Ash vs Evil Dead Season 3 General Discussion Thread

[Joem1k]

I'd 100 percent endorse this idea (and it makes perfect sense even within the original trilogy itself) but within AvED it's hard for me to agree with, mostly because they re-wrote Ash from being somewhat shy and bookish and romantic by virtue by turning him into a drunken teenage hellraiser in season 2 to explain Chet. The implication was that he's always been like this and it's a reaction to his father's autocratic parenting.

Eh, i'm gonna have to disagree with this.

Ash was originally supposed to stay dead in the original film alongside with the rest of the characters according to the original creators (sam,rob and bruce), but had to bring him back for the sequel and retconned some of his character traits and backstory from that film plus the other characters from ed1. it doesn't help either that they've had to pull the ole "unreliable narrator/retcon" to explain the continuity error's with ash's backstory and it's snowballed into well the gag we know now.

Ash's character and his characterization as a whole has been a jumbled up mess in general from the original series due to this running gag and the legal issues so they could go anywhere with it, so stepping into AvED with this established main character and now having the options now to use the characters from ed1,2 and AoD some what (The ed2 ending loophole). Which version of ash were they gonna play on and add on to that the fans remember the most ?

The AoD ash naturally because that version had the most characterization and the most memorable dialogue out of the two previous iteration's, so they are gonna expand on that version the most and they could pull off the burnt out mid life crisis angle better with that version. (And they have mentioned this is what they envisioned ash being like after AoD)

So, how do you expand upon AoD ash when you don't have the rights to said film he was promptly in and only have the first two films to go off of for this series ?

UNRELIABLE NARRATOR/RETCON. (the 2 unholy demon's of this franchise)

The problem with ash's current persona really isn't with the lazy writing, it's the current/previous writers/original creators getting backed into a corner of trying to expand on a character that hasn't really had a cohesive/straight forward expanded backstory in a trilogy of films that have been all over the place with how it's laid out it's timeline and it's main character's persona over the course of 3 films. Naturally they have went their own route with it. They have nailed some elements of it and faltered in some.

it's at this point I've stopped caring about how ash is portrayed to fit with the films previously because it's a unrealistic expectation at this point and to put it bluntly, those previous iterations of ash are in the past and buried and those 3 films did have one cohesive complete character arc for ash and that's the nerd>semi-badass>full on badass arc he had with some side love interest's for him to care about and that's about it. So where the hell do they go from there when ash's arc was already completed in AoD ? The only real thing ash has left for a long arc is his prophecy.

Ash as a character at this point, needs a conclusive ending and i get the strangest feeling we "might" see that this season plus some solid character work underneath the jokes and crudeness his character is currently shackled with.

*end rambling*

 

[Muzzlehatch]

Eh, i'm gonna have to disagree with this.
it's at this point I've stopped caring about how ash is portrayed to fit with the films previously because it's a unrealistic expectation at this point and to put it bluntly, those previous iterations of ash are in the past and buried and those 3 films did have one cohesive complete character arc for ash and that's the nerd>semi-badass>full on badass arc he had with some side love interest's for him to care about and that's about it. So where the hell do they go from there when ash's arc was already completed in AoD ? The only real thing ash has left for a long arc is his prophecy.

I get your point but I do not think that it would be too unrealistic to expect a cohesive portrayal that fits the films as well. As you said yourself, the film's character arc (nerd -> average Joe -> stalone parody) is more less a logical thing that can be explained from inside and outside the narrative. And with the 30 years gap I see bunch of possible ways Ash's development could have been followed.

As an example shortly after the pilots release I posted a short outline here how I would have handled that. I would have started with an Ash who is a depressed shadow of himself. Fighting the deadites he became king. But after that? His friends and girlfriend dead, disowned by his family, without a proper education and maybe still on the run from the authorities, who blame him for murder, he lives as a embittered hermit who moarns about his broken existence. Maybe the deadites come back by some accident, maybe by a third party. But maybe Ash unleashs them himself because of anger about the people who trfffFeat him like shit or just to feel like a hero again.

I know, except the last part that is exactly what we got. But all this silly, kinky uncle humor, the over the top stupidity, the additional high school girlfriends and in general the retelling of his past as a nerd bullying teenage casanova are totaly unnecessary to tell this story. And I think that's the stuff most of here dislike about the show.

I also don't like that prophecy stuff that much. I loved the ED2 ending / AoD plot because it was such a cruel twist like the Planet of the Apes ending: There is no hero from the sky, only you idiot. I can not really explain my feeling here, but I think going more into this prophecy could destroy the whole point.

 

[Joem1k]

I also don't like that prophecy stuff that much. I loved the ED2 ending / AoD plot because it was such a cruel twist like the Planet of the Apes ending: There is no hero from the sky, only you idiot. I can not really explain my feeling here, but I think going more into this prophecy could destroy the whole point.

at the first part, that's basically all that's happen up to this point if you look past all the comedic elements. i just don't think we've covered the juicy/meaty stuff yet, but judging by what we've been told for this upcoming season, we might get some of that this season with ash (probably won't hit that point until the later half obviously).

I think the problem with those comedic factors is them trying to land the comedic elements of the series first for the fans who love the comedy more so then the dramatic bits and not quite landing it for some scenes, but when they hit the emotional/dramatic beats, they really nail those moments.

EX : Brock and Ash's scene in the bar, Ash seeing cheryl's door for the first time in years, The aftermath of pablo dieing,the scene with pablo burning his uncle, ash being worried about pablo dieing in episode 6 of s2. All of episode 7 in s2. (a lot more to name off the top of my head atm, but you get my point)

Their's been plenty of emotional moments in those first two seasons, and i feel season 3 will probably bring those to forefront once it really get's going in the later half of it.

and as for the prophecy,It seems like to me they are going to end that prophecy or at the very least what was foretold in the book in s3. From all the interviews and what bruce has been saying and one of the major themes this season being fulfilling everyone's destiny they could be ending that chapter of ash's life for good. Plus when you think about it, that's all ash really has left in his life, is that damn prophecy hanging over his head so maybe we'll see him finally fulfill it or they leave us with a evil dead style cliffhanger like they usually do, who knows.

plus over the course of this show ash has earned more then his lost, his got two good loyal friends at his side now,his hometown no longer thinks of him as a murderer but a hero in their eyes, his father no longer thinks of him as psycho killer and his made peace with his sister cheryl. And now in this upcoming season he has a daughter to take care of which could result in us seeing some major development of this current version of ash.

 

[Joem1k]

New promo video and man, it's great to see ash driving heavy equipment again. Loving the fight sequence's for this season, a lot more chaotic and quick.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/963080262165790721

 

[Elise41]

I'm admitting that the promo is doing a lot more than any of those Who's Your Daddy promos ever have.

 

[MaidOfKandar]

A new interview with Dana and Ray with a little more info on what we can expect now that we are only 13 days away from the new season starting.

https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2018...ago-dana-delorenzo-ash-vs-evil-dead-season-3/

It's interesting to me that

Spoiler: Spoiler!

Pablo apparently shaves his head at some point. RIP his luscious hair, one of the season's major casualties.

Also Dana says Kelly gets some agency which is interesting to me, because she always seemed to have the most agency out of all of the characters, aside from her season one possession.

Ash was originally supposed to stay dead in the original film alongside with the rest of the characters according to the original creators (sam,rob and bruce), but had to bring him back for the sequel and retconned some of his character traits and backstory from that film plus the other characters from ed1. it doesn't help either that they've had to pull the ole "unreliable narrator/retcon" to explain the continuity error's with ash's backstory and it's snowballed into well the gag we know now.

Agree to disagree. While I think ED2 Ash is a little bit more cocky in the very beginning, this is still the same dude who's literally saved from the torments of hell by true love (or at the very least his sense of his own humanity is strongly attached to his memories of his love for Linda), so he fits in pretty well with ED1 Ash in my POV.

So, how do you expand upon AoD ash when you don't have the rights to said film he was promptly in and only have the first two films to go off of for this series ?

IMO, you concentrate on Evil Dead 2's version of things. The movie provides us enough hints and personality to kind of give us a worthwhile Ash portrait. You just have to unearth it.

I'm admitting that the promo is doing a lot more than any of those Who's Your Daddy promos ever have.

Same. THAT is how to promote an Evil Dead show.

 

[Joem1k]

It's interesting to me that

Spoiler: Spoiler!

Pablo apparently shaves his head at some point. RIP his luscious hair, one of the season's major casualties.

Also Dana says Kelly gets some agency which is interesting to me, because she always seemed to have the most agency out of all of the characters, aside from her season one possession.

Same. THAT is how to promote an Evil Dead show.

Spoiler

I think you might have misinterpreted that statement, pablo's hair is still their in the episode 10 photos. But what he meant by that is he wanted to shave pablo's hair off as one of the things on his list to being a badass, but that didn't happen but his still getting to be a badass this season minus the shaved hair.

I think what dana meant by agency is going in by herself and doing things her way without ash or pablo's say in the matter, and were going to see that this season. Though from what i've read, that might end badly for her in her case.

I got three interviews with bruce here.

Sources :
http://reviewfix.com/2018/02/review-fix-exclusive-bruce-campell-talks-new-season-ash-vs-evil-dead/

https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2018...-vs-evil-dead-season-3-stuntmen-stephen-king/

https://www.badtv.it/2018/02/excl-ash-vs-evil-dead-bruce-campbell-parla-terza-stagione/ (google translate)

Bruce mentions in the third interview we'll know if we get a 4th season sometime in mid-march.

 

[Joem1k]

Got some good news, optimum is back with starz, they've kissed and made up.

Source : http://deadline.com/2018/02/starz-and-altice-end-impasse-setnew-multi-year-carriage-deal-1202287162/

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/963495199849631744

 

[Nick el Ass]

It's interesting to me that

Spoiler

Pablo apparently shaves his head at some point. RIP his luscious hair, one of the season's major casualties.

Spoiler: Speaking of hair raising, or hair lowering.

Ray said he wanted to shave his head on screen, but it didn't end up in the final script like some other things he wanted to do so his hair survives for a little while longer. I'm more frightened to see what Dana was referencing when she talks about fighting a certain body part.

 

[Joem1k]

Spoiler: Speaking of hair raising, or hair lowering.

I'm kind of scared to see what Dana was referencing when she talks about fighting a certain body part.

Spoiler

Probably a leg, or something very out there that we haven't touched yet with a 5 foot pole. Let your imagination go wild !

 

[MaidOfKandar]

Ahh, understood; for some reason I thought that was part of the other 90 percent!

Spoiler: Quote from Bruce

Re prophecy fulfillment: "Elements will be wrapped up this season that will never come back.”

I take it this means we've finally got permadeath coming our way.

I'm relieved the Optimum thing FINALLY went through. I knew it was all sabre rattling and an attempt at trying to game each other but at least people in NYC won't suffer through an outtage.

Spoiler: Kick Your Knees Up Step In Time

I think it's going to be something like her face; Ash's leg rebelled on him during the second cabin episode, but I would also be unsurprised if it is her leg.

The fact that they're waiting for mid-March must mean they're going to see if this season perks up in the practicals; if the boost Netflix gave the show was worthwhile they would have likely already renewed it.

 

[Nick el Ass]

Happy Valentine's Day.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/963752193424728064

Spoiler: Kick Your Knees Up Step In Time

I think it's going to be something like her face; Ash's leg rebelled on him during the second cabin episode, but I would also be unsurprised if it is her leg.

Spoiler

Kelly has already fought her hand, and I really hope they don't try to one up Ash vs evil colon.

 

[MaidOfKandar]

Spoiler: @Nick

...I just envisioned Kelly trying to fight her own genitals and I don't think you can do that even on Starz but it was a Mental Image, I will tell you that much.

 

[Joem1k]

Spoiler: @Nick

...I just envisioned Kelly trying to fight her own genitals and I don't think you can do that even on Starz but it was a Mental Image, I will tell you that much.

Spoiler

This is starz though, they've shown full on female nudity before (in spartacus and american god) and they've shown a dead man's penis in full view (with a prince Albert) so anything goes i guess. But i'm willing to take a guess that fight will have to deal with kelly fighting with that kaya chick over her body then it revolving around something gross. Plus in the interview dana didn't seem to imply it was a gross fight scene at all but more so just a ridiculous scene to film

 

[Joem1k]

New interview with bruce making cards with the collider crew (and the long awaited dana impression has arrived, worth the wait if you ask me, haha.)

 

[Nick el Ass]

Spoiler: @Nick

...I just envisioned Kelly trying to fight her own genitals and I don't think you can do that even on Starz but it was a Mental Image, I will tell you that much.

Spoiler

My first thought was it had something to do about boobs because we have already seen Kelly battle her fingers by breaking them in the asylum episode. You can only do so much damage to your appendages.

Spoiler

This is starz though, they've shown full on female nudity before (in spartacus and american god) and they've shown a dead man's penis in full view (with a prince Albert) so anything goes i guess. But i'm willing to take a guess that fight will have to deal with kelly fighting with that kaya chick over her body then it revolving around something gross. Plus in the interview dana didn't seem to imply it was a gross fight scene at all but more so just a ridiculous scene to film

Spoiler

I never got into Spartacus, but knew it had a lot of nudity which seemed to be part of the draw while AvED has had some too... and my guess is there will be a little more this season not involving a corpse per se.

 

[Nick el Ass]

Bruce updated his picture.

 

[Kain]

 

[Joem1k]

Best part was bruce giving out the answers, that video is a pure gold mine. Priceless. Better then anything the main marketing has put out.

Here's a new interview with Ray, it's basically the same note for note stuff his said before BUT, there is one interesting tid bit of bts info he let's loose.

Spoiler

We can go in that direction or we could go another where he’s got his head shaved and he’s just a badass at a bar who’s really fucked up and he’s just purely evil and we force Ash to have to deal with his naïve, young sidekick. We may or may not dive into that this season… it’ll be really interesting how it unfolds. Season 3 does end in an unexpected way where things will be left changed forever. When we shot the end of the season, all the principal cast members were very emotional and invested and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, including the crew who were watching on the monitors.

I think the way we left it and the unexpected end could change the franchise forever. - Ray

Huh, that's. Strange, even for a show like this, i wonder what everyone got choked up over.

Source : https://www.horrortalk.com/features/8171-interview-ray-santiago-ash-vs-evil-dead-season-3.html

Another little tid bit is this.

Spoiler

We can go in that direction or we could go another where he’s got his head shaved and he’s just a badass at a bar who’s really fucked up and he’s just purely evil and we force Ash to have to deal with his naïve, young sidekick. We may or may not dive into that this season… it’ll be really interesting how it unfolds. - Ray

Huh, so maybe i was right in calling ash and pablo having a falling out after he turns into a deadite.

 

[MaidOfKandar]

Spoiler: @Joe and Nick

Yeah, I was picturing either some Teeth-style action or something to do with menstrual blood, since we've run out of body fluids. I could picture her fighting her own boobs like they're punching bags though!

I love the conversations this fandom causes me to have.

The movie showdown video was fun, especially with Dana wielding an Ashy Slashy puppet throughout most of it!

Spoiler: Joe's spoiler from Ray

I think that maybe this is all stuff they encounter in the upside-down?

That picture of Bruce is the best one yet from this promo shoot.

The First pre-release review has been posted, it's by Forbes is...interesting. No real spoilers, and some pretty brutal stuff about what the ratings mean.

And Facebook has a new AvED camera effect!