The Exorcist is a FOX TV series and is a sequel to the 1973 film starring Linda Blair. Initially I was reluctant to add another TV series to my queue. How do you make a sequel to the 1973 film that does not suck? I cannot even keep up with the TV shows that I enjoy and have been watching for years, but I do love Geena Davis, and I am a completist. I watched The Exorcist in two sittings: one on Election Day and one subsequent to the inauguration. There are only ten episodes, and each episode is about 45 minutes.
The Exorcist has several major plotlines. First, there is a young, hot parish priest who struggles between his fleshly desires (ambition, fame, sex) and his spiritual ones (to actually give himself completely to God and hear His voice and protect his congregation from evil literally). Second, the magnificent Ben Daniels plays an older ex-priest, an exorcist, who literally has been filled with God’s spirit and done amazing things through the power of Christ, but he had a bad day at the office and thinks that he has lost his connection to God. Third, there is a family under demonic attack, which is how the TV series ties in with the 1973 film. Fourth, there is a demonic human conspiracy in Chicago to attack the Pope. It sounds stupid, but hey, considering headlines lately, it also sounds feasible.
With the caveat that I have a weakness for characters that repeatedly shout, “The power of Christ compels you,” guest appearances by the Holy Spirit and adore literal spiritual battles of good versus evil as opposed to the explicit one that people are in denial about in the real world, I adored The Exorcist and hope to watch it one more time in one sitting. The Exorcist adhered to the demonic possession trope, but fully explored the corners instead of walking in the worn footsteps of its predecessors. The Exorcist also kept me guessing as to the demon’s end game though my suspicions were vindicated. Initially it was a surprise who he chose as his first victim.
There were several themes in particular that I found compelling. First, the provocative idea that there is more than a single way to approach an exorcism-the idea of forgiveness as proposed by the nuns. Second, I loved that The Exorcist used demonic possession as a metaphor for sexual child abuse and turned the female victim trope on its head to one of empowerment-a little girl can beat a demon given a fighting chance with God on her side. Third, The Exorcist really emphasized the marriage between power (the church) and wealth (business) and its demonic exploitation and victimization of minority communities. The second episode was the most frightening, devastating and unexpected.
I am delighted that The Exorcist did not seem to attract controversy over its decision to have a pivotal gay character. The Exorcist was not a perfect TV show. Father Bennett was way more interesting than whiny hot priest, Father Ortega. I was initially unsure of which side Bennett took, and he ended up being a really bad ass, interesting character.
If you are into supernatural horror TV series or a fan of the 1973 film, definitely check out The Exorcist. I liked it so much that I will watch it again. I do not think that it needs a second season.