The latest episode of “Evil” plunges viewers into a harrowing scenario that takes place on a turbulent flight, just as the summer travel season kicks off. This episode, aptly titled “How to Fly an Airplane,” is a masterclass in blending supernatural horror with the all-too-real fears of air travel. The episode features a demonic relic, a ghostly pilot, and eerie transmissions over the plane’s PA system, making it a nightmare for anyone with a fear of flying.
The episode begins with Kristen and her daughters returning from a visit to Andy, who is in a facility. The visit has left the family visibly shaken. Kristen tries to reassure her daughters that Andy will be home in a few months, but her own emotional state is fragile. She locks herself in the bathroom to cry, only to be interrupted by a call from David, who is dealing with a botched exorcism.
The exorcism subject, Vicki, is a flight attendant who slit her wrists during the rite. David and his team were not consulted before a rogue priest, Father Jefferies, went ahead with the exorcism. Now, they are called in to assess the situation and potentially reduce the Church’s liability. Vicki’s husband, Marcus, reveals that she has been suffering from severe depression and self-harm since her last redeye flight. He also mentions that her uniform, which they need to examine, is at a “crashpad”—a hotel room used by airline staff for short layovers.
As they investigate, Kristen shares her own troubles with David and Ben, revealing that Andy is not allowed to have a phone for a month. Despite her personal issues, she chooses to stay busy with the case. They soon find themselves at the crashpad, filled with flight attendants who are drinking and watching horror shows during their layover.
Tori, a co-worker of Vicki’s, arrives and recounts that Vicki saw a “ghost pilot” named Capt. Lemire on her last flight from Rome. This ghost is said to appear on turbulent flights over the ocean. Tori also reveals that Vicki was planning to leave her job because she had started smuggling relics from Italy to sell on the black market. On her last trip, she acquired something she believed was extremely valuable—a piece of wood that Father Dominic later identifies as part of “the true cross.”
Father Dominic insists that the relic must be returned immediately to exorcise Vicki’s demon, and Kristen, David, and Ben are tasked with delivering it to Rome. Kristen’s lawyer, Yasmine, stays with her daughters while she is away. However, an emergency at Yasmine’s mother’s assisted living facility leaves the Bouchard girls alone, leading to a series of chaotic events involving bats invading their home.
In Rome, the team is taken to Vatican City, where they discover that the relic is a fake. Father Dominic provides holy water to treat Vicki, suggesting her condition is psychosomatic. Meanwhile, back home, Sheryl deals with the bat problem and introduces the girls to their half-brother, Timothy, without revealing his true identity.
On the flight back from Rome, the light over the seat where the fake relic is stored keeps turning on. Tori informs David that the box containing the relic is a verified demonic artifact and must be destroyed. As the plane hits turbulence, David sees flashes of the dead pilot and hears disturbing voices over the PA system. He uses the holy water to destroy the box, which stops the turbulence.
Despite their efforts, Vicki’s condition does not improve. Sheryl, before leaving Kristen’s house, reveals to the girls that Timothy is their brother, adding another layer of complexity to the already tumultuous situation.
This episode of “Evil” masterfully combines supernatural elements with real-world fears, making it a gripping watch. The turbulence, both literal and metaphorical, keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, wondering what will happen next.
