Ash vs. Evil Dead season 3 premiere: 5 takeaways from ‘Family’

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4. Dalton joins Ash vs. Evil Dead season 3

Outside of Brandy, the other new character on Ash vs. Evil Dead season 3 is Dalton. Very little is known about Dalton yet, as he was only shown stalking Ash during the Grand Opening of his store and then taking off on a motorcycle to follow him as he headed to the high school to try to save Brandy.

It turns out that Dalton is part of a secret society called the Knights of Sumeria — an ancient order dedicated to battling evil. When he meets Ash in the high school, it turns out that Kelly has been in contact with him about the evil still existing, and she has brought him along to fight demons with the group.

So, far the only takeaway is that Dalton worships Ash Williams (which will likely change when he gets to know him better). He also looks like a photocopied version of Dean Winchester from Supernatural.

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5. The gore level remains hugely entertaining

After the opening of the Ash vs. Evil Dead season 3 premiere, which was all R-rated comedy, the next scene flips to an auction where someone is buying antiques and other items. A young girl comes in with the Necronomicon that she “found in the mud.”

As with all other versions of Evil Dead, the man looking to buy it starts to read a passage from the book. He stops when he realizes that he is summoning demons, but it is too late, and the Force smashes into the barn and kills everyone there except for the man. That is when Ruby shows up, demands the book, and then knocks the man’s head off — literally.

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However, the best was yet to come. Splatstick describes gory horror done in a comedic manner. It also means traditional effects and was perfected in the Evil Dead movie trilogy. When Ash battles the first Deaditte, it is in the high school. This fight had some brilliant moments, including the decapitation of Brandy’s mother, Candice.

However, the best moment — by far — was when Ash beat the first demon, which had possessed Brandy’s best friend. The fight took place in the band room, with numerous pieces of band equipment used as weapons. The end came when Ash took the harp and used it to slice the Deaditte’s head like a loaf of bread. It was gruesome, gory and downright brilliant.

It is scenes like this that makes Ash vs. Evil Dead such a fantastic series for fans of the original movies.

Next: Ash vs. Evil Dead Season 3 hints at the end

Catch Ash vs. Evil Dead season 3 on Sunday nights on Starz at 8 p.m. CST. It is available through many cable providers and is also on demand on the Starz app.