Ash vs Evil Dead is now playing with elements of the franchise mythology that we never expected.
This Ash vs Evil Dead review contains spoilers.
You remember them for Ash, the genres first cult anti-hero.
Which is interesting, isnt it?
So what does that mean for Ash as a figure, then?
Its putting him on trial in a way.
IfBooks from Beyondwas reminiscent ofBuffy, then Brujo bears resemblance to an episode ofAngel.
Its an act of storytelling intimacy, kind of like narrative foreplay.
AndAngelwas always all about the journey, no matter where it was at in its run.
As isSupernatural, its spiritual nephew.
So, it seems, isAsh vs Evil Dead.
We know how fast the evil moves.
We see that it follows Ash around wherever he goes.
Why doesnt it just overtake him already?
Why didnt harass him more at the book shop?
They were opening up a portal to it, after all.
I mean, whats the deal, evil?
Why you not evil enough?
Especially if the vehicle in pursuit is chained to it.
Yet I do, and the whole scene isnt as tense as it pretends to be.
We also find out that Ash has nitrous hooked up to his car.
One that didnt seem to bother me in the film as much as it does here.
One thats pretty hard to swallow.
Im talking about friggin Pablo making Ash a new friggin hand.
How do you get it to work as a replacement hand?
How do you connect your nerves to it?
How do you build a functioning prototype in an hour or less?
I know, youre right.
Because I have double standards for my plot holes, thats why.
But now that you mention it, Ive always wondered how that worked, havent you?
I was so distracted by that the first time I saw it.
My guess was that magic had something to do with it.
This time, I have no guess.
(Wait…whatdidhappen to Ashs gauntlet, anyway?)
Well, thats okay.
I dont think were going to need those substitutes for much longer.
Turns out Lucy Lawless who I will now start referring to as Ruby, finally has Ashs real hand.
The one he chopped off in the cabin on that fateful night all those years ago.
And looks like it still moves.
Kelly is the Judas of the group, since she her faith in Ash is slippery at best.
Pablo is too much of a fanboy to fall into such traps.
Books from Beyond was a proverbial casino buffet of one-liners that were delivered with excellent timing.
Brujo has a few funny lines, but the timing is all off.
And, yeah, it is.
But so that feel threatened, we need to feel it, Brucie!
The vision quest trope has been used in everything fromMacGyvertoThe OC.
Ill just stop there.
Ashs experience taking Ayahuasca is similar to this, in that the psychoactive effects are mostly played for laughs.
Who could blame him?
Pablos uncle Brujo is his guide through all of this, telling him what to do.
He also has his eyes sewed shut, which also infers quite a bit about himself.
This is also where he gets his hand back, apparently.
Ash tells Brujo that Jacksonville is special to him because hes never been there.
What could have been, says Brujo.
It is here where you will find your answer.
His home is surrounded by powerful talismans that prevent the evil from interfering (for the most part).
Yet were on a journey here.
This is just another pitstop on it, so we cant waste time.
(Maybe even spirit animal?)
Who wouldnt want that?
Again, the show once again proves thats its all about perspective here when it comes to Ash.
Is he a villain, or is he just being misinterpreted as one?
Evil has many faces, and theyre not always what you expect.
Ash and the audience knows this, but all these newbie characters still dont.
Were patient, though.
Let the noobs catch up.
THE GROOVY
I think Ruby and Agent Fisher will make a pretty good team.
Theyre a great counteracting force against Ash and the Ashlets.
Another reason why she was a very inspired casting choice.
The part where Eligos traps Ash in a jar during the vision quest was funny stuff.
A great return to form for the cartoony side of this franchise.
The reappearance of the doll from El Jefe was a nice touch, too.
So was Ash bursting its head open.
I wonder if this is foreshadowing for the end of the season?
I can see him getting possessed again.
MaybeAoDisnt quite canon any longer.
Stupid legal red tape!
(Beat) Still workin on the slogan.
Kelly: I actually kinda like it.
Rating:
3 out of 5
