‘Ash vs Evil Dead 3×09: Judgement Day’ Review
Well, it looks like Ash vs Evil Dead has been cancelled, it is kind of fitting that this news coincided with the episode Judgement Day. With the Deadites on the attack, can Ash (Bruce Campbell) defeat Ruby (Lucy Lawless) once and for all?
With Ash and Brandy (Arielle Carver O’Neill) back from the rift, Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo) finds herself still trapped. Ash goes off to find Ruby and Kelly’s possessed body, while all kinds of evil starts to erupt onto the streets.
Judgement Day is setting up the big finale of not only this season of Ash vs Evil Dead, but also the show itself. There is a feel of the apocalypse as Ruby’s time finally runs out, and we get a fleeting glance at who Kaya (Chelsie Preston Crayford) actually is. If anything, this is another episode where the show is closing a few storylines to set the scene for the next episode and what appears to be Ash’s biggest battle.
What is a little disappointing is that Ruby’s story, especially surrounding Kaya never had the chance to be fully fleshed out. We just know that Ruby was in hiding, and now her time has run out. We do have to remember though that there is only so much the show can do in such short episodes.
Fittingly of course, in Ruby doing what she has been doing this season, she has brought on Judgement Day not only or herself, but for everybody else. Ash once again has to do what he is prophesised to do and save the world once again.
For those of us mourning the loss of Ash vs Evil Dead, this episode shows exactly why. With plenty of gore, this is one of the horror shows that never holds back from what the fans wanted. It was also interesting to see in certain scenes, there was a nostalgic move to the “chasing camera” we all know and love from the Evil Dead movies. There was also a nodding wink to the hand dismemberment scene from the second movie.
What is important about the hand scene though is that it once again emphasises that Brandy truly is the daughter of Ash. Her battle with her phone is reminiscent of Ash’s previous battles, not only the hand scene but also some other ones too.
While Bruce Campbell has announced that he is retiring from playing Ash for good now, watching Arielle Carver O’Neill, Ray Santiago and Dana DeLorenzo battle beside him does bring some hope. If there ever was an Evil Dead 4, even without Ash, these three could be the next generation. Hollywood never go with good ideas like that, but it would be something that could work.
Judgement Day is another episode that may be too short, but it uses its time well. A surprising amount actually happens, and there is a very good conclusion setting up next week’s final episode. Now just to hope that Ash goes out with the fitting end to a show that gave us exactly what we wanted, more Ash and more Deadite action. Just a shame it only lasted for three seasons.
***** 5/5
Ash vs Evil Dead is available on Virgin Media video on demand in the UK.
