Apparitions
Created by Joe Ahearne
On BBC One
A theologically grounded supernatural drama that treats demonic possession and exorcism as serious religious phenomena rather than horror spectacle, grounding cosmic conflict in doctrinal inquiry.
Apparitions is a BBC drama about Father Jacob Myers, a priest of the Roman Catholic Church, played by Martin Shaw, who examines evidence of miracles to be used in canonisation but also performs exorcisms. As he learns, Jacob's duties run deeper than just sending demons back to Hell; he later must prevent them all from escaping. Unlike most portrayals of exorcism and spirit possession in fiction, Apparitions is more religiously accurate and fact-based, incorporating the nature of demonic possession as described by the Church. It also recounts historical events associated with Christianity and other Abrahamic religions, which may have been caused by Heaven or Hell, indicating that the War described in the Bible may not have fully concluded. The series is written by Joe Ahearne.
Clusters
Questions people ask
Is Apparitions scary? Yes, very. More frightening than 93% of series.
Is Apparitions easy watching? Barely. Less comforting than 75% of series.
Does Apparitions leave you hopeful? Not especially. Less hopeful than 73% of series.
Is Apparitions violent? Somewhat. More violent than 71% of series.
Is Apparitions sad? Somewhat. More sad than 66% of series.
These describe how the series comes across across its whole run, compared with other well-known series. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked episode by episode, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Cinnamon Score
How much this series gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
Familiar shape, done well.
How unlike any other series this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Like Apparitions
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as Apparitions
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like Apparitions, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like Apparitions, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like Apparitions, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
