"I Got Paramount+ To Watch This Show": Why Evil Season 5 Still Needs To Happen After Shock Cancelation
The end of the Paramount+ supernatural series, Evil, has fans and cast desperate to save the show with hopes an Evil season 5 could happen.
For reasons that seem baffling to many, Paramount+ has decided to cancel its popular supernatural series, Evil, but season 5 still needs to happen. The show has built a loyal fan base since it premiered on CBS in 2019 before it moved to Paramount+ for seasons 2 to 4, and their growing discontent is palpable in online forums and social media. Even the actors are desperate for Evil to continue, with the show's stars imploring other networks to pick up the show. But so far, there seems to be no help in sight, and Evil's lights will likely switch off forever after its finale airs on August 8.
For Evil's fans, the cancelation has hit hard. Many have turned online to vent their frustration at the streaming service for canceling a show that was consistently getting high viewership on both the Paramount+ platform and on Netflix, where Evil season 1 and 2 are also available. Hundreds shared their anger and confusion at Evil's Paramount+ cancelation on Screen Rant's threads, with many threatening to cancel their Paramount+ subscription after the finale. Whether Paramount+ executives recognize this act of protest remains to be seen, but for those frustrated at the shock cancelation, it's the only way to have their voices heard.
As the supernatural Paramount+ series Evil heads towards its series finale, the show must solve the mystery of the codex and its demonic sigils.
Evil's Story Could & Should Continue In Evil Season 5
One positive thing that Paramount+ did in its decision to cancel the popular series was to allow Evil creators, Robert and Michelle King, an extra four episodes at the end of the current season 4 to conclude the show, in what is being referred to as Evil's mini season 5. However, it's clear there are more stories to tell, and the Kings are rightfully disappointed that they won't be able to share them. In an interview with USA Today, Evil co-creator, Robert King said, "There's still so much to talk about with evil in the world... It feels like a novel that you're not going to write the last three chapters."
As the long-running CW series, Supernatural, proved, horror themes punctuated with self-aware humor and a monster-of-the-week structure with broader season-long arcs can become a sustainable format.
The Kings have promised closure with the Evil ending finale, but with a lot of ground to cover, those episodes will inevitably leave many unanswered questions. Given the show's deep and expansive lore, multi-faceted characters, and narrative structure, Evil could easily continue into season 5 and beyond. As the long-running CW series, Supernatural, proved, horror themes punctuated with self-aware humor and a monster-of-the-week structure with broader season-long arcs can become a sustainable format.
Of course, just because something could continue, doesn't necessarily mean that it should. Other shows arguably ran too long, leading to divisive final seasons. But Evil isn't in this category. The show has many more stories to explore, demons to hunt, characters from previous seasons who deserve to return, and unexpected twists and turns that keep its viewers coming back week after week.
The Reaction To Evil's Cancelation Shows It Was A Mistake
It's undeniable that fans are livid at Evil's cancelation and are taking to social media to share their discontent. They have started petitions to save the show, and are imploring other fans who are similarly disheartened by the show's cancelation to write in Evil three times on Netflix's title request form in hopes the platform will pick up the series. As fans remain powerless in these executive decisions, these are the few ways viewers can fight back and express their frustration at the show finishing before its time.
The cast has also been quite vocal about their disappointment with the show ending. Andrea Martin, who plays Sister Andrea in Evil, has stated that "I feel disappointed that I won't be able to carry on in a show that I think is such high quality, high artistry." Katja Herbers, who plays Kristen Bouchard in Evil, also expressed that the cancelation "feels like a death... I’m a little in denial still." In fact, Herbers has also been taking to social media to discuss the show's popularity and pleading for another network to pick up what she calls a "cash cow."
It's not just the fans and cast that love the show, but critics too. Evil season 4 boasts 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and has a 96% overall score. In any other period of television history, high viewership numbers and Nielsen ratings, rave reviews, a large and active fan base, and a cast and crew who love working on the series would be enough to warrant a show's continuation. Which, again, calls into question, why would Paramount+ cancel Evil? This is the question viewers and the production team want answered.
Is Evil Season 5 Happening Realistic?
Realistically, an Evil season 5 doesn't look likely at this stage. Despite fans, Herbers, and the cast and crew urging for the show to be continued, there has been no indication that any other networks or streaming platforms have expressed interest in coming to the show's rescue. It's not impossible that the series is picked up elsewhere, or that an Evil spin-off series could be made in the future. The Kings have been involved in a string of popular spin-offs, including The Good Fight and Elsbeth, so perhaps this is a little more possible. But not a lot.
It seems that unless some miracle happens that would baffle even the likes of Kristen, David, and Ben, that this really is the end of Evil. Its cancelation begs the question, what does it take to keep a show on air? If it's not critical acclaim, high ratings, sharp writing, exceptional performances, passionate fans, and a supportive cast, then what more do networks need? In an era where the creativity seems increasingly more focused on the accounting than the product, it's hard to know what more a show can do to survive. All bets are off. No show is safe.
Source: USA Today
Evil is a Paramount+ original that focuses on a priest, clinical psychologist, and a contractor who investigate strange events such as demonic possession as they trace the origins of evil. Created by Michelle King and Robert King, the series tackles the line between science and religion while the team tries to determine if there are any scientific explanations for the supernatural events they experience.
