Ash vs Evil Dead
Episode 1.8 “Ashes to Ashes”
Directed by Tony Tilse
Written by Michael J. Bassett, Nate Crocker, Zoe Green, James E. Eagan
Starring Bruce Campbell, Ray Santiago, Dana DeLorenzo, Jill Marie Jones, Lucy Lawless, Samara Weaving, Indiana Evans, Ido Drent, Rebekkah Farrell
Starz
Air date: Saturday, December 19, 2015, 9pm

It’s time to go back to the beginning”¦ the cabin in the woods. At the end of last week’s episode, Ash (Bruce Campbell) snuck away from the gang to do it alone. After all, everyone he ever cared about ended up dead, so he doesn’t trust that his new friends will make it. Amanda Fisher (Jill Marie Jones) is now a full on part of the group and is actually receptive to Ash’s advances. Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo) and Pablo (Ray Santiago) are now heavily armed after beating up some militia goofs, and killing some militia deadites. At the Brujo’s compound, Ash went on a drug-fueled trip and was told to bury the book deep under where it all started”¦ “Honey, I’m home.”

Spoilers below.

Fisher finds Ash as he’s about to enter the cabin. He tries to warn her:

“Everyone dies here, it’s a rule. Death, taxes, more death, and I don’t pay taxes, so I all know is death!”

Kelly and Pablo are lost in the woods, but find help from the hikers. They even forget they’re carrying heavy artillery and to calm the situation. Pablo tells them, “The guns are for evil”¦ bears”¦ evil bears.” When the single girl tells Kelly she’s interested in Pablo, Kelly interrupts, “He’s gotta girlfriend.” Maybe sexy demon Kelly’s flirting wore off on her.

Back at the cabin Ash heads to the work shed for a crowbar to get into the basement, while Fisher guards the book. Both are unaware that the Ash-hand has arrived and is now sprouting an arm and eye! Kudos to everyone involved for so damn good with continuity at the cabin. This whole thing is big giant callback to first two Evil Dead films, and they nail everything”¦ the porch swing, the tape recorder, the chalk outline for the chainsaw, and of course”¦ Linda’s sawed skull still in the vice!

Linda’s head of course comes alive, and makes some highly inappropriate passes at Ash. Back inside, Fisher is surprised by”¦ Ash. They have a tender moment before she realizes her Ash, is a fully formed evil Ash all grown from the remains of the severed demon hand. We have an awesome juxtaposed dual fight scene, as Ash faces off with Linda’s demon head and attacks from shed tools, all Fisher is battling Evil Ash inside. The good guys win half the battles, leading to probably the saddest moment of the series so far. Pablo and Kelly walk in to see Ash standing over their fallen comrade. Before he can fully explain he runs off and we have ourselves an Ash-Fight ala Army of Darkness.

This show doesn’t let you breath. You’re either laughing from the dialogue, going “whoa!” and “oh crap!” from the blood flow, or simply reveling in the classic set pieces. As an Evil Dead superfan this was probably my favorite episode, because it truly felt like an extension of the films. There were some legit “Holy Sh*t” moments in here. And credit to Campbell for being convincing as both the aging lothario and as the “dad” of the group.

Ash vs Evil Dead returns next Saturday night at 9:00 ET on Starz.

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