Ash vs Evil Dead Complete Series Blu-ray Review

Ash vs Evil Dead is, to be honest, a show I never thought I would see. I was a fan of the Evil Dead films but not a fanatic. They we're good fun to me nothing more nothing less. I gave up hope that a fourth film would ever be made even though there was constant chatter in the horror community. So when Starz announced they were making an Ash vs Evil Dead show I was shocked 

Ash vs Evil Dead brings Bruce Campbell back as Ash Williams. He's still drives his yellow Delta and now he lives in a trailer park. He works at the Value Stop during the day and picks up women at local bars by night. One night after bringing a woman back to his trailer he gets stoned and starts reading her poetry. The poetry however is incantations from the Necronomicon that he keeps locked in his trailer. That reawakens the Deadites who begin to storm his town. With a fellow Value Stop employee named Pablo, who looks up to Ash and called him "Hefe" and Kelly a girl who used to work at Value Stop who Pablo has a crush on they embark on a journey to put an end to the Deadites once and for all.

The first season was fantastic. It expanded the lore of the films and upped the humor. It felt like you were watching an incredibly bloody sitcom. It also Introduced Ruby, a demon played by Lucy Lawless of Xena fame who created the Necronomicon and wants to engulf the world with the demons from the book. The final three episodes are essentially the fourth film as we get to see Ash finally return to the cabin in the woods where it all began.

Season two expands on Ash's origin as he returns to his hometown of Elk Grove Michigan. Hes not welcomed back by the townsfolk however as they still blame him for all the murders that happened at the cabin back when he first went to it. He's known as "Ashy Slashy". His father is played by Lee Majors, he also hates his son for running off years ago. This season begins to show more of the lore from the Necronomicon and even introduces Pablo's ties to the book. I found this season to be a bit slower but still entertaining.

The third and final season introduces us to a teenage girl named Brandy. Turns out she's the daughter Ash never knew he had. When he mom is killed by Deadites Ash takes her and begins to try and be a father to her. We also meet the Knights of Sumeria who have arrived to assist Ash in his final battle with the Deadites, and the ultimate demon, Kandar. This time the Deadites have overrun the entire earth and only Ash posseses the weapon capable of stopping them.

The series was fun but I felt a little cheated by the end. I understand that they intended to get a fourth and final season, but when that didn't happen they assured fans it would have a fitting end. To me it was just another open end horror ending.

The series was released season by season on Blu-ray but now Lionsgate has released the complete series. if you haven't picked up the seasons here is a great way to own them all. The Blu-rays look and sound great. And most places are pre selling it for 42.99 which is a great deal.

If you were a fan of the series you are already going to buy it. If you were simply a casual fan it's still worth watching. Bruce Campbell is in fine form and you can tell how much he enjoys playing Ash. Plus to be honest, if you like comedy this is funnier than any sitcom currently on tv. It's well worth checking out.

Overall 3 out of 5 Stars