"Ash vs. Evil Dead" Recap: "The Killer of Killers"

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

"What? You never saw a guy with a chainsaw hand before?"
- Ash

What a difference a week makes on television, especially when it comes to Ash vs. Evil Dead. After all last week we were plunged into the dreaded filler episode, with a simple but satisfying plot to tide us over until this week and well, that filler episode made last night's adventure worth the wait since the show brought forth all kinds of incredible treats.

In fact, the show decided it was time to up the ante with perhaps its biggest surprise of the season to date and it all revolved around Ruby. Picking up mere moments after Ash and the gang leave the Brujo's estate, Ruby and Amanda find their way to the property and begin to investigate the burning remains only to discover...that the evil has found its way into the Brujo's body and his charred remains attack Amanda before Ruby gets involved...and enter the surprise. The Brujo/Deadite takes a few moments to taunt Ruby, calling her a traitor and letting her know it will never let her have the book for herself, before plunging her into the flames. 

Now, does that mean that Ruby is dead? Well...let's come back to that in a moment. Because there were other treats delivered our way as we caught up with Ash and the gang enjoying a hearty breakfast in a diner as Ash lays out the plan for how to put an end to the evil at last, by returning to the cabin where he found the Necronomicon and burying it deep below the earth. However, he would like Kelly and Pablo to stay behind because their chances of survival are slim if they journey with him. Before the meal ends however, Ash runs into an old friend who has apparently joined a militia and of course, our favorite hero struggles with paying the bill.

While he works on a charming and overly sexual way to pay the tab Kelly and Pablo return to the trailer to discuss what happened between them when Kelly was under the influence of Eligos when something strange happens...the medal that the Brujo gave Pablo comes to life around his neck and it seems to awaken the Necronomicon in the process. A slight spiritual battle ensues between the two items, but there is a bigger problem waiting for Ash. Amanda has trailed the trio to the diner and decides to make a move and arrest him. But before she can bring him in, the Evil finds them again and another grand battle ensues with the Deadites, where Kelly gets some much needed catharsis and a new ally in Amanda joins their quest to defeat the Evil.

So, back to the Ruby thing. First off, awesome that they went there with such a bold move but I don't think she's dead because it's clear to me...she's made a pact with the Evil. What exactly that is is unknown yet but such a pact and the Deadite capturing her can only mean we'll be running into her again at some point. Actually, this ended up being an episode that brought up quite a few questions/unresolved issues. In addition to Ruby, there's also the matter of why the medallion and the Necronomicon don't seem to get along, and I'm sure this also has some major significance to the story as well but the one new wrinkle to the fold that's still bugging me...will everyone in Ash's group make it out alive? Kelly made a glib comment about being dead way before revenge consumes anyone and well...I didn't see that ominous comment coming and I'd like to see them all survive. This is one solid group of characters, the kind you actually give a damn about. Either way, I love all the things this episode set in motion as we head into the home stretch of the season and I can't wait to see what happens next week. Until then.

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