View source for DUI (Ash vs Evil Dead)

{{Infobox television episode
| series       = [[Ash vs Evil Dead]]
| season       = 2
| episode      = 4
| release_date = {{Start date|2016|10|23}}
| length       = 27 minutes
| director     = [[Michael J. Bassett]]
| writer       = [[Ivan Raimi]]
| music        = {{Plainlist|
* "[[Cum On Feel the Noize]]" by [[Slade]]
* "Take Off" by [[Bob and Doug McKenzie]]
}}
| photographer = Kevin Riley
| editor       = Bryan Shaw
| guests       = * [[Joel Tobeck]] as Baal
| prev         = [[Last Call (Ash vs Evil Dead)|Last Call]]
| next         = [[Confinement (Ash vs Evil Dead)|Confinement]]
}}
"'''DUI'''" is the fourth episode of the [[Ash vs Evil Dead season 2|second season]] of the American [[comedy horror]] television series ''[[Ash vs Evil Dead]]'', which serves as a continuation of the ''[[Evil Dead]]'' [[trilogy]]. It is the fourteenth overall episode of the series and was written by co-creator [[Ivan Raimi]], and directed by co-executive producer [[Michael J. Bassett]]. It originally aired on the [[Pay television|premium channel]] [[Starz]] on October 23, 2016.
The series is set 30 years after the events of the ''[[Evil Dead]]'' trilogy, and 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, Ash will have to renounce his routine existence and become a hero once more by taking up arms and facing the titular Evil Dead. In the episode, Ash pursues his possessed Delta car, which is keeping Pablo and Lacey hostage.
According to [[Nielsen Media Research]], the episode was seen by an estimated 0.274 million household viewers and gained a 0.13 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received extremely positive reviews from critics, who praised the action sequences, pacing, performances and ending.
==Plot==
After his father's death, [[Ash Williams|Ash]] ([[Bruce Campbell]]) is confronted by the Delta. Pablo ([[Ray Santiago]]) decides to confront the teenagers, only discovering that the car is possessed. The Delta grabs Pablo with the seatbelts and locks him inside with the teenager, Lacey (Pepi Sonuga) before driving off.
Ash convinces Chet ([[Ted Raimi]]) to lend him his car to pursue the Delta, with Chet accompanying him under the idea that they were going to a bar. Chet is confused with Ash's chainsaw and shotgun and demands answers. When Ash explains his real pursuit, Chet joins him in his quest, dropping him off at an abandoned demolition derby. Meanwhile, Ruby ([[Lucy Lawless]]) and Kelly ([[Dana DeLorenzo]]) arrive at Ash's home trailer for weapons. Ruby explains that she needs to stop her children as Baal can manipulate people, which he has done before with her. She also explains that if she cannot stop him in time, he will never be stopped.
At the derby, Ash is attacked by the Delta, who still keeps Pablo and Lacey inside. Using his chainsaw, Ash damages the car, which prompts it to release Lacey and Pablo, although the ''Necronomicon'' attacks Pablo. The Delta then aggressively attacks Ash, managing to pull it over the hood of the car. Pablo stabs the ''Necronomicon'' with a glass, but the book tells Pablo that he can let him live and stop the possessions if he is allowed to return to his dimension through a passage. Pablo reads it, causing the Delta to go back to normal. Ash and Pablo notice that the trunk of the car is now a portal to hell. They throw the ''Necronomicon'' into the portal.
Ruby and Kelly arrive at the crematorium, where they are attacked by Ruby's children. Ruby kills all of the children using her dagger. However, Ruby feels that the ''Necronomicon'' is gone and leaves with Kelly. Ash and Pablo leave the derby, with Ash intending to fix the Delta. After they leave, a demon jumps out of the trunk.
==Production==
===Development===
The episode was written by co-creator [[Ivan Raimi]], and directed by co-executive producer [[Michael J. Bassett]]. It was Raimi's third writing credit, and Bassett's fourth directorial credit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://directories.wga.org/project/1095743/ash-vs-the-evil-dead/|title=Ash vs. The Evil Dead- WGA Directory|website=[[Writers Guild of America West]]|accessdate=April 13, 2023}}</ref>
==Reception==
===Viewers===
In its original American broadcast, "DUI" was seen by an estimated 0.274 million household viewers and gained a 0.13 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to [[Nielsen Media Research]]. This means that 0.13 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-10-23-2016.html|title=Updated: Showbuzzdaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.23.2016|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|access-date=April 13, 2023|website=Showbuzzdaily|date=October 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026075801/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-10-23-2016.html|archive-date=October 26, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> This was a 15% decrease in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 0.321 million viewers with a 0.19 in the 18-49 demographics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-10-16-2016.html|title=Updated: Showbuzzdaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.16.2016|last=Metcalf|first=Mitch|access-date=April 13, 2023|website=Showbuzzdaily|date=October 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018230710/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-sunday-cable-originals-network-finals-10-16-2016.html|archive-date=October 18, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Critical reviews===
"DUI" received extremely positive reviews from critics. Matt Fowler of ''[[IGN]]'' gave the episode a "great" 8.5 out of 10 rating and wrote in his verdict, "'DUI' fittingly felt like the climax for the fist part of the season. It's not quite the halfway point, but a lot of story got cleared away to make room for Baal - who we only caught a small fiery glimpse of right at the end. It was funny, violent, and featured Ash battling his own demonic Delta. What more could you want?"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/10/24/ash-vs-evil-dead-dui-review|title=Ash vs Evil Dead: "DUI" Review|last=Fowler|first=Matt|date=October 24, 2016|accessdate=April 13, 2023|work=[[IGN]]}}</ref>
Michael Roffman of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave the episode a "B–" grade and wrote, "The problem, though, is that Raimi saws off a little more than he can blast away. 'DUI' is a little messy, despite its simple setup: Ash and Chet go after Pablo and Lacey in the Delta, while Kelly helps Ruby hunt down her demon children. After an episode that stressed the idea of grabbing the bull by the horns — both literally and metaphorically — every character does just that, and it's a very smart move. What's not so smart are the little things that Raimi peppers throughout the episode."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/ash-vs-evil-dead-drives-a-little-too-fast-beyond-thund-1798189720|title=''Ash Vs. Evil Dead'' drives a little too fast Beyond Thunderdome|last=Roffman|first=Michael|date=October 23, 2016|accessdate=April 13, 2023|work=[[The A.V. Club]]}}</ref>
Stephen Harber of ''[[Den of Geek]]'' gave the episode a 3 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "If the previous episode was a riveting horror indie throwback to Christine, this was its forgettable follow-up sequel that gave away too much in the exposition. This is not to say the episode wasn't satisfying or that it isn't an essential piece of season 2's puzzle, it was just '...and here’s what happens next, folks!' As twisting, messy, and high-quality as last week’s episode was, that's inevitable."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/ash-vs-evil-dead-season-2-episode-4-dui-review/|title=Ash vs Evil Dead Season 2 Episode 4: DUI Review|last=Harber|first=Stephen|date=October 24, 2016|accessdate=April 13, 2023|work=[[Den of Geek]]}}</ref> Steve Ford of ''TV Fanatic'' gave the episode a perfect 5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "'DUI' was yet another solid episode. It actually felt more like a season finale didn't it? Especially with the cliffhanger ending of Baal breaking out of hell."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvfanatic.com/2016/10/ash-vs-evil-dead-season-2-episode-4-review-dui/|title=Ash vs Evil Dead Season 2 Episode 4 Review: DUI|last=Ford|first=Steve|date=October 23, 2016|accessdate=April 13, 2023|work=TV Fanatic}}</ref>
Merrill Barr of ''[[Forbes]]'' wrote, "What ''Ash vs Evil Dead'' got right this week is not one thing, but many. Most notably, the crew behind the show knew the premise of chasing the demon spawns wasn't going to hold court for long. It was going to grow tired, so, to deal with that, the writers simply chose to end the plot line before even reaching the season's half-way point. Now, a new storyline has taken its place."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillbarr/2016/10/23/ash-vs-evil-dead-recap-dui/?sh=53fcc25b7959|title='Ash vs Evil Dead' Season 2 Episode 4 Recap: 'DUI'|last=Barr|first=Merrill|date=October 23, 2016|accessdate=April 13, 2023|work=[[Forbes]]}}</ref> Jasef Wisener of ''[[Zap2it|TV Overmind]]'' wrote, "'DUI' is yet another strong episode of ''Ash vs. Evil Dead'' in one of the best sophomore seasons of any series in television history, and it does a fantastic job of keeping the audience invested in the world that's been built. I can't wait to see what absolute insanity comes next, guys."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvovermind.com/ash-vs-evil-dead-review-dui/|title=Ash vs. Evil Dead Review: "DUI"|last=Wisener|first=Jasef|date=October 23, 2016|accessdate=April 13, 2023|work=[[Zap2it|TV Overmind]]}}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{IMDb episode|5218262|DUI}}
{{Ash vs Evil Dead seasons}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:DUI (Ash vs Evil Dead)}}
[[Category:Ash vs Evil Dead episodes]]
[[Category:2016 American television episodes]]