The Dark One (Ash vs Evil Dead)
Ash confronts Ruby in the season one finale.
"The Dark One" serves as the tenth episode and season one finale of the comedy horror series *Ash vs Evil Dead*, a continuation of the *Evil Dead* trilogy. Written by executive producer Craig DiGregorio and directed by producer Rick Jacobson, it premiered on Starz on January 2, 2016. The episode centers on Ash Williams making a final stand against Ruby, who is on the verge of unleashing all evil upon the world.
In the plot, Ash confronts Ruby while Kelly attempts to remove a mask from Pablo. The Deadite Amanda attacks Ash with his own chainsaw, but he kills her. Ruby and the possessed Pablo vanish into the cellar. Ash follows, but the cabin’s Kandarian force traps him inside, where he hallucinates being back in his trailer. Ruby offers him a peaceful retirement in Jacksonville if he stays out of her way. Ash refuses and shoots her, but she sends him back to reality. Meanwhile, Kelly tries to break into the cellar, and Heather suffers bug hallucinations before being killed by the cabin. Kelly sets the cabin on fire. In the cellar, Ash kills a fetus-child that Ruby forces Pablo to cough up, then mortally wounds Ruby. A possessed Pablo attacks Ash, but Kelly arrives and fights him. Ash seizes Ruby’s dagger, and she agrees to free Pablo if Ash stops interfering. He accepts, and Pablo is released. Ash drives toward Jacksonville, but the radio reports massive sinkholes appearing. The episode ends as a sinkhole opens behind his car.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode drew an estimated 0.508 million household viewers and a 0.21 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, making it the most-watched episode of the series. This marked a 48% increase from the previous episode. Critics praised the performances, directing, character development, action sequences, makeup, and setup for the next season. Matt Fowler of IGN gave it a 9 out of 10, calling it “a very strong, violent, funny finish.” Michael Roffman of *The A.V. Club* awarded an “A,” noting its “intimidating blend of horror, action, and comedy.” Gina McIntyre of *Entertainment Weekly* wrote that the episode “really brought out the Evil Dead,” and Stephen Harber of *Den of Geek* gave it a perfect five-star rating, calling it “the scariest episode” and his favorite so far.
- Series
- Ash vs Evil Dead
- Episode number
- 10 (Season 1 finale)
- Original air date
- January 2, 2016
- Network
- Starz
- Writer
- Craig DiGregorio
- Director
- Rick Jacobson
- Viewers (households)
- 0.508 million
Lore & Background
The episode follows Ash, Kelly, and Heather as they confront Ruby and a possessed Pablo in the cabin. Ash falls into the cellar and experiences a hallucination of his trailer, where Ruby offers him his dream of Jacksonville if he does not interfere with her plans. After returning to reality, Ash witnesses Ruby forcing Pablo to cough up a fetus that transforms into a child, which Ash kills. He mortally wounds Ruby with a shotgun, but a possessed Pablo attacks him. Kelly sets the cabin on fire and enters the cellar to help. Ash seizes Ruby's dagger, which has the power to kill her, but refuses her deal and stabs her instead. Pablo is later freed when the mask is destroyed. Ash drives toward Jacksonville with Kelly, but the radio announces massive sinkholes appearing over the city. The episode ends as a sinkhole appears behind the car.
Reader's Guide
The episode was the most watched of the series, with an estimated 0.508 million household viewers and a 0.21 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, a 48% increase from the previous episode. It received critical acclaim, with critics praising the performances, directing, character development, action sequences, make-up, and set-up for the next season. Matt Fowler of IGN gave it a 9 out of 10, calling it 'a very strong, violent, funny finish.' Michael Roffman of The A.V. Club gave it an 'A' grade, noting its blend of horror, action, and comedy. The episode was written by Craig DiGregorio and directed by Rick Jacobson, marking first writing and directing credits for each on the series.
Development & Production Journey
The road to Evil Dead Rise was far from straightforward. Before the 2023 film came into focus, the franchise had already lost several potential projects: a direct sequel to Fede Álvarez's 2013 remake, a follow-up to Army of Darkness, and even a fourth season of the television series Ash vs Evil Dead all fell through. By October 2019, Sam Raimi publicly confirmed that a new entry was finally in the works, with Rob Tapert attached as producer and both Raimi and Bruce Campbell serving in executive producing capacities. Lee Cronin stepped in to handle both the screenplay and the directorial chair. New Line Cinema, which had distributed the very first Evil Dead, joined as a production partner. The project became an international co-production spanning New Zealand, Ireland, and the United States, with principal photography running from June through October 2021 on New Zealand soil. Originally slated for a streaming debut on HBO Max, the film was pulled into a theatrical window by Warner Bros. Pictures after test screenings returned strong audience responses.
Narrative & Thematic Core
Evil Dead Rise structures its horror around a single, claustrophobic apartment siege in Los Angeles, framed by a brief prologue at a lakeside cabin where a possessed Jessica kills her cousin Teresa and boyfriend Caleb. The central story follows Beth, a guitar technician who discovers her pregnancy and reaches out to her estranged sister Ellie. Ellie, a single mother to three children—Danny, Bridget, and Kassie—has been left alone after her husband's departure. A violent earthquake cracks open a hidden chamber beneath the building's parking lot, where Danny stumbles upon three 1923 phonograph records and a volume of the Naturom Demonto. The records chronicle a priest's failed attempts to contain the text, ultimately revealing that only total destruction of a possessed host can end a Deadite. As the family becomes trapped—staircase collapsed, elevator broken, fire escape inaccessible—Ellie, Bridget, and Danny each fall to possession. The narrative's emotional spine is motherhood: Beth's desperate need to protect her unborn child and Kassie, and Kassie's painful acceptance that her mother is no longer the person she knew. The possessed siblings eventually merge into the multi-limbed Marauder, forcing Beth and Kassie into a final confrontation in the parking lot.
Cast & Creative Connections
The film anchors its ensemble around Lily Sullivan as Beth and Alyssa Sutherland as Ellie, two sisters whose estrangement becomes the emotional engine of the story. Supporting roles are filled by Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols, and Nell Fisher, the latter making her feature-film debut. Behind the camera, Lee Cronin handled both writing and direction, while Rob Tapert produced and Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell served as executive producers. One of the most talked-about details is Campbell's uncredited, voice-only presence on one of the 1923 phonograph recordings, where he warns unnamed priests about the dangers of a demon resurrection ritual and demands they destroy the book. Cronin has explained that he deliberately cast Campbell for this part, framing the character as a time-displaced version of Ash Williams—a ghost of the franchise's most iconic hero embedded in the lore itself. The production itself was a genuine international collaboration, co-produced across New Zealand, Ireland, and the United States, with New Line Cinema participating as a production company alongside Warner Bros. Pictures.
Reception & Series Legacy
Evil Dead Rise made its festival debut at South by Southwest on March 15, 2023, before hitting U.S. theaters on April 21 under the Warner Bros. Pictures banner. Critics responded warmly, and the film went on to collect $147 million at the global box office, making it the highest-grossing entry in the entire Evil Dead franchise. At the 51st Saturn Awards, the film earned nominations for both Best Horror Film and Best Make-up, a recognition of its practical effects work and overall craft. Its commercial and critical success also set the stage for the franchise's continued expansion: the series' sixth entry, Evil Dead Burn, arrived on July 10, 2026. The film's position as the fifth installment—and its role in reviving momentum after years of shelved sequels and a cancelled television season—cements it as a turning point. By shifting the series away from its traditional Ash Williams-centric formula and placing two women at the center of a Deadite apocalypse, Evil Dead Rise broadened the franchise's appeal while honoring the practical, visceral horror that defined the original 1981 film.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'The Dark One' in Ash vs Evil Dead?
'The Dark One' is the tenth and final episode of Season 1, serving as the season's climactic showdown. In it, Ash Williams mounts his last stand to stop Ruby before she unleashes all evil onto the world.
Who wrote and directed 'The Dark One'?
Executive producer Craig DiGregorio penned the script, while producer Rick Jacobson handled direction. The episode first aired on Starz on January 2, 2016.
What happens in 'The Dark One'?
Ash battles Ruby while Kelly works to pry a mask off Pablo, and the Deadite Amanda turns Ash's own chainsaw against him before he puts her down. Ruby and the possessed Pablo form the central threat Ash must overcome.
How does 'The Dark One' resolve?
Ash ultimately confronts and defeats Ruby, preventing her from releasing the full force of evil into the world. The episode closes out the Season 1 arc by putting an end to that particular threat.
Why is 'The Dark One' significant to the Ash vs Evil Dead series?
As the Season 1 finale, it caps off the first full narrative arc and directly continues the legacy of the original Evil Dead trilogy. It sets the tone and stakes for the series going forward.
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