Ep 1. Janus

A small town in rural Montana is the setting for the season 2 premiere of The Exorcist, titled "Janus." Father Tomas, now the head of his own parish, answers a call from his mentor, Father Marcus, who is still hunting down evil spirits and performing exorcisms. The call leads him to the small town where a series of strange occurrences take place.

The episode opens with a young couple driving down an isolated road in the middle of the night. They hit a deer and as they get out of the car to check on it, a strange figure emerges from the woods. Cut to an ominous shot of an abandoned house in the middle of the town. The windows glow red and dark shapes move behind them.

We are then introduced to Andrew Kim, a foster child who has just moved in with his new family. His adopted mother, Nicole, is hesitant about him having too much contact with the outside world, but his father, Steve, is more lenient. They all attend church on Sunday, where Father Tomas delivers a sermon about the importance of family.

While at church, Andrew meets some local kids and they dare him to go into the abandoned house on the outskirts of town. He reluctantly agrees and as he peers through the window, he sees the same strange figure that the young couple encountered.

Meanwhile, Father Marcus has been tracking down a young woman who he believes is possessed by a demon. He visits her in a mental institution and tries to speak with her, but she attacks him and is sedated by orderlies. Later, Marcus contacts Tomas and tells him that he believes the demon they fought last season is still alive and has possessed a new host. He urges Tomas to come to Montana and help him investigate.

Father Tomas arrives in town and meets with Marcus. They set up temporary headquarters in an old cabin and begin to investigate the strange occurrences in the town. They soon learn that there have been reports of strange symbols and patterns appearing in the sky and on the ground. They also discover that the abandoned house is in fact a power source for the demon they are hunting.

The demon makes its presence known to the Kim family, tormenting Andrew and causing objects to move on their own. At first, they believe that the disturbances are simply the result of Andrew's behavior, but they soon realize that there is something much more sinister at play.

As the investigation continues, Father Marcus is approached by a young woman who recognizes him from a previous exorcism he performed. She tells him that she has been experiencing strange visions and sensations, and she fears that she may be possessed. Marcus sets up a makeshift exorcism and calls on Tomas to help him perform it.

The episode ends with a tense showdown between the demon and the two priests. They manage to force it out of the young woman and into a container, but they know that their fight is far from over. The demon taunts them, promising to return and wreak more havoc.

Overall, "Janus" sets the stage for an intense and suspenseful season of The Exorcist. The small town setting and the focus on a single family provide a more personal and grounded approach to the story, while the overarching plot of the demon's return raises the stakes and keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The performances from the cast are strong, particularly John Cho as Andrew's father Steve, and the cinematography and visual effects add to the eerie and unsettling atmosphere. Fans of the show will not be disappointed with this season premiere.