Month: December 2017

“SMILF” Season 1 episode 5 ranking the top 5 moments: “Panda is Larry’s Constant”

Greetings TV Fans!  Lately, I have been binge-watching Showtime’s SMILF and I have to say that I am absolutely obsessed.  The critics say it is “raw and funny” and they are absolutely right.  The main character, Bridgette, has just the right blend of Weeds’ Nancy Botwin and Orange is the New Black’s Piper Chapman’s personality along with her own set of quirkiness.  She is learning how to be a single mother with each new day and challenge, while still trying to chase her dreams in the process.  If you have not gotten a chance to check this show out, I highly recommend it.  After watching SMILF season 1 episode 5, I have my own desire to play the day out in different parts.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In episode 5, the show opens up with “Part 1” revealing that it is father’s day.  The day plays out differently each time with 4 different parts throughout the episode.  Each part starts off with Larry’s father knocking on the door displaying his #1 Dad apparel, to be interrupted by Larry not being able to find his beloved panda stuffed animal.  The distractions get more and more extreme, involving different characters, leading up to part 4, which is actually heart-warming and truly perfect. My top 5 moments from SMILF season 1 episode 5 are:

5

Bridgette beats up the fire alarm.  In part one, Bridgette has a premonition type flash of where the panda could be, revealing that she left it over at Ally’s house.  She runs over there to enter a sea of chaos and distraction, as the family is trying to prepare everything for father’s day.  When the fire alarm goes off, Bridgette is determined to lend some assistance, as she proceeds to punch it repeatedly to be quiet.  While I’m not sure we should try this method at home, it is clear that she is channeling her own frustration over finding panda.  But she is not about to give up just yet.

4

Bridgette decides to do shrooms which “could make her a better parent.”  In Part two of the episode, Bridgette has a similar premonition flash that panda was left behind in Eliza’s room.  While she searches frantically, the two decide that doing shrooms is the best solution to remedy the situation.  Bridgette is convinced that this will absolutely help her clear her mind to find panda, only it leads to some very confusing hallucinations along the way, including Larry speaking to her in a grown man’s voice and Eliza suffocating in her excess sea of clothing.

3

Bridgette gets propositioned for a “sleep over.”  In part one after she beats up the incessant fire alarm, Bridgette is listening to Ally go on and on about “Mr. Daddy” and what to do for him for father’s day.  While it is initially revealed as background chatter, Bridgette’s attention is woken up suddenly when she is asked if she would like to have a sleep over.  Bridgette’s confusion about what this actually means leading up to a scenario where she would get pregnant again and what the trust fund would look like make this moment even more hilarious.  Unfortunately, this does not lead to the discovery of panda.

2

The panda is Larry’s “constant.”  Bridgette’s desperate need to find panda for Larry demonstrates how much she truly cares for his son.  She mirrors his own frantic cries, throwing everything around in a frenzy to try and locate Larry’s beloved panda.  At one point, she is speaking to her mom on the phone and screams out that she needs to find panda “or Larry is going to die!”  While Bridgette has been hanging on by a thread to make ends meet, her unconditional love for Larry never fails which makes her search for panda empathetic.  Larry deals with a lot of moving around; going from his mother’s house to his father’s and even to his grandma’s and the panda is the only thing that stays the same.  Bridgette is clearly also holding on to this constant for Larry, wanting to be able to provide him with stability and continuous love.

1

Panda is found along with Bridgette embracing father’s day.  Part 4 starts off the same way, with Larry’s father, Rafi at the door.  Rather than slamming the door in his face, Bridgette and Larry leave with Rafi to go celebrate the day at Tutu’s house, Bridgette’s mother.  Panda is discovered at the house and all is right with the world again.  This leaves us with a true family moment.  Even though everyone has their differences, they come together because Larry is the constant, creating an undeniable bond of happiness.  Plus, it helps that panda is there keep the peace.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments on SMILF below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

“Shameless” Ranking the top 5 moments from Season 8 episode 5: 50/50

Happy Monday TV fans!  As you pour that second cup of coffee, get ready for another dose of the Gallagher family antics. After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 8 episode 5 last night, I feel the need to provide Debbie with some serious parenting tips.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, Fiona learns the valuable lesson of saying please and apologizing in an unconventional way, Carl tries to think of ways to earn money so he can go back to military school, and Ian is ready to make a huge investment.  Meanwhile, Lip is contemplating what matters most in life while Kev embraces his southern identity.  Svetlana teaches us basic math skills while Frank helps others see the problems with standardized testing.   My top 5 moments from Shameless season 8 episode 5 are:

5

Kev embraces his southern roots.  “Shift change!” Kev yells, as he enters the bar dressed liked a cowboy, informing the Russian population that they must leave and make room for his fellow Americans .  This of course leaves the bar practically empty while he is informed that there is a difference between being southern and western.  V had it right when she said that her husband is transforming into a “Kentucky fried red-neck.”  Kev even insists on practicing his common southern phrases and using them in everyday conversation to V’s dismay.  Kev may be back in Chicago, but he is not leaving his new found identity behind just yet.

4

Carl’s detox program for junkies is a success.  In the beginning of the episode, Carl has the junky he caught in last week’s episode tied up in his basement as he leaves him no choice but to get clean reluctantly so that he can be free and a more productive member of society.  As if this isn’t funny enough, at the end of the episode the former junky bursts into the Gallagher home and brings in his friend or girlfriend who also needs help from Carl.  He explains that no other rehab was able to help except for Carl’s method and he has brought lots and lots of cash for the results.  Maybe Carl has another calling besides the military.  Either way he has now successfully made enough money to return to school while making a difference in the lives of others…one junky at a time.

3

Frank convinces the parents to look further into the cultural interpretation of multiple choice and the dangers of standardized testing.  When he learns that Liam has failed his exam, Frank doesn’t take this at face value.  Rather, he goes through the questions and shares some concerns of his own.  For example, “how would Liam know what a foyer is?”  There is a fill in the blank question about glue and Liam crosses out the choices to write in “sniffing” which Frank explains is not necessarily wrong in that context.  While it may seem that Frank is just making excuses, he really inspires the other parents to get involved and to take measures against the testing to ensure that each child’s success is measured fairly.

2

Lip contemplates what life is really all about.  It’s been really great to see Lip stay sober and it is clear his sponsor has had a part in this and has truly helped him.  While Lip is continuing his affair with his co-worker, he is later seen gazing over at Sierra and wanting to hold his sponsor’s baby demonstrating his own desire to truly connect with someone and start a family.  While this may be a big epiphany for Lip or perhaps something that was there all along, it gets put on pause when his sponsor cannot handle the stress of being a new dad and winds up at the corner bar.  Lip tries with every effort to help him, but he doesn’t want it and speeds off drunk to Lip’s disappointment.  Will this set Lip back or motivate him to continue to stay strong?

1

Svetlana is back and is ready to teach us basic math.  It is great to see Svetlana back in the bar, but she is immediately ready for business and explains to V that profit should be 50/50 even though there are three parties involved.  V is not about to give up so easy, but Svetlana explains that she does the majority of the work and even shows her numbers that prove she makes the majority of the money during her shift.  When V is still not ready to budge, Svetlana decides to get her to sign the contract with her terms another way…with sex of course.  V is no match for Svetlana at this point and ultimately signs the contract.  Kev’s shock about what happened combined with detailed questions is hilarious as Svetlana proudly walks out of the house holding the contract.  50/50 wins after all.  It’s great to have you back Svetlana!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments on Shameless below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Throw-back Sunday: Ranking the seasons of “Lost” from best to worst: “We have to go back!”

Happy Sunday TV Fans!  For today’s throw-back Sunday, I am going to be ranking the seasons of Lost from best to worst.  I have to admit that this took longer than I anticipated because each season has so much to offer.  We watch the characters we have come to know and love grow and change, while the island continues to reveal new mysteries and challenges along the way.

Each season has its own set of heart-warming and shocking moments, refusing to allow the viewer to take a break for even an episode or you might just become lost yourself…pun intended.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

3

“We have to go back, Kate! We have to go back!” Jack (Through the Looking Glass part 2)

From the first time watching the series up until my 16th re-watch, season 3 remains my absolute favorite but I do admit that some seasons come very close to knocking it out of the number one spot.  Season 3 introduces us to the others.  Yes, the others are coming or they came and we want to know what they are all about, right?  At the end of season 2, Sawyer, Jack, and Kate have been captured by the others.  They take them to Hydra Island and keep Jack locked up in the Hydra station while keeping Sawyer and Kate locked up in cages.  Not only do we get to learn more about the others and see things from their perspective, but we are introduced to Dr. Juliet Burke who brings a new dynamic to the show.  While it seems like Ben is calling the shots, Juliet proves to be an other who is just as home-sick as the rest of the losties and even risks her place as an “other” to help save Kate and Sawyer becoming more of a friend than a foe.

Ben has stepped out of his role of “Henry Gale” and proves to be a worthy opponent, and Desmond can now see the future and tells Charlie that he is going to die.  For me, what sets season 3 above the rest is the fast pace of it.  After watching the show so many times, I still have to sit on the edge of my seat watching this one in particular and tend to binge-watch this one more than the others.  There aren’t as many filler episodes and one episode leads into the next seamlessly.  Some of the greatest episodes in the entire series for me are in this season as well such as “Flashes before your eyes” and “Greatest Hits.”  While this may or may not be your favorite season, most fans will agree that it is one of the best, as we learn that all bets are off.  Flash forwards now exist and the Losties or at least some of them do get off the island.  Talk about a cliff-hanger for a season finale!

5

“Has it occurred to any of you that your buddy’s actually gonna cause the thing he says he’s trying to prevent?  Perhaps that little nuke is the incident?  So maybe the best thing to do…is nothing?” Miles (The Incident)

Season 5, like season 3, is full of lots of action and introduces the concept of time travel.  At the end of season 4, Ben moves the wheel to save the island, only the wheel is off its axis, causing the island to skip through time like a broken record.  Locke has to then leave the island himself to get it back on course, which causes Sawyer, Juliet, Miles, and Jin to remain trapped in Dharmaville time.  You may think that the time travel aspect is confusing or that it’s been done too many times, but what makes this season truly great is that it separates the characters for a period of three years and then they are all reunited again on the island bringing chaos and challenges along the way.

The season 5 finale, “The Incident” is one of my favorite episodes of the series giving the losties another chance to reset time to before Flight 815 crashed.  But this would mean that some of them may have never met which could sever relationships and friendships for good.  So is it the right thing to do?  The end of the season reveals that Juliet has survived momentarily and takes it upon herself to detonate the hydrogen bomb to save Sawyer and give him a chance.  Rather than the typical fade out into a black screen, the screen flashes white and I remember screaming at my television the first time watching, impatiently waiting to see what happened next.

1

“Last week most of us were strangers, but we’re all here now. And god knows how long we’re going to be here. But if we can’t live together, we’re going to die alone.” Jack (White Rabbit)

The pilot of season 1 is full of never-ending action, introducing the viewer to an overabundance of characters among a whirlwind of horrible events.  As season 1 continues, Lost reveals that it is a show about much more than what the smoke monster is or who the other people are on the island.  Don’t get me wrong, the scene where Kate is counting to 5 hiding from the smoke monster in the rain-soaked bamboo is terrifying and hooked me immediately.

However, the show transforms into something more with each episode.  It’s about the people who crashed there and what their lives were like before.  While some were criminals, others were alone or searching for something more, creating an undeniable connection between the characters and the viewer.  We can find so much of ourselves in the decisions or mistakes they made, and they are given a chance at a clean slate to get a new life and survive together.

2

“Please don’t give up, Des. Because all we really need to survive is one person who truly loves us. And you have her. I will wait for you. Always.” Penny (Live together, die alone)

Season 2 opens up with us finding out what is in the hatch that Locke was so desperate to get into.  Was it his destiny?  Maybe, but what’s truly interesting about the hatch is what, or I should say who, is inside.  Desmond Hume has been living in the hatch for 3 years pressing a sequence of familiar numbers every 108 minutes to save the world.  To Hurley’s dismay, the code is 4 8 15 16 23 42, the very numbers that he won the lottery with that he is convinced are cursed.

Desmond initially appears to be quite mad in the opening episodes, but later returns and becomes one of the most influential characters on the show.  It is also revealed that there were survivors from Flight 815 in the tail section, which include the introduction of new characters such as Ana Lucia and Libby along with a beautiful reunion between Rose and her husband, Bernard.  Michael switches sides and betrays the losties, killing Ana Lucia and Libby in the process and helping the others capture Jack, Hurley, Kate, and Sawyer.  Although we are sympathetic with Michael trying to help his son, his actions are unforgivable and horrifying.  Meanwhile, Locke believes the prisoner, Henry Gale that the numbers and the hatch aren’t real and just some experiment.  Desmond returns to make the connection that he is what crashed Flight 815 and that it’s all very real, leading to the infamous “system failure” scene, where the hatch begins to self-destruct and Desmond turns the fail-safe key to sacrifice himself to save them all.  While the action is there, season 2 lacks the fast and natural pace that seasons 3 and 5 have, as some filler episodes are trying a little too hard to reveal back stories and force connections.

6

“You were all flawed.  I chose you because you were like me.  You were all alone.  You were all looking for something that you couldn’t find out there.  I chose you because you need this place as much as it needed you.” Jacob (What They Died For)

Season 6 is the final season of the Lost series and many fans have revealed that this is the most controversial season, especially the ending.  After watching the series so many times, I do still appreciate everything the writers did in this last season.  I think that the forces of good and evil face off in a powerful match between Jack and the man in black, wearing John Locke’s face.  The writers kill of characters we have come to love and bring us into another world or dimension, something that cannot be explained by time or reality.

Christian later explains to Jack that “there is no here, now.”  The flash sideways we see are a way for the losties to find one another and to ultimately move on.  Once again, this season proves to be very much about the characters and the connections they made along the way.  While it may be lacking something final or epic, it brings closure and allows the island to be embraced by Hurley as the new Jacob to take care of others the way he always has and to lead the island in a new way.  The series ends with Jack’s eye closing, bringing everything full circle, reminding us that life may be finite, but what we do and the memories and connections we hold dear to our hearts, last eternally.

4

“If there’s any part of you that still believes in us, just give me your number.” Desmond (The Constant)

Season 4 is my least favorite of all the seasons but not for lack of great material and drama.  This was during the writer’s strike so this is the shortest of all of the seasons so perhaps that is why it falls short for me.  However, it has some great episodes, including one of my favorites, “The Constant.”  Flash-forwards continue as it is revealed to us who the “Oceanic Six” are and new characters from the freighter are introduced such as Daniel Faraday, Miles, Charlotte, and Frank.

While they initially arrive claiming they are there to help rescue the losties, it is clear they have another agenda which includes capturing the scheming, Ben Linus and returning him to Charles Widmore.  More secrets are revealed, including how to move the island and what a 14-J is, but there just aren’t enough of them to rank this season toward the top.  Either way, the show would not be complete without all of these seasons, proving time and time again why it is such an epic and memorable series.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your comments and thoughts on some of your favorite seasons of Lost.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” season 13 episode 8: What’s in the vault?

Don’t fret TV fans, it’s almost the weekend and there are plenty of shows to catch up on.  After watching the CW’s Supernatural season 13 episode 8 last night, I am reminded of that well-known question “what’s in the box?,” although in this case it’s more like what’s in the vault protected by Indiana Jones like booby-traps?  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, Dean takes a chance and opens up, reminding himself why they became hunters in the first place and that saving lives does matter, all while enjoying some well-deserved cherry pie.  A new cross-roads demon introduces himself, but he’s surely got something up his sleeve, and Jack is still nowhere to be found.  Meanwhile, Sam and Dean decide to embark on a heist filled with unexpected twists and dangers.  My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 13 episode 8 are:

5) The new cross-roads demon tries to make an impression.  Dean receives a cryptic phone call from this demon that he has something Sam and him will need to find Jack.  They take the bait and meet him at a diner where there is a freshly baked slice of heavenly cherry pie waiting for Dean.  This demon has done his homework for sure as he convinces the brothers to work for him to retrieve a vault that he desperately needs.  Dean demonstrates a lot of self-control and hilariously waits for the demon to leave before digging in to his favorite food.  Sam and Dean haven’t trusted a demon since Crowley and they are not about to start now but need to figure out a way to still get what they need to find Jack.

4) “Hey Winona, the 90s called and they want their shoes back.”  After much discussion, Sam and Dean decide to go on the heist with the help of a mortal we later find out is named Alice and another demon.  Alice is able to break into safes but it is unsure what her motive is at this point.  Dean decides to break the ice by teasing her about her fashion sense, but the two then bond over his favorite old caffeinated drink, “nerve damage.”  While Alice is weird and awkward, she seems to appreciate the company of Dean and it makes us wonder if Dean does really care about others after all.  He has been extremely negative lately about their purpose and all they have had to deal with along the way.  It’s nice to see him smile and take a moment to connect with someone even if it is on a minor level.

3) Dean is a “vault compass.”  Dean is needed on this heist because he has been to hell and back and his blood is the key to opening up where the vault is held.  The demon begins chanting and Dean rolls his eyes at the thought of something magical happening here, but he begins being dragged off as if by a magnet while gripping his flash-light tightly.  Alice and the demon follow Dean as he treks through the property against his will, but adds for some laughs along the way.  Dean’s reaction to opening up the vault later is very amusing as well, as he cringes and squirms through the one small prick on his finger.  Sure he can fight the most terrifying forces of heaven and hell, but gets queasy at the idea of giving some blood.  It reminds us why we have come to adore Dean over the years, keeping the episode light and fluffy with just the right amount of mystery.

2) Sam has a good idea on how to get through the Indiana Jones like booby-trap.  The immortal guarding the vault is not about to give up any secrets to the brothers and it is clear that the algorithms and design of the vault will lead to an unwanted arrow to the head.  Dean seems confident they can just “wing it” but Sam reminds us why he is the logical one in the family.  They strap the immortal to a chair and push him through so that he takes the hits from all of the arrows.  Good thinking Sam!

1) Sam, Dean, and Alice do the right thing and break the deal.  Alice has revealed that she sold her soul and made a deal with the cross-roads demon, but she is not a lost hope.  Once it is revealed that the cross-road’s demons bones are inside the trunk, they realize that it is not the greatest idea to just turn this over to him.  He holds Alice at knife-point and Dean trusts her enough to grab the lighter and set the bones on fire to rid the world of the cross-roads demon.  Dean later tells Sam that it felt good to save someone again and Alice is freed from her deal to start a new life.  Dean tells her to “stay weird” revealing that he is ready to make friends and embrace his destiny again.  Saving innocents and helping people does truly make a difference.  Welcome back Dean!

 

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments on Supernatural below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl