Ash vs Evil Dead
Episode 3.5 “Baby Proof”
Directed by Daniel Nettheim
Written by Luke Kalteux
Created by Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi, Tom Spezialy
Starring Bruce Campbell, Ray Santiago, Dana DeLorenzo, Lucy Lawless, Joel Tobeck, Katrina Hobbs, Lindsay Farris, Arielle Carver-O’Neill
Starz
Air date: Saturday, March 24, 2018

“F*ck Kelly, sh*t’s about to get loco up in this bitch!”

We’ve reached the midpoint in the third season of Ash vs Evil Dead on STARZ and we left off with all of our Ghost Beaters in peril as Ash (Bruce Campbell) was face to face with Ruby’s demon spawn while accidentally stuck to a Norwegian woman via a sink”¦ it’s complicated. Meanwhile, Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo) and Brandy (Arielle Carver-O’Neill) locked themselves in Ash’s trailer fending off a deadite Pablo (Ray Santiago). Picking up right where we left off, Episode 3.5, “Baby Proof,” focuses on the Ghost Beaters’ struggle to do something they’ve really never done before”¦ NOT kill evil.

Warning: spoilers ahead…

Despite the louds cries of a large Norwegian woman, Ash is hesitant to shoot the toddler demon, especially when he notices some striking similarities, mainly in the eyes, chin, and chainsaw-hand department. Realizing that somehow this is Ash’s own offspring changes his views on deadite murder. There’s something really creepy about a 3-year old with a quacking duck toy stalking you. It reminded me of Gage in Pet Sematary.

Deadite Pablo is still trying to fight into Ash’s trailer where Kelly gets to go one on one with her own leg that Pablo bit. They totally channel the Ash vs his own hand scenes from Evil Dead 2 and I still have visions of Kelly getting a chainsaw-like weapon appendage later in the season. We can dream right? Again much like Ash’s predicament, the goal is not to kill Pablo and somehow save him which proves harder than it looks when Brandy charges at him and stabs him with the Candarian dagger knocking Pablo’s soul into some bizarre netherworld where he comes face to face with Brujo (Hemky Madera).

“You Pablo, will become “El Brujo Especial.” – Brujo

“Wait”¦ isn’t that the name of a beer?” – Pablo

It’s here where the episode reaches another level for me. Dana DeLorenzo turns off the kickass one-liner warrior persona and is completely believable as a friend afraid to lose her bestie, showing genuine fear and emotion. This is her Powerful Vagina after all. “Give me my Pablo back, you F*CK!”… damn I almost teared up.

After the Norwegian woman is decapitated by Ash’s demon baby, the child invents an all new disgusting game of hide and seek creating yet another amazing practical effect in a series of them for this show, while also giving Ash a chance to spout hilarious one-liners. It never gets old watching Bruce Campbell battle ridiculous evil. No show on TV does better “AYFKM” moments than Ash vs Evil Dead.

Ray Santiago and Dana DeLorenzo KILL it this episode. The range of emotions they go through are off the charts. Kelly showed restraint when dealing with Pablo, and but suffice to say she’s all out when it comes to Ruby (Lucy Lawless). Santiago has been going through physical hell these last two seasons but it seems the rewards are coming for Pablo. Brandy is fully indoctrinated into the Ghost Beaters and I can’t wait to see where she goes from here as well.

It feels like redundancy, but seriously, how do they pack so much into 30 minutes?!?! Epic gross-out practical effects, multiple story arcs, emotional character development”¦ goddamn, I love this show! Remember to tune into STARZ Sunday night at 9:00, download the STARZ app, and support the show on social media using hashtags, #BringBackBoomstick and #AshvsEvilDead. You can also support the show using the free Stardust app to post your reactions and you can check my reactions there @DrZaiusGoD.

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