Ash vs Evil Dead (new tv series)

[Mr. Adventure]

What really surprised me this season is how much I've come to like the character of Brandy. I think Arielle Carver-O'Neill has done a really good job and all while faking a pretty convincing midwestern accent (she's Australian). By the end she was truly a Williams.

The final showdown was pretty epic, loved the

Spoiler

Kandarian tank shell

. Is this how the military fought off The Mist? I was reminded of the movie version with the ultimate deadite.

As a native Michigander, I had to appreciate Ash using his hand as a map, very true to life.

Looks like he slept too long again.

Or for the first time. The funny thing about Evil Dead is it's sort of like all its inconsistencies and alternate endings are all true in some way.

Speaking of Army of Darkness again, the final coda had references to direct lines including a true classic to wrap it up.

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

“I’m covered in blood 24/7! Who the fuck wants that!?”

I really loved that line.

 

[OCD Geek]

I think the ending's going to be controversial and divisive for a period of time, but I loved it.

Spoiler: Series finale spoilers, obviously

I think this situation's a lot like the ending of the excellent Buffy spin-off Angel. At the time a good portion of the fans felt that the two-part series finale was amazing, but "Where the fuck's part three!?" Many were let down by the cliffhanger ending. This was made worse by knowing that they planned to come back for a sixth and final season. Over the years, though, fans have now come to look at it as providing perfect emotional closure while also having an ending that fit thematically with the show's core overarching message: That the fight, be it the fight against evil or the fight for redemption, never really ends. These characters will continue fighting until their last breathe, because that's who they are. Good people (and/or demons) that want to make the world, and indeed themselves, better. They're heroes you see. It's now regarded by fans and TV critics as one of the greatest series finales to ever air.

I think the same thing's going to happen here. Some fans love it. Other fans are understandably frustrated that they (probably) won't ever get to see what happens next. We received plot closure for Ash's role in the prophecy that dates all the way back to Evil Dead II. We received emotional closure for Ash's relationships with his kids, be they surrogate or biological. And we received a happier "and the adventure continues" cliffhanger for Ash than any of the movies, outside of Army of Darkness's theatrical ending, provided. And it was a kick ass cliffhanger too.

Look. At the end of the day, the series finale of Ash vs Evil Dead made me cry a couple times.

Spoiler: Spoilers for, uh, when I cried

Once during Ash's "I'm a failure" meltdown, and when he was saying goodbye to his kids.

If you had told me a few years back that an Evil Dead TV series would be a good idea and make me cry, I would have laughed in your face. What a lovely, unexpected mix of gore, humor and heart this show turned out to be.

There were a hundred different ways they could have made an Evil Dead TV series, and ninety-nine of them would have been godawful. We could have ended up with a shitty Deadite-of-the-week series (This week it's a fireman! Next week it's a pro-wrestler!!!) that went nowhere plot and character-wise and required Ash say his catch phrase "Groovy" once or twice every episode because he said it in one of the movies that one time and people really enjoyed it.

Hats off to Craig DiGregorio, Mark Verheiden and Rob Tapert for finding the one way to make it work and (last fifteen minutes of Season 2 aside) managing to maintain a high quality for fifteen freaking hours.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Well, that was certainly a great finale-- much more serious and dramatic than any other episode, with less gore and more character interaction, but that's appropriate after spending three years with these guys. I'm glad that Kelly was saved and that our original team was back together at the end (minus Fisher, but I guess it's time to give up on that).

When Ash killed the gigantic Dark One with the dagger missile, I assumed that it would also bring down the rest of them across the world in a domino effect, but that ending let us know that the news was not so good. The Apocalypse continues. But how long has it been going on? And is this Ash just coming out of suspended animation or is he a clone? His hand was back. And are Pablo and Kelly still alive? I'm still not sure if they knew the end of the show was coming and planned this for the finale. On the one hand, it can be seen as a cliffhanger-- but on the other it's an appropriately crazy ending for this crazy show.

 

[Redfern]

And is this Ash just coming out of suspended animation or is he a clone? His hand was back.

I'm willing to bet he is the original.. Yeah, he had a hand, but it wasn't really "back". Like the cyborg who greeted and accompanied him, Ash now had a translucent band around his wrist. Through the material we could see what seemed to be pistons functioning as tendons, moving as his fingers did (rather like Luke's at the conclusion of "The Empire St riles Back"). I'm guessing this mechanical hand is modular and can be swapped for implements of of mayhem, much like the arrangement before, now just more streamlined and high tech.

BTW, I really liked the bomber jacket Ash grabbed in those last seconds. A very different look, true, but it really seemed to suit him.

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

I got a little emotional when Ash locked the gang in the van before heading into battle.

Btw, I found out his middle name is Joanna? I guess his dad must have thought Ash was going to be a girl.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I'm willing to bet he is the original.. Yeah, he had a hand, but it wasn't really "back". Like the cyborg who greeted and accompanied him, Ash now had a translucent band around his wrist. Through the material we could see what seemed to be pistons functioning as tendons, moving as his fingers did (rather like Luke's at the conclusion of "The Empire St riles Back"). I'm guessing this mechanical hand is modular and can be swapped for implements of of mayhem, much like the arrangement before, now just more streamlined and high tech.

Oh, I didn't notice that. Very interesting.

I got a little emotional when Ash locked the gang in the van before heading into battle.

Yeah, that was sad. They were all heartbroken to see him go.

Btw, I found out his middle name is Joanna? I guess his dad must have thought Ash was going to be a girl.

I didn't know that. Too bad the reason wasn't revealed when Lee Majors was on. Maybe he was a fan of "A Boy Named Sue."

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Oh, I didn't notice that. I didn't know that. Too bad the reason wasn't revealed when Lee Majors was on. Maybe he was a fan of "A Boy Named Sue."

It was. Y’all must have missed Unfinished Buisness this season.

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

^ Oh yeah, now I remember! That was the episode where Ruby reanimated Brock’s corpse.

 

[RJDiogenes]

It was. Y’all must have missed Unfinished Buisness this season.

I must be getting senile. I'll have to go back and rewatch it.