Robert Kojder reviews the fifth episode of Ash vs. Evil Dead…
As usual, episode five entitled “The Host” picks up right where the previous episode left off, and I’d be lying if I denied that Ash attempting to be his smartass-self while tied to a wooden pole and also with a gag in his mouth in hopes of preventing him from yapping, was hilarious. We has an audience that knows the wrong person is constrained, but that doesn’t make it any less funny watching Ash hurl obscenities at everyone about how wrong they are. There’s also a great moment where Brujo mentions that this form of exorcism will cause him to lose feeling in his broomstick, and I don’t mean the gun.
Meanwhile. Kelly and Pablo sit tight back in the trailer, where possessed Kelly has a sudden drastic switch in personality, beginning to seduce him romantically by wearing skimpy clothing and smoking pot. It’s a perfect reminder that these demons love to act out an illusion of what you really want, to the point where you really can’t blame Pablo for going along. Okay, he’s somewhat of a dumbass, but I’m pretty sure any straight male would fall for Dana DeLorenzo in this situation.
Anyway, once Ash finally convinces Brujo that he isn’t the one possessed, the two come to Pablo’s aid, where an exhilarating standoff occurs between not just some demonic person we don’t give a shit about, but a character that is both pertinent to the story and one that has grown on viewers. Will we have our first fatal victim of Ash vs. Evil Dead, or can the team accomplish something that has never been done in the history of the franchise; draw the demon out and reverse the possession.
Last week’s episode was a little slow and much more focused on the progression of Ash as a character, meaning that we never actually left the location visited. This is a welcome change of pace considering that so far every episode has fallen into a formula of arrive, leave a path of destruction, then make a dramatic exit. If the series had followed the scheme of one-hour episodes, undoubtedly this is one that would have worked perfectly. Both parts are still pretty good for their own reasons, but as a whole, they combine to make the best stretch of entertainment in the season thus far.
Always shifting between horror and comedy, this episode also manages to hit a very compelling dramatic note where Kelly, not under demon possession (or is she still?!) actually pleads with Ash that the only way to end her suffering is to gun her down in cold blood. Pablo also honorably provokes the demon defiantly, as an act to show his ever-so obvious desire for Kelly romantically, for the demon to take him instead.
Spliced within the episode is another scene of Ruby and Amanda on the road again, using the living remains of Ash’s hand to guide them to his next stop. Not much really happens again, but Ruby does make some passing remarks about her past. It’s honestly good that their plot development was kept to a minimum this week, as there was a lot going on between our other three leads.
Rating: I’m actually going to give “The Host” an 8/10; a step up from the previous outing and tied with episode one for the season’s highest score. it’s an intense episode that plays life or death with a character we’ve grown accustomed too, while successfully juggling all the beloved franchise tones of horror, comedy, action, and drama. The return of colored blood will also satisfy anyone with nostalgia needs.
Grooviest Moment: There are two really clever moments from this episode that really stood out, with the first being a brilliant callback to the second episode, mentioning Kelly being Jewish. Without spoiling it completely, it’s an exchange between Ash and Kelly showcasing some strong writing. For something bloodier, it’s also impossible not to cheer when Ash succeeds in defeating Eligos, by abandoning all thought process and mixing up his strategy of attack between his chainsaw and broomstick. Hail to the Eligos!
Robert Kojder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=zo9wUtSEME8
Originally published November 29, 2015. Updated April 15, 2018.
