Can ‘Ash vs. Evil Dead’ top the gory magnificence of Season 2?

If ever there was an example of a TV series finding its stride in its second season, it would be “Ash vs. Evil Dead.” Throughout Season 1, horror fans were still wiping the dust of disbelief from their eyes as they witnessed the return of everyone’s favorite chainsaw-wielding, trash talking, Deadite hunting hero.

But Season 2… Boy, Season 2 really upped the ante and brought with it the gory goodness. Aside from the return of some familiar faces — Ellen Sandweiss reprising Cheryl was a lovely surprise — “Ash vs. Evil Dead” reignited the dream of what is possible in genre television.

In Sunday’s (Dec. 11) finale, titled “Second Coming,” Deadite Henrietta puts Ash (Bruce Campbell) through a truly gross battle to end all battles. And as future Ruby (Lucy Lawless) meets ’80s Ruby, the challenges get grim before they’re overcome. Truth be told, the outcome isn’t as exciting as the journey and, at the end of the day, Ash comes out the hero. And in true “Army of Darkness” fashion, he gets some long overdue sugar.

RELATED: Ted Raimi talks ‘Ash vs. Evil Dead’ & Season 2’s ‘insanely bloody’ finale

It’d be a safe assessment to say that “Ash vs. Evil Dead” has quickly climbed the echelons of cult status similar to that of the movies that came before it. And while shows like “The Walking Dead” still reign supreme in the world of horror television, the Starz series is doing things we never thought we’d see on the small screen. With a mixture of beautifully graphic practical effects, a lack of censorship and wickedly creative minds all around, it feels like the team behind “Ash vs. Evil Dead” have realized the sky is the limit when it comes to the ongoing battle between dark and light.

But as we’re still coming off the high of watching Ted Raimi reprise the delightfully disgusting role of Deadite Henrietta, fulfilling many a genre fan’s dreams, we have to wonder what the future of the series may hold.

The final two episodes of Season 2 have been filled to the hammy brim with viscera aplenty — culminating in two of the best half hours the series has delivered thus far. How can Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell top themselves in Season 3? We don’t know how to answer that, but with the lack of limitations put on the series, and the creative minds involved, something tells us they will — and in the most groovy fashion.

“Ash vs. Evil Dead” Season 3 returns in the fall of 2017 to Starz.

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