As fans of Evil, we’ve been on a wild ride through the bizarre and often terrifying world of paranormal investigations, theological debates, and the intricacies of human (and sometimes not-so-human) relationships.
But amidst all the chaos and confusion, one character has consistently provided a mix of humor, skepticism, and heartfelt moments: Ben Shakir, played by the ever-talented Aasif Mandvi.
In a candid conversation following the explosive Evil Season 4 finale, Aasif shared his thoughts on Ben’s journey, his own personal connections to the character, and what it was like wearing that infamous tinfoil hat.
The Tinfoil Hat Saga: A Symbol of Absurdity
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what happened to Ben’s tinfoil hat between Episodes 13 and 14, you’re not alone.
Aasif has a theory: “Once [Ben] decided to leave the ghostbuster business, he basically didn’t need that tinfoil anymore; the gin kind of stopped bothering him.”
Aasif added, with a hint of relief, “I’m personally glad I didn’t have to wear the tinfoil hat anymore in the last episode. I was quite relieved to see that it was gone.”
The tinfoil hat, however, became more than just a quirky prop. It symbolized the show’s unique blend of horror and absurdity.
“That’s what I love about Evil,” Aasif explained.
“There’s a level of absurdity that we just leaned into. And in the midst of actual horror stuff and dramatic sort of stuff going on, there was this other level of absurdity that was just always there. And so the tinfoil hat and the tinfoil bedsheets — that’s the DNA of the show.”
The Science of Faith
Ben Shakir’s character has always been the skeptic among the trio of investigators, a role that Aasif played with both conviction and nuance.
But even the most steadfast skeptic can find themselves in a crisis of faith, as we saw throughout the series. “Ben was never — he didn’t have all the answers,” Aasif noted.
“Sometimes, he had an answer, but it was always juxtaposed with something he couldn’t explain. So there was never a moment where you go, ‘Oh, that’s all wrapped up.’”
This blend of certainty and uncertainty made Ben a particularly compelling character.
Aasif pointed out that this mirrors the scientific process itself. “I think Ben would argue that ‘I can’t explain it yet.’ But maybe at some point, there will be other pieces in place where I will be able to explain this. So that is the scientific mantra, I guess, that you can’t explain it at this point in history.”
The Power of Friendship
One of the most endearing aspects of Evil has been the unlikely friendship between Ben, Kristen (Katja Herbers), and David (Mike Colter).
Despite their vastly different worldviews, the trio has formed a bond that has carried them through some of the show’s darkest moments. This dynamic, as it turns out, wasn’t just great acting; it was rooted in real-life chemistry.
“Katja and Mike and I, on the surface, are very different people,” Aasif said. “Katja is Dutch. She’s very European in many ways, and Mike is a superhero, incredibly handsome. And then there’s funny boy over here.”
But these differences only strengthened their on-screen relationship. “The writers took that and started writing towards it. And so a lot of the dynamics between Kristen and Ben and David are the dynamics that exist between Katja and Mike and Aasif in some ways.”
This camaraderie translated into the show’s depiction of the trio’s friendship, a relationship that Aasif believes is one of the show’s strengths.
“We’re all very different, and I think it was those differences that actually allowed us to form a kind of chemistry that wouldn’t have happened if we were all just three peas in a pod.”
The Doppelgänger and the Reality Check
The Season 4 finale threw Ben and viewers for a loop with the doppelgänger storyline — a reflection of what could have been.
In a surprising twist, the actors playing Ben’s wife and child in the vision were none other than Aasif’s real-life family.
“It was actually more of Aasif sort of thinking about the fact that I never thought that in my life I would ever be a father and be married… So there was a kind of interesting melding of Ben and me at that moment.”
This melding of character and actor highlights the personal connection Aasif felt with Ben over the course of the series. “When I first started doing Ben back in the first season, I felt like he was so different to me.
“And there was such a chasm between him and myself because he was the scientist. He was empirical, and he believed it. But as I got to know him over time, I started to realize that we started to come closer together.”
A Form of Justice for Leland Townsend
While Evil didn’t offer a sense of closure overall, it did subject the assessors’ nemesis, Leland Townsend, to some well-earned justice.
Keeping the door open for a potential Hail Mary renewal meant that Leland survived under the protective eye of Sister Andrea at the monastery.
Aasif knew Ben had other plans, which were likely thwarted by David. “Ben wanted to kill Leland… He wanted to kill him. And then I think it was probably David who was like, ‘Let’s not kill him. Let’s just put him in a box.’”
Although Ben wasn’t running the show, Aasif believes he would have questioned David’s decision. “I think Ben ultimately also has to be like, “Really, David? Okay, we’re not going to kill him because you’ve been talking about how he’s the devil. And if you believe in the devil, then you should kill the devil.’”
The Uncertain Future
As Evil fans, we can’t help but wonder what’s next for Ben Shakir. The finale left us with more questions than answers — exactly the kind of ambiguity that the show has always embraced.
Aasif shares our curiosity: “I don’t know what becomes of Ben… I mean, maybe we’ll find out if there’s more of the story to be told.”
One thing is certain: Ben’s journey isn’t over. Whether he continues down the path of skepticism or finds himself drawn back into the supernatural chaos, there’s a sense that this character still has plenty of stories left to tell.
As Aasif put it, “I think he longs for the challenge, and I think what working with the Catholic church did was, it brought him up against what he believed and what he could explain. The challenge of that was exciting to him.”
Aasif laughed. “But he was also making $650k a year now, so it’s like, ‘Dude, we can afford that apartment.’ I don’t know how we afforded it on $65k; I have no idea. But I wonder how long Ben can actually stay in that job that he goes to in the suit and tie? Like I don’t know if he will ultimately stay there.”
Closing Thoughts
As we wrapped up our conversation, Aasif left us with one final thought — a hope that we all share: “Hopefully, there’s more. I’m still hoping that there’s going to be more. So let’s see.”
Whether or not we see Ben, Kristen, and David back on our screens, Evil has left an indelible mark on both its viewers and its cast.
And while the tinfoil hat may have been retired, the absurdity, humor, and heart of the show live on.