A Stephen King-approved horror TV show, which lasted for four seasons, promised to get better and better with every new installment. The show in question still boasts a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 96%, and it is unfortunate that it was canceled before it could reach its natural conclusion.
Stephen King’s reviews of shows and movies may not always align with those of the masses. However, since he is the King of Horror, his stamp of approval for horror movies and shows instantly gives them more credibility. To some extent, it even promises that audiences will find traces of compelling horror storytelling that defines some of his best works.
The horror author had nothing but positive things to say about a 7-year-old supernatural drama, which seems to be aging incredibly well. Although the show had to end its run after four seasons and leave many underlying story threads unresolved, it remains one of the best recent additions to the horror genre.
Evil Only Gets Better With Each New Season
Maintaining an upward trajectory is no easy feat for most TV shows. Especially for the ones in the horror or supernatural genre, there comes a time after seasons 1 or 2 where they gradually start to stumble. Evil, however, is a rare exception that keeps getting better the more it progresses. After initially following more of a “monster of the week” format, the show graduates to becoming a more surrealist exploration of modern horror.
It is a fun series in season 1, but it goes on to defy the norms of network television in season 2 by leaning further into its weird elements and embracing an experimental style of storytelling. Evil also heavily benefitted from moving from CBS (broadcast) to Paramount+ (streaming), which allowed it to feature more disturbing imagery and bizarre, dark humor.
In more ways than one, Evil is also reminiscent of genre classic TV shows like The X-Files, especially because of the dynamic between its leading trio: Kristen (the skeptic), David (the believer), and Ben (the pragmatist). Speaking of characters, it even manages to give enough screen time to its side characters and turn them into fan-favorites.
The show also adopts clever methods to modernize its horror elements and give them a more technophobic spin. Its unique ability to stay novel and even strangely relatable throughout its runtime makes it a unique addition to the horror genre. Unsurprisingly, Stephen King could not help but praise the show (via Collider) by calling it “funny,” “witty,” and “very, very sharp.“
Unfortunately, despite being one of the best and most ambitious modern additions to the horror genre, Evil was canceled after 4 seasons. Four seasons might seem like a lot in this day and age, but the series had more stories to tell.
Evil Did Not Deserve To Be Canceled After 4 Seasons
Soon after Evil was canceled, many fans of the series, including Stephen King, demanded its return. The show arguably walked through its best installment before being axed, and its season 4 still boasts a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 100%. Despite its acclaim and all the campaigning around its return, Evil has not been given a second chance yet.
Considering how it has been less than a year since its most recent installment ended, Evil might still have a shot at getting picked by a new network or streaming service. However, its future remains uncertain since most canceled shows rarely get picked up again for renewal.
Since there is still time to save Evil, all horror fans must unite and check it out before it is too late. Even if Evil season 5 never sees the light of day, it is essential viewing for everyone who can appreciate a horror series that keeps evolving and refuses to grow complacent with its own formula.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
