Previously on Ash vs Evil Dead: Unbeknownst to Ash and Pablo, Kelly joins Ruby’s side as a member of the undead(?), Mandy is adjusting to Ash-life, and the Knights of Sumeria return and (mostly) exit inside of 30 minutes.
Twist and Shout starts off where the last episode left off with undead Kelly meeting up with Ash and Brandy. I’ve really enjoyed Brandy’s introduction as a way to spice up a series that can get repetitive even when it’s good. Despite her father’s Ashy-Slashy reputation, she’s formed a relationship with Ash as best as can be expected. This episode features a deeper dive into Brandy’s social life. Not to be dissuaded by demon babies or ancient evils, Brandy decides that she must attend a dance at her high school.
As one would expect, Evil Dead + Prom = Something akin to Carrie. Since Evil Dead is the literal definition of popcorn-television, I really enjoyed the ridiculous antics that Ash finds himself involved in throughout the dance. At the same time, this episode falls prey to the overuse of the “Evil Twin” jab. Bruce Campbell is hilarious to watch in both roles as evil Ash mocks the real one and real Ash does his best (which isn’t very good) to explain the craziness they find themselves involved in. I can’t deride the use of repetitive tropes too much in a series like this, but this is at least the third time that we’ve seen an Ash double. It seems to me like the writers are running out of ideas.
Rating: 8.0/10 - Overall, this episode features a lot of great action and the typical over-the-top dark humor for which we’ve come to know the Evil Dead franchise. The overuse of the evil twin trope bogs the adventure down for a bit, but its entertainment value still comes out on top.
Interesting Quotes:
“Ruby went to Kandarian Kinkos and this asshole popped out.” - Ash
“… And two years in this shithole of a school!” - Ruby
Tune in to Ash vs Evil Dead on Sunday @ 9 PM on Starz. Be sure to come back here to SpoilerTV to let everyone else know what you thought of the episode.
Ash vs Evil Dead - Twist and Shout - Advance Preview: "Don't Fear the (Real) Ash"
8 Apr 2018
Ash vs Evil Dead BR Reviews
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