Ep 1. Evil Places

The Unxplained is a television series that takes a deep dive into some of the world's most mysterious and inexplicable phenomena. In the show's first episode, entitled "Evil Places," viewers are taken on a journey to explore some of the most haunted and cursed locations on the planet.

The episode opens with a narrative voiceover that introduces the concept of evil places - locations that seem to be imbued with a dark energy that can make visitors feel uneasy, anxious, and sometimes even physically ill. The voiceover notes that these locations often have a history of violence, tragedy, or other forms of trauma, and that some people believe they are inhabited by malevolent spirits or entities.

From there, the episode plunges into a series of case studies that showcase some of the most notorious evil places around the world. One segment takes viewers to the island of Poveglia, a small piece of land in the Venice Lagoon that has a reputation as one of the most haunted places in Italy. The island was used as a quarantine station during the bubonic plague epidemic of the 17th century and later as a mental hospital, and many people believe it is cursed by the suffering and death that occurred there. Featured in the episode is a local historian and author who recounts the dark history of the island, as well as a group of paranormal investigators who spend a night on the island in an attempt to capture evidence of supernatural activity.

Another segment focuses on the infamous Winchester Mystery House, a sprawling mansion in San Jose, California that was built by Sarah Winchester, widow of firearms magnate William Winchester. According to legend, Sarah was convinced that she was being haunted by the spirits of people killed by Winchester rifles, and she built the house in a labyrinthine, nonsensical manner in an attempt to confuse the ghosts. Today, the Winchester Mystery House is a popular tourist attraction and a destination for ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts. The episode features interviews with staff members and visitors to the house, as well as paranormal investigators who attempt to communicate with the spirits that are rumored to still haunt the property.

Other segments in the episode cover the Bell Witch Cave in Tennessee (a site where a vengeful spirit is said to have tormented a family in the early 19th century), the Tower of London (a fortress that has been the site of numerous executions and is rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of former prisoners), and the cursed town of Houska in the Czech Republic (a location with a reputation for supernatural activity that was built over a supposed gateway to hell).

Throughout the episode, host William Shatner provides brief introductions and voiceovers that tie together the various stories and offer some commentary on the concept of evil places. Shatner's delivery is suitably dramatic and a bit tongue-in-cheek, adding to the sense of spooky fun that permeates the episode.

Overall, "Evil Places" is a solid introduction to The Unxplained, offering a mix of historical context, paranormal investigation, and atmospheric storytelling. The case studies are diverse enough to keep viewers engaged, and the show strikes a good balance between taking the supernatural seriously and acknowledging the more sensational aspects of the subject matter. If you're a fan of ghost stories, haunted houses, or just good old-fashioned creepy vibes, "Evil Places" is definitely worth a watch.