Bait (Ash vs Evil Dead)
Ash faces a Deadite mother at a family dinner.
"Bait" is the second episode of the first season of the comedy horror series *Ash vs Evil Dead*, a continuation of the *Evil Dead* films. It aired on Starz on November 7, 2015, was written by producer Dominic Dierkes, and directed by Michael J. Bassett. The story takes place 30 years after the original trilogy, with Ash Williams working as a stock boy at Value Stop. In this episode, Ash and Pablo must take Kelly to her father’s house after her deceased mother reappears alive.
The plot begins with Ash deciding to visit Lionel Hawkins to translate the Necronomicon and stop the Deadites. Kelly, wanting to save her father, takes the book and leaves. Ash and Pablo follow in his trailer. On the road, they are attacked by a Deadite version of Mr. Roper, whom Ash beheads. At Kelly’s house, they find her parents alive; her mother Suzy claims amnesia. Ash is suspicious, especially after Pablo admits he took the Necronomicon. Meanwhile, Amanda investigates the trailer attack and begins to suspect Ash.
During dinner, Ash punches Suzy to provoke her, but she later transforms into a Deadite and kills Kelly’s father with a fork. After a fight, Suzy appears normal again, but when the team tries to kill her, she attacks once more. Pablo stabs her, and Ash beheads her with his chainsaw. Kelly buries her parents and joins Ash and Pablo to fight evil. Elsewhere, Amanda arrives at a location called Books from Beyond.
The episode was seen by 0.276 million household viewers, with a 0.12 ratings share among adults 18–49, a 37% drop from the previous episode. Critics gave it extremely positive reviews. Matt Fowler of IGN rated it 8.4 out of 10, praising it as a successful test of the franchise’s tone without Sam Raimi directing. Michael Roffman of *The A.V. Club* gave it a B+, noting Ash’s confidence and the show’s boldness. Gina McIntyre of *Entertainment Weekly* highlighted the dinner scene’s violence. Stephen Harber of *Den of Geek* called it a fun follow-up but said it lost some momentum from the pilot. Carissa Pavlica of *TV Fanatic* gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars, comparing the episodes to a satisfying meal. Mimi Rogers guest-starred as Suzy Maxwell, announced in May 2015.
- Series
- Ash vs Evil Dead
- Season
- 1
- Episode
- 2
- Title
- Bait
- Air date
- November 7, 2015
- Network
- Starz
- Viewers (households)
- 0.276 million
- 18-49 rating share
- 0.12
Lore & Background
In the episode, Ash decides he needs to visit Lionel Hawkins to translate the Necronomicon and stop the Deadites. However, Kelly wants to save her father, who was visited by her dead mother. When Ash refuses, Kelly abandons him and Pablo, taking the Necronomicon. Ash follows with Pablo, taking his trailer. During the road, they are attacked by Mr. Roper, now a Deadite, whom Ash beheads. At Kelly's father's house, they find her, her father, and her mother Suzy alive. Suzy claims amnesia, but Ash is suspicious. Pablo reveals he took the Necronomicon to get Kelly back. Meanwhile, Amanda investigates the attack at the home trailer and begins to believe Ash is involved.
Reader's Guide
"Bait" received extremely positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances, action sequences, and humor. Matt Fowler of IGN gave it an 8.4 out of 10, calling it "the grand experiment" for the Evil Dead-verse, noting it was the first Ash adventure not directed by Sam Raimi. Michael Roffman of The A.V. Club gave it a "B+" and wrote that the show had earned the right to be bold after the pilot. The episode was seen by an estimated 0.276 million household viewers, a 37% decrease from the previous episode. The episode introduced Mimi Rogers as Suzy Maxwell, Kelly's mother, and featured a Deadite that critics described as one of the most defined to date. The episode's plot also set up a police investigation subplot involving Amanda.
Development & Broadcast Run
Conceived as a television sequel to Sam Raimi's cult-favorite Evil Dead film trilogy, Ash vs Evil Dead was developed by Raimi alongside his son Ivan Raimi and writer Tom Spezialy for the premium cable network Starz. Bruce Campbell returned to the role that defined his career, joined by Ray Santiago, Dana DeLorenzo, and Lucy Lawless in the principal ensemble. The series debuted on October 31, 2015, and in a notable display of early confidence, Starz committed to a second season just three days before that premiere date. Season two arrived on October 2, 2016, followed by a third season that premiered on February 25, 2018. Despite the show's dedicated fanbase, the network pulled the plug on April 29, 2018, ending the run after three seasons. The brief but intense broadcast window meant the story had to escalate quickly, moving from Ash's small-town stagnation to increasingly cosmic demonic threats within a compressed narrative timeline.
Ash's Psychological Landscape
Set roughly three decades after the events of Army of Darkness, the series finds Ash Williams reduced to a stock boy at a Value Stop convenience store, living in a mobile home trailer with his pet lizard Eli, and spending his evenings drinking alone. In a telling interview with Entertainment Weekly, Campbell framed the character as a wounded war veteran burdened by survivor's guilt and PTSD. Ash avoids discussing his past, fabricates stories about his missing hand to charm women, and remains emotionally stunted—yet he is still the person you'd want beside you in a foxfire firefight. Over the first season, it emerges that he has spent thirty years drifting between towns and dead-end Value Stop branches, repeatedly attempting to destroy the Necronomicon only to fail and become its reluctant custodian. Season two deepens this wound by revealing that Ash returned to his hometown of Elk Grove, Michigan, where the townsfolk refused to credit his Deadite tales, instead branding him a murderer and mocking him with the nickname 'Ashy Slashy.'
The Ghostbeaters & Supporting Ensemble
Ash's reluctant band of allies forms the emotional core of the series. Pablo Simon Bolivar, played by Ray Santiago, is a co-worker who idolizes Ash as 'El Jefe,' a title rooted in stories his shaman uncle, el Brujo, told him about a destined hero. Pablo fights bravely, is torn apart by the demon Baal, and is later resurrected before ultimately succeeding his uncle as a brujo especial. Kelly Maxwell, portrayed by Dana DeLorenzo, begins as a moody, reluctant co-worker who is drawn into the conflict after being orphaned; her Jewish family background and her mother's death in a car accident six months before the series add layers to her impulsive, improvisational fighting style. She is often described as a spiritual daughter to Ash. The ensemble is further enriched by Lucy Lawless as the enigmatic Ruby Knowby, Jill Marie Jones as Michigan State Trooper Amanda Fisher, Lee Majors as Ash's long-absent father Brock Williams—a hardware store owner whose slogan is 'has wood – call me'—and, in season three, Arielle Carver-O'Neill as Brandy, Ash's long-lost daughter.
Escalating Threats & Seasonal Arcs
The three-season arc follows a clear trajectory of escalating demonic stakes. Season one introduces the immediate threat of Deadites and the Kandarian Demon, with Ash, Pablo, and Kelly battling through a hiking group's cabin and confronting the enigmatic Ruby Knowby, who is herself hunting the source of recent evil outbreaks. Season two shifts the battlefield to Elk Grove, Michigan, where Ash confronts his past—his father Brock Williams, his high school girlfriend Linda now married to the town sheriff, and his old friend Chet Kaminski, who paid a fatal price for a secret intimacy with Ash's sister Cheryl thirty years earlier. The season also introduces Baal, a diabolical demon and Ruby's ex-husband, whose abilities include manipulating others through lust, possessing human bodies, and slowing time near a target. Season three raises the stakes further with the appearance of Eligos, the ancient order of the Knights of Sumeria, and Brandy Barr Williams, Ash's long-lost daughter, whose life is shattered when demonic violence kills her mother. The Necronomicon threads through every season as an inescapable, cursed object that Ash can neither destroy nor discard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in the 'Bait' episode of Ash vs Evil Dead?
Ash and Pablo are forced to drive Kelly to her father's house after her supposedly dead mother suddenly reappears alive. The episode builds toward Ash confronting a Deadite mother during a horrifying family dinner.
Who wrote and directed 'Bait' (Ash vs Evil Dead)?
Producer Dominic Dierkes penned the script, and Michael J. Bassett handled direction. The episode premiered on Starz on November 7, 2015, as the second entry of the first season.
Where does 'Bait' sit in the Evil Dead timeline?
The story is set approximately thirty years after the events of the original Evil Dead film trilogy. Ash is now stuck working as a stock boy at a Value Stop, far from the chainsaw-wielding hero fans remember.
What is the central conflict in 'Bait'?
Kelly's mother, who was previously dead, shows up at the family home and reveals herself to be a Deadite. Ash must navigate a surreal and dangerous family dinner while trying to keep Kelly safe.
Why do fans consider 'Bait' a standout early episode?
It immediately blends the show's signature deadpan comedy with genuine horror, particularly in the Deadite family dinner sequence. The episode also solidifies Ash's underdog status as a Value Stop employee who still has to save the day.
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