The Exorcist TV Series: An Underrated Sequel to the Horror Classic

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The movie The Exorcist is widely considered one of the most frightening films ever made – even people who don’t typically watch horror are familiar with it. However, many don’t realize there was also a television series with the same name. The original 1973 film caused a sensation when it was released, and the image of Linda Blair’s character spinning her head around remains a classic, unforgettable scene in horror cinema.

The original Exorcist film was a huge hit, leading to a long-running series of movies, and a new one is currently being directed by Mike Flanagan. Many successful horror franchises expand into television, like Hannibal, Chucky, and the recent IT: Welcome to Derry. However, The Exorcist‘s TV show, despite being well-made, didn’t achieve the same level of popularity.

The Exorcist Show Takes Place After The Original 1973 Film

The TV show The Exorcist debuted on Fox in 2016 as a continuation of the story from the original 1973 film. It disregarded all other Exorcist sequels, which was a smart decision given how inconsistent they were with each other.

Even though the new Exorcist series is set in modern-day Chicago, it confirms that the terrifying events of the original Exorcist movie actually happened. Similar to the film, the show follows two priests as they investigate new cases of demonic possession, and it includes references and hidden details that fans of the Exorcist franchise will appreciate.

The show The Exorcist focuses on the Rance family, particularly Angela (played brilliantly by Geena Davis), who worries her daughter, Casey, is possessed. Because The Exorcist aims for genuine scares, it needs a believable character to ground the story, and Davis delivers that perfectly as a frightened and desperate mother – it’s a truly strong, yet often overlooked, performance.

The Exorcist (2016) Is Better Than Most Entries In The Franchise

While the 1973 film The Exorcist is widely considered a horror masterpiece – and was the first horror movie ever nominated for the Best Picture Oscar – its sequels haven’t lived up to the original, despite continued attempts by Hollywood to create them.

The sequels to The Exorcist were tonally inconsistent and varied wildly in genre. Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) took a strange turn into science fiction, straying far from the original film’s intent. Other sequels were criticized for relying too much on nostalgia, bringing back familiar characters without giving them meaningful roles. Many simply felt like pale imitations of the first movie.

What makes The Exorcist stand out as the best sequel is its thoughtful approach to the story. It builds upon the existing mythology without simply repeating it, and while religion is central to the series, this installment doesn’t overwhelm viewers with religious symbolism or concepts like other sequels have.

The characters in the show, including Angela Rance (Geena Davis) and the two priests, Father Tomas Ortega (Alfonso Herrera) and Father Marcus Keane (Ben Daniels), are all realistically developed and complex. The series focuses on telling their stories, instead of just repeating plot points from the original Exorcist movies.

Why The Exorcist Was Canceled

Despite being a well-regarded and critically praised show—earning an 89% score on Rotten Tomatoes—The Exorcist was unfortunately canceled after just two seasons. The series ran for a total of 20 episodes, with the final episode airing on December 15, 2017.

The TV show The Exorcist was cancelled because not enough people were watching it. Airing on Friday nights was a major problem, as that time slot was known as a ratings killer for network television. Considering it was the lowest-rated drama on Fox, the fact that it even lasted a full season, let alone got a second one, is a bit surprising – a small but dedicated group of fans kept it going.

The rise of streaming services in the 2010s often rescued TV shows from cancellation, with platforms like Netflix and Prime Video stepping in to keep them on air. However, this didn’t happen with The Exorcist. Even though the show’s creator, Jeremy Slater, had a complete plan for a third season – involving Marcus being called by God to reconnect with Tomas after they’d split up in season two – the show was still cancelled.

Although the Exorcist TV series is unlikely to return and the sequels haven’t lived up to expectations, the franchise isn’t dead yet. The next Exorcist movie, directed by Mike Flanagan, could be a turning point. Flanagan is a respected director with a distinct style, and he’s likely to create a thoughtful film, unlike the previous TV show which felt like a shallow attempt to make money.

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2025-12-12 02:09