Ash Vs. Evil Dead

Finally met somebody scummier than Ash: His Dad. I'd say, "Neat trick", but ew.

It's good to get the context that the events of the films turned Ash into a pariah in his hometown. That actually makes sense. It's miracle he's not actually in prison for that.

Good premiere. 4 stars.

Great ending. Because Ash is stupid. 3 stars.

Of course Dad dies then. That much meaningful wrap-up means he's doomed. I'm just impressed it happened seconds later. A worse franchise would have dragged it out.

The Delta channeling Christine. Gruesome.

Not really invested in Ruby and Kelly's team-up yet. Still feels very much like a B story.

Pablo's pep talk to Ash was great.

The Delta landing in the desert in the flashback is the first time the show has referenced Army Of Darkness.

Obligatory Ted Raimi appearance. Dude doesn't have much of a career but his brother does what he can.

Happy Trails, Brock. 4 stars.

Chet is slightly cleverer than I expected him to be.

Evil Dead isn't just a horror franchise, it's an action one too. Major part of its appeal.

I'm curious if Pablo's precog visions are set in stone, or if they can be prevented. Since we've never actually made it that far to one of them, it's still unclear.

Ash ain't getting rid of the Delta THAT easy. 3 1/2 stars.

Worried about Pablo. But then I'm always worried about Pablo.

Ruby's scene with Baal was freaking riveting. SO wrong and so right at the same time.

Chet can actually not be depended on. I liked him describing himself as itchy. Ash knew exactly what he was talking about.

Pretty damn cool episode. 4 stars.

Pablo is the very best version of any vagina anywhere.

It seemed like Chet was about to confess something before he was killed. I'm wondering what it was, and if we'll ever learn it.

Another good episode. 4 stars.

But despite it being an interesting one-off high concept premise, the logic of Baal doing it exactly this way (in the most annoyingly television manner possible) absolutely escapes me. Putting all that effort and rigmarole into a plan that makes no sense just because it would make interesting television is a failing.

This show refreshingly doesn't feel like television all too often. Unfortunately this episode, as interesting (and funny) as it was in places, also exclusively cribbed television's most annoying tropes in order to make this unlikely premise work at all. Which means it actually doesn't.

Disappointed. 2 1/2 stars.

I love Kelly empowering Linda over her grief.

I am glad it turns out Ash was just playing a long con. I would have thought a lot less of him if he weren't.

I love that Kelly's first impression of the puppet is to think it's adorable. Because it is.

Bananas episode. 4 stars.

The raping tree was the single worst thing about the first movie and the reason I didn't like it. Good for this show for having it attack Kelly and Ruby, and they kicked its ass instead. Didn't like seeing the reappearance of the killer vine bit but that made it worth it.

Another episode that might qualify as "Bananas". 4 1/2 stars.

The timeline shit is SO fucking shady now although perhaps the tag clears that up a touch. But Ash never should have even MET Pablo and Kelly if he never opened the book. The show's time-travel rules are acting pretty wonky.

Great finale. 4 1/2 stars.

It was solid, but I'm little unsure this year. I don't know. The Brandy thing seems pretty cruel to me. We'll see how it goes. 3 stars.

While we're keeping score, I trust Pablo FAR more than I do Dalton. For the record.

Gross and silly. 3 1/2 stars.

I loved "Kids Today" over the end credits.

Something else is going on with Pablo. I'm not sure what yet, but Dalton was a Deadite when he claimed Pablo killed him. He can't be trusted.

I don't have to crossly say I find Brandy's stupidity annoying. It's especially annoying in a horror franchise. But I guess that's the tension of the season. But it's annoying. 3 1/2 stars.

Love Brock tell Ash he didn't mean it when he said he'd be a great dad.

Kelly thinks she can save Pablo. Is she right? I dunno but Pablo did the same for her in Season One so she DOES owe him the effort. The mouth on the leg was both horrifying and funny in equal measure.

Funny cliffhanger too. 4 stars.

If they were using a real toddler for all that, that kid is gonna grow up fucked up. No doubt in my mind.

For the record, Ash is annoyed the Norse woman conked him and ditched him. Honestly, though, I think she still would have died. Ash is TERRIBLE at protecting civilians around him. She wouldn't have been any better off with him.

Messed up episode. 3 1/2 stars.

More Army Of Darkness clips. Cool.

It was okay, but I'm worried about Kelly. 3 stars.

I have to say, Ruby's plan was genius and diabolical. And I think she's right that the only reason she lost is because Ash is supernaturally lucky. And I think that's true even after Kelly and Brandy died, because I don't think their deaths are permanent.

The bad thing was the Pop-Tarts product placement. That food is a menace to ALL of television and it sucks.

This was a very good episode for both stakes and raising ethical questions about how Elk Grove sees Ash. Unusually powerful episode for that reason. 4 1/2 stars.

It's not exactly a filler episode, but it's not exactly moving the arc forward either. 3 stars.

Pretty insane and extreme stuff. I'm curious to see how it all turns out. 4 stars.

Shitty cancelation or not, Bruce Campbell picked the absolute WORST time to decide to retire as Ash. Never getting follow-up on THAT is maddening.

All that being said, the episode is significant for the fact that it's the first thing in the franchise with legit pathos and emotional resonance. That might be the thing about it that pisses me off the most. It's great and infuriating in equal measure.

I am not satisfied with that remotely. 2 1/2 stars.