Review: Evil CBS ‘2 Fathers’

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Warning: Review contains spoilers

CBS hit series “Evil” season 1 episode 8 “2 Fathers” continues its investigation into the Poveglia Codex. Catholic Church assessor David Acosta (Mike Colter) discovers demonic symbols from the codex in his father’s work. The symbols, as David and his partner forensic psychologist Dr. Kristen Bouchard (Katja Herbers) explain to Monsignor Matthew Korecki (Boris McGiver) that the codex features a map of a demonic hierarchy. Numbering sixty, David suggests that theses sigils represent The 60, a mysterious group that the sinister forensic psychologist Leland Townsend (Michael Emerson) has referenced. “You and I talked about evil becoming more organized. Using technology, social media,” Acosta reveals. “The Sixty,” Korecki agrees. “There are 60 sigils [in the Codex],” David points out. Thus, Kristen and David embark on a mission to learn more with a visit to David’s father, Leon (Vondie Curtis-Hall).
At the Acosta homestead, it gets pretty weird. Leon, an artist, is almost the complete opposite of his son. The elder Acosta introduces his two wives, Esther (Nana Mensah) and Cori (Jenn Colella). Upon arrival, Leon reveals that Esther is pregnant, carrying David’s half-brother. “Oh god, it’s great here,” Kristen gushes after arrival. “Not another house for ten miles,” David adds. “It’s like the start of a horror movie.” Bouchard riffs, “Bad cell phone coverage. Guess all we need is car trouble and we’ll have won horror movie bingo.” That evening, Leon and his wives plan to celebrate with the Root Ceremony, an odd ritual where ancestors supposedly commune. Unwittingly, David and Kristen drink punch laced with hallucinogenic psilocybin, and trip out. David discovers that the sigils aren’t simply in his father’s artwork, Esther’s pottery prominently features sigils, and Leon shows David a wax seal of a slave owner, one that bought an Acosta ancestor, Annie Commerce (Christiani Pitts). There’s a poignant scene where Leon argues that he’s reclaiming the pain from that symbol and transforming it into something new.

Professional skeptic Ben Shakir (Aasif Mandvi), the third member of the assessment team alongside David and Kristen, returns to the studio to dub audio for the TV series “Gotham Ghosts.” Host Vanessa Dudley (Nicole Shalhoub) gave Ben her phone number. Despite calling three times, Vanessa never returned Ben’s call. However, Dudley confronts Ben about why he never called. According to Vanessa, Ben had the wrong number, and Dudley claims the ghost of her dead sister is attached to her, and sabotaged the number she wrote down. Shakir struggles to justify his attraction to Vanesa with his skepticism.

Kristen’s husband, Andy Bouchard (Patrick Brammall), returns from his post as a mountain guide. Arriving at home while Kristen is away with David. Therefore, Andy surprises his daughters, Lila (Skylar Gray), Lexis (Maddy Crocco), Laura (Dalya Knapp), and Lynn (Brooklyn Shuck). And the kiddos aren’t the only ones surprised. Upon seeing someone in Kristens home office, Andy opens the door to find Kristen’s mother Sheryl Luria (Christine Lahti) having sex with an unseen man, presumably Leland Townsend. Sheryl and Andy share an acerbic conversation in which Sheryl instructs Andy to keep her sexual encounter a secret. It’s clear Andy doesn’t plan to abide by her wishes however. The Bouchard daughters convince their father to help them finish the VR game they started earlier, and despite user Rose390 pleading with them not to, Andy helps his daughters complete the horror AR game.

Observations:

In a delightful surprise, David’s father Leon and Kristen’s husband Andy make appearances, hence the “Evil” S01E08 title “2 Fathers.” Although David and Leon don’t appear to have much in common, the two apparently hare an affinity for hallucinogenics. The sexual tension between Kristen and David comes to a head, and it’s clear that the romantic feelings are mutual. How this impacts Kristen’s marriage, and David’s future priesthood, is unclear. Certainly, Andy’s presence should complicate their dynamic.

Ben’s relationship with Vanessa proves a neat bit of continuity. He’s hilariously awkward, and commendably dedicated to his skepticism even in the face of sex. I’m curious to see how their relationship unfolds. Leland and Sheryl continue fooling around, and Sheryl once again appears in red. Leon mentioned wanting to paint Kristen a red shirt, another reminder of the warning Kristen received from a purported prophet. Although the VR game is solved supposedly, I’d be surprised if Rose390 didn’t pop up again. Presumably, there’s some sort of tie to Leland Townsend.

Where “Evil” episode “2 Fathers” succeeds is in painting the ambiguity which thus far has pervaded throughout the entire series. There’s never concrete evidence of supernatural happenings, and the conversation between David and his father Leon provides an excellent example of how, regardless of occult happenings, down-to-earth evil is the main focus: slave owners, incels, and a slew of other examples. As such, the show is more relatable, while serving as a puzzle for its characters and audience to piece together simultaneously.