The Way of the Wicked: The Exorcist season 2 begins (recap)
By Aaron Posey
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After a stellar first season, Fox’s The Exorcist returned for it sophomore effort. Is the scary series still a good time or is it already time?
Last night, The Exorcist returned to television. Possessing the airwaves with the launch of season 2, the new episode began with a bang and was a 60-minute ride to hell and back with our favorite demon hunting clergy. Hopefully season 2 can live up to the standards set by season 1. If last night’s episode Janus is any indication, I have a feeling it will be.
As the show opens, we see Father Tomas and Marcus Keene, an excommunicated former Priest, far from Chicago, where the last season took place. They are roaring across an isolated dirt road in Montana.
Father Tomas has a vision, which can only described as the worst birthday party ever. He talks to a woman holding a baby — and all hell suddenly breaks loose. Father Tomas and Keene are being chased by a pickup truck driven by a Deputy Sheriff, and a man in the passenger seat taking shots at them with a shotgun.
We suddenly realize why they are being chased. In the bed of the pickup truck that Father Tomas is driving, we see Keene attempting to perform an exorcism on a very clearly possessed woman. Father Tomas is eventually able to evade them and disappears behind some brush. Relieved that they were not killed, they drive to what appears to be an abandoned barn to continue their work.
Standing in for the Rance family this season is Andy Kim, played by John Cho. Our story takes us to Washington state where Andy runs a foster home for several children. The children include Shelby, Truck, Grace, Caleb and Verity. Andy is a loving foster parent who takes care of the children and provides for them.
As the kids are walking to school, Verity proceeds to tell them about the legend of a witch who stalks the grounds they are passing thru. According to Verity, she poisoned all the children. Verity tells Caleb, who’s blind and standing on top of what appears to be a well, he can still hear the cries for help from the deceased children.
Caleb does not go through it because he’s stopped by Shelby. The kids then proceed to finish walking to school. As they depart, the area Truck kicks a ball into the open door of a dilapidated structure. As they walk away, a demonic sounding voice begins whispering in a barely audible tone. I’m sure this and the witch will come back to play a bigger role later in the season.
Back at Andy’s foster house, we learned Rose will be arriving. When Andy meets her, they have a very awkward conversation, which leads you to believe some previous history between the 2 exists.
Meanwhile, Father Tomas and Keene are still attempting to perform the exorcism on the poor woman. After Father Tomas tells Keene of the vision he had, Keene admonishes him and says he cannot let demonic forces inside his head — they will destroy him.
When Tomas goes into town to pick up medical supplies, he is recognized by one of the locals. They catch up with Father Tomas and Keene back at the exorcism site. When the Deputy questions why they kidnapped his wife, Keene gives an answer that ultimately sets up their reason for doing what they do.
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At the foster home, things appear to be going as normal. When Andy walks a sleepwalking Truck back into his room they notice Caleb missing. A frantic search is carried out and they ultimately find him and bring him home. As the episode ends, we hear the famous “Tubular Bells”, which acts as the theme to the original film.
So there you have it folks. I tried to make this as spoiler free as possible by going over the main plot points. There are still plenty of secrets and wow moments in the episode I haven’t touched. While Janus seemed to drag in parts, I know it’s for character development and ultimately setting the tone for the rest of the season.
Ultimately, I was excited for the return of The Exorcist and not disappointed. For fans of season 1, I don’t want to make a judgement only after one episode, but I think season 2 will be just as good. The tone, look and feel of the previous season has returned and Ben Daniels‘ acting superb as usual. The Exorcist airs Friday nights, only on Fox.
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