Evilwas a standout TV show from the moment it premiered, and though season 4 is the series final outing, there’s still plenty to love about the project. Combining elements of the supernatural with religious themes and character-driven storylines,Eviltreads similar territory to some great fantasy TV series.This means that whileEvilmight not be returning to the screen with a new narrative arc, fans of the show can turn to other works that are just as captivating and compelling asEvil. These series incorporate magic, mystery, and crime to make for a unique blend of genres.
There are plenty ofreasonsEvilseason 5 needs to happen, but thoughfans have saved TV shows from cancelationin the past, it seems unlikely that the supernatural drama will return. This isn’t the first time that a strong TV show has been cut short before it could complete its planned arc, butit’s particularly difficult to say goodbye toEvilbecause of its incredible characters.Though fantasy series are often praised for their magic systems and worldbuilding,Evil, and the best shows like it, stand apart because they immerse audiences in the story’s world and characters' dynamics.
Outcast
Cast
Outcast is a Cinemax original series created by The Walking Dead’s Robert Kirkman. The series centers on a young man who attempts to uncover the mysteries behind his supernatural possessions. The horror series ran for a total of two seasons until it was canceled in 2018. Outcast got mostly positive reviews during its two-season run.
Though it only ran for two seasons,Outcastpacked plenty of action and thrilling plot points into its run.Patrick Fugit stars as Kyle Barnes, a man ostracized from his communitybecause he suffers from demonic possession. As the first season progresses, the audience learns more about Kyle’s past and what led him to team up with John Anderson, the town’s Reverend, who’s committed to performing exorcisms and helping people through their pain.
LikeEvil,Outcastis heavily informed by Christianity and the fight against demonic possession, making an interesting comment on the culpability of the individuals for their actions while possessed.
LikeEvil,Outcastis heavily informed by Christianity and the fight against demonic possession, making an interesting comment on the culpability of the individuals for their actions while possessed.Created by Robert Kirkman, one of the people behindThe Walking Dead,Outcastsimilarly explores violent and brutal fight scenes, but the fear of the demons differs strongly from the terror of the Walkers. The dynamic between John and Kyle as a Reverend and a suffering individual mirrors the relationship between Kristen and David inEvil.
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Preacher
Preacher follows Jesse Custer, a Texas preacher, on his quest to confront the divine for abandoning humanity. Aided by Cassidy, a vampire, and Tulip, a gun-toting Texan, he wields the power of Genesis, a potent force born from an angel and a demon, to challenge celestial authority.
While some audiences might recognize Dominic Cooper from his role in theMamma Miafilms, one of his best projects to date is thePreacherseries. He plays the protagonist,Jesse Custer, who isn’t a typical man of god, as he has a checkered pastand the inexplicable ability to get people to do whatever he says. Alongside him are the forces of heaven and hell, as creatures like vampires play large roles inPreacher, and the show received acclaim for successfully bringing the original comic series to life.
Some of the alterations the series made to the source material madePreacherseason 1 controversial, but as the seasons progressed, this became a strength for the show. Though Jesse is markedly different from David,Evil’s priest, they both fulfill similar roles of having unexpected abilities and using their connection to god to battle the forces of darkness. WhilePreacherleans heavily into its comic book origins, with fight scenes that look straight out of a graphic novel,it became more character-driven with every season, as didEvil.
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The X-Files
The X-files takes the police procedural formula and applies it to sci-fi mysteries. Conspiracy theorist Fox Mulder and skeptic Dana Scully team up to solve cases surrounding alien invasions and other unexplained, paranormal phenomena.
Starring Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny as the FBI agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder,The X-Filesis an iconic and beloved piece of supernatural television. WhileScully is the skeptic who finds a logical explanationfor the illogical circumstances the pair investigate,Mulder is a true believer who’s always looking for evidenceto support his otherworldly theories. This results in an incredible dynamic between the agents, which is elevated by the great chemistry between Anderson and Duchovny.
The crime procedural backbone of the show is something it has in common withEvil.
Every episode sees the partners explore a new town and community that’s been plagued by mysterious violence or disappearances. The crime procedural backbone of the show is something it has in common withEvil. Additionally,the relationship between Mulder and Scully clearly inspired the dynamic between Kristen and David,with Kristen unsure of the demonic events they see and David fully convinced they’re the work of heaven and hell. AfterThe X-Filesoriginal series conclusion, the show was brought back for two seasons years later, which bodes well for shows likeEvil.
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The Sandman
The Sandman is a 2022 adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s iconic comic series. The narrative follows Morpheus, the King of Dreams, who, after years of imprisonment, embarks on a quest across various realms to recover his stolen artifacts and regain his lost power.
Based on the comic book series of the same name,The Sandmanstories have paved the way for a host of other great shows likeDead Boy Detectivesand even the supernatural crime showLucifer. In 2022, the first season of the show dropped on Netflix.Audiences were swept away by the epic nature of the seriesthanks to its set pieces and anthology-esque nature.The Sandmanfollows Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams, who’s played by Tom Sturridge. The series begins with his imprisonment and escape from the clutches of a mortal.
Though there’s not yet a release date forThe Sandmanseason 2, the series is in production and is rumored to be even more expansive than season 1 (viaCollider). ThoughEviltakes place from the perspective of humans interacting with the nebulous supernatural world,The Sandmansees the lords of time and space witness the mundanity and thrills of humanity from afar.Dream is disillusioned with the human race after his imprisonment, but he’s reminded of their goodness and becomes more willing to help them, much like the arcs of the characters inEvil.
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Wynonna Earp
Based on a comic book series by Beau Smith, Wynonna Earp tells the story of the titular heroine who is the great-great-granddaughter of Wyatt Earp. The series follows Wynonna’s return to her hometown, where she must do battle with the reanimated criminals previously killed by Earp. Aided by her sister, her great-great-grandfather’s immortal partner Doc Holiday, and a member of the US Marshals, Wynonna works to keep Purgatory safe from the revenants.
Simultaneously a Western, a crime series, and a fantasy epic,Wynonna Earpfollows its titular character as she brings demons to heel with her considerable skills and supernatural powers.Wynonna is the descendant of the lawman Wyatt Earp,and her family’s legacy is to subdue the revenants who rise from the grave to terrorize the world, particularly her town of Purgatory. Melanie Scrofano plays Wynonna and is joined by a cast of allies who aid her in the fight against the demons.
Both series prioritize well-written female characters and spend time fleshing out their development.
As the series progressed,Wynonna Earpevolved from a classic gunslinging adventure to a nuanced drama with as many great performances as there were stellar fight scenes. The demons inWynonna Earpdiffer from those inEvil, but the stakes are just as high for Wynonna and her friends. Additionally, both series prioritize well-written female characters and spend time fleshing out their development.Wynonna Earpcan get dark, butit’s a little lighter and more comedic thanEvilat times.
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The Magicians
The Magicians follows a group of young adults who enroll at Brakebills University, a secretive institution devoted to teaching magic. As they engage in an unconventional education in spellcasting, they realize that a childhood fantasy world is indeed real and presents a significant threat to humanity.
While Lev Grossman’s novel series,The Magicians, only has three installments, the TV series that brought the characters to life ran for five seasons. Religion and demonic possession weave in and out of the mystical story at the heart ofThe Magicians, as gods might be real, but they’re deeply present in the story.Quentin Coldwater and his friends at Brakebills University, a school for magic,find themselves entrenched in the magical universe of Fillory as they try to stop its dangers from bleeding into Earth’s world.
Though there are plenty of witty remarks and moments of levity, particularly from Eliot and Margo,The Magiciansgets intensely dark throughout its seasons. One of the most innovative parts ofThe Magiciansis howthe show draws a distinct line between Earth and the places of magic through the visuals.Evilis also quite gritty and raw in its style and storytelling, which matches the non-magical scenes inThe Magicians.
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The Magicians' Highest-Rated Episode Confirms The Best Part Of The Show
Though there are many great episodes of The Magicians, the highest-rated of the series shows what audiences care about in the plot and stories.
Midnight Mass
Created and directed by Mike Flanagan, Midnight Mass follows the residents of an isolated fishing community whose lives are changed by the sudden appearance of a charismatic new priest, Father Paul Hill (Hamish Linklater). The residents of Crockett Island struggle to eke out a meager living, just barely surviving off the mainland, but the appearance of Hill changes everything. Attendance at the local church is at an all-time high, but cynical ex-con Riley Flynn doesn’t trust the priest, and sets out to uncover his dark secret.
Mike Flanagan, the creator behind great horror series likeThe Hauntingseries andThe Fall of the House of Usher, madeMidnight Massin 2021.The limited series explores the dynamic of a small town that’s upended by the sudden arrival of a priest with a hidden agenda,which coincides with the return of a disgraced community member who was in prison for killing a woman while driving drunk. Though the town has enough secrets already, the stakes are raised by supernatural entities that the citizens turn to for salvation and darkness.
While David uses his priest training and knowledge of the supernatural for good inEvil, the same can’t be said for all the characters inMidnight Mass.
Zach Gilford, best known for his starring role inFriday Night Lights, plays Riley, the recently released man, with Hamish Linklater, who plays Father Paul, the priest. While David uses his priest training and knowledge of the supernatural for good inEvil, the same can’t be said for all the characters inMidnight Mass.Evilis more action-driven, whileMidnight Masscan be bogged down by its dense dialogue,even if the series is trying to get its nuanced points across through these speeches.
Fringe
This sci-fi procedural follows the FBI’s secretive Fringe Division and its agents Olivia Dunham, Walter Bishop, and Peter Bishop. Together, they investigate cases regarding strange events that threaten society, including cases of parallel universes, human experimentation, and other strange phenomena.
From the first episode ofFringe, the series was already getting compared toThe X-Filesand other supernatural crime shows that pushed the boundaries of reality. However,Fringeis not a carbon copy of anything that came before it.Evilis also in conversation with the TV shows that influenced it and draws from famous works of film and television, but it does this to create something unique. The trio dynamic in both series mirrors each other, withOlivia, Peter, and Walter filling similar roles as Kristen, David, and Ben.
Fringeis a great example of a TV show with the capability to reinvent itself throughout the story and is aTV show that got better after a time skip.The final season ofFringejumped ahead in time,far enough that only the central three characters remained. While this was a bold choice, it gaveFringethe opportunity to do a soft reboot and pay tribute to the many intersecting storylines of the series' first four seasons. LikeEvil, there’s never any question inFringethat the existence of monsters and reality-bending technologies isn’t real.
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Dark
Dark is a German science fiction thriller focusing on four families in a small town impacted by the disappearance of a child. As they search for answers, they uncover a web of interconnected secrets, revealing complex temporal and familial relationships spanning multiple generations.
The surrealist German seriesDarkhit Netflix in 2017, and though it begins with the investigation into a child’s disappearance, it’s much more than this.Evilalso uses seemingly mundane crimes that quickly expand into a twisting narrative of demons and nightmares.Darkis a more experimental take on the sci-fi and fantasy genres,asEvilis often more straightforward in its plotting, but this makesDarkeven more exciting to unpack. WhileDarkdoesn’t explore the supernatural so much as it does timelines and travel, there are still plenty of parallels between the shows.
Darkis a great follow-up after watchingEvilbecause it dives even further into the most sinister aspects of the show.
Though it only ran for three seasons,Darkwas consistently singled out for its performances, writing, and direction,making it a standout of Netflix’s programming. Family legacy and generational trauma are a huge part of the themes and tone inDark, which tackles individual acts of good and evil, whereasEvillooks at the big picture of the larger forces of the supernatural and how they impact reality.Darkis a great follow-up after watchingEvilbecause it dives even further into the most sinister aspects of the show.
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Lovecraft Country
Lovecraft Country follows Atticus Freeman as he embarks on a 1950s road trip across Jim Crow America with his friend Letitia and Uncle George. Searching for his missing father, they confront racial discrimination and supernatural horrors reminiscent of H.P. Lovecraft’s fiction.
Though H.P. Lovecraft was an influential writer and storyteller, his works are marred by the fact that they’re so intertwined with the author’s personal prejudices and fears. The book that the series is loosely based on,Lovecraft Countryby Matt Ruff, unpacks this legacy and intertwines it with the history of racism and violence in the United States.It follows the story of a young Black man, Atticus Freeman, and his friend, Letitia Lewis, as they encounter the horrors of racism and fantastical monstersin America in the 1950s.
Despite being canceled after one season, the series garnered acclaim from critics and audience members alike, and it struck a nuanced balance between appreciation for Lovecraft’s works and being able to simultaneously critique his personal opinions. ThoughEviltakes place in the present day, both series grapple with the cultural and social issues that remain relevant today.Lovecraft Countryhas elements of Southern Gothic and other religious themesthat are frequently present in American folklore, which is similar to the explorations of demons inEvil.
