to psychological that you may find your 14 year old is too young for. I understand some children are more mature but there is no reason to expose them to such content and fast track their childhood. For young adults and adults alike this was a decent show to watch. If you despise the unneeded and unnecessary sexual themes most shows and movies incorporate in production nowadays this is not for you. If you are able to see past, then you will probably enjoy this.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much sex
1 person found this helpful.
Christina M.
Christina M. Adult
October 11, 2019
age 14+

Seems Very Good

I really like this show so far. It's different from most of the network TV dramas that have been done and re-done under different titles a million times. The acting is very good and the plot is interesting and fresh. I would not recommend for children under 14 because some parts of it are quite scary. That being said, I really enjoy paranormal, scary shows, but I despise blood and gore. I think a show can be psychologically scary without having to contain blood and gore to get it's point across. I really think they could have cut down (or out) the bloody scenes in the Pilot (even though they were quick) and still had the same scary effectiveness. There is already too much blood and violence on TV and in movies these days. You don't have to have a lot of blood for a show to be good. Keep it smart, suspenseful and psychologically scary and you will have a great show that will hopefully be around for a while. If we start seeing more blood and gore every week I, for one, will not be watching anymore just as I have stopped watching other really good shows for the same reason (Criminal Minds comes to mind.) Not everyone enjoys that kind of thing - despite what TV and movie producers seem to think.

This title has:

Great role models
Too much violence
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Supernatural mystery show EVIL stars Katja Herbers as Dr. Kristen Bouchard, a skeptical psychologist who takes a job with the Catholic church investigating unexplained mysteries such as demon possessions, hauntings, and historical miracles. Along with priest in training David Acosta (Mike Colter) and professional ghostbuster Ben (Aasif Mandvi), Kristen soon discovers there may be an ancient coven of demons ("the sixty") intent on wreaking havoc in our world and theirs -- and only those who can see them can oppose them.

Is It Any Good?

This interesting series is basically a procedural, a classic TV approach that can be stultifying in the wrong hands -- but Robert and Michelle King (The Good Wife) definitely aren't the wrong hands. The cast of this relatively small ensemble is absolutely terrific: Katja Herbers, so good in supporting roles in The Leftovers and Westworld, reads perfectly as a smart skeptic willing to revise her opinions as she learns new facts. Her scenes with her four young daughters, with authentically overlapping dialogue, ring sweetly true, and there's a crackle and pop between Kristen and David, who's calm and smooth in this role but no doubt ready to unleash some volcanic Luke Cage-style fury when necessary.

But all bets are really off, cast-wise, when Michael Emerson (you remember him as ultra-creepy Ben Linus from Lost) shows up in the first episode as mysterious villain Leland Townsend, owl-eyed behind big glasses. There's a cabal, and various Bads both big and little, and creepy spirits who show up to menace our leads, and darned if all the supernatural goings-on doesn't liven up the police procedural nicely. Evil casts a spell, and viewers won't mind falling under it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about death and the afterlife, which are prominent themes in Evil. Is the show optimistic or pessimistic? How does it use religious theology to add context to the plot?

  • Is Evil scary? Is it supposed to be? What specific elements of the show are scary? How does the series use visual and sound cues to amp up tensions? Pay attention to a scary scene; notice how lighting and imagery changes, and what sounds and music you hear.

  • How does Kristen compare to other TV portrayals of women? How common is it to have a female lead character in a mystery/suspense show? What others can you name?

TV Details

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