I just finished watching a mini-marathon of a new A&E TV show called Paranormal State (Mondays, 10pm ET). Like other shows of a similar nature–the most notable of which are Ghost Hunters (SciFi Channel) and Most Haunted (Travel Channel)–Paranormal State features a team of paranormal investigators who help their clients detect, identify, and, if at all possible, banish malevolent entities. In one case, they even helped a client see the benefits of a clean home. But, unlike the other ghost hunting shows, Paranormal State features a group of fresh-faced college students who, evidently, have taken too few courses of study leaving plenty of time to do a (hit) TV show. Don’t mistake the recent snide remark as a jab at the show. On the contrary, I quite enjoyed the episodes I’ve so far seen, and will most likely continue tuning in. The one thing that bugs me (so far) is that the “Director” (Ryan Buell, founder of the Paranormal Research Society at Pennsylvania State University, from which the show was borne) is revealed to have a demon following him. The producers have made this condition a connecting theme among several episodes. It was as if Chris Carter had a hand in the show and it was his chance of resurrecting Fox Mulder. What made the introduction of the demon to the show slightly comical in my view was when Ryan cautioned other people not to mention the demon’s name aloud, as doing so would mean that the speaker has challenged the demon. The he-who-shall-not-be-named demon’s identity is, of course, revealed on a later episode. (It’s Belial, by the way. There, so now you’re doomed, too.) Ironically, what almost turned me off about the show is probably one of the main reasons I will continue to watch it. I now want to see if Ryan will face Belial in future episodes. And, if this ultimate showdown does occur, who will win?
To many people, the paranormal is nothing to scoff at–it’s as real to them as the nose on your face. The X-Files made its fictionalized version watchable and even addictive. For some, paranormal experiences are a source of whimsy, something exciting to add to otherwise normal lives. For others, the paranormal is a problem, and causes negative results. Enter the world of paranormal investigation. There are countless groups in all parts of the world. Google displays over 143,000 results for the term “paranormal investigation.” People take it seriously. But do TV shows like Paranormal State, Ghost Hunters, and Most Haunted lend credibility to a field that attracts as many skeptics as there are believers? Or are their sensationalized, made-for-TV representation of the paranormal actually contributing to the enduring disbelief of such phenomena?
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