Ash vs Evil Dead Season 1 Episode 2 Review: Bait

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Well, that was an awkward family dinner!

On Ash vs Evil Dead Season 1 Episode 2 we met Kelly's family for the first and last time. Those damn deadites will ruin a good meal every time!

These episodes sure do feel short, don't they? Then again, like a good meal, they satisfy the appetite without stuffing you full. That's more than can be said for a lot of other shows clogging up the telly these days.

Awkward Dinner - Ash vs Evil Dead

We knew Pablo was going to be on board with the whole deadite thing, but now we can count Kelly in, too.

It shouldn't have been surprising, given his age (and gender), but I was a little, when we learned Kelly hadn't taken the book at all. Pablo had hidden the damn thing just so he could get Ash on board with following her to her parents' house.

Thank goodness he did, because Kelly was definitely in trouble. And It would have really sucked if we had to miss out on the mini road trip Ash and Pablo took to her place. 

Where the hell did Mr. Roper come from, anyway? All of a sudden he was just there an on the attack. His (second) death was bloody, gruesome and awesome! There's something about Evil Dead goo that doesn't gross me out. It was hilarious when Pablo asked Ash for a towel or something to wipe off and was handed a business card to, what? Scrape it away instead? Beautiful.

My personal favorite moment of the episode, however, was when Ash and Pablo arrived at the house and walked in, weapons at the ready. 

Ash: Just stay behind me, let the boomstick do the talkin', if things get hairy, use your bottle.
Pablo: [holds up broken beer bottle] I don't think it's a very good weapon, jefe. You had to stab Roper about 50 times.
Ash: Hey, I was sharpening it for you. Now come on. You ready?

Pablo with that bottle in his hand was fantastic. And, sure, after everything she had seen in the last day, maybe Kelly was traumatized so much that she didn't notice the flies buzzing around her newly returned mother's face, but that was so distracting and one giant red flag. Definitely a deadite.

Ash may err on the side of evil, but he has his reasons. Unfortunately, humans can sometimes be collateral damage.

The entire dinner scene was really well done, from the bizarre conversation to Ash punching mom in the face. There's no time to screw around in shows (or movies) like these, so nobody ever really skips a beat, even when their entire family is slaughtered before their eyes. Kelly was no different. 

Mom returned to the dead and dad joined her. Ouch. But, she has her new family now. And she reminds El Jefe of someone, too.

You're kinda like a young me. Deadites ruined your life, and you're hot as hell.

Ash

When all was said and done, she merely pointed out that they were Jewish, and hardly needed the nifty crosses Ash went to all the trouble to make. 

This series has so much going for it. In its second outing, it continues hitting all the right notes when focusing on Ash, Pablo and Kelly. The only piece that doesn't seem to fit at this point is Amanda's role in all this. She's obviously going fit in somewhere, but what is her connection?

She found the business card to Books from Beyond, and since that's where Ash and friends will be heading next, they're obviously on the trail. But it seems they'll be playing that "few steps behind" game for a while longer, unless Amanda has some odd reason to stick around the bookstore while the gang catches up.

Deadite attack rending her car useless? That would work. I feel kind of sorry for her out there on her own. She needs a deadite buddy so she doesn't go stark, raving mad.

What did you think of round two? Are you planning your weekends around Ash vs Evil dead now? Looking forward to your thoughts!

Bait Review

Editor Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
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Rating: 4.4 / 5.0 (5 Votes)

Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.

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Ash vs Evil Dead Season 1 Episode 2 Quotes

Pablo: Is this what it's like to be you?
Ash: Yep, pretty much. I've never killed my boss before, so that was new.
Pablo: That was the scariest thing that ever happened to me, I thought I was dead. But then it was so cool when you said to me, 'thanks for the heads up.' At first I thought, did he mean it like that? But then I realized, it's the jefe. Of course he did. [laughs]
Ash: This ain't my first rodeo, kid.

Ash: Well, for your first time you did great. Most folks end up dead.
Pablo: I don't want to end up dead like most folks.