The Exorcist - S1E4 - Chapter Four: The Moveable Feast

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Previously on The Exorcist, “Chapter Three: Let ‘Em In”

A particularly surreal couple of scenes take place about halfway through this episode. Father Marcus has been given some names by Bennet – who we now know thinks the Church is compromised and that His Holiness The Pope is in mortal danger when he visits Chicago shortly – and while he waits patiently to see Mother Bernadette, the abbess at a convent where flirty nuns (well, one) have a demon of their own to exorcise, he takes a Haunted Chicago tour bus run by Lester and Cherry, who let Marcus spend the night at their trailer. They regale him with stories about HH Holmes, AKA The Devil in the White City (seriously, people, read that book –it’s amazing), and basically confirm that Chicago is the focal point of Evil Itself.

“Evil is a moveable feast, Padre,” Lenny intones ominously. It’s about the only moment of levity in the series so far (bar the flirty nun), and it’s not unwelcome – because The Exorcist is bleak as fuck. As it should be.

Marcus wants advice and help from Mother Bernadette (Deanna Dungan), no slouch herself in the business of exorcism. So she brings him on board with a ritual of her own – the convent has been so far unsuccessful in ridding a possessed man of his demon. Marcus is given a shot, and after a bruising encounter manages to free the man through the power of God’s love. Marcus is back on his bicycle and ready to take on The Salesman and Casey Rance. His power comes not from his collar and attire, but from within his soul.

And boy is Tomas happy to see his partner-in-crime back. He was ready to perform the exorcism himself – doing his Googles, reading up on the literature, letting Angela and Henry know he was up to the task (yeah, right), lodging Marie Walter’s check, and not succumbing to Jessica’s come-ons (“Any other lines you’re thinking of crossing?”). So when Marcus returns to Casa Rance, they soundproof one of the rooms, complete with chains and shackles, and get ready to perform an unsanctioned exorcism, which will be the centerpiece of next week’s episode. I can’t wait. It’s going to be epic.

And it’s also going to be a very difficult ritual. After her vicious assault on a douchebag last time out, Casey has been placed under mandatory psychiatric care at a nearby hospital. Her demon, The Salesman, is taunting her with visions of nightmare breakfasts (chicken foetuses anyone?) and threatens to murder her nurse if she doesn’t let him/it take full control of her body and soul. Angela forces Casey’s doctor to reluctantly discharge her so she can get her daughter back home for her exorcism. Henry fully supports her decision, but Kat is less than impressed.

Interludes:

Marie Walters continues to mystify. Just what her purpose is in insisting Tomas deposit her six figure donation is open to conjecture. Her husband is not only in his deathbed, but his tongue has been cut out. I think it’ll be a long time before Tomas’ nephew eats another snack after seeing the man while wandering around Walters’ house. Does she want Tomas’ help in “curing” her husband, or are her motives more nefarious?

Is there a schism within Church officialdom? Father Bennett appears to operating outside his superiors’ knowledge in sending Marcus to Mother Bernadette. It’s a case of the left hand not knowing what the right is up to. Is it a power-play, or are his motives altruistic?

When Tomas asks Marcus how he feels when he turns up at the last minute, the exorcist replies, “Big as a mountain.” Pride cometh before a fall, perhaps?

The closing song is There’s a Light In My Life Shining Over Me, a gospel song performed by Liz Vice.

The Moveable Feast sets up next week’s centrepiece, and as such does a great job. Now let there be weeping and gnashing of teeth.