Evil has many similarities to The X-Files, but the Paramount series has surpassed the Fox fan-favorite in terms of supernatural scares.
The supernatural drama Evil is an outstanding horror series. The Paramount+ show features a skeptical forensic psychologist named Dr. Kristen Bouchard, who's fired from her position after refusing to lie in court. Catholic seminarian David Acosta and technology contractor Ben Shakir recruit Kristen to their supernatural investigation team. Their aim is to utilize her expertise in human psychology to determine if people are actually possessed by demons experiencing a miracle or faking it all. Does that sound somewhat familiar?
The iconic but questionably revived The X-Files featured a similar premise in which FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully investigated paranormal cases. Similarly to Kristen in Evil, Scully served as the female lead and the show's skeptic who attempted to find scientific evidence for the extraordinary incidents they encountered. And that isn't the only instance where Evil seems to mirror the premise for The X-Files; there are multiple elements that paint these shows in a similar light.
Evil and The X-Files both investigate cases beyond basic human understanding. Scully and Kristen serve as an aid for the audience in temporarily suspending their disbelief. Not every situation is caused by a supernatural or paranormal force, but there are some instances where the skeptic on the show can't help but believe what they've seen first-hand. This fundamental idea heavily ties these series together, which is a positive for Evil, since The X-Files was so wildly popular throughout the 1990s.
Another major similarity between the shows is the secrecy around their investigations. Mulder and Scully were archetypal FBI agents, which meant many people in their personal lives didn't have the clearance to learn details about their work. Kristen, David and Ben have a similar dynamic as their work is also private in nature. Many people wouldn't advertise their involvement with supernatural work as the public generally doesn't believe incidents like demonic possession are real.
The most important commonality between the shows is the romantic element between the protagonists. Kristen's attraction to David is instantaneous and there are real barriers keeping them from dating early in the show. David is soon to be a priest and Kristen is married to a man who is physically absent from her life and those of her four daughters. As their romantic dynamic grows over time, the audience roots for their pairing even if it might never happen. Mulder and Scully's budding romance was always a major plot point that kept X-Files fans interested in their development.
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