Ash vs. Evil Dead - "The Dark One" (Finale)

Whether you’re a member of the audience, a critic, or directly connected to a television series, finales bring with them a host of questions; from whether or not plot lines paid off to whether or not you had fun watching them. Perhaps the most important question of all—particularly in a time where audiences are inundated with more media than they could ever possibly consume—is whether or not this story is one that is worth continuing or not.

Ash vs. Evil Dead received its fair share of hype before coming on the air and, unlike many other shows that are spoken of often until they air and are then quickly forgotten, this Starz original managed to be more than just a flash in the pan. Fans were smitten from just about the first minute and the series was picked up for a second season not long afterwards. As a result, as the season finale approached, the question of whether or not the show would return became less important. In “The Dark One,” however, the show’s protagonist seemed almost entirely consumed by the question of whether or not he could endure any more of this, or whether it was worth it at all.

After a shocking revelation in the eleventh hour, Ash learned (along with the rest of us) that Ruby isn’t who we as the audience had been led to believe but was, in fact, the ancient being who had penned the Necronomicon. Ash is closer to achieving his goal and ending his quest as he had ever been, and yet it seems he is still miles away. You see, Ruby seeks to take control over all of the evil and demons in the world, by acting as a sort of Godfather to all of the world’s darkness. In turn, all she asks is that Bruce calls a truce, moves to Jacksonville, and lets her be. She’ll even let him have Pablo and Kelly. Pretty sweet deal, right?

This episode comes in after two particularly strong episodes and completes a trifecta of what may be three of the best episodes in the series’ run so far. In these three episodes, we have seen Ash grow as a character and fight fiercely for those he cares about. There have been moving moments and silly bits that make us giggle, and every moment has felt like Evil Dead. This finale carries that pattern forward.

While Pablo doesn’t play much of a role in this episode (busy as he is being possessed by the cover of the Necronomicon, made from putrid human flesh) both Kelly and Ash are allowed some killer scenes, with Kelly in particular finally becoming the would be final girl that she has been evolving towards all along. Kelly fights fiercely to save her friends, even as the stranded hiker who has joined them tries to convince her that perhaps their only chance for survival is to leave her comrades behind. Could this all be setting us up for Kelly to take a more active role in the next season? Only time will tell.

The finale also pulled out all the stops when it came to being a Raimi-inspired Evil Dead property. From the crazy and jolting camera work that follows Ash on his fall down the staris and between dimensions to the phantom flashlight shots. The gore was over the top, with veritable cannons and geysers of blood and viscera being shot about and with a particularly flawless scene where Ash suggests that he should wash out the mouth of a tiny demon child.

All in all, Ash may not think that he can do this anymore, but we on the outside know that he will, and I for one can’t wait.