‘Evil’: Leland’s Trial Takes a Dark Turn (RECAP)
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Evil Season 4 Episode 12 “Fear of the Other.”]
We had a feeling that Leland’s (Michael Emerson) trial would go his way—Evil couldn’t end with it being the legal system that took him down, after all—but we didn’t quite expect the twist that brings it to a close.
First, Boggs (Kurt Fuller) takes the stand as Leland’s psychiatrist, and Kristen (Katja Herbers) watches in surprise. When Boggs hesitates to give his professional opinion of the defendant, his lawyer Henry (John Carroll Lynch), appearing as a demon to the psychiatrist, leans in close. Boggs says he suffers from schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder, which have rendered him so ill that he can’t realize the criminality of his actions. But Boggs doesn’t stop there, as much as Henry wants him to. He says that Leland is a considerable threat to public safety and should be locked away in a maximum-security mental psychiatric facility for life. Leland’s reaction? “Oh, he’s dead.”
Henry then puts Leland on the stand to “explain” his actions. He claims that he offered IV therapy and Sheryl diverted the IVs for her own purposes. It’s during his testimony that Sister Andrea (Andrea Martin) walks into court, sniffs out the demon in Henry, and tells him she sees him and he’s lost the element of surprise. On her way out, she alerts Kristen that he’s the evil coming to New York.
When it’s Kristen’s turn to testify, she speaks of how she met Leland and presents evidence of him telling a defendant how to fake possession to plead not guilty by reason of insanity, how he targeted her family (with photographic proof and a court-approved restraining order), and his termination letter from the Catholic church after multiple children playing an online game came forward and accused him of being a pedophile. Henry tries to object, but Judge Jeter (Richard Kind) warns him he doesn’t want his ruling. Kristen then presents a second restraining order from after her mother’s death and Leland moving in next to her. Henry tries to call her unhinged and hysterical, but as the judge points out, she’s not the one who seems unhinged. Kristen says she may come across as emotional because she’s been hearing her mother’s legacy torn to shreds, when Sheryl was a kind, loving, giving mother and grandmother.
Michael Parmelee / Paramount+
When the prosecution says their last witness is being transported from county lockup, Leland realizes they have Leslie (Molly Brown). She goes over to Kristen in the courtroom before taking the stand, from which she sees Henry in all his demonic glory, corpses and all. The judge asks her to talk in his chambers, and once there, he asks if she’s being intimidated in court. She says she isn’t, but he insists she can tell if someone’s lying. Leslie admits to knowing what Leland is capable of. After confirming she’s still willing to testify, Judge Jeter gets a sword and cuts her head off, then rolls her body up in a sheet and dumps it out the window into the dumpster below.
Back in the courtroom, Judge Jeter dismisses the case with the prosecution’s witness now a no-show. Leland must still abide by the conditions of Kristen’s restraining order, and he promises she and her family will never see him. Henry then explains to Leland that everyone has a price on their soul.
Meanwhile, the church is shutting down the assessors’ program, and Kristen begins to think about the next stage of her career—starting her own practice in her garage. She asks Boggs for referrals, and he agrees, revealing that he’s closing his practice since he’s going on a promotional tour for his book and hitting the conventions.
Through one of their last cases together, Kristen, David (Mike Colter), and Ben (Aasif Mandvi) get a glimpse at “what-if” versions of themselves on the website Find My Doppel. Kristen’s identical match is a hipster, David’s is a kickboxer, and Ben’s is a family man. Kristen looks up David’s and dreams of him, and then, as the episode ends, she keeps replaying the video of hers.
David, meanwhile, admits to Sister Andrea—who faces her past when the son of the man she had been with before becoming a nun needs their help—”I’ve never been more lost.” The two play the piano together, and with each chord, a bright light overtakes the room.
What did you think of the latest Evil? Let us know in the comments section, below.
Evil, Thursdays, Paramount+
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Wife and I look forward to watching it every week. We both want to find some way to save it!! There has to be someone who will listen to the fans.
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I love this show and wish it wasn’t ending! It’s the only show I watch faithfully!!
28 2
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They need to create a movie. And somehow extend this show. This is one of the greatest series I have ever seen!!!
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Wish the show wasn't ending
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Best show I ever watched and I'm 62
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I love the show it keeps you on the edge of your seat, wish it wasn't ending 😒
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I absolutely love this show!! I love the chemistry that Kristen, Ben and David have. I also can't get enough of Sister Andrea and her corky ways. I hate that Evil has been cancelled. I just want more of it!! There has to be a streaming platform that can pick up this show.
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I think Micheal Emerson should get an emny
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The show is excellent as well as over the top this week. What was done to Sister Andrea came out of no where. I don't know how all of this is going to be wrapped up. The ending better be nothing short of amazing. Because a few movies maybe needed to close out everything.
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I don't understand, why they are even ending it .....the directors clearly want to keep it going. Paramount plus is the one ending it . They even said even though it is rated one of the top 5 I think or mabe ten watched streaming shows, they are discontinuing it . That makes absolutely no since . My husband and I are so upset about it. Its what we look forward to every week . Esspesially now with the new criminal minds just having there season finals . Now we can't find anything we like to watch we have been looking for weeks now , do any of u have any other shows u watch mabe we can try one of those. We started watching stranger things its ok . But not nearly as good as EVIL OR CRIMINAL MINDS HAS BEEN !!!!!
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Love EVIL. it's being canceled too early. It's one of the few good shows on TV. Makes you think. Please someone pick it up and continue
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I will really miss this show!So quirky, funny, scary, you name it! I've never seen anything like it! I wish it would be renewed but I doubt it.
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With only two episodes left they can't possibly give a finale that's going to do this series justice.
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NO IT CAN'T BE ENDING!! Why do they ALWAYS do this! They produce a show that everyone loves and watches regularly, giving us 2 maybe 3 seasons (4 if we're very lucky) then end it for good. Wouldn't common sense tell them that if the ratings are up, and all the reviews from the viewers are highly positive that they should greenlight more seasons? I'm sure the writing team can come up with more possession storylines and some major demonic force to fight behind the scenes so to speak!
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I love EVIL. I look forward to the new episodes every Thursday. I only started watching it a couple of months ago. I rarely binge watch anything but I did this one. PLEASE DON'T CANCEL EVIL!This episode had lots of surprises. I think David and Kristen will finally "get together"☺️
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He is a chuckle
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