El Jefe

There aren't many horror franchises in the genre that means as much to me as the "Evil Dead" franchise. Sam Raimi came up with something beautiful with his friends back in the days and made an iconic horror film with almost nothing to do it with. Now, it's turned into one of the most iconic horror franchises ever and was given a TV follow-up in 2015 titled "Ash vs. Evil Dead." As a fan, I was expecting great things and man did I get that. This premiere episode is everything I could have asked for and a glorious return of the great king Ash Williams.

I've always said that Bruce Campbell was never given his due. He proved with these films that he was an excellent comedic actor and that he could carry a film on his shoulders. He wasn't given that before now, where he's the lead of his own show and back in the role that made him a household name. And he hasn't skipped a beat. It feels like him and Sam Raimi are right back where they left off with this world and they're having a bunch of fun. Ash is definitely a different guy, having gone through thirty years of thinking he was free of this curse, only to make it all happen again by mistake. It's a hilarious way that he gets dragged into the circus again, and it seems like it would be completely in-character for him to do it like that all these years after the fact. And with Raimi behind the camera, it makes for some awesome action sequences, with a standout being a fight between Ash and a little doll with a boxcutter. Who comes up with stuff like that? The brilliant mind of Sam Raimi does. This episode works on its own as well as the beginning of a show, and for fans of the original film, it'll be a nice reunion, but for first timers, it will also work because of the interesting world and the eccentric characters, including the new additions to fit perfectly into this Raimi crazyness. I'm so excited to see what happens going forward.

"El Jefe" is not only a brilliant "welcome back" for fans, but a genuinely amazing opening to a show that also invites new people in. It features the Ash that we know and love and bloody action sequences that Raimi helms with the stylistic crazyness that he always has, making this such an enjoyable ride.

The games kept the tradition of Ash being a regular guy but out of his depth and fed up with the deadites, necronomicon, and anyone who wants it. This pilot scrubs all that, makes him FAR more insipid than he EVER was and really shows that no one involves, especially Cambell himself, really doesn't care about these characters or the world they once created. It goes downhill from here.

Directed by Sam Raimi, the first episode of Ash vs Evil Dead is all what the Evil Dead fans had been waiting for these last 20 odd years.

After the end of "Army of Darkness" there was talk of a new movie, but it never came out; what we got in the end was the 2013 remake.

But then, they decided to do a TV series, of which this is the first episode. And it delivers.

Of course, in the years that have been gone since the last movie, a lot has changed in the movie and TV world, so some fans may be disappointed with the result, but I think that we may be in for a treat with this series.

It all starts as you would imagine, with Ash being his old lazy, sexy (and a little bit fatter) self, working in a little store and just letting the days go by. But things don't take long to go wrong, and the deadites are back with a vengeance. We have some homages to the old movies, some cool nice action, over the top situations, and Ash, a lot of cool old Ash, which makes you wonder how could it take so long to have him back.

This first episode is a blast, even if not perfect. Let's just hope the level keeps throughout this whole season.

Raimi's energetic direction is back on full display, as well as perfecting Evil Dead's memorable balance of horror and humour, being both scarier and funnier than Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness (taking more time to establish its tension for its horror while relying less on slapstick and more on sharp and witty dialogue for its humour). The gore is effectively over-the-top, Campbell's acting and comedic timing is at its best, the new additions are quickly likeable (despite some iffy acting at times), the score is fun, and the pacing is swift. I couldn't have asked for a more entertaining, fitting and laugh-out-loud fun return to the series.

30 years after the events of "The Evil Dead", Ash (Bruce Campbell reclaims his most famous role in high style) is now ageing and pathetic. When not picking up ladies at the bar, he still works as a stock boy.

But all these years later, Evil has again found Ash. It turns out that the damn Necronomicon Ex Mortis has remained in his possession, and he and a lady friend foolishly recited passages from the book while stoned.

Ash is reluctant to return to the role of hero. At first, he would rather turn tail and get the Hell out of Dodge. But you can never keep Ash down for long.

After four feature films, the franchise begun by Campbell's friend Sam Raimi certainly has had some real longevity. This debut episode isn't always terribly funny, but it does its job at setting up this universe and the people living in it. The other characters introduced are Pablo Simon Bolivar (Ray Santiago), an immigrant from Honduras and co-worker obviously destined to be the sidekick, another co-worker named Kelly Maxwell (the sexy Dana DeLorenzo), whom Ash unsuccessfully tries to hit on, Amanda Fisher (Jill Marie Jones), a state trooper who will want to avenge the death of her partner, and a mystery woman named Ruby Knowby (played by Xena herself, Lucy Lawless), who seems to know the score right from the start.

Fortunately, 'El Jefe' does bear the trademarks of "Evil Dead" goodness, namely the manic energy and the wild camera moves designed to portray the "force" bearing down on victims. The only thing that traditionalists may find truly objectionable is the use of much CGI violence.

But, overall, this was good at bringing back Campbell & Ash for a new generation & audience.

Seven out of 10.