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This post contains spoilers from the series finale of Evil. Proceed accordingly.
Even those who stray far from the flock are deserving of mercy, we guess. But we were surprised when, by the end of Evil‘s series finale, evil emissary Leland Townsend was still among the living.
After all, the irksome, murderous (though highly entertaining) character played by Michael Emerson had been choked to near-death by Kristen when he snuck into her house, planning to murder her. Only the arrival of David and Ben stopped the mother of five from finishing off her longtime nemesis, whom she feared would never leave her and her her family alone.
But some quick thinking on David’s part meant that Leland instead wound up in a burlap sack that was hoisted into a demonic cabinet at the silent retreat Kristen, Ben and David visited in Season 2. So he’s alive, but tormented (and likely cramping): Win-win! (Read a full recap of the finale, and hear what the Kings had to say about David and Kristen’s fates.)
That outcome “seems more realistic to me,” series co-creator Michelle King tells TVLine. “You don’t get to kill evil. Evil continues.”
And perhaps more importantly, series co-creator Robert King chimes in, “You should never say never. So if you kill Michael Emerson, and the show comes back, what are you going to do? Bring him back, like in a soap opera or something?” He laughs. “He’s obviously captured in some way that seems supernatural and magical. So, can he be released? Sure.”
If you just read that and your heart leapt with hope that the Paramount+ series might have found a new home after its cancellation after all… we’re right there with you. But Robert King is quick to point out that there currently are no plans to continue Evil at another network or streamer. “I think everybody’s struggling for financial reasons, that it’s hard for them to make decisions — even smart decisions,” he says. “Even, I think, no-brainer decisions, they’re having trouble with.”
But if a miracle did happen, the Kings would be ready. “Oh, f–k yeah,” Robert King says when we ask if they’ve got more story in them. “Also: The world has more story. Michelle keeps saying, ‘This would have been a good one for Evil,’ and this would have been a good one.'”
Michelle King nods. “This is a show with plenty of story to tell, unfortunately.”
I really need “Evil” to come back. It’s one of my favorite shows. I adore the cast, hell even the kids are great, as are the rest of the supporting cast. I’m going to miss the show and the cast so very much.
Oh and if they do bring it back, they’re going to need to bring Christine Lahti back, maybe as a ghost or something, but please find a way to include her, she’s great in everything she does.
Wouldn’t he die in that cage anyway? I assume he still needs food and water, and to be able to move from time to time considering the show always portrayed him as being human. I get that the characters think they’re taking the high road by not killing him, but this way they’re still killing him… just slower lol. Unless he’s not human or the box magically provides him with food, water and movement. I also hoped someone would ask the Kings about the Djinn, since it’s still confusing a lot of fans on social media, myself included. It would only have taken them a few sentences to explain it away, so it’s not like it wasn’t explained because they only had four episodes.
So sad this has come to an end. The cast had great chemistry and it was so unique. I wish streaming had allowed this to go on. The introduction of the brain at the end was an interesting twist. I wonder when that idea happened or if it was always the plan.
I would love to see Leland and the Nun in their own series.
So sad this was cancelled
I can’t recall when I was so captivated by a series.
Come on Netflix
Get a grip.
Okay…here’s what I think:
Obviously, the Bad Guys bought the Church. My bet is that they “bought” Ben too. I thought the glass cubicles portended working for the demons, and that at some point, Ben was going to figure that out. And maybe the Djin stopped appearing b/c they had Ben right where they wanted him.
It also might turn out that because Lynn and Lila watched the clock click out, that they were being “infected” by the 60 somehow. That somehow, the bad guts were implanting via VR and that game, that clearly traced back to the place Sheryl worked at.
And finally, perhaps the very reason they moved Kristin and Co. to the Vatican was some sort of master plan to keep the demon-targeted on Holy Ground.
I really wished for a finale that tied up more ends though. Wonder if we can crowd fund a Finale Movie like they did for Veronica Mars?
I’m going to miss this show! I really wish it would come back to streaming. Please bring back Evil