Any doubts we had about Ash vs Evil Dead were chainsawed to death this week.
Here’s Stephen’s review…
This Ash vs Evil Dead review contains spoilers.
If youre reading this, youll probably agree that each installment has aged better with time.
Sure, production standards have changed drastically, and some of the gags might leave people scratching their heads.
But that doesnt matter.
Theyre classics for a reason: because theyre funny, gross and always surprising.
Each chapter is so distinctly different from the last while somehow bearing enough resemblance to the original to work.
Thats what we love about it and thats what makes Raimi and his core crew such brilliant filmmakers.
The video games didnt cut it, no matter how eventful they were, and the comics didnt either.
And the less said about the remake, the better (sorry, folks).
Oh, and a hint of what Deadites might be.
Thats quite a lot!
And it only took, what, 30 years?
The exposition we get in here is just enough.
It doesnt make you feel like youve found out too much.
It doesnt ruin the mystique or get in the way of the action.
Sounds like a lot of yappenin and not a lot of happenin.
(all of his lines in this episode are priceless, by the way).
Theres an undo button for all of this accidental summoning that Ash did, and its within him.
Thats something that nobody understands just yet (very reminiscent of certainBuffyseasonal story arcs, right?).
Theyre also serving a greater but quieter purpose: forcing Ash to confront his emotions.
They remind him that hes alone, that hes the one that pushes people away.
The banter between Ash and the demon gave me even moreBuffynostalgia (which is a very good thing).
I was glad to see Agent Fisher had finally meet up with Ash and the gang.
Theres something about her character that I feel will be very important down the line.
Maybe shes going to be the new sidekick next year.
Or maybe shell be the big bad of the season somehow.
But lets not get ahead of ourselves here.
But we also know that its his fault that most of this tragedy has happened.
His ineptitude and shameless buffoonery caused an apocalypse one more than one occasion.
The reality is, he is a threat, to humanity and himself.
It really is his fault that Agent Fisher is in this situation, and that Kellys dad is dead.
He is a bad guy, even if we dont want him to be.
But, somehow, that only makes us root for him more.
Were getting used to the formula and so are the cast.
The carryover from film to television has probably never been smoother.
THE GROOVY
Lucy Lawless torturing a Deadite was awesomely brutal.
I cant wait to see how she plays off of Bruce.
I wonder what their characters connection is?
There is so much to quote here, not just from Ash, but everyone involved.
He was the perfect mouthpiece for all that splainin that needed to be done.
Fisher got trapped with Deadite Lionel in the end…wonder whats in store for her.
Im just going to come out and say that I think this is how season one of Ash Vs.
Evil Dead will end.
What do you think?
THE NOT SO GROOVY
Why did Ash leave his hand at the book shop with Fisher?
Couldnt he have just carried it out with him?
Im surprised Ash didnt dismember Kellys dad before he buried him.
You notice that I didnt talk much about the opening scene with Lucy Lawless.
Thats because it was so brief!
We need more of her on the show, stat.
And look, thats not a racist thing, Pablo.
Thats just a great dessert.
You know Im not mexican, right?
ASH: Thats the spirit.
LIONEL: The book itself is harmless, unless it is wielded by someone very evil or very stupid.
ASH: Okay, okay.
And now he just wants to put it back, no harm, no foul?
But reading from it again cant make things any worse.
Its kinda like spilling paint on a painting.
Its okay cause theres already paint on it.
PABLO: (beat) That is incorrect.
DEMON: Why have you summoned me, Ashley?
First of all, you dont look anything like your photo, so you might want to update that.
Will Lucy Lawless continue to be a badass?
Tune in next week.
Same dead time, same dead channel.
Rating:
4 out of 5
