If it’s one thing Hollywood has loved the past few years, it’s been zombies and reboots. So when you’re able to get a nice-two-for-one, like with Ash Vs. The Evil Dead, it’s like a golden ticket.
I know, it’s technically not a reboot, but a sequel. The series takes place about 30 after the original Evil Dead trilogy. It basically carries the story forward (the idea did start out as the fourth film in the franchise, but Samm Rami decided to turn it into a television series).
It begins finding Ash, played brilliantly by none other than Bruce Campbell, on the pathetic side of life. How does one go back to normal life after fighting the Evil Dead in 1300AD? But after a poetic reading of the Necronomicon to a female escort, he ends up once again raising the Evil Dead.
This time he tries to run, but his co-workers, Pablo and Kelly, realize he’s the cause of this Hell breaking loose and force him to deal with it. Before the end of the first episode, the chainsaw-wielding Ash is back in all his groovy glory!
What follows is two seasons of Ash and friends trying to save the world from the Evil Dead. It’s a gory, goofy, groovy ride… one might call it the corny cousin of The Walking Dead. And what may come to a surprise to many is that both fans and critic are digging it. With the second season considered even better than the first.
The first two seasons premiered on Star in the month of October, perfect Halloween viewing. The bad news is that we won’t have a new season to look forward to this fall, BUT it will be returning in February.
I know, it’s a bit of a bummer not to get the new season in time for Halloween. So here’s my suggestion to all Ash Vs. The Evil Dead fans. It’s time to rewatch everything! All three movies as well as the first two seasons (they’re out there on various streaming networks). Like you need an excuse!
The great thing about Ash vs. The Evil Dead is that it builds even more on this world we love. I saw Bruce Campbell speak on a panel at San Diego Comic Con the year before last. As you can probably imagine, he stole the show. But he said that fans always said they wanted more of Ash, so he’s going to give it to them. Even if he has to play the character until he dies.
Which I hope is not for a very long time (and that he’ll be reanimated when he does). But regardless if it’s one more season or until the end of time, we got more Ash Vs. The Evil Dead to look forward to, and more to relive.
That being said, I’ve unearthed some great t-shirts that cover the entire franchise. You’ll be the coolest kid on your block wearing these, baby!
Written by Tom Misuraca
I am an award-winning playwright/novelist/screenwriter/blogger. I enjoy comics (Batman, Fantastic Four, X-Men), movies, music (Gothic, Industrial, 80s), reading and yoga.