"How to Build a Coffin," the latest episode of Evil's final season, delivers
a satisfying dose of classic elements fans have come to love. It's not a giant
leap towards the apocalypse, but a delightful throwback to the show's earlier
days, featuring half-baked exorcisms and the glorious return of the enigmatic
Sister Andrea.
The episode centers around a seemingly possessed reporter, Stuart Lawry, who struggles to speak coherently on live television. This "possession" appears contagious, affecting Kristen, David, and Ben as well. The science-minded Ben is uncharacteristically clueless, while David faces an awkward confession from an adulterous congregant.
Meanwhile, Kristen's anxieties escalate as her cognitive abilities seem to be diminishing. This vulnerability plays perfectly into Leland's schemes, which we'll explore later.
Sister Andrea takes center stage in this episode. We see the misogyny of the church firsthand as Father Dement assigns her extra chores while the priests focus on "connecting with God." During her laundry duty, she discovers a horrifying truth: Father Ignatius has a gaping hole in his side, inhabited by a tiny demon. This mischievous creature feasts on Father Ignatius' grief over the death of Father Matt, leaving rocks in place of the flesh it consumes.
Sister Andrea proves her resourcefulness once again. She captures the demon with a bowl of marshmallows and subjects it to a brutal beating with a spatula. Interestingly, the demon is particularly drawn to grief and attempts to exploit Sister Andrea's past heartbreak. However, she identifies it as the "grief demon" and swiftly outsmarts it.
The episode also explores the exorcism of the "word-eating" demon plaguing Stuart, Kristen, David, and Ben. Father Dement's attempts are futile, but Sister Andrea steps in and devises a clever solution. She encourages Father Ignatius to confront his grief over Father Matt, depriving the demon of its sustenance. This emotional catharsis weakens the demon, allowing Sister Andrea to vanquish it with a pair of hedge shears – a hilariously fitting end for this word-gobbling creature.
However, the episode ends on a dark note. Leland, ever the opportunist, manipulates Andy by using Kristen's therapy session recording. He exploits her fears about Laura's heart condition and suggests harming their own daughter if the worst happens. Thankfully, Andy's paternal instincts prevail even under hypnosis, and he stabs himself instead.
This horrifying incident leaves Kristen fearing Andy is suicidal. The episode concludes with the terrifying prospect of the grief demon lurking outside their hospital room, ready to exploit Kristen's fresh heartbreak. With the loss of her husband looming once again, Kristen may become the perfect target for this malevolent entity.