“C is for Cop” (Evil: S2E6)
“C is for Cop” is an episode of the supernatural drama, Evil. The assessors assess police misconduct during an unarmed shooting.
“C is for Cop” is an episode of the supernatural drama, Evil, created by Michelle King and Robert King. The central cast includes Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, Aasif Mandvi, Michael Emerson, Christine Lahti, and Andrea Martin. It originally aired under CBS before moving to Paramount+. As of this review, it’s available through Netflix and Paramount+ and its add-ons.
The assessors assess police misconduct during an unarmed shooting but uncover much more. Kristen (Katja Herbers) struggles with the trauma of her actions and prepares to face consequences. David (Mike Colter) unravels a secret sigil relating to the police force. Ben (Aasif Mandvi) faces his demons.
What I Like about Evil: “C is for Cop”
This episode received a nomination for “Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series” by the NAACP Image Awards. As of this review, it remains the only episode to receive a nomination for its writing.
Previous episodes built the groundwork for what “C is for Cop” pays off so well, including Kristen’s friendship with a police officer. The episode dissects this relationship with particular scrutiny as the plot unfolds. It’s an interesting plot that creates an uncomfortable conversation around systemic racism.
Despite the pointed plot addressing systemic issues of police violence, “C is for Cop” doesn’t linger on its dark comedy, giving it a harder edge than episodes like “Z is for Zombies.” Beyond the titular plot, Kristen comes to terms with some of her actions, diving further into her dark journey. This change in tone makes sense holistically, which adds greater depth to the episode’s execution.
Ben and Kristen hit dark moments in their journeys. The viewers learn more about why Ben took this line of work, trying to escape the sins of his past. In synergy with this journey, Kristen reaches her highest point of guilt. It’s a level of detail and foresight that deserves respect.
“C is for Cop” deals largely with systemic horror. While it addresses this concept from a place of knowledge, it’s less horrifying and more uncomfortably real.
Finally, I love how this episode builds up the next in subtle comments that only now make themselves apparent to me. It adds great value to rewatching the episode and series.
Tired Tropes and Triggers
As the title and above award might indicate, the episode deals with police violence and systemic racism. “C is for Cop” didn’t earn a nomination for pulling punches, but because it looks at the systemic issue from multiple parts that include TV representations, police culture, and microaggressions. Some elements are subtle, but many are direct.
What I Dislike about Evil: “C is for Cop”
To build tension on Kristen’s guilt, “C is for Cop” expects viewers to believe that one of her daughters would remember a specific unremarkable night. As Kristen largely kept the girls from the dangers of previous episodes, it hardly seems that night earns merit.
The investigation suggests another sigil in play. There’s something about this suggestion that makes the real horror less frightening and small. It even suggests an easy solution because it delivers a comfortable idea that slaying the sigil will remedy the issue. While it isn’t expressed directly in such a way, it’s an interpretation one must consider.
Another issue with this decision is that it acts like a typical procedural plot, holding little impact for future episodes despite the damning implications at the end.
Final Thoughts
“C is for Cop” delivers a lot in its runtime, adding a new layer of systemic evil to the show. While stepping away from its dark comedy tone, it synergizes this decision with several low moments for the characters. As an episode of season 2, pulls away from the levity of “Z is for Zombies” and prepares the viewer for the next dark episode of Evil.
(4 / 5)
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