The King is back, baby, and he’s here to kick some deadite ass in Ash vs. Evil Dead’s second season.

When we last left them, Ash, along with Pablo and Kelly, were heading toward Jacksonville, Florida, after striking up a truce with the villainous Ruby, who promised to hold the forces of darkness at bay…provided she was the one in charge.

Always one to run away from a fight, Ash hightailed it out of there to get his life back on track, and start again, deadite-free. Of course, it wouldn’t be Evil Dead if things went according to plan. Soon, the truce is off, Ash and friends are hurled back into the world of fighting evil.

The season two premiere of Starz’ hit series is more of the same as last year, and that is by no means a bad thing. Starz hit a homerun with the first season, and managed to keep all the things we loved about the original films, along with adding some new twists and turns to the story. This time around, the legend of Ash is deepened, as the trio head back to Ash’s hometown to see, firsthand, the aftermath the original films left on his legacy.

This episode is damn near perfect. The dialogue continues to be on-point, with Ash getting plenty of one-liners, and the story moving along quickly. There isn’t a bad bit here, especially now that we don’t have to be introduced to all these characters again. Pablo and Kelly are all too eager to jump back into demon killing mode, and it’s great to see how they have evolved from the first season to now. There is no slow adjustment to blowing off someone’s head or attacking them with an axe…they are used to it, and don’t hesitate to jump into the fray immediately.

The few new characters we ARE introduced to are done so in a way that isn’t full of exposition. Instead, they fit into the story easily, such as Ash’s dad, Brock, or the obvious ex-girlfriend, Linda. Seeing more of Ash’s past unfold here is a great, untold tale of the Evil Dead universe, and I am glad they are expanding it here.

The fight scenes continue to be reminiscent of the originals, but with some new flair added. Quick cuts, flashy moves, and more show us that every hit counts. The gore also flows by the bucketful here, with no expense spared. Literally everyone gets drenched in blood and guts, just the way we like it. This is Evil Dead at its finest.

I also think that the special effects have ramped up a bit here, as Ruby’s kids have a few new tricks up their sleeve, turning into shadows at will, and really looking realistic. Kudos to Starz for amping the budget this go-round, and making this show shine.

Honestly, the first season was pretty much flawless, and I have no doubt that this one will follow suit. With more evil on the rise, and Ash’s team expanding, we are about to get a face full of more deadites coming our way.

Welcome Ash back into your life on Sunday, October 2 at 8PM on Starz. You won’t want to miss it.