Since the theatrical release of Evil Dead Burn, the latest entry in the Evil Dead franchise, folks are being reminded that the franchise can thrive with women protagonists. While Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) is an iconic final boy, there are more than a few women in the franchise who also deserve a double thumbs up. Whether they’re survivors, Deadites, all-powerful beings, or merely characters who should’ve lasted longer than they did, they shall be mentioned.
Therefore, it’s time to grab whichever version of the Necronomicon you have, avoid the Deadites chasing us, and go on a journey to talk about some of the women across the franchise. We’re going to explore not just the films but also the canonical TV series Ash vs Evil Dead. Thus leaving us with no shortage of ladies to give a shout-out to.
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Cheryl Williams
It’s a horrible outcome for the character, but Cheryl (Ellen Sandweiss) earns her spot on the list for being the first ever character turned Deadite. She’s the younger sister of Ash and met her demise on the cabin trip in The Evil Dead (1981). Though as soon as she turns into a Deadite, she becomes a huge problem for everyone.
Cheryl’s impact extends to the TV series, as she returns, forcing Ash to confront his sister’s loss once again. While Cheryl isn’t a chainsaw-wielding final girl, she still earned her own spot in terms of memorable ladies in this franchise. Deadite Cheryl is allowed to hold her own bloodied flowers.
Mia
The fan-favorite meter has broken just because of the mere mention of Evil Dead (2013) and Mia (Jane Levy). Evil Dead (2013) marked the return of the franchise after 20 years since Army of Darkness (1992), and it’s beloved by many fans for the film and Mia’s character.
Instead of just being the protagonist, she becomes a temporary antagonist when she is possessed for most of the film. Mia, as a Deadite, is ruthless, cruel, and it’d certainly be hard to imagine this entry of the franchise without her character. Meanwhile, Mia, as a human, including when she’s cured by her brother, is also excellent as she’s a survivor. Her resilience when she’s having to face off against the Abomination in the third act is incredible.
Kelly Maxwell
Our main trio on Ash vs Evil Dead wouldn’t be the same without Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo). Kelly went from being Ash’s coworker at the ValueStop to an ambitious Deadite fighter after witnessing the death of her father at the hands of a Deadite.
Thankfully, Kelly isn’t reduced to a woman who constantly needs saving. She’s a character who isn’t afraid to fight, is filled to the brim with sarcastic quips, and has a lot of heart, and those are a few aspects that make her a noteworthy character. Throughout the series, she goes through ups and downs, but she makes it to the other side with everyone by the end.
Ruby
It’s hard not to love an all-powerful villain who appears as a woman with good fashion sense. Ruby (Lucy Lawless) is a demon known as a Dark One and serves as the main antagonist throughout the three seasons of Ash vs Evil Dead. She’s a formidable foe and takes nobody’s nonsense, not even Ash’s.
Ruby’s presence is one to fear, and her manipulation of Ash’s group before she reveals her true intentions is quite masterful. Despite her villainous nature throughout the show, she does go through periods of helping Ash’s group out. Either way, she’s one of those villains in the franchise who is so enjoyable to watch.
Amanda Fisher
Despite how she starts off as a stereotypical cop in Ash vs Evil Dead, Amanda (Jill Marie Jones) ends up becoming an ally to Ash and company. Unfortunately, she meets a tragic end. Amanda starts off getting in over her head when faced with the supernatural, but she eventually holds her own against Deadites.
There aren’t many Black women characters across the franchise, but if nothing else, Amanda is the best of the few. As soon as she stops being ignorant of the reality of what’s going on, she becomes someone you want to see survive. And she even manages to develop a connection with Ash before the worst imaginable thing happens.
Brandy Barr
Some folks may not have known that Ash has a daughter, but they surely do now. Brandy (Arielle Carver-O’Neill) is Ash’s daughter, and her existence is made known during the final season of Ash vs Evil Dead. She’s a bit like her dad, but remains her own person throughout her time on the show.
Brandy is a realistic depiction of a teenager who has just lost her mother and is getting to know her dysfunctional and traumatized father. There’s no dismissing her importance as a character to Ash, as well as the series. She adds a level of humanity to the chaos, and she’s also a teen girl who is allowed to be flawed as well as courageous.
Beth
There’s no denying the magnetism of a final girl who does her best and scrapes to survive. Beth (Lily Sullivan) is the primary protagonist of Evil Dead Rise (2023) and eventually becomes a survivor of Deadite madness when her sister becomes possessed. She’s your typical final girl, but that’s not a bad thing.
Beth’s resilience as a character helps keep her safe, prevents further disasters by the end of the film, and saves one of her nieces from dying. She endures violence and absolute chaos, but battles through it, just like other ladies in the franchise. And who doesn’t love it when a final girl isn’t afraid to get dirty by way of blood?
Ellie
We may not have gotten to know human Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) in Evil Dead Rise (2023) as much, but we certainly have Deadite Ellie (or Maggot Mommy) to cling to forever. Ellie, as a Deadite, is by far one of the most iconic characters across the franchise. Her sinister moments happen with such ease, and she’s delightfully vicious.
The playfulness with which Ellie commits violence is hard to turn away from. Part of why she’s so memorable is the performance, but it’s also because the character is so unapologetically evil. It’s part of why many people are drawn to her in several ways.
Alice
Complicated female characters have been a running theme for the past three Evil Dead films. Alice (Souheila Yacoub) is the main protagonist of Evil Dead Burn (2026), which is by far one of the meanest films in the franchise. She’s a survivor of domestic abuse, is dealing with her dysfunctional in-laws, and is eventually thrust into a supernatural battle that she never wanted to be in.
Throughout Evil Dead Burn, she more than proves her final girl chops by being resourceful and as strong as she can be. Her journey as someone who is dealing with trauma and the aftermath of domestic violence makes her such a layered character. And she’s certainly going down as a character folks will root for every time they revisit this entry.
Thya
Bring on unsettling and wicked Deadites like Deadite Thya (Luciane Buchanan), please! Thya is initially just Joseph (Hunter Doohan)’s supportive girlfriend in Evil Dead Burn, though once she becomes possessed, the character comes alive in a specific way. Her Deadite form is effectively freaky and so captivating to watch that you anticipate her scenes, even when she’s causing havoc for characters you care about.
It’s safe to say that Thya earns her bloody stripes and stamp of approval for Evil Dead ladies we’ll be thinking about for a while. Whether that be due to her mischievousness, how much fun she’s having damaging everyone’s bodies, or her Deadite look altogether. Kudos to Thya!
Certain ladies in the Evil Dead franchise are certainly worth talking about. Whether they’re Deadites or human survivors, they stick around in our brains. Did your favorite woman from the Evil Dead franchise make our list? Let us know on our socials.
