For all we knew Ash was the only mortal capable of slicing and dicing Deadites with the greatest of ease. We were mistaken as Lucy Lawless skewers the bookstore owner like an undead shish kabob. I anticipate future interactions between her and Ash resembling the bickering of Han and Leia. However, with her family’s history with the cabin and Ash, it’s not inconceivable that she bares a grudge.
Its uncanny how congruous the musical choices are for the material. Between this and The Devil’s Rejects, Midnight Rider is a sublime song for horror carnage. Unlike the corporeal Deadites in the previous three episodes, the “drafter” hailstorm is a cheesy Galactus foe for Ash to outpace with his ineffective nitrous oxide boost.
Consequently, the pagan ritualism is a loony venue for the Evil Dead playground and Ash’s ayahuasca vision quest is a trippy collage of 80’s opo culture referenda (wrestling matches, the slogan “Just Say No”, etc.). Thankfully, showrunner Craig DiGregorio hasn’t forsaken the self-deprecating humor that Raimi prided himself on ala Ash’s preliminary slogan “When evil shows up, it blows up”.
I love the callback to Ruby preserving Ash’s sentient, severed hand and Pablo’s plan to refashion him a new one with video game components. Likewise, episode writer James E. Eagan gratifies the fanbase by sketching in the gaps before the original movie with Ash rhapsodizing about Jacksonville, Florida which was his vacation spot before he went to the cabin.
It’s a shame that Kelly is already displaying signs of demonic influence. The next episode promises a somber midpoint with Kelly’s potential sacrifice to the dark side. Let’s hope they don’t neglect the congenial vein of camaraderie the shows have been coasting on.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5