Title: The Exorcist: “Let ‘Em In”
Network: Fox
Air Date: October 7, 2016
Genre: Horror, Drama
Another week, another great episode of The Exorcist. It seems to be a show that gets better as it progresses. “Chapter Three: Let ‘Em In” has seemed to have found a nice balance of horror and drama for the show. How that balance continues and becomes more refined in the future, that remains to be seen.
Catherine Rance plays a big part in this week’s episode. We learn more about her past and the accident from three months earlier. Turns out that Catherine is gay and it doesn’t seem likely that her family knows. Except for Casey of course, but she seemed to have learned from the spirit playing with her emotions. Casey does shove Catherine away as well as rest of her family. The spirits/demons are finally making their move.
Father Tomas and Marcus try to show proof of Casey’s possession to the Church. Whatever is possessing Casey might know Marcus and definitely, knows what happened in Mexico City. The scene might have been a show stealer if it weren’t for the ending (more on that in a bit). Marcus is also excommunicated because of the events in the premiere and Tomas is put on notice even after showing proof. Despite being put on notice, Father Tomas is making headway to get noticed by Rome. I predict that all of it is connected (and you can read some of my predictions in my review of Chapter Two): the Pope visiting, the mass homicide, and the Rances. It is also oddly entertaining to see Father Marcus eating corn on the cob while casually walking into a church.
Then there is the ending. “Let ‘Em In” pushed the boundaries with the show’s endings even farther. We had a mass homicide in “Lupus in Fabula” and a rat killing being crushed by nothing in the premiere. This week Casey goes full blown possessed. It looks like she has finally let the demons in (as per the title). Throughout the episode, she is being sexualized by the spirit, the salesman as she calls him. It is him that pushes Casey away from the rest of her family.
While on the subway Casey is being assaulted by a drunk college guy when she starts clawing him to shreds. The lights go out and people are screaming. It ends with Casey peeing herself. It definitely is the craziest ending in the season so far, so it begs to wonder, what else does the show runners got? Who knows, maybe we will see a fully blown exorcism or a moment like the 1970s film.
Also worth mentioning, if you are squeamish and can’t do blood and guts, “Let ‘Em In” pushes the boundaries of what is on cable TV. Put aside the self-mutilation and sexual gratification for it, the ending was probably more intense than an episode of “The Walking Dead”. Or it could just be me because I am squeamish myself. Going over the top though too much, can definitely hurt a show, so hopefully The Exorcist doesn’t become known for just that. What works for shows like Hannibal or Game of Thrones, doesn’t necessarily work for others.
The performances in “Let ‘Em In” on the other hand isn’t what makes this week great. Ben Daniels is another show stealer as Marcus of course and Brianne Howey as Catherine was great. Hannah Kasulka though came off as overacting. Think soap opera and you get an idea. Kurt Egyiawan also returns from the premiere and I see him playing a bigger role as Father Bennett as the show progresses. When he is on screen with Ben Daniels, they work so great together. While Bennet is the cautious type, Marcus is the roguish go all in type.
I’m also digging the synth soundtrack that has riddled the show’s best scenes. The soundtrack won’t be everyone’s cup of tea and not something everyone pays attention to. The reason I point it out is that it fits with the ’70s film and that the tone is shifting to less modern to being more set in its own time. Think what Gotham has done with it’s setting. The Exorcist does take place in Chicago but the world the cast and crew have made is it’s own.
“Let ‘Em In” overall was a fantastic episode. The show itself is definitely getting better as it progresses. It looks like it has hit most if not all of the hurdles some show come across in their first few episodes. Add the nice balance of horror and drama lets hope it doesn’t fall into the trap of being too crazy for its own good.
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