Ash vs Evil Dead (TV Series) Bait (2015) User Reviews

Oh, I'll be polite. Right up until I'm rude.

[tenshi_ippikiookami · 8/10 · 8 November 2015]

*Contains some references to the first episode*

The second episode picks up after Ash killed his neighbor, with he and his two coworkers deciding what to do next. Ash wants to go the bookstore and Kelly wants to go and see what is going on with her father and her "returned" mother. Ash is absolutely against this, but, in a distraction, Kelly runs out with the Necronomicon, so Pablo and him get in the car and run after her.

This episode starts a little bit slow, but the pace picks up really fast, and we get some crazily good moments. If you thought that after the Sam Raimi directed episode the level will go down, this fear will disappear with the neat surprises the episode holds. The way it subverts horror and comedy conventions, as the movies did, is magnificent. The awkward dinner is priceless.

On a side note, I was surprised that the episodes are only 30 minutes long. I don't know why I was expecting the typical 40-42. I think it is actually a good idea, because it keeps the pace frantic and there is not an empty moment.

A great episode, especially the second half.

Another great episode.

[BA_Harrison · 8/10 · 26 January 2019]

You know that they're doing things right when they kick off episode two with another classic Deep Purple track (Highway Star). Although this episode isn't directed by Sam the man, his replacement, Michael J. Bassett, does a pretty good job of imitating Raimi's kinetic style and delivers another hefty helping of extremely bloody craziness.

This time, Ash and Pablo follow Kelly to her family home where Ash senses something ain't quite right with Kelly's mother (Mimi Rogers). Ash's intuition proves on the money: Kelly's mum is a deadite! Meanwhile, cop Amanda is on Ash's trail, believing him to be responsible for a series of mysterious deaths.

Lots of offbeat humour and OTT splatter make this a lot of fun. So far, I'm loving this series.

Dish of the day - meat with blood

[FfreshTV · 8/10 · 20 November 2015]

Life can never be the same when demons are on the loose.

While Kelly is looking for a way to make sure her beloved family is safe, Pablo becomes very good in his team building efforts.

Kelly's mother is back from the dead. Thank God! She got into an accident and lost her memory. Only now she started remembering things and found her way home. It's time for a good old family dinner. Suspicious Ash is invited and takes the place of honor at the table which is to the right side of the host. The main dish is meat... with blood.

Good old gory vibes are back. Here they are not awfully aggressive and negative. They are kind of fun. The intention is not to scare the viewer and make him feel depressed. The intention is to entertain you with a "black humour" inspired smile.

The pace that first episode started with, carries on well. And I have to admit again and again, that 30 minute format works very well for this show, as we have nothing of no meaning. No time to relax. Demons are taking over.

Ash vs. The Evil Dead "Bait" review

[snarkyphilo · 7 November 2015]

Oh yes, the glorious slashy goodness was to be had this episode, filled with so much collateral blood spray you can practically smell the stocks rising in Towelette Wipes. Poor Pablo gets splashed so much by blood that one could play a drinking game for every time he's hit and get properly sloshed before the end credits.

The camera work had some creativity this episode, some nice angle shots and some sort of gun mounted camera shot that added a nice effect to the off kilter atmosphere that this show is saturated in, and the over the top almost 80's/early 90's slasher special effects that we also saw in the first episode was continued with a nice creative moment of slashery as Ash gives final notice to his boss.

Pablo also grew on viewers a bit this episode, the character dynamic that is evolving between him and Ash was great to watch, filled with good balance of humour and hero worship, and Pablo armed with his broken bottle beside Ash as they readied for battle was just to precious to behold.

Overall an enjoyable episode with some good Campbelling, perhaps not overly plot rich or character developing, but an enjoyably violent romp nonetheless.

Sorry no Lawless sightings this episode folks.

Let the chainsaw do the talking.

[Hey_Sweden · 8/10 · 17 January 2018]

This engaging second episode of the series finds Ash, Pablo, and Kelly going to her house, where her long unseen Mom (guest star Mimi Rogers) has just made an appearance. Ash has to counsel Kelly: looks can be deceiving, and in the current climate, Mom just might be a Deadite. After all, us fans of the film series know that a Deadite can reappear as normal at will.

Pablo commits his first badass act, as he quickly adapts to the horrific state of things, and he and Kelly get fully on board with helping Ash vanquish Evil. This will start with taking the Necronomicon Ex Mortis to a local bookstore to be translated. And Trooper Fisher is seen briefly as she picks up Ash's trail.

Fortunately, 'Bait' keeps the momentum going after a rollicking debut episode. Following Sam Raimis' example, writer Dominic Dierkes and director Michael J. Bassett provide us with the expected amount of both peaks and valleys. We always know that there's going to be one jolt around the corner, and won't have to wait for very long. To that end, it's a good thing that this is a half-hour series. The energy doesn't get a chance to wane.

Bruce Campbell, Ray Santiago, and Dana DeLorenzo are all in fine form, while Rogers does what she can with such a brief role. The character Ruby Knowby doesn't turn up in this episode.

Among the guffaw-inducing lines:

A witness, responding to a sketch of Ash: "He looks way dumber in real life, but that's REAL close."

Eight out of 10.

Builds upon the first episode incredibly well.

[matthewacollier · 8/10 · 1 September 2017]

88

Everything good from the first episode, but with even less of the bad. It's all here, the crazy cinematography, the explicit gore, the great humor, and Bruce Campbell's amazing performance holding it all together. The supporting actors are much better this time around, bringing the center of the show home and bringing a lot of personality to the show along with Ash. I'm still not quite sold on the parallel plot with the cop, but it looks like it could be headed somewhere interesting. We'll see.

Look who's coming to dinner

[amongpixels · 8/10 · 22 May 2022]

'Bait' continues the first episode's swift pace, over-the-top violence (with even more blood this time), and endless memorable and hilarious moments from Ash. Seeing his uncaring bluntness contrasted with a casual home dinner setting is so much fun, all the while fleshing out Kelly and Pablo's characters. Everyone has their moment to shine and, by the end, a solid new gang is formed.

The undead get personal

[Mr-Fusion · 7/10 · 10 October 2016]

'Bait' does a great job developing the supporting players on this show, while still letting Bruce Campbell pretty much own everything. This week, it's Kelly's (presumed dead) mother, inexplicably back and ready to entertain guests (Mimi Rogers does wonders with such a thankless role). Really, this just makes for a woefully uncomfortable family dinner, but also brings Kelly face-to-face with the Deadites' modus operandi. I'm expecting a spotlight on Pablo here pretty soon to fully flesh out the group. Also, more Lucy Lawless, please.

It's a killer follow-up to a remarkably assured pilot and I love the song choices. The mix of horror and idiot one-liners is terrific and I'm already taking to the expanded roster of characters. This is great stuff.

7/10

Scares up a lot of laughs

[Fluke_Skywalker · 7/10 · 23 November 2016]

Plot; Convinced Kelly has taken the Necronomicon, Ash and Pablo follow her to her house, where her long missing and presumed dead Mother has returned.

While the pilot episode felt a bit clunky in setting up its characters and premise, the second episode--unburdened by such things--starts off at a run and ends in a sprint. Picking up right where the latter left off, it perfectly mixes the humor and horror and delivers a breezy and entertaining 30 minutes of ghastly laughs. The sidekicks, who initially felt like potential dead weight (no pun intended) come into their own here as essential members of "Team Dead". But the real star here is obviously Bruce Campbell, who continues to craft one of the most unique and lovable action heroes of all-time, firing bullets and one liners in equal proportion.

• Was pleasantly surprised when Mimi Rogers showed up as Kelly's Mom. She's fantastic here, and it was a reminder of what a talented and criminally underrated actress she is.

Ash vs Dinner at Kelly's Parents

[The-Social-Introvert · 30 November 2015]

The second episode of the series sees Ash and Pablo go after Kelly who is baffled when she learns of her dead mother walking around like everything is OK – we all know what that means.

This episode is my favourite of the four that I've seen so far, mainly because of the excellent and comical dinner scene with Kelly's parents. Ash cleverly references some of the clichés of the Evil Dead movies and horror films in general in his adamant stance that Kelly's mum is a deadite – "They wait for me to lower my guard!"

Pablo gets a chunky amount of screen time, and the dynamic between him and Ash – mainly consisting of hero worship – is great to watch. There's a particularly gruesome showdown between Ash, Pablo and their deadite manager as the dynamic duo hand in their resignation is style. I'm starting to appreciate this 30 minute format of the show too. It leaves you wanting more and means the episodes do not outstay their welcome.

However the deadites seem more of an inconvenience in the show in comparison to the first two movies, as opposed to truly terrifying creatures. Also, I find the cop Amanda to be a bit boring and her slice of the story slows things down a bit too much. Essentially she is discovering what we, the audience, already know, so at the moment she finds kind of redundant as a character. Nice rack though.

Does the job

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 23 April 2021]

A slightly lesser second episode, but nothing wrong with that. It takes time out to develop the personalities of the supporting characters and humanise them a little. The family set-piece is well handled if obvious and the real surprise that these episodes are a mere half an hour in length, so thankfully there's no hanging around found elsewhere on TV.