“I’ve made a huge mess.”

Ten months after Ash (Bruce Campbell) and Ruby (Lucy Lawless) made a pact for the Ghostbeaters to lay down their weapons and head back to their lives, the author of the Necronomicon admits that she has lost control of her “children” and needs Ash and his cohorts to help her send them back to hell.

The first few minutes from “Ash vs Evil Dead’s” Season 2 premiere came locked and loaded. Of course, the splatstick fare of blood, guts and one-liners are abundant, but we also learn a bit more about Ruby and why Ash and the group need to head back to The King’s hometown. In short, the story lines which will drive the second set of ten episodes have already been revealed, now we just enjoy the ride.

With that in mind, if you haven’t seen “Home,” we suggest you turn around and head back because there will be spoilers.

What interested me most about the premiere was not about new characters or even the dynamic between Ash and the suddenly desperate Ruby, but rather that the show took time to focus on Pablo (Ray Santiago) and Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo). You’ll recall that the truce agreed upon from Season 1 had nothing to do with the thoughts or feelings of Ash’s minions, nor was living it up in Jacksonville, because while Ash was partying, Pablo and Kelly were busing tables and tending bar, respectively.

The tandem aren’t quite resentful, but certainly frustrated. You picking up on the theme, because it doesn’t appear to have been lost on the Deadites?

Possession notwithstanding, Ash’s sidekicks had evil come at them in a rather straightforward manner throughout the first season. The tandem didn’t have to endure the Deadite mind-fucks Ash had at the cabin back in the day (or even last season), but it certainly seems that the Evil Dead universe will continue to expand with meatier plots involving the Boomstick Butcher’s left and right hands (forgive the pun). Both get their craniums toyed with in hopes of planting seeds of mutiny, and we all know that Kelly has a far shorter distance to travel than Pablo when it comes to that particular road.

While we didn’t get to see Ted Raimi in the opener, we do get a glimpse of the Kandarian Dagger, a taunting chant we may have heard before and the Six Million Dollar Man. Let’s just say that if you had any lingering doubt whether Lee Majors would adapt to the genre, fret no more because he was bloody seamless as Ash’s father, Brock. DeLorenzo told iHorror that no one could deliver a one-liner better than Campbell — unless they were Majors — and she was right. Pops is quick on the trigger and with biting words, thinks Pablo is an illegal and isn’t exactly keen on his son’s return. Not that he’s alone. No one in Elk Grove wants Ashy Slashy there.

So they embarked on a quest to find Ruby and it didn’t take them long to do just that, which symbolized the final bricks of a foundation that will carry us through Season 2.

We’d be remiss if we neglected some fantastic references from the season debut before moving on to questions heading into Episode 2.

We had learned that the events surrounding Army of Darkness were fair game this year, and the show doesn’t waste time alluding to the third film of the Evil Dead trilogy. You’ll know it when you hear it because there are a couple of not-so subtle moments that will make that huge grin you’re already sporting nearly rip your face off.

On the subtle (and excessively excited) side, though, I am convinced there was a nod to The ‘Burbs in the season premiere. I don’t want to spoil it by saying anything more, but just know that it is there and it will elicit a “God, I love this street show!”

Season 2 looks to up the ante from character development to buckets of blood and even the baddest villain in Evil Dead history that Ms. DeLorenzo had told us about. However, there are questions:

• For all his bluster and bravado, why did Ash tuck tail and run 30 years ago rather than explain what really happened at the cabin?
• Why didn’t his father believe his son when he told him that he did not murder Cheryl or his friends?
• What is Ruby’s end game? We know she needs Ash’s help now, but when will she once again assume the upper hand?
• What else can the Necronomicon do that we aren’t aware of?
• Is Pablo assuming Cheryl’s role? What’s with the waking nightmare visions and doodling?
• And you know the Deadites are merely using Kelly’s subconscious against her. When will she lash out and take things in her own direction?

Look, “Ash vs Evil Dead” is a show that can be enjoyed at face value, but it’s just far more fun to dig a little deeper in anticipation of what’s to come. Let’s not forget, Ruby fought alongside Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan, but our favorite “dipshit” is her Obi-Wan.

If that’s not a reason to come back every week, we don’t know what else we can do for you.

Catch you on the flip-flop.