As some of you may know I’m a big fan of the Evil Dead Films ( Well the later two films and the remake which was awesome). Though I was first introduced to Evil Dead with the Marvel Comics & Dynamite Comics Crossover Mini Series Marvel Zombies vs Army of Darkness which was incredibly fun.

Early last year Bruce Campbell, Robert Tapert and Sam Raimi announced that they would be continuing with the Evil Dead in a TV series form and I was really pumped. I then found out that Starz would be airing the show in the States and I heard absolutely nothing about it being aired in the UK.

It was only on Virgin TV and Netflix which of either I don’t have and what I have heard from others they really didn’t promote it on Virgin TV. So I had to wait around for a DVD/Blu Ray release. I was very pleased to hear that about May/June time that they announced a home video release of the TV series.

When I watched it I wasn’t disappointed. It was everything I had wanted and more. Undoubtedly the big draw of the Evil Dead series is Bruce Campbell’s Ash Williams. Bruce Campbell has created a horror-comedy legend with Ash Williams and over the series of films and the series he has really developed as a character with the series offering the most growth to date.

No one else could play the wisecracking, skirt chasing, chainsaw & boom stick wielding deadite slaying badass as well as Bruce can. Though they are not the only qualities to the character that I really like that he’s a anti-hero,  a coward, he’s sometimes stupid and he’s always looking out for his best interests and the easy way out. These traits really humanize the character and make him more relatable. Bruce Campbell makes Ash a charmer and a very likeable character. In the series (of which I’ve only watched the first series) He’s even more developed as Ash is much older, aware of his failings and knows he can’t really be on his own anymore. He wants to move on.

What really strengthens this is his relationship with Pablo (Ray Santiago) and Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo) they join him in his journey. He see’s them as his friends and he’s very protective of them like a father figure of sorts. He cares for their safety and will do anything in his power to save them which shows the true heroic nature of his character which I really like about him. They have great chemistry and is one of the big reasons I enjoy the show. Also Lucy Lawless as Ruby is a fantastic character in her own right and her chemistry with Bruce is brilliant. Fun fact: Bruce Campbell played a reoccurring character in Xena The Warrior Princess where Lucy played the title role.

I also love the mix of comedy and horror within the television series. Since the beginning of the Evil Dead Series there’s been a three stooges comedy influence which became more apparent in the sequels with all the brilliant slapstick humor with Ash going through the wringer time and time again. There’s a lot of it in the series which is a great welcome return. I love how in the television series Ash refers to his chainsaw and shotgun as Larry and Moe.

Also the gore is so OTT you can’t take it seriously at all and I really love that, It’s not really grotesque in the slightest as you don’t see all that great amount of detail but a lot of fake blood going everywhere. Also the horror is really good and really amps up the ante in the last few episodes of the series. I also really love that Joseph  LoDuca returns to score the series, it really wouldn’t be the same without him.

I haven’t mentioned some things as I don’t want to spoil anything for those who haven’t seen it before. It’s a real treat that we’re getting an Evil Dead TV series continuing the story of Ash with Bruce Campbell reprising his iconic role. It’s something I never thought I would never see. You can tell it was made with real affection and I love that. I’m really looking forward to Series 2 with Lee Major’s playing Ash’s father and that they can reference the events of Army of Darkness as they have rights to do so now. If you like the sound of the series I highly recommend it.

Recommendations:

Evil Dead II

Army of Darkness

Bubba Ho-Tep