Ash vs Evil Dead Season 2 Episode 7 - "Delusion"

In a series (based on a film franchise) where being weird is nothing new, “Delusion” comes out swinging and certainly sets a new record (at least for the television show - scholars will no doubt argue for years to come whether a delusion of insanity tops being transported to the middle ages, with your Delta and your boomstick).

After being KO-ed by Baal at the end of our last episode, Ash wakes up in a dingy and disgusting bed, which is not, in and of itself, anything new for our hero. The problem is that Ash doesn’t wake up to a beautiful woman or even a beautiful keg, he is in an asylum. Waiting for him when he awakes is a doctor who looks suspiciously like Baal, calmly explaining that Ash has been in this facility since he had his “psychotic break” all those years ago and killed those nice young kids. His only hope of getting better and getting out, the doctor assures him, is to destroy his delusion, destroy the book. Ash sees through it easily, at first.

"Delusion" is the really fun kind of episodes that so many series try, but so few can pull off. Our entire cast of characters is here, but they’re all playing different roles (sort of like that episode of Boy Meets World where Cory gets shocked by a faulty toaster and goes back in time to the Red Scare). Kelly is a fellow patient, and is more than a little daffy, Pablo is a disgruntled orderly who’s a little too trigger happy with his cattle prod, and Ruby is a sassy nurse. And we would be remiss not to mention the puppet. This episode features an Ash puppet - complete with a tiny, puppet, chainsaw for a hand - that may be the highlight of the episode.

“Delusion” is a particularly strong episode not only because of its silliness and absurdity, but because of its darkness as well. As the episode plays out, Ash’s determination that none of this is real slowly starts to falter. This episode features gore, of course, but it’s mostly directed at our heroes. In a heartbreaking scene at the end, Ash is forced to watch a tape that shows him brutally murdering Amanda and Reg (who are/look like Kelly and Pablo) and he breaks. He finally accepts the Ashy Slashy moniker that he has been running from his whole life. It is reminiscent of the episode last season where a drug-induced vision sent Ash to his happy place and we learned that his happy place was Jacksonville, FL. “Delusion" feels like a poignant counterpoint to that episode and lends some weight to Ash’s character and story. Who knows where we’ll go from here.

 

Sophie

Contributor

Sophie's introduction into the magic that is the horror genre was watching Halloween at a party in high school, and since then she's never looked back. She may be the wimpiest horror fan you have ever met, but she won't ever let that stop her!