TV Review: The Exorcist (Season 1, Episode 9)

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

EPISODE: CHAPTER 9: 162

THE DISH: Pazuzu is back to wreak havoc in the body of Regan, while Keane begins to discover the evildoing inside the church itself.

WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW. IF YOU'VE NOT SEEN THIS EPISODE YET, STOP READING HERE!

THE DICE-UP: Following a discontinuously halting two-week respite, The Exorcist atoned for its absence with a pretty prime and perilous penultimate episode – Chapter 9: 162 – that promisingly portends next week's ferocious season 1 finale. At last blush, we learned that good old Pazuzu once again permeated the physical being of Regan, the murderous manifestation of which went ahead and killed grandma Chris by snapping her neck and tossing down the stairs. As a result, Regan's demeanor has done a one-eighty. No longer bereaved and beleaguered, she's now eerily chipper, much to the dismay if not suspicion of her family. Speaking of, Casey is brought back home, now clean of spirit, confined to her bedroom to rest and recover. Father Ortega is invited to the Rance's for Thanksgiving dinner, during which all involved discuss moving away from Chicago. Ortega's diocese is set to close, he's been promoted to head St. Thomas' Church nearby. Before leaving, Ortega has a heart-to-heart with Henry, the latter revealing how he's been hearing things lately, in specific a droning sound that seems to repeat the titular number of 162. What the hell does it all mean?

Keane on the other hand is beginning to discover the malfeasance among the church brass, particularly Brother Simon and Maria Walters. He learns it is them who are heading the corruption that likely usurped Bennett's power, and just as Keane makes a move to act on the knowledge, his friends the Regos end up dead in their tour bus, bullet holes in their bodies, blood leaking from their midriffs. Suicide or not, Keane now knows he must contend with forces other than the demon that continues to possess the Rance family.  But of course, those two storylines also entangle. Regan makes a visit to the papal emissary and confronts brother Simon, who in turn recognizes the demon Pazuzu after years of trying to keep the demon quiet. No such luck. In one of the best parts of the episode, Regan makes Simon kiss her feet before lambasting Walters as being a desperately mediocre conduit between the living and dead. Regan then moves on to Mother Bernadette, who also recognizes the demon, claiming she knew they all should have killed it years ago. Regan does one better by slitting Bernadette's throat and snapping her neck without so much as touching her. She nonchalantly eats a snack while doing it!

Keane also confronts Simon, batters him around a bit in search for answers. Bloodied, Simon claims it is Keane who is resonsible for all the death…that of Bennett, the Regos, the nuns. Not buying it, Keane coaxes the fact something sinister is soon to take place duing a city parade, likely a gigantic finale set-piece. Simon strings up Keane and warns of turning him into a ceremony of ash, Vocare Pulvare shite! First though, The Rances must deal with Pazuzu. After feeling Kat up while she's sleeping, Casey senses that the demon has in fact transfered from herself to her mother. Mounting an escape attempt, Pazuzu traps them in the house and claims that she is not possessed but rather integrated. Permanence! Mama Rance strikes blows upon every family member, imploring them to behave under her evil rule or else she won't be so kind next time. They agree, and we're all set for what's sure to be a harrowing and horrifying season capper! 

As you can see, a lot to like in Chapter 9. First off, it's really refreshing to see Geena Davis get to attitudinally flip the script, going from sad and dour all the time to evilly and confidently eupeptic. You can tell she's no having a blast playing a Regan possessed by Pazuzu. Secondly, the amount of death this episode was quite remarkable, especially considering how the victims were well known recurring characters. Bernadette's death was particularly alarming, if for no other reason that seeing a nun gorily waylaid in her own house of worship. Good stuff! The whole angle involving Keane and Simon was also a compelling one, as it's clear now that the former must not only help Casey, but address the corruption of the church as it directly relates to widespread demonic possession. What worked far less for me, as it has all season, is the inner-struggle we see Ortega grapple with once again. He can't seem to get out of his own way, morally, enough to help others in the way he'd like. I'm sure he'll find repentant redemption in the finale, but to me, this strand is nowhere near as exciting as that of Keane fighting his own demons en route to helping the Rances, or that of Regan herself now once more inflicted by evil. I do wonder how it all will be tied up. How much of it will end happily? Will a season 2 scenario be forecast? Who, if anyone else, will die in the end of next week's chapter? These are all reasonable questions we should no doubt get answers to when Three Rooms (chapter 10) are opened!

THE EVILDOING:

• Pazuzu kills Mother Bernadette by slashing her throat and breaking her neck
• The Salesman demon twists Casey's head around, a la Regan in 1973
• The Regos are murdered in cold blood, made to look like mutual suicide
• Pazuzu attempts to first seduce then strangle Henry
• Pazuzu slowly feels up Kat while she's sleeping
• Pazuzu threatens the entire Rance family, physically harming them without touching

THE CREEPIEST MOMENT: For me the creepiest moment had to be seeing the mother feel up her own daugther while she was sound asleep. I get that it was done under the control of possessive Pazuzu, but still, seeing Regan touch Kat like that was incestually foul!

THE CONFESSIONAL: I must confess, I was not expecting to miss this show so much after a two week layoff. Perhaps it was seeing the odiously bad INCARNATE in between, but whateve the case, it was damn good to see the show return with such a dynamic and action-packed chapter. Now only if the season finale (perhaps series finale) can deliver us from evil in equal measure!