Warning: This post contains spoilers for the finale of the fourth season of Evil.

Summary

• Devilish
  The series finale left some questions unanswered while introducing new mysteries like Gray.
• Leland Townsend received his well-deserved punishment in a powerful ending.
• The episode struck a balance between conclusion and exciting continuation and stayed true to the strengths of the series.

Devilish just aired its final episode. I still can’t believe it. This show was one of the best that television has offered in recent years. The writing was always sharp and even funny, and creators Michelle and Robert King (who also directed the season four finale) managed to balance religion, science, and the just plain weird and mysterious. DevilishThe series finale of followed the same line as the other episodes; it answered some questions, left others open, and even introduced new ones, such as the elusive Gray.

For a show that appealed to us the most, the ending was less definitive than I had imagined, which is normal considering Devilish was canceled despite its success. There was no way to wrap it all up, and I don’t think the Paramount+ series ever really intended to. Sometimes things go unanswered; that’s life, and we keep going anyway, maintaining friendships and connections with others along the way. Hearing Kristen (Katja Herbers), David (Mike Colter), and Ben (Aasif Mandvi) talk about how they’ve influenced each other over the years was powerful enough.

Devilish gave us the 60 and brought back the card, which he cleverly connected to the brain. The evil was not necessarily defeated, but our favorite experts thwarted the plans and even sent Leland to the silent monastery forever. All in all DevilishThe series finale of was more of a “see you later,” which is nice. It can continue in some ways, even if it happens off-screen. What the series tells us is that evil is still everywhere, and like everything, it needs to stay on top of its game if it wants to retain its power and influence. This is true of the Catholic Church too.

Leland Townsend’s evil end is well deserved

Leland finally received his punishment

Whether David, Kristen and Ben were trying to solve the mystery of the singing teenagers or assisting with an exorcism, Leland Townsend (Michael Emerson) was a thorn in their side. From the beginning, this man worked to make Kristen’s life miserable, and thanks to Emerson’s portrayal, he was unbearable at every turn – he made it so easy to despise Leland. The series finale, aptly titled “Fear of the End,” brought Leland his just punishment.

It almost felt like we were there again, Devilish started with Leland going after Kristen, but it also had very LeRoux vibes, especially when Kristen calls the police to report Leland while he smiles and carries on talking. Honestly, I wouldn’t have blamed her for killing him, but it was pretty emotional to see David and Ben stop her from going through with it. It signaled that Kristen was no longer alone; these were men she trusted and who were there for her and would continue to be there for her.

After years of trying to protect her daughters from Leland, having David and Ben there for her and easing the stress and pressure she had been carrying for so long was perfect. It was a phenomenal conclusion to this story and sending Leland to the quiet convent was just the icing on the cake. It’s sad that Sister Andrea (Andrea Martin) has to be there, but I’m sure the trio will sleep better at night knowing she’ll be watching over him to make sure he doesn’t escape.

Even though we will never see these characters again,
Devilish
has reached a peak and his creativity is still intact.

And it is a place without cell phones, WiFi and telephony – it is a kind of hell on earth for Leland. He can no longer influence or terrorize anyone there. His reign is officially over and DF will have to carry on without him, despite all the work he has done for them. And if Devilish If he ever gets picked up by another network or streaming service, the fact that he’s not dead means he can somehow come back, although I shudder at the thought of it. It’s a satisfying end for a great villain.

The resolution of the 60 was a little disappointing

On a personal, character-driven level, “Fear of the End” was a perfect series finale. In terms of the ’60s storyline, however, it was a little disappointing. Perhaps that’s because Denis O’Hare’s father, Giovanni De Vita, and John Carroll Lynch’s Henry Stick were introduced too late. Devilish Season 4 to make a full impact. They’re both mysterious figures who showed up just as things were starting to move toward something that had been hinted at for some time. Henry was a terrifying character whose arrival needed more development, especially considering how high up he seemed to be in the chain of evil.

It’s not that the inclusion of the 60 wasn’t interesting, and the idea that the evil that came to New York was actually the Entity was a nice twist. The map of the 60 being tied to areas of the brain was compelling. As a subplot, it just didn’t have enough time to breathe. It would have been cool to see how Ben’s own brain being affected by the particle accelerator would have played a role (if at all), but even that plot thread seems to have been dropped due to time constraints.

It was a wild and unforgettable ride and, all in all,
Devilish
managed to emerge victorious, even though this victory was taken away from us prematurely.

Did Ben’s role as an appraiser prevent the genie from appearing to him? The last time we saw the genie, he grabbed Ben’s head. Was that the end? Ben gradually gave up trying to explain everything that was going on in a logical framework, and maybe that made him stop looking for answers. I clearly wanted more from this story, but I also respect the Kings’ decision to make the season 4 finale episodic rather than making it a two-hour movie just so they could answer all my questions.

The series finale of Evil is a hit overall

Most series finales try to wrap up as much as possible before they end, but Devilish didn’t try to do too much before it said goodbye. It sticks to what it does best – tell a meaningful, heartfelt, and thought-provoking story that isn’t overly concerned with checking off every single box. In that respect, the series finale sticks to what it does well, and succeeds. The episode centers on the relationship between David, Kristen, and Ben, and I was pretty stunned by how much these characters have meant to me over the years.

They are rich, multifaceted people who have been through a lot and come out on the other side. Their memories of the cases and what they became to each other really captured the essence of the series. The stories may have gotten weirder – and funnier – but that only strengthened their bond. I liked that the important stuff was done, like what was next for the trio, while also keeping the door open for more. Even if we never see these characters again, Devilish has reached a peak and his creativity is still intact.

The flashback to previous episodes and even the return of the VR goggles for one final round were excellent. And even though sweet, happy Timothy as the Antichrist was a subplot, I thought he was done for thanks to Sheryl (Christine Lahti), RIP, who baptized him. Devilish still surprised me by having Kristen see him as demonic. Whether or not he actually is is another question entirely—Kristen could be hallucinating again, after all—but it keeps us on our toes and reveals that there’s more to the story.

In this sense, DevilishThe final episode of works as a standalone episode, hinting at a sequel and offering some semblance of closure. It also offered plenty of food for thought. All I know is that I was sad when the credits rolled and disappointed that it was over for us as viewers and that it ended far too soon. It was a wild and unforgettable ride and all in all, Devilish managed to emerge victorious, even though this victory was taken away from us prematurely.

All episodes of Devilish Season 4 is now available to stream on Paramount+.