"Tales From The Rift" is the sixth episode of the third season of Ash vs Evil Dead and the twenty sixth episode overall in the series. It was written by Aaron Lam and directed by Regan Hall. It premiered on April 1, 2018.
Plot Synopsis[]
Inside the attic of the Prevett Mansion, Ruby watches and talks to a humanoid figure writhing within a large fleshy cocoon growing around the base of a baby crib, only to be interrupted by the sound of glass shattering in the house below. Heading downstairs, Ruby is confronted by an armed Kelly Maxwell, who wastes no time in shooting the Dark One in retaliation for the deaths and possessions of those close to her. As Ruby begins to recover from her wounds, Kelly pulls out the Kandarian Dagger and swipes at Ruby, briefly burning the demon before getting tossed across the room. Both get to their feet, ready for the fight of their lives...
Across town, Ash Williams and Brandy arrive at the Williams homestead, unknowingly being observed from across the street. Setting down his gear, Ash complements Brandy for helping him get away from the cops, as well as giving her some pointers on how to lay low until the heat dies down. Williams pops open a Shemp's, and explains to his daughter that the "demon baby" in the trunk of his car is all part of some plot instigated by Ruby, though Brandy is hesitant to believe the woman she knows as "Ms. Prevett" could be a demon. As Brandy goes upstairs to clean the gore off her, the observers from across the street knock on the front door, identifying themselves as members of the Knights of Sumeria and friends of Dalton. Ash informs the knights of Dalton's recent demise, as well as death of the knight who had come seeking him out several years prior. Upon showing the group the lost pages of the Necronomicon, the knights leader, Zoë, tells Williams that they might be able to end the nightmare once and for all if they see the incantations the fallen knight had written. Intrigued by their claim, Ash agrees to take the group to the hardware store to show them.
Back in the Prevett Mansion, Kelly swipes and slashes at Ruby to no avail. The Dark One's inhuman speed and strength sends Kelly into the brick fireplace, stunning her long enough for Ruby to break Kelly's ankle. Another toss across the room causes Kelly to drop the dagger. Unable to bring herself to stand up, Kelly waits until Ruby steps into the other room to retrieve the dagger to toss a grenade in the demon's direction.
As the Oldsmobile speeds along down the road, Zoë explains to Ash that a prophecy is coming to pass, and that only "The Prophesied One" can stop this supernatural war from coming to pass with the Necronomicon, though Ash is forced to admit to them that he doesn't have the Ex-Mortis.
At the Williams Family Home, Brandy comes down stairs in search of her father, only to find his car is gone. She walks over to the Airstream Trailer, where Pablo is going through some of El Brujo's belongings. Though Pablo doesn't know where Ash is, a poster for the hardware store's grand re-opening begins to call to him, followed by the distant echos of Ash's voice yelling. Realizing "Jefe" is at the store, Pablo tells Brandy to stay inside the trailer while he goes to help Ash.
Ash and the knights make their way into the hardware store's cellar, showing them the incantation Gary had left behind on the back wall. Zoë remarks that the incantation can open a rift into the Deadlands, where it is said Ash will lead the knights in an eternal battle against evil. As Ash tells them he's not into the whole "eternal" thing, Pablo arrives at the store, where the strange scribbles on the wall capture his attention.
As the smoke clears inside the mansion, Kelly finds the strength to stand back up as Ruby's severed limbs begin to worm their way back over to her torso. The Dark One offers Kelly the chance to live and leave the house, though Maxwell stands her ground, determined to finish Ruby off and get revenge.
Back in the cellar, Pablo places his hands on the spell painted on the wall, and begins to recite an incantation which opens the rift to the Deadlands. Ash demands that Pablo get away from the wall, and the rift closes just as quickly as it appeared. The knights begin to hand out weapons, ready to head into the rift and battle the evil forces which they were destined to fight. One knight, Marcus, volunteers to go scouting into the rift first, as Ash makes a convincing argument that they shouldn't waist their only "Prophesied One" on a risky mission like this. Pablo opens the rift again, and Marcus is pulled inside. A few seconds later, Marcus is expelled back into the cellar, looking around the room confused and dazed.
Inside Prevett's house, Kelly fights with all her strength using a broken wooden table leg as her weapon. Pinned against the wall, Kelly makes one last charge at the demon, only for Ruby to plunge the Kandarian Dagger directly into Kelly's stomach. Ruby watches as the life drains from Kelly's eyes, telling Maxwell that she "hated you least of all" as Kelly rolls over and draws her last breath.
Pablo warns Ash that he's got a bad feeling, prompting Williams to draw his Boomstick from the holster. Marcus calls for someone to help him up from the floor, to which the knight Peter goes to his aid. Marcus thanks Peter, and says that "we knights stick together, right?" Suddenly, Marcus's skin begins to bubble and smoke as his grip on Peter's arm tightens. Peter tries to pull himself free as Marcus begins to melt and fuse with his body. The remaining two knights are quickly dealt with, as Zoë gets a face full of black bile, and another knight gets his head and spine ripped directly out of his body and fused with the amalgamation monster. Ash fires several shots at the demonic Marcus, though it appears to be ineffective.
Ruby retrieves the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, where Kaya informs her a rift has been opened. The Dark One sides aside the book, and begins to recite an ancient chant, transferring Kaya's soul trapped within the book directly into Kelly's body. With Kaya in control, Kelly's body sits up, warning her that the other Dark Ones know about the opening of the rift.
Back in the cellar, the battle against the mutant Marcus grows more intense as Ash puts on his chainsaw. As Pablo and Zoë draw the monster's attention with gunfire, Ash comes in for the kill and slices Marcus's head in half. With the battle over, Zoë begins to cry for her fallen knight companions, realizing just how ill-prepared they were for just one demon. Pablo warns them that more demons are going to try and get through the rift, and Ash asks him to figure out a way to close this "demonic poop-chute" for good before that happens, and heads back to his house to check on Brandy.
Inside, Brandy is happy to see her father return home, and both are surprised by Kelly's sudden appearance. As Brandy goes off to cook some celebratory Pop-Tarts, "Kelly" hands Ash the Kandarian Dagger, telling her that it's recovery "changes everything." She smiles as he walks away, replying "Yes. It does." in Kaya's voice.
Cast[]
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Starring |
Guest Starring
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Gallery[]
Episode Stills[]
Behind The Scenes[]
Soundtrack[]
- Evil Woman - Lou Rawls (Feelin' Good; 1968) (Heard during end credits)
Trivia[]
- References to other Ash vs Evil Dead episodes:
- Kelly's first strike on Ruby with the Kandarian Dagger sees her barely touching the blade to Ruby's neck and burning the skin. Ash Williams had previously done a similar move in the Season One episode The Dark One.
- Kelly mentions the death of her parents, and "watched a fork go through my father's skull", as seen in the Season One episode Bait.
- References to Evil Dead II:
- Upon showing the knights the lost pages of the Necronomicon, Ash says "the last person who read those wound up with a dagger in their back." This is a reference to Annie Knowby, who used the pages to open the time rift in the climax of Evil Dead II.
- Footage from Evil Dead II of Ash being pulled into the time rift and landing in 1300 AD is shown when Ash remarks "I've been in rifts before and it never ends well."
- When the monster Marcus tells Ash to "join us", Ash responds with "I'm good, I joined the Elks!" This is a reference to Bruce Campbell being a member and active participant of Elks Lodge #944 in Ashland, Oregon.