Ash vs Evil Dead (new tv series)

[Mr. Adventure]

^ After that blood-fest, how can they possibly take it up a notch?

I watched Evil Dead 2013 recently and they could linger longer on some of the painful stuff but I think they've done a good job with what they have and just the sheer over-the-topness of Evil Dead gore (i.e. the geysers of blood).

The show seems to do well in its horror lightened by other elements. Where someone might be blood soaked in one scene but not completely the next or how Ash can switch attachments and reload like an absolute ninja.

 

[Cyke101]

I really like the idea that Ash messed up big time again, but this time out of love for his teammates. Old Ash *maybe* might have made that decision, but current Ash is now making mistakes because of his paternal feelings. "My Pablo" indeed.

Also, clearly the writers saved Kelly for this episode because they had no one else to kill old-school style anymore, though last week I was terrified that Pablo might bite it. Glad he made it through. But I still shut my eyes when the couch landed on her legs. Very little in the show will actually freak me out, but breaking legs is where I draw the line, thank you. Her half-liquefied torso? Perfectly ok, but not legs.

Ash's sleeve ripping = classic Ash!

Those demon children will obviously become a plot point next season, but just like Elgas, they're something new that the old movies wouldn't have conceived. So again, just like Elgas, I was happy to see Ash fight something new.

It makes so much sense that Ash would agree to Ruby "Godfather"-ing the deal when he hated that movie and probably doesn't remember what it was actually about. So it sounds like a good and respected idea to him even if he doesn't understand it. Smart fighter, piss poor thinker.

And lastly...

Ash: Okay, normal life, in Jacksonville, the 3 of us. And $10,000 in cash.

Ruby: I'm not a bank.

Ash: Gas money? You got that?

Ruby: Oh sure, gas money.

 

[Saga]

Anyone else spot what looked like Freddy's glove on the wall in the basement?

i noticed that.

but yeah, that was a crazy season finale. i kinda wanted Heather to survive. i figured she wouldn't though.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I liked Ash shoe polishing his hair as part of suiting up as well.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Oh, sure, he saves Kelly and Pablo-- but what about Fisher?!?

I wasn't surprised that Heather died. There had to be someone to die in this episode, and I kind of didn't think that either Pablo or Kelly would be killed (although it was in the back of my mind that everybody might die, leaving Ash to start with a fresh cast in season two).

This was definitely bloodier and more horrific than anything that has come before, which was foreshadowed by the increasingly dark tone of the last couple of episodes. Not just a Grand Finale, but a Grand Guignol Finale. Despite the burlesque approach to Ash and the storytelling, they did not compromise on the nightmarish aspects of the premise. There are bad things out there.

The ending worked well, with Ash making another bonehead move despite Kelly and Pablo coaching him, and then the ominous portents of the panicked radio broadcast and the unnatural sinkhole. It felt like the twist ending to a really long horror movie, and the sequel is already on the way.

So what is the story with Ruby? Was she lying about being Professor Whatsisname's daughter, or did she get possessed somewhere along the way?

 

[kitik]

I wonder if they filmed a different ending in case the show didn't get renewed for a second season.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Good question. It was renewed before the first episode was broadcast, but I have no idea when they actually finished filming.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Here's a thought, Ash wanted to go to the cabin alone, would he have been successful? I can't remember him needing his partners but I'm not 100% sure.

 

[Tosk]

Anyone else spot what looked like Freddy's glove on the wall in the basement?

The question is then, who moved it there from the work shed?

 

[Kemaiku]

The show seems to do well in its horror lightened by other elements. Where someone might be blood soaked in one scene but not completely the next or how Ash can switch attachments and reload like an absolute ninja.

Yeah, they balance it with humour and campness but some of the things they've done this time outmatch the movies for cruelness and scope etc. But I don't see them dropping the lighter tone, it's too much a part of the Ashverse.

Classic Ash!

Those demon children.

The shirt rip was a great nod.

And "child". For some reason it looked like as Kelly got closer to the room, she kept meeting the Abomination earlier in it's escape. That was...odd.

Unless it has multiple bodies now, which is just dandy.

I liked Ash shoe polishing his hair as part of suiting up as well.

Had to be hiding that big grey patch somehow but that was good too.

So what is the story with Ruby? Was she lying about being Professor Whatsisname's daughter, or did she get possessed somewhere along the way?

She's the Kandarian's mum, Dark Ones haven't turned up before so she could be wearing someones face and lying, wearing Ruby or just shapeshifting.

Also, demon named Ruby with a special knife, where have I seen that before...

 

[Arrrrgggh]

And "child". For some reason it looked like as Kelly got closer to the room, she kept meeting the Abomination earlier in it's escape. That was...odd.

Keep in mind, also, that Ash actually saw one before he witnessed one being born.

That said, I do believe that Pedro (sorry, I meant Pablo) did say "things" in reference to them when he was begging Ash at one point.

 

[Kemaiku]

The problem with that is the force within the woods has been active since Knowby brought the book to the cabin, there are always lots of things surronding it waiting to become flesh.

The Abomination is a singular creature, the Kandarian endgame, some form of weaponised mutant superdemon.

But the canon can be changed, Bruce has hinted each book in each reality is one meta-being, this thing could be too, able to just muck with reality as it pleases.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Also, demon named Ruby with a special knife, where have I seen that before...

Maybe Ash will run into the "Remington" boys at some point.

 

[Arrrrgggh]

Honestly, I imagine it just has some freaky time travel capabilities. The "one" that appeared to Ash before he even saw it being born could have just as easily just been a premonition sort of deal, while the "ones" that Kelly was interacting with could have been a single one jaunting through time.

 

[Kemaiku]

Yup, everything from this point on is new. They can introduce any new powers and abilities, and uglies they want.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Here's a thought, Ash wanted to go to the cabin alone, would he have been successful? I can't remember him needing his partners but I'm not 100% sure.

Good point. The message here seems to be that friends are a liability.

She's the Kandarian's mum, Dark Ones haven't turned up before so she could be wearing someones face and lying, wearing Ruby or just shapeshifting.

Maybe she's "Evil Ruby," and the one-handed, or whatever, real Ruby will show up next year.

Maybe Ash will run into the "Remington" boys at some point.

That would be funny. I'm sure they won't last long. Slaughtered while having an emo moment.

 

[davejames]

Gotta say, that was a pretty kickass first season, and I loved that they made the cabin such a huge part of it at the end.

I still found myself missing Raimi's unique style at times, with the other directors not bringing quite as much craziness and inventiveness to it as he might have, but there was still enough great action and dialogue to make the show a lot of fun to watch.

 

[kirk55555]

Overall, it was a fun first season. When it first began, I wasn't sure if Ash traveling with people would work, but by the end of the season I couldn't imagine the show without Pablo and Kelly. They're great, and they work very well with Ash. Ruby wasn't as interesting as I thought'd she'd be (although she was ok during the last few episodes). I can't wait for season 2, and see how the end of this season blows up in Ash's face

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

I'll admit I was pretty grumpy due to the lack of Ruby during the first 8 episodes but when the big reveal happened, it made sense for her to have little screen time. She was a mystery, and when that mystery was unlocked, boy was it a doozy!

 

[Cyke101]

I still found myself missing Raimi's unique style at times, with the other directors not bringing quite as much craziness and inventiveness to it as he might have, but there was still enough great action and dialogue to make the show a lot of fun to watch.

I agree, though some of the directors purposefully tried to mimic Raimi's direction when appropriate (i.e. the evil force flying through a forest; tilted close ups when the characters get horrified). And at least one, Michael Hurst, directly learned under Raimi, thanks to their time together on the set of Hercules/Xena.

But to me, the first episode is arguably the most fun, and it's no coincidence -- Raimi's the most experienced director, and knows the material the best, so naturally he'd create the best episode of the bunch, imo.