‘Evil’ 4×03 Review: “How to Slaughter a Pig”

The thing about Evil 4×03 “How to Slaughter a Pig” is it would be far too easy to write a review that feels like a copy of what we said about the previous episode. And the reason for that is simple — because we love all the same things, in terms of having fun with our trio, further exploring David’s abilities, Sheryl’s “glass ceiling” arc, Ben’s new experiment…and, of course, WTFever David and Kristen’s deal is. But the hour expands on all of those things in far too intelligent and entertaining ways for us to regurgitate the same talking points. Not to mention, there’s the absolutely gut-wrenching experience Kristen has when she finds herself caring for a baby antichrist(?) that’s both hers and not.

So, basically, we’re going to try to discuss “How to Slaughter a Pig” in a way that does the episode justice and doesn’t come across as just “yeah, same to past us” or whatever. But if we fail, just know what we’re trying to say here is we love this episode, top to bottom. We might even call it a favorite, but it’s difficult to pick favorites when the series is consistently this good.

Oh. And someone save this show already. If no one does, we may be forced to visit the knockoff “Trio of God” and ask them to cast the cancellation demon into some roaches. Now, imagine how horrifying that possession would be…

“The window”

Full disclosure: We were actually going to start off discussing the trio. However. It felt disrespectful — at best — to not put David’s journey first here, when both of our previous reviews started at those episodes’, well, starts.

Evil 4×03 presents us with a Father Acosta who’s very uncertain about this whole “new handler” situation, and we don’t blame him. LeConte was never exactly straightforward with him, but at least David was kinda…used to that particular brand of nonsense. Now, here’s someone new, asking David to stretch muscles he never even knew he had, and of course Father Dominic speaks in his own sort of riddles. Not only that, but the new guy seems to find something about the way David responds to him to be his own personal entertainment.

In some sense, the episode’s opening scene almost feels, at times, like we’re watching a police procedural where David and the other priest are taking turns being the interrogator and the suspect. Something about Mike Colter’s body language, right from the beginning, very much screams “I do not want to be here.” And as Father Dominic enters the white room and takes his seat, Chukwudi Iwuji carries himself as if he’s sizing the other man up, testing him. Whether this test is about finding a weakness or not, the challenge is most definitely there. But, once Father Dominic explains the crisis at hand and David’s role in saving lives, the characters’ dynamic shifts.

Now, David — who most definitely was trying to figure out the other priest all along and was most certainly wary of him — has some kind of upper hand and is interrogating the new guy. Notably, it’s when David raises the point that Black priests are very rare in the United States, that Father Dominic is no longer amused. Iwuji’s grin just…falls. Has David caught him? Is he impatient? Or is this simply a case of Dominic having heard the “they only picked you because you’re Black” accusations far too many times? Somehow, we have the feeling the answer is some mixture of the above; either way, it’s a fascinating moment. We can confirm that watching the episode a second time and knowing about the “Black man, a Muslim, and a white girl hugging beside the road” bit of gallows humor that comes later, it hits even harder.

At any rate, Father Dominic gives Father Acosta an answer that satisfies him enough to get started. And get started David does: Colter does a fantastic job of gathering himself before taking that first, cautious step into…what initially appears to be nothing at all. Later, though…wow. We really can’t say anything else about David’s vision in Evil 4×03 other than that. Just. Wow. Horrifying, sure. Powerful, absolutely. And, overall…wow. What magic. We are in utter and complete awe. Sure, those images will stay with us for a long time. But, really, it’s Colter who makes the moment. Elevates it, really. Everything about how he plays the lead-up to the vision, David’s shock and awe in the moment, and his pure terror when he snaps out of it, only to still see the scar on his right hand…wow.

And when David meets with Father Dominic, when he shares how he felt, Colter makes it obvious the character is still utterly, completely, moved. Colter’s haunted, halting recollection of events is right up there with some of his best performances — if not his best yet — and that means it ranks among the best of the best anywhere, period. Iwuji comes about as close to meeting Colter’s intensity as anyone can, especially when Father Dominic is desperate to get David to stay. Additionally, the way the scene is set up, the way Iwuji’s voice echoes in that space, as Father Dominic pleads with David…it’s just perfect.

No words will ever do any of this justice. So, TL;DR just know we’re huge fans.

How are we supposed to be satisfied with only getting Father Dominic and Father Acosta’s particular blend of personalities for a single season? Seems criminal. “Visions of Hell” indeed.

“How to Slaughter a Pig”

Ok. So. The trio~~(s)~~.

So, when we originally posted our advance review for this season, we highlighted how hilarious Colter is with David’s “angry driving.” Well, Evil 4×03 features the road rage in question. But, somehow, instead of being scary or annoying, David’s version of aggressive driving is simply hilarious. Like a pouting child hunched over the wheel, even. Which is…not something we would typically say about a guy with Colter’s physique. Throw in the delivery on the F-bomb when Oscar Rivi from The Good Fight Garcia tells our trio that he hired “The Trio of God” to do an exorcism on his son, and…Well. How about someone gives Colter a sitcom to star in with, say, Katja Herbers and Aasif Mandvi as his costars?

Honestly, who cares about the bloodthirsty — probably possessed, definitely treyf — pork anyway? For us, the case is all about an excuse to get the gang together so they can deliver these moments. Take, for example, how amused David is when Kristen has a problem with the smells. Or, perhaps, Mandvi’s delivery when Ben is exasperated over being “back in jump scare territory,” and when he’s sarcastic AF about how “that looks official” regarding the knockoff trio’s promotional photo. Perhaps, more important than any other moment — world’s most hilarious aggressive driving aside, of course — is the argument David and Kristen have about their separate truths and whether or not it’s even possible to have a “yours and mine” when it comes to the truth.

So, why is ~~Mom and Dad’s~~ Kristen and David’s great debate at the top of our list of Evil 4×03 highlights? In the first place, it kind of…sums up the series. “Maybe you mind God, and I mind science.” That’s it; that’s them. And Ben’s there to break up the bickering when it all gets too much, to remind us that he, too, is struggling with these concepts. But, see, that brings us to the other reason why this scene stands out to us. Namely, we’re only on the third episode of the season, and the secrets are out. Ben shares about his new experiment, David admits The Entity’s back, and Kristen is having a hard time dealing with all the supernatural…stuff.

Also: the hug. Mother held that finger up and mothered David into pulling over when he didn’t want to. Love them forever.

Now. Is David only starting to tap into some serious anger because he felt that dictator’s emotions during his vision? Or is his close proximity to the End Times affecting him? Maybe, much like Kristen, he’s just had enough of it all and is at his breaking point. We guess we’ll find out eventually. But, regardless, just…we will continue to be huge fans of the particular magic that is putting these three people — both fictional and real — together and letting them just…be. In the car, on a farm, on the phone…wherever, however, whenever.

Ok but this hurts

Evil 4×03 may have us like “lol Kristen is such a mother when she points that finger at David and makes him pull over for the hug,” but also…ouch. Because, yes, Kristen is such a mother. Even though she doesn’t want anything to do with Leland’s spawn, Leland and that creepy nurse from Room 302 get Leslie’s help luring her in. From there, it’s only a matter of time. Kristen’s discomfort is like a living, breathing thing in the room with her. And something just keeps forcing her to go along with the “plan,” regardless.

During the entire ordeal, Herbers does such a phenomenal job of showing just how difficult it is for Kristen to stay safely detached. How she struggles against that inner maternal instinct, even though she shows up to help Leslie — screaming right along with her. So true — and how she, ultimately, loses that inner war. Even when Kristen’s trying to be tough, getting frustrated with the doctors, it’s like…her heart’s just not in it. Because all we get off of Herbers is this deep sadness and this feeling that she has no control over anything that’s happening.

When they rush the baby away, all Kristen seems to know in the moment is a mother’s worry for her child. But we know this isn’t really “her” child — not exactly. This is something that was stolen from her, then created for someone else’s purposes. Not that any of that matters in the moment.

And, of course, it just gets more gut-wrenching from there. When she holds the baby, quieting him instantly, we’re as overwhelmed as Kristen is. As attached against our own will as she is…and did we mention all of this hurts? Because all of this hurts. Then, those final moments, of Kristen learning they named the baby Timothy — her dad’s name — and of her just…breaking down as she feeds him…like, someone please make it stop. Also: Why is she so alone in this? Help.

More on Evil 4×03

“I’m not intentionally obscure. Sometimes, reality is obscure.” New dude has a point.
”I was trying something out, but…I’m done.” Do I believe Kurt? No, I do not. Especially when he, apparently, has an assistant who’s in cahoots with Leland.
The “New Assignment: POSSESSED PORK” texts with the little dancing pig gifs. Iconic.
“Have you ever thought this Dr. Boggs might be trying to get you hooked on drugs? Have you heard of Big Pharma?” Can’t believe I’m on Team Djinn here.
“Does it feel like we’re heading out to the country a lot these days?” Alternatively, does it feel like Ben’s asking similar “does it feel like” questions a lot these days?
Ben is sooooo over this mess.
Aasif Mandvi: King of deadpan. “No. Werewolf” and “I…don’t eat pork” both slayed.
“Noise isn’t a bad thing with the pigs; it’s not like babies.” Can confirm the brain breaks if you try to think about this in the context of what comes toward the end.
“People are weird. People believe a lot of things. The world is flat, QAnon is real. People like the idea of conspiracies; it makes life easier. Don’t you think?” Dude had me at “people are weird.”
It’s the way David rushes to Kristen’s aid over a little cut and wants to take care of her for me. I HATE THEM. (J/K love them.)
Y’all, that literal glass ceiling.
“See? That’s the problem! Men take credit, even when they don’t deserve it. Women. Share credit. Even when we do deserve it” GO THE F OFF EVIL GRANDMA!!!!!!!!!!
Christine Lahti’s delivery on “what do you need, Leland.” That is all.
Or, well. One more thing on the Sheryl of it all: I don’t know if I believe she’s 100% there to take Leland down anymore — not after, well, everything. Rooting for her, though. And with that being said, it’s very interesting that she’s sitting there, going off about women taking power back…but gets interrupted by Leslie going into labor with the (obviously male) demon spawn. Which, then, leads us (eventually) back to the harm it does to Kristen. Are we really going to be able to win this thing? Seems unlikely, given the way it all goes down in Evil 4×03. Then again, we have time.
…not enough time. But time.
In other news: “How’s that?” “Yeah. that’s…That’s good. WHY IS SHE GRINNING AT HIM LIKE THAT. AND WHY ARE THEY LIKE THIS. I F***ING HATE THEM.
(I love them. Never stop making it hurt so good.)
“…where’s Ben?” (Ok. Maybe back to hating.)
Ben talking nerd with that farmer. A fun surprise!
Speaking of people who can’t help but be mothers: Sheryl. Lahti’s great in the hospital scenes where Sheryl’s just swearing she won’t let anything happen to Leslie.
“Why are you breathing so hard, David?” “My nighttime run.” “Oh, my God. Would you stop being super, please?” My trio!!!!
Related: “Goodnight. Don’t get mugged.” “Already home.” “Hey. What about me?” “You don’t get mugged either.” Them, forever and ever.
“I KNOW WHAT I SEE.” The conviction.
“I was filled with hatred, violence, like I wanted to kill someone.” Me when not enough coffee.
“I have visions of hell — I have visions of the world ending. They are not true; they are possibilities. You can not depend on what I see to be true.” Hm. No wonder he gets so mad when Kristen drops a “your truth” on him.
Loved the effect with Leslie seeing Sheryl through blurred vision.
“Giving birth to the antichrist is f**cking crazy. Using my body as food is just normal crazy.” She has a point!
“…and keep the white male clerical patriarchy intact.” The irony of saying this to this trio. Dead.
Ben’s facepalm. Get me a gif. STAT.
“That’s what you did?! YOU SENT THE DEMONS INTO THE PIGS?!” And his “THEY DIDN’T DROWN THEMSELVES” diatribe. ALSO ALSO HIS “OH. JESUS.” Mike Colter, comedy king.
“All this talk of salvation, God, demons, it’s just — it’s just broken me!” This was funny until we saw her actually broken at the end. Rude AF show.
“I haven’t been keeping it from you. It’s just…things happen really…fast.” The way this resonates right now…
“We are three f****cked up people.” David’s laugh…he gets me.
Pull over and hug her, you butthead.
“Ok. A Black man, a Muslim, and a white girl hugging beside the road? We should go home before we get shot.” I hate that I have to love this for how real it is after seeing those hillbilly Confederate losers drive by.
Her sigh as she popped open that canned margarita and put up her feet, the irritation when the TV took forever to power up, the disgust and the way she tossed her phone aside…so relatable.
Also: LET KRISTEN RELAX OK.
…or crush her (and us) instead. Whichever!
Mandvi really plays up the sense of terror when Ben (stupidly) goes out at night alone and sees that thing. I just love this cast, ok? Ok.
HER EYES. WHY DO YOU MAKE MY GIRL SAD.
The boys ripping those pig farmers a new one together. !!!
Make it stop. Just…PAIN.