The potential fourth installment of the Evil Dead movie series had been discussed for so long, it gradually evolved into something of a joke. The topic would get brought up at a Q&A session, some associated party would make a vague statement about the franchise's future, and life went on. But over time, those talks grew increasingly serious, eventually coalescing not in the form of another film (save for the 2013 remake) but a ten-episode TV show. Chronicling the adventures of everyone's quip-making, chainsaw-wielding blowhard, Ash vs. Evil Dead's inaugural season debuted to rave reactions from fans and critics alike, and for good reasons. In the two decades-plus since Army of Darkness gave us our last glimpse into this bloody and brutally funny world, the series hasn't skipped a beat, still ready and willing to entertain its viewers with one-liners and gore galore. Ash vs. Evil Dead does the property proud, standing toe to toe with its cult smash brothers in both tone and pure fun.

Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) is a paunchy, washed-up shadow of his former self. Some thirty years ago, he defeated the demonic Deadite scourge that claimed the lives of his loved ones, but now, he's a discount store stock boy who cruises dive bars for one-night stands. Unfortunately, it's one such inebriated rendezvous that results in some passages from that pesky Necronomicon being recited, summoning the Deadites back to our world. With his soul at the top of their to-eat list, Ash resolves to rid himself of the supernatural menace once and for all, and luckily, he's not alone. After seeing the Deadites in action, co-workers Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo) and Pablo (Ray Santiago) join our anti-hero's side as he blasts, gouges, and slices his way through undead horde after undead horde. However, Ash's antics also make him the target of two human adversaries: disgraced cop Amanda (Jill Marie Jones) and mystery woman Ruby (Lucy Lawless), who view him as the cause of the otherworldly outbreak and seek to stop his quest in its tracks.

Ash vs. Evil Dead's first season seizes upon many of the assets that gave its predecessors their charms. Given its small-screen status, one might be inclined to worry about the show's financial limitations, but this franchise has never been about blown-up budgets from the beginning. Aside from a small reliance on sub-par CG imagery that brings down the occasional scene, this series keeps things practical effectswise, with simple but effective make-up for those possessed by the Deadites and a veritable rainbow of disgusting fluids in which the cast gets bathed. It harkens to the gonzo inventiveness that Sam Raimi (who returns to helm the show's pilot episode) and crew displayed back in the day, as does the show's frantic pacing. From time to time, an episode will get hung up in a single location and confine most of its action to a steakhouse or an underground bunker, but largely, the season's mile-a-minute energy doesn't let up. Clocking in at ten episodes (the bulk of which are less than thirty minutes), this series is a quick but satisfying sit that doesn't overstay its welcome.

But the question on many a fan's mind is whether Ash vs. Evil Dead's eponymous demon slayer is as lovably dense as ever, with the answer being an unmitigated "yes." Campbell's entire career essentially boils down to playing one goofball after another, but in slipping back into Ash's shoes after all this time, he brings a bit of gravity to the role that viewers haven't really seen before. We laugh as he labors to suck in his gut and cheer as he leaps into action with his infamous chainsaw hand once more, yet we also pick up on pangs of disappointment as he reflects upon his wasted life. The show stumbles some in wrapping up Ash's journey (then again, the Evil Dead franchise has always had issues with endings), but that it achieves insight at all without interrupting its flow makes it a more clever entity than it might otherwise get credit for. The newbies among the cast also fit the series and its darkly funny style like a glove; Santiago's wide-eyed innocence makes him a perfect foil for Campbell's smarminess, DeLorenzo's sardonic edge allows her to put Ash in his place on multiple occasions, and Lawless nails Ruby's enigmatic nature to a tee.

It's difficult to imagine anyone who's since worn out their VHS copies of Raimi's original trilogy not being satisfied by Ash vs. Evil Dead. While there's an undoubted reverence to the movies that inspired it, the series isn't wholly dependent on callbacks and references to form its identity, instead assembling its own array of characters and gory set pieces to win over hearts and churn stomachs. Fret not, gorehounds -- Ash vs. Evil Dead can hack and slash with the best of them.

BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES:

-Cast and crew commentaries on all ten episodes.

-Making-of featurettes.

(Released by Starz/Anchor Bay; not rated by MPAA.)