Judgement Day (Ash vs Evil Dead)
Ash confronts Ruby as the Dark Ones emerge.
"Judgement Day" is the 29th episode of *Ash vs Evil Dead*, airing as the ninth installment of season three on Starz on April 22, 2018. Executive producer Rick Jacobson both wrote and directed the episode. In it, Ash Williams faces off against Ruby, who intends to release the Evil Dead across the world.
The episode opens with Kaya, inhabiting Kelly’s body, grabbing Zoë while Ruby removes part of her own skin to inscribe a new page in the Necronomicon. Kaya kills Zoë by gouging out her eyes. Pablo discovers he can see through the Necronomicon’s perspective, learning that Kaya’s possession kept Kelly from crossing the Rift, and that she and Ruby plan to hide from the Dark Ones. Ash goes to confront Ruby, while Pablo heads to a hardware store and finds the Rift open. The three Dark Ones enter the world, briefly touch Pablo, then spare him and leave. Outside, Deadites attack the town. The Kandarian Demon arrives, ignores Pablo, and heads to Ash’s house, where it attacks Brandy. She hides in a shed and is bitten on the thumb by her possessed phone.
Ash interrupts Ruby before she can finish the Necronomicon. He tries to attack Ruby and Kaya but is overpowered, and Ruby destroys his chainsaw. Before Kaya can kill him, the Dark Ones enter, grab Ruby and Kaya’s soul, and return Kaya to her original body, ending her possession of Kelly. Ash takes Kelly’s body, the Necronomicon, and the Dagger. The Dark Ones turn Ruby’s body into a skeleton and retrieve her soul. Ash drives away, communicating with Pablo through the book, but discovers Deadites are overrunning the town. He crashes his car into a bar, where the Dark Ones subdue him, take the book, and vanish. Ash, Pablo, and Brandy watch as the ground opens and a gigantic creature emerges.
The episode was Jacobson’s first writing credit and his fifth as director. According to Nielsen, it was seen by an estimated 0.130 million households, with a 0.05 ratings share among adults 18–49—a 26% drop from the previous episode’s 0.175 million viewers and 0.08 share.
Critics gave “Judgement Day” extremely positive reviews. Michael Roffman of *The A.V. Club* awarded it a “B,” noting the episode’s “unforgiving body horror” and “Drag Me to Hell-style wrath” as entertaining distractions. Stephen Harber of *Den of Geek* gave a perfect 5-star rating, praising the high stakes and the absence of the classic cabin.
- Series
- Ash vs Evil Dead
- Season
- 3
- Episode
- 9 (overall 29)
- Written and directed by
- Rick Jacobson
- Original air date
- April 22, 2018
- Network
- Starz
- Viewers (households)
- 0.130 million
Lore & Background
The episode follows Ash Williams, who now works at the "Value Stop" as a simple stock boy, having spent his life not doing anything remarkable since the events of the trilogy. In "Judgement Day," Ash goes to confront Ruby, who is planning on unleashing the Evil Dead over the world. The plot involves Kaya in Kelly's body grabbing Zoë, while Ruby removes part of her skin to write a new page of the Necronomicon. After an attempt to escape, Kaya kills Zoë by plunging her eyes. Pablo discovers he can see through the eyes of the Necronomicon, finding that Kaya's possession prevented Kelly from passing the Rift and that she and Ruby are planning to hide their presence from the Dark Ones. While Ash confronts Ruby, Pablo heads to the hardware store and discovers the Rift is open. The three Dark Ones enter the real world, briefly touch Pablo, and spare his life before leaving. Deadites attack the town, and the Kandarian Demon arrives but ignores Pablo. The Demon reaches Ash's house to attack Brandy, forcing her to hide in the shed, where she is attacked by her possessed phone, which bites off her left thumb. Before Ruby can finish the Necronomicon, Ash tries to attack but is overpowered, with Ruby destroying his chainsaw. The Dark Ones enter the room, grab Ruby and Kaya's soul, bring back Ruby's original body, and stop Kaya's possession of Kelly. Ash takes Kelly's body, the Necronomicon, and the Dagger. The Dark Ones retrieve Ruby's soul, turning her body into a skeleton. Ash drives away but crashes into a bar, where the Dark Ones subdue him and take the book. Ash, Pablo, and Brandy witness the ground open as a gigantic creature emerges.
Reader's Guide
"Judgement Day" is the penultimate episode of the series and received extremely positive reviews from critics, who praised the action sequences, performances, closure for Ruby's story, and ending. According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.130 million household viewers and gained a 0.05 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, a 26% decrease from the previous episode. Critics highlighted the episode's high stakes, body horror, and setup for the finale. Michael Roffman of The A.V. Club gave it a "B" grade, noting its disturbing oddities. Stephen Harber of Den of Geek gave a perfect 5-star rating, calling it a highlight of the series. Steve Ford of TV Fanatic gave 4 stars, praising Bruce Campbell's quips. Bryan Kristopowitz of 411Mania gave an 8.5 out of 10, noting the destruction of evil Ruby and the introduction of an even greater evil. The episode was written and directed by executive producer Rick Jacobson, his first writing credit and fifth directorial credit for the series.
Did You Know?
- It originally aired on Starz on April 22, 2018.
- Critics praised the closure for Ruby's story and the ending.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote and directed Judgement Day (Ash vs Evil Dead)?
Rick Jacobson handled both the writing and directing duties for this episode, making it a rare double role in the series.
What is the main conflict in Judgement Day (Ash vs Evil Dead)?
Ash Williams must stop Ruby from inscribing a new page into the Necronomicon, a ritual she believes will unleash the Evil Dead across the entire world. The episode culminates in Ash confronting Ruby directly as the Dark Ones begin to surface.
When did Judgement Day (Ash vs Evil Dead) originally air and where could you watch it?
The episode premiered on Starz on April 22, 2018, serving as the ninth entry of season three and the twenty-ninth episode of the overall series.
What happens to Zoë in Judgement Day (Ash vs Evil Dead)?
Kaya, who is possessing Kelly's body, seizes Zoë and kills her by ripping out her eyes. This act underscores how the Necronomicon's influence is escalating the violence among the group.
What new ability does Pablo gain in Judgement Day (Ash vs Evil Dead)?
Pablo discovers he can perceive events through the Necronomicon's own perspective, which reveals critical information about Kaya's possession and the book's ongoing machinations.
More in Ash vs Evil Dead episodes 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced