Antichrist Helped Baptize in Paramount+ Show's Latest Episode
Evil's final season is nearly at its end, but the show remains as captivating, audacious, and bizarre as ever. This week's eighth episode, "How to Save a Life," pushes forward vital plot points while delving into a question that has long haunted horror enthusiasts: what if the Antichrist was baptized?
In the twisted world of Evil, the Antichrist is none other than baby Timothy: conceived from Kristen's stolen egg and Leland's demonic sperm; carried to term by surrogate mother Leslie; and mainly raised by Leland and Kristen's mom, Sheryl. From the get-go, sinister forces lurking in Evil's dark, supernatural rendition of New York City have been orchestrating doomsday, and Timothy plays a crucial, probably the most crucial, role in their demonic scheme. However, their plan doesn't account for the growing animosity between Leland and Sheryl.
After a brief stint on the dark side during her romance with Leland (hard to believe that now, given their current hostility), Sheryl stuck with the dark side because she relished power and became dependent on Leland's needle filled with life-extending concoctions. We've witnessed her perform some despicable acts, including helping Kristen's husband disappear during a mountain climbing expedition (a ruse to keep him out of her way).
Kristen is unaware of Sheryl's deceitful scheme, but she knows about her role in the Timothy situation, and their strained relationship appears to be on the brink of permanent separation. This news devastates Sheryl, who cares deeply for Kristen's four girls. Throughout the show, we've seen Sheryl's disillusionment with the darkness she's embraced. For instance, her dream job in a toxic tech company's corporate ladder has a glass ceiling, and her encounter with Leland trying to manipulate Andy into killing one of her granddaughters leaves her determined to seek vengeance on him.
That's why, in "How to Save a Life," Sheryl pays a surprise visit to Father David in church (an unlikely setting for her) and seeks guidance in the confessional. Desperate for protection against Leland and knowing the police are compromised, she confides in David about Timothy. Her main concern is what would happen if the Antichrist was baptized? David assures her that no child is beyond redemption and attempts to console her about her own salvation but understands she's not seeking spiritual guidance. She wants a favor: a rush baptism, performed during the brief window when Leslie can help her gain access to her grandson.
David reluctantly agrees to her plea, but he's occupied with other matters during the critical time, forcing Father Ignatius to perform the baptism instead. With Sheryl's urgency and Sister Andrea's help (a woman with heightened senses), they manage to conduct the baptism. Upon its completion, Timothy transforms into an actual human baby for Sister Andrea. Exultant, Sheryl storms over to Leland's apartment and smacks a baptismal certificate and a picture of Timothy being held by Ignatius and Andrea on his door. "Like Martin Luther, motherfucker," she smirks.
The next day, when Leland retrieves Timothy from Leslie, the boy is surprisingly calm. He's usually a screeching, cranky mess, but now he's smiling happily. Suspecting something, Leland scrutinizes the certificate and photo but can't undo what Sheryl has done. As the time for the dark ritual nears ("Stockholders will be here in one hour," the Manager texts. "Have baby ready/quiet"), Leland panics, torn between killing the Antichrist and maintaining his powerful position.
New episodes of Evil air Thursdays on Paramount+.
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- In the upcoming episodes of Evil on Paramount+, viewers can expect to see the consequences of the Antichrist's baptism, a decision made by Sheryl in a desperate attempt to protect her grandson, Timothy.
- The technology company where Sheryl once dreamt of rising high in the corporate ladder now seems a mere languishing memory, overshadowed by her pursuit of spiritual protection and vengeance against Leland.
- Unaware of Sheryl's devious plan, Kristen contends with the potential end of her relationship with her mother, a separation that would leave her four daughters without their grandmother's care.
- As the dark ritual looms, Leland finds himself unprepared and uncertain, caught in a struggle between his loyalty to the diabolical forces and his need to protect the Antichrist, who seems to have undergone an unexpected change following his baptism.
