Evil series post-mortem: Katja Herbers reflects on Kristen’s journey and finale shockers

Evil series post-mortem: Katja Herbers reflects on Kristen's journey and finale shockers

As a huge fan of the show Evil, I wholeheartedly agree with Katja Herbers‘ sentiments about the characters not resorting to violence even when it seemed justified. It’s one of the things that sets this series apart, showing the strength and maturity of its characters in choosing the path of compassion over revenge.


The following post features spoilers for the series finale of Evil on Paramount+

Isn’t it impossible for evil to end, isn’t it? Just like a church shutting down a program prematurely, the streaming platform Paramount+ has decided to terminate one of its most successful shows mysteriously, even though we trust that creators Robert and Michelle King will find a way to carry on the story in some fashion or another.

As a hardcore gamer diving into the final episode of this series, I’ve got to say it doesn’t neatly resolve every single thread of the Evil plotline, but it leaves us with an intriguing glimpse into what could be for Kristen and her brood of five kids, along with Ben and David. Even Leland seems to face his consequences in the climactic hour, offering some delightful callbacks and nods to earlier seasons.

In its final episode, the series beautifully combines its distinctive blend of whimsical humor and ominous undertones, reinforced by exceptional writing and poignant moments shared among beloved characters. The story concludes with David and Kristen embarking on a new journey in Rome for the assessor’s program, accompanied by Kristen’s children.

However, it wouldn’t be entirely sinister if there were subtle reminders of the impending shadows yet to unfold. In essence, the sinister force hasn’t been vanquished, and Timothy appears to be following in his father’s footsteps. We had a conversation with series lead Katja Herbers about her portrayal of Kristen Bouchard, her perspectives on the series finale, and other topics.

Evil series post-mortem: Katja Herbers reflects on Kristen's journey and finale shockers

Katja Herbers expressed her excitement about the finale being both conclusive for fans while still leaving room for potential resurrection of the series since evil wasn’t completely vanquished. She found it brilliant when she read it, and even more so when she watched the episode and laughed numerous times at how everything unfolded. A touching moment occurred as Fenna, the nun from the silent episode, appeared at the end. This character was a favorite among fans, and her appearance struck Herbers as particularly moving. Overall, she felt that the Kings’ thoughtfulness shone through in their writing, making it seem like they genuinely cared about the story and its ending, rather than just hurriedly wrapping things up with a lackluster finale.

Initially, the scene was intended to play out slightly differently. During filming, we had some fun and decided to change it up. Originally, my character would have looked at the baby, realized something wasn’t right, looked back, and found the baby missing. Instead, during rehearsal, I noticed something unusual about the baby and looked again, only to find that it remained there. I decided not to worry about it and gave him a pacifier, with her character subtly expressing concern by saying, “It’s still my son.”

Evil series post-mortem: Katja Herbers reflects on Kristen's journey and finale shockers

Katja Herbers admires Kristen’s resilience deeply. Despite the countless challenges that life has thrown at her, Kristen remains unbroken – a testament to her strength. In one of the fourth season’s episodes, when Ben and David express their confusion about Kristen carrying Leland’s child while appearing unfazed, she responds with a calm acceptance or humor, suggesting an inner fortitude that refuses to break. This is a quality I deeply admire in Kristen, and I believe it’s something we all could learn from. She chooses to keep going amidst adversity, and her laughter serves as a reminder that no matter how hard life tries to bring us down, we always have the power to persevere.

Evil series post-mortem: Katja Herbers reflects on Kristen's journey and finale shockers

Katja Herbers: Ben is an authentic friend, and I appreciate this season as it shows her collapsing in his arms not just once, but twice. He manages to make her laugh, truly understands her, and listens attentively. This aspect of their friendship is rare on television, as we seldom witness such genuine conversations where individuals genuinely listen to each other and provide support. The bond between these characters, which seems to reflect real life, is both profound and delightful. Mike [Colter], Aasif [Mandvi], and I have developed a strong friendship off-screen as well.

One memorable episode that stood out for me was the silent one directed by Robert. It was an exceptional hour of television, both intriguing and enjoyable to be part of due to the challenge of conveying our emotions without dialogue. Additionally, I found the narrative involving Fenna, who reappeared later, to be quite engaging.

Evil series post-mortem: Katja Herbers reflects on Kristen's journey and finale shockers

Katja Herbers expresses her satisfaction since it turns out that our concerns about whether her character would maintain audience sympathy after committing murder were unfounded. Instead, the outcome was quite different, as the audience actually developed more empathy for her character.

Katja Herbers expresses her appreciation for the show’s choice not to have their characters murder Leland or allow him to continue killing, as it is morally wrong even if he deserved it. Despite portraying a character who was possessed for an entire season, she found it realistic and heartwarming that they chose to care for Leland in another way, demonstrating a strong bond of friendship.

Katja Herbers expresses her delight in observing scenes she isn’t a part of herself, to witness the intricate tapestry being woven. One scene that left a significant impact on her, she divulges, was a dramatic one and a humorous one.

Evil series post-mortem: Katja Herbers reflects on Kristen's journey and finale shockers

Katja Herbers: Indeed, I concur with your sentiments. It’s no secret that the writers often find themselves in predicaments when crafting their stories. They tend to conclude seasons by creating cliffhangers, as was evident at the end of season one when there was uncertainty about whether my character had killed someone. This decision wasn’t made until the start of season two. I was instructed to portray the scene where I picked up a cross and pondered, was I possessed, or what was happening? We did discuss this, and they suggested we should explore the possibility that I did commit the act, then work out the details later.

Katja Herbers expresses her passion for addressing the global climate crisis and the appalling selfishness of knowingly damaging our habitable environment for personal financial gain. She believes this issue is so profoundly important that it could easily fill numerous episodes, as no greater injustice may exist than the potential risk to every living creature on Earth due to such actions.

Evil series post-mortem: Katja Herbers reflects on Kristen's journey and finale shockers

Katja Herbers: Look, I think Leland is in love with Kristen.

Katja Herbers: He’s deeply infatuated with her, to the point where it could be interpreted as an obsession. Right now, he’s locked away in a room – whether or not he can escape is uncertain. As for his intentions, it’s hard to say if he’ll never pose a threat again. We can only speculate at this point.

Katja Herbers expresses her hope that the audience will be extremely content with our direction, and she anticipates their laughter, as well as possibly bringing a tear to their eyes.

Katja Herbers: I don’t think the Kings are either. I don’t think anyone really is.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

All fours seasons of Evil are now streaming exclusively on Paramount+.

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2024-08-22 19:25

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