Polygon talks about evil with Evil’s most evil men.

Michael Emerson loves to laugh. When he makes an observation that interests him, he often does so as if entertaining or provocative thoughts were his favorite pastime. It’s truly creepy, as he’s made a career out of playing some of the most influential TV villains of the last 20 years.

This is because Emerson is playing Dr. Emerson in the Paramount Plus series. This is further amplified by his current role as Leland Townsend. evil. Initially a manipulative forensic psychologist, Leland is eventually revealed to be in the employ of what appears to be a literal devil, and in the latest season is dedicated to bringing about the birth of the Antichrist. For viewers, Leland is probably one of the funniest villains to see on TV, and according to Emerson, that’s by design.

Emerson recently got on the phone with Polygon to discuss the joys of playing such a cool villain, the nature of evil, and the many substances he got hooked on while working for the devil. He also laughed a lot. I tried not to blame him.

Polygon: There’s a baby (Antichrist?) to take care of this season, which adds another layer to this role’s rich tradition of covering you with material.

Michael Emerson: This is the messy part to play.

Photo: Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount Plus

What is the messiest thing you have ever done?

I was working on my computer when the baby was lying in his crib and a projectile was spitting out off screen. The pea soup came out of the air cannon and some of it went deep into my right ear. So it was a few days before I actually went to the walk-in medical clinic on the corner and said, “Can you please check my ears?” Because I’m afraid there’s something fermenting in there.”

It also sets up one of my favorite recurring Leland beats. Here, what starts out as a gag, like Leland annoying the baby, resolves in a very sinister way.

And one thing leads to another. Once he realizes that Kristen’s voice calms the child, he has to play all of Kristen’s tapes. And in the tape she reveals her secret fears and desires. And that is raw material for him.

It was truly terrible! A plot to hypnotize Andy and kill his daughter. But it’s a beautiful transition when even a hypnotized Andy can’t do it.

You’ve said before that you’ve developed a taste for playing villains that audiences like. Is it easier to do that than to be a more heroic protagonist?

Well, it’s not a goal I set for myself, but I think it’s more fun and gives me more opportunities to play characters that are annoying to the audience. Because when I approach, they seem a little nervous and wary.

The writers evil It really served me well as I hoped it would. You can do this by giving me this ambiguous situation and letting me decide what the best way to deliver it (i.e. the worst way to deliver it) is. So when I hypnotized Andy, I thought:speak softly) Ah, this should be like a lullaby. This should be really sweet. Butter wouldn’t melt in Leland’s mouth. It all makes a lot of sense. That’s exactly what he has to do. huh. Then everything will be okay. (Giggling)

Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount Plus

I love the sound of that! Because he says he’s making a strategy. And his tone is contrary to his intentions. These are things I learned from playing Iago in Shakespeare’s play many times, as I have done hundreds of times. Othello. Because there is a character who claims that the audience warms to him. If you own that character on stage, that character will speak directly to them. And they become complicit in his villainy because they rather like him. Despite his actions.

Do you think Leland is a scary person because he thinks the world is black and white and he is definitely in the black?

Well, it seems scary because there is no regret, no anxiety. He rather enjoys the tricks it creates. He also obfuscates the question that is on our minds these days: Is evil itself a reality? Is it just an accumulation of bad choices and selfish choices made by human agents? Or is it something beyond human? Is it some kind of essence, a vibration, an electromagnetic force, or something like that? Leland helps us say this. Oh, look, who does this bad actor work for? How was he hired? Who is running evil in the world? And I think it’s Kings (evil Promoted by creators Robert and Michelle King).

Do you have any questions for Kings about how to literally act out a particular scene? You share several scenes with the giant demon.

The first time I acted with a giant demon, it was shocking to come on set and face him. But then I thought: Okay, how do I play this? The audience will find it unfamiliar and fearful. But for Leland, it’s just a colleague or supervisor. And he’s long on This character is no matter what he looks like or what powers he has. So being with these demons is just a daily annoyance. But you have to tolerate them. Because they are in charge.

I was happy to play from that angle. Because in a way, demystifying that moment makes things feel stranger and scarier to anyone who isn’t Leland. We can have some way of being at peace and on friendly terms with Leland. Patent evil. And, of course, it is a question of the zeitgeist of our time. (I’m giggling)

new episode of evil Season 4 airs Thursday on Paramount Plus.