*Spoilers Ahead*
With all the crazy revelations that happened last week it’s come time to put this season to rest and Ash vs Evil Dead does so with style and ease.
Ruby has revealed herself to be the creator of the Necronomicon and amid all the craziness, complete with Deadite Fisher coming back into the picture, she escapes with Pablo, sporting the face of the book as a mask, into the cellar. Ash plans to go down there with Kelly and Heather but that goes to the wayside thanks to The Force and our heroes are separated at a very crucial time.
The separation proves effective though as it give Dana DeLorenzo time to show off how badass Kelly has become. In a way, she’s become the true successor to Ash’s throne and this episode goes a long way towards making that official. She gets to shoot out eyeballs, set a cabin on fire and get showered in a fountain of blood and somehow still has the resolve to finally make it down to that cellar.
The episode manages to combine an excellent mix of comedy, action and horror that hasn’t been done so expertly since the pilot. The perfect example comes when Ash faces off against one of Ruby’s “children.” He’s reluctant to battle what looks to be a child but quickly gets in the mode when it attacks him. It’s dynamic, funny and creepy all at once.
The direction of the episode helps as well as it feels like the most assured since Raimi’s initial episode. The touches of true Raimi horror mostly show up in Kelly’s part of the episode especially where poor Heather is concerned. We all probably knew she wasn’t going to make it out of this episode, even Ash is reluctant to promise he’ll save her when he’s giving a rousing speech and her torture and eventual death is as brutal as it gets. While it isn’t quite as shocking as Fisher’s death, going through a literal meat grinder has to be up there.
All in all though, it doesn’t come down to a climatic battle between the forces of Ash and Evil (Dead.) Instead, it comes down to an offer. Ruby promises that if Ash leaves her be she’ll do the same. He can go to Jacksonville and live his life and be free from all of this. Ash is resistant when he’s first offered the prospect but when faced with saving Pablo and Kelly or sacrificing them to save the world he chooses the former.
While it feels a little anticlimatic it manages to serve as a great character moment for our “alone wolf.” He’s grown to care so much for Pablo and Kelly, just as we have as viewers and he’s already been through so much loss in his life that he’s not willing to experience it again. Plus, as we’ve seen hundreds of times, Ash is as dumb as they come. Naturally, he’d take this deal and assume all will be okay even as the world seems to spiral into darkness. After all, we all know no matter how hard he tries, Ash will be back to being El Jefe before long. Deep down, he knows it too, let’s just hope we don’t have to wait long.
Ash vs Evil Dead didn’t get everything right in it’s first season, Fisher never felt like a real character and some episodes had some uneven directing and pacing, but it was a ride unlike anything else on television. Much like the films, the TV show might not always be great but it never lacks style and a biting sense of humor.
Season 1: 8.0/10
Bits n’ Pieces
Pablo had a rough go of it this week and him barfing up those babies was easily the grossest thing I’ve seen on TV in a long time.- I’m happy that Ruby didn’t end up getting defeated yet. More Lucy Lawless is one of many things to look forward to next season.
- “That lady has my book and she has my Pablo.”
- “Wow, I dumped you at just the right time”
- “I’ll save you Pedro! …I mean Pablo!”
- “That’s why I didn’t have kids.”
Jesse Swanson is a would-be writer, podcaster and funny guy who covers TV shows of all shapes and sizes. You can find him on Twitter @JesseSwanson