January 2018 - TV Fanatic Girl

“Charmed” is Back for a Reboot! Ranking the top 5 couples from the original “Charmed.”

Happy Wednesday TV fans! I have been recently re-watching one of my favorite television series of all time, Charmed for the 7^th time through and I was very interested to find out that the CW has requested a pilot order for the reboot of the show. It has been about 20 years since the show premiered and ran for 8 seasons with the magical Halliwell sisters portrayed by Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs, Rose McGowan, and Shannen Doherty. Holly Marie Combs is openly opposed to the reboot but Shannen Doherty is trying to stay positive. It’s understandable for there to be controversy around the reboot, as the original story and characters can never be replaced.

The original Halliwell sisters of Charmed still represent strong female characters to look up to and root for even re-watching today. That can never be replaced, but it would be exciting to see something similar for the new generation and something nostalgic for the rest of us who remember the series so well. 90210 had a reboot years later and even had special appearances by the show’s original cast, but it still doesn’t hold a candle to the original series and never will. Other shows featuring TV witches such as The Secret Circle and Witches of East End didn’t last for very long airing after Charmed was off the air so it’s hard to predict if the reboot will be able to have a successful run.

Similar to the spinoff proposed series of Wayward Sisters from Supernatural, the Charmed reboot has a real chance to capture an audience in desperate need of strong and smart female leads who can save the day from demons and deal with everyday problems. While I don’t know much about the pilot, it doesn’t seem like it will follow the lives of the next generation of Charmed ones, but may be set on a college campus with three new witches coming to power. Either way, I am all for giving the show a chance. How about you?

The attention around the Charmed reboot sparked my interest in discussing some of my favorite moments, episodes, characters, villains, and ships. For today, I will be discussing the most memorable couples/ships from the series. While some couples on the show do find their fairy-tale happy ending, others end a passionate bond in tragedy, breaking the hearts of our beloved Halliwell heroines along the way. Either way, their love was inspiring, fiery, and memorable. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

My top five ships from Charmed are:

Paige & Kyle aka Agent Brody.

When Paige is introduced as the half-sister of Piper and Phoebe in season 4, she has to learn about her powers and new destiny very quickly to keep up with the rest of the Charmed ones. Paige steps into the role of the third sister seamlessly and really captures the sisterly bond, but her ultimate destiny focuses more on helping others through Magic School rather than on a romantic relationship.

Paige does have her share of relationships over the seasons, but the most memorable one for her would be with Kyle aka Agent Brody. Portrayed by the charming Kerr Smith, Kyle came to the sisters seeking revenge on the new big bad, The Avatars, who he believes are responsible for the death of his parents. Paige and Kyle instantly have a spark and move quickly into a romantic relationship.

One of my favorite moments is when they get trapped in a 1930’s novel set in black and white and need to solve a mystery to get back. They embrace the world, costumes and all, and end with a very passionate kiss, letting fans know that this is the start of something lasting for sure. Sadly, Kyle’s quest to take down the Avatars leads to his untimely death, separating him from his love, Paige. While Kyle does become a white lighter and implies that they may see each other again, the series ends without them together, as Paige finds love with Henry instead.

Prue & Andy.

In the first season of the show, Prue is handling a lot. She moves back in with her sisters, basically has to represent the mother-figure as the oldest sister, gets attacked at her new job, and is reunited with her childhood sweetheart, Andy. As if that isn’t enough, Andy is an Inspector for the police and is desperately trying to figure out why Prue is connected to so many of his unresolved cases.

Prue’s love for Andy is pure and true, but she tries to keep her distance from him to protect him. When Prue thinks that she may be able to trust Andy with her secret of being a witch, she casts a truth spell that lasts for 24 hours. To her dismay, Andy reveals that he would not be able to continue a relationship with her. At the end of the season, Andy sacrifices himself to protect Prue and her sisters.

Prue has a fleeting moment with him in limbo before he is gone forever and it’s now clear that he would have accepted Prue completely, secret and all. He just needed more time to fully process what she shared, which is completely understandable. Sadly for Prue, she has to say goodbye to Andy forever and is never really able to find anyone as worthy again.

Phoebe & Coop.

Out of all of the Halliwell sisters, Phoebe has gone through the most relationships. Toward the end of the series, fans were wondering who she would ultimately end up with and immediately spot the romantic tension between her and Cupid, Coop. Coop is there to lead the way for Phoebe to open her heart again and find love; only he ends up falling in love with her in the process.

Coop is funny and charming and is really the only worthy candidate for Phoebe to end up with since Cole is gone forever. While they don’t necessarily have the same passion she had with Cole, Phoebe does learn to truly open her heart again with Coop and finally get the family she has been dreaming of.

Phoebe & Cole.

This list would not be complete without including Phoebe and Cole. Cole is introduced in season 3 and is a demon who is half-human. While he initially tries to use his budding relationship with Phoebe to worm his way into the house to steal the Book of Shadows, Cole falls deeply in love with Phoebe, jeopardizing his cover and bringing his humanity to the surface.

Phoebe and Cole’s love is the most passionate on the show. They have this almost magnetic pull toward one another, which does lead to some rocky moments, however. Cole eventually becomes the source of all evil, even luring Phoebe to darkness for a while, but his love for her never fades. It seems like Cole has been vanquished several times, but he always finds a way to return, holding on to the hope that he can be with Phoebe.

When he is finally vanquished for good, Phoebe says that maybe “it wasn’t meant to be.” However, fans still cling to the idea of Phoebe and Cole ending up together. The downfall of Cole was too much, however; leading to his demise, but their connection to one another has always been undeniable. Cole leaves a goodbye letter for Phoebe that reads:

Dear Phoebe,
If I’m dead right now,
I know it was at your
hand. No one else in
heaven or hell had
Power over me. Please,
don’t cry. I was dead
Before I met you. I was
Born the day you loved
me. And my love for you
will keep me alive…
Forever
Love,
Cole

This letter is one of the most resonating moments for me on Charmed. Cole brought new life into the show and was one of my absolute favorite characters. While being one of the greatest villains for the Halliwell sisters, he is Phoebe’s ultimate weakness. Even when they were apart, Phoebe knew that she may never love anyone the same way again.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one ship are:

Paige & Henry
Prue & Bane
Phoebe & Jason
Piper & Dan
Prue & Jack

Piper & Leo.

My number one ship has to go to Piper and Leo as if there was any doubt! At the beginning of the series, their blossoming relationship is charming and real. Phoebe even initially competes with Piper to win Leo’s affection, but it’s always been clear where Leo’s heart lies. As Piper’s white lighter, it is forbidden for them to be together, but they cannot deny their connection.

Piper and Leo have been through so much together and Leo is even ripped away from her during their first attempt at a wedding. Ultimately, Piper and Leo are meant for each other. However, they go through quite a lot on the way and are tested constantly. Piper and Leo have two beautiful sons, Wyatt and Chris, and form a beautiful family together, constantly trying to keep this priority above all others.

While Piper is known for her quick temper, Leo balances her out and always keeps her calm. When they are apart, it’s truly heartbreaking, as fans recognize the selfless love these two have for one another. Piper and Leo do get their happy ending and keep their friendship and love strong in the process. There is something so believable and undeniable between Piper and Leo, still holding the test of time and reminding us what true love is all about.

I hope you enjoyed my list and feel free to post your own comments and thoughts about the ships on Charmed along with your thoughts on the new reboot. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 8 episode 12 season finale: “Time to Go Gallagher!”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 8 episode 12 finale last night, I am certainly going to miss watching my favorite dysfunctional family for a while. While new episodes will return later this year, I am happy that every member of the Gallagher family made the right call after being faced with a difficult decision. Whether they were tempted by taking the easy way out or making someone else happy, each one of them ultimately found their way, reminding us that doing the right thing does pay off in the end. Now Frank on the other hand is another story. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “Sleepwalking,” Fiona seeks out the help of “Pyro Paulie” to go full Gallagher on Rodney and his family, refusing to give up what she has worked so hard on. Lip is finally back together with Sierra, but is he ready to get sucked back in the drama all over again? Svetlana pursues her American Dream to get married while holding Frelania hostage and Kev embraces his new role as “father of the bride.” Meanwhile, a warrant is out for Ian’s arrest, Carl attempts to make it to military school, and Liam is faced with the dilemma of making his father happy or betraying his new friend. My top 5 moments from Shameless season 8 episode 12 are:

Liam does some recon.

Liam’s new friend, Dylan, is more than rich. After Frank pays Dylan’s father a visit and does a quick scan of his assets, he enlists the help of his youngest son to do some full recon and obtain the alarm code. Liam does a great job taking the pictures for Frank and even comes up with a brilliant plan to get the alarm code. He sets off the alarm with Dylan as a prank on the maid and then zooms in on the code: 6197. After he discusses everything with Frank, Liam begins having second thoughts. While this may be the root cause of his sleepwalking, Liam decides that he wants to keep his friendship with Dylan and of course enjoy some much deserved “yachting” and relaxation. Liam gives Frank the wrong code, which leads to a hilarious escape from the police, ending with Frank jumping into the portable toilet. Not just the stall…but the actual toilet. Frank manages to hold on to a few items and walks into the Gallagher home in victory, covered in blue dye and sewage. I guess he’ll take this one as a win.

Carl attempts to get to military school.

Carl’s wife, Cassidy, actually has her named spelled with a “K,” which I learned in this last episode when she explains that all of their 6 children will have names starting with a “C” or a “K.” Sorry Kassidi. Either way, Carl’s girlfriend…wife, Kassidi played by the brilliant Sammi Hanratty is not about to let him leave without a fight. Carl strategically jumps out the window when Kassidi is showering to buy new gear for military school. He avoids her as much as possible and even brings her flowers as a decoy, but this is no match for Kassidi’s obsession. She hand-cuffs him to the bed and refuses to let him go. When Carl spots Debbie, he begs her to get the keys, but Debbie takes this as an opportunity to test out her brother’s listening skills, refusing to get involved in the middle. After all she does love Kassidi’s waffles. With the help of Liam’s habit to steal keys when he sleepwalks, Carl manages to escape and successfully gets on the bus to military school to the dismay of Kassidi. While Carl does love Kassidi, he is not about to completely dismiss his other love for military school and he has the chance to really become someone to be proud of. Will their marriage be able to survive this? Will Kassidi resort to even crazier methods to get him back?

Svetlana gets married.

Svetlana’s plan seems to be going well when she kidnaps her former Russian friend, Frelania and keeps her held hostage at Kev and V’s home. After realizing that she has the chance to successfully steal her husband and obtain the American Dream of becoming a rich trophy wife, there is no stopping her. Kev and V are on board to help her and Kev fully embraces his new role as the “father of the bride.” However, when Svetlana explains that if Frelania “tries anything you cut her face,” he is a little hesitant to put the machete to use. Svetlana explains that the next part of their plan involves keeping Frelania’s mother, Zlata distracted, as she is the only person who will be able to recognize Svetlana at the wedding. Kev hilariously dresses up as a chauffeur, complete with ripped sleeves underneath the suit jacket, and displays a sign at the airport reading “Zlata…super long last name” with an arrow. Zlata is known to have a “taste for human flesh,” so Kev and V decide to try out her appetite for vodka to keep her as far away from the wedding as possible. Everything seems to be going seamlessly when Svetlana walks down the aisle in a gorgeous wedding gown, only for Kev to find out that there is a Prenup. Just as he reveals this to V, Svetlana says “I do.” One can only imagine what she will do when she finds out the truth next season.

Lip finally makes the right decision.

Lip seems to be getting everything he wanted. He’s sober, he has a job, and now he even has Sierra back. Everything should be fine, right? After witnessing Sierra and her former boyfriend, Charlie arguing in the street, he realizes that he is about to get sucked up into a whirlwind of drama all over again. Has Lip learned from his past mistakes? Yes! Lip walks away from Sierra and tells her that he’s not sure how he feels and he thinks she should give Charlie another chance. At the end of the episode, Lip decides to help out Eddie’s niece and offers for her to stay with him until everything is sorted out with Eddie and her mom. The little girl is beyond delighted that someone actually cares enough about her not to abandon her and happily helps Lip with his motorcycle. Lip finally realizes that love doesn’t have to be romantic or messy. The friendship and bond he has with Eddie’s niece goes beyond this and is the best thing for him right now to maintain his sobriety and his sanity.

“Time to go Gallagher.”

After Fiona talks with her lawyer, she is horrified that Rodney and his family are actually demanding custody of her dog, Rusty…or “Sparkles” along with 3 million dollars. Her lawyer explains that her best option is to sell the building and to declare bankruptcy but Fiona is not ready to give up on her hard work just yet. After consulting with a few others, Fiona realizes that she is going to take back what is hers. She meets Frank’s friend, “Pyro Paulie,” who provides her with instructions on how to smoke out Rodney and his family…literally. After they vacate the building, Fiona gives them an offer on her terms. She says she will pay them a few thousand now for them to leave and never come back and that she will continue paying them $500 a month after that. Rodney’s wife refuses the offer, which prompts Fiona to begin lighting cash on fire to show them she means business. Rodney realizes that a lawsuit can take a very long time before he may see any money and takes the deal. Fiona is able to keep her building and now has a new relationship with Irish Ford to look forward to. Things are looking up for Fiona after all.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” season 13 episode 11: “Breakdown.”

Happy Friday TV fans! The weekend is almost here, but my day would not be complete without discussing our favorite brothers: The Winchesters. After watching the CW’s Supernatural season 13 episode 11 last night, online auctions have a whole new meaning for me, as Sam and Dean dealt with something well beyond the routine bidding on eBay. You may want to think again about how badly you want to procure that collectible item. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “Breakdown,” Sheriff Donna returns when her niece, Wendy has gone missing. Even though it doesn’t initially seem like anything supernatural is going on, she is still relying on the help of Sam and Dean. We are also re-introduced to Donna’s love interest, Doug, who is quickly thrown into a world of monsters and mayhem which may be too much for him to handle. My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 13 episode 11 are:

Dean explains the importance of pancakes.

Sam is clearly still in a rut after everything that happened with “The Bad Place,” learning that their mother, Mary is still trapped with Jack in another world. Sam tosses and turns in bed, refusing to wake up until after 10am, worrying Dean, who is typically the one you would imagine to sleep in on a rainy day. Dean refuses to let his brother stew in his own misery, however; as he tries to distract him and cheer him up, even making a breakfast complete with pancakes. When Sam tells him he isn’t hungry, Dean feels the need to go into a big brother lecture on the importance of pancakes, keeping the vibe light, but also reminding Sam that he is there for him and won’t give up. While it seems like a small gesture, Dean knows his brother better than anyone else in the world, proving to be a good friend and an even better brother.

Dean has a heart-to-heart chat with Doug.

When Sam and Dean show up to help Donna find her niece, they seamlessly embrace their familiar identities as FBI agents looking to do the right thing and help their…cousin. Dean senses that the FBI agent he is talking to my check up on him so he backs off and lets him take charge, explaining that he is there for moral support and to get to the bottom of what happened to his family member. Doug proves not to be the sharpest tool in the shed when he believes that Donna and Dean are actually related, comically inquiring about the recent family reunion. Doug innocently seeks out some advice from Dean about Donna and Dean even teaches him “that’s how we do things in the FBI,” bringing him along for the ride to track down the killer.

“It’s like eBay…kinda.”

Once the Winchesters stumble onto the Butterfly’s website, they are appalled by what they see. There is an online auction going on while a victim is strapped to a chair, as the bids climb higher and higher, competing over body parts. Sam realizes that they are chatting about the parts as if they were food…leading to the conclusion that it’s basically “take out for monsters.” They discover there is something supernatural at play here after all, re-thinking their strategy on how they will rescue Donna’s niece and stop the evil in the nick of time.

“Bring it Twilight.”

Once the tables are turned on the Winchesters and they realize they are dealing with vampires, Sam is taken hostage and Doug is turned into a vampire to Donna’s horror. Dean is not afraid of the vampire cashier boy in the slightest, whipping out his blade and giving fans a catchy pun we can all appreciate, “bring it Twilight.” While there is hope for Doug to get a cure before he is permanently changed, our attention quickly shifts to Sam’s safety when we learn that the bids are hitting some new records. Vampire and monster bidders everywhere relish the idea of snacking on the hunter, Sam Winchester and are looking to win the auction no matter what the cost is. The FBI agent reveals that he was the Butterfly killer all along, spinning a horrifying story about how he actually thinks he is saving lives by keeping the vampires occupied so they are not roaming the streets. Sam’s heart gets auctioned for an impressive $500K but the show is over and Dean comes in to save the day, shutting down bids everywhere.

Doug can’t handle a life with monsters.

While I was relieved to see that Doug was alright, something in my gut told me that we wouldn’t be seeing him again. While he has a sweet and loving relationship with Donna, he could already feel the void as if she had been keeping something from him. When he gets tossed head first into the horrifying world of monsters, it’s too much for Doug to handle. He clearly cares for Donna, but he wants something normal and routine…something that Donna can’t give him because this is more than a job for her, it’s a calling. While this sets the path for Donna to embrace her new destiny with the “Wayward Sisters,” I can’t help feeling incredibly sad for her. Donna deserves love and happiness but understands his decision. Sam and Dean are all too familiar with a life on the road away from attachments, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be there for emotional support, helping each other along the way.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” season 2 episode 11: “The Dark Education of Betty Cooper.”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching the CW’s Riverdale season 2 episode 11 last night, I’ve realized that there is a very thin line between heroism and villainy. Whether it stems from the need to dive deeper into what lurks beneath the surface or to protect someone we love, our decisions can get us caught up in a web of deception that may not be so easily unraveled. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “Chapter Twenty-Four: The Wrestler,” Betty and Archie fall further and further away from grace, clinging to the hope that they can discover the truth no matter what the cost is. Veronica and Jughead become immersed and blinded by their new worlds, sugarcoating the consequences, and Cheryl learns the wretched truth about her ancestors. Meanwhile, Pickens Day inherits a new tradition, Josie takes a stand against Veronica, and Hal Cooper’s anger gets the best of him. My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 2 episode 11 are:

Hal Cooper is pushed to the limit.

Even though Hal helped an injured Chic, he is having second thoughts about letting Betty’s brother stay with them, especially since he is sleeping in Polly’s old room, bringing up some unhealed wounds for Hal. His concerns are dismissed by Alice and Betty who tell Chic that he can stay there as long as he likes. Alice’s need to connect with Chic is the most important thing to her right now and she refuses to let her husband ruin it for her. Hal snoops around the house and discovers that Chic is into “webcamming” and has a unique set of clients, infuriating him beyond reason. He confronts his family at Pickens Day, which Cheryl’s mother takes note of. Does Cheryl’s mother view this as a possible new business opportunity? All signs point to “yes” as she strategically offers to take Hal out for a better dessert, hinting at her intentions. Will Hal throw away his marriage over Chic’s arrival? It’s no secret that Alice and Hal have had their problems in the past, but this may be what ultimately pushes him over the edge to no return.

Cheryl learns the truth about her ancestors.

In the beginning of the episode, Cheryl gives a history presentation about Pickens Day and talks about the important part the Blossom family played, even suggesting that they rename the day in history to include the name, Blossom. When the truth comes out that General Pickens was responsible for the massacre of innocent people and stole land, Cheryl is unable to maintain the cool front that her mother does. She sheds a tear, horrified by this revelation. Is this enough to turn her to action, however? At the end of the episode, we learn that someone beheaded the statue of General Pickens and everyone is ready to point fingers at the Serpents, but could this actually be the handy work of Cheryl?

Jughead uncovers the real story about General Pickens.

When Jughead is researching his own history presentation, he learns a lot from Toni’s grandfather who is the oldest Serpent still living in Riverdale. Jughead is horrified that the town is honoring General Pickens rather than trying to make amends. While it is clear that Jughead is angry by this, does he cross a line? Toni is clearly upset about his article and explains to Jughead that “it’s not his story to tell.” It certainly gave Jughead the ammunition he was looking for against the town, but he recognizes that Toni is right and the Serpents take on a different approach on Pickens Day to truly make a point. The Serpents show up with protest signs and some have tape over their mouths, representing the dead and silent from that massacre. Toni courageously gets up on stage to talk about the importance of them being honored and remembered, but Mr. Lodge deflects the issue and takes over the microphone with his empty promises. While this may temporarily prevent the town from erupting into chaos, it’s clear that this is not the only secret being covered up.

Betty tries to make it right with Chic.

Betty is thrilled that her brother is staying with her family, but he does not warm up to her instantly as she had hoped. Chic is unsure of her motives and Betty tries to win his trust. After Chic is upset that his laptop and web-cam equipment were taken by his landlord/pimp, Betty gives him her old laptop as a peace offering. Chic lets his guard down and begins providing some answers as the two start a real connection. Betty admits that she has a darkness brewing inside her and she desperately wants to get to the root cause. She is hoping that they can both connect to this on some level and she is right. Chic admits that he did spy on her that first night and that “webcamming” provides him with an escape. It’s a way to get away from the darkness, sparking Betty’s immediate interest. Chic is clearly winning Betty’s trust but is she ready for what’s to come next? Sure Betty can put on a wig and pretend to be someone else, but is she really going to be able to compromise her image of goodness and perfection in the process? Is Chic actually manipulating Betty into getting exactly what he wants? Could she become the accomplice to the real Black Hood? Time will tell.

Archie vs. Mr. Lodge.

Archie realizes that he needs to get closer to Mr. Lodge if he is going to truly help Agent Adams with his investigation. Veronica explains that her father loves wrestling and was even on the team when he attended Riverdale high. Archie tries out for the team, expecting for it to be a cake-walk since he is somewhat of a jock, but is in for a rude awakening. During the first try-out, Kevin schools him and Archie realizes that this is going to be harder than he thought. Mr. Lodge makes some unnecessary comments about how it is OK to just be a musician, clearly testing Archie’s limits and mocking his manliness. Archie reacts by kissing Veronica in front of her father, which is not the best approach. In the next try out, Mr. Lodge decides to try out his famous wrestling headlock move on a volunteer, however; he ignores all of the volunteers and picks Archie to prove a point that he will always win. He later reveals to Archie that wrestling is about “knowing your opponent.” He tells Archie that he will tolerate him and that “boyfriends come and go while Fathers are forever.” Archie is up to the challenge and does extremely well in his next try-out, but pushes the limits when he asks Mr. Lodge to be his mentor in terms of getting into business. After ignoring a call from Agent Adams, is Archie in over his head or is he initiating a plan to truly outsmart his opponent?

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Mick” season 2 episode 13: “The Dump.”

Happy Wednesday! After watching Fox’s The Mick season 2 episode 13 last night, I learned that school field trips can lead to some dangerous consequences and that everyone has their own interpretation on how to prove one’s self worth. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “The Dump,” Mickey and Alba volunteer as tribute…I mean as chaperones for Ben’s school field trip. While the dump was not as inspiring as Mickey hoped for, she gets more than she bargained for when she realizes that they picked up an extra child by mistake on the way back. Meanwhile, Jimmy has big plans for the day and Chip and Sabrina learn that their grandfather, the Colonel, may have some usefulness after all. My top 5 moments from The Mick season 2 episode 13 are:

Jimmy has big plans for the day.

After Jimmy lectures Chip and Sabrina on leaving their grandfather outside and forgetting about him, they suggest that he takes him out for a hair-cut. Jimmy politely declines explaining that he has big plans for the day. While missing for most of the episode, Sabrina and Chip call him later on for his help, revealing that he is at an arcade trying to get a high score to be proud of. While he doesn’t admit to Sabrina and Chip where he is, he still proves to be worthy and helpful in the situation. One can always count on Jimmy even though he has an interesting perspective on priorities.

“His name is Dump now.”

On the way back from the field trip, Mickey reminds everyone that she needs to do a headcount to ensure everyone is accounted for. She frantically recounts several times but keeps getting “21.” Although they are not missing anyone, there is one little boy who has come along for the ride who doesn’t belong. Mickey tries to ask him where he comes from and his address but he says nothing in reply. When Mickey and Alba take the boy home, Mickey decides his name will be “Dump,” refusing “Ignacio” as Alba suggested.

Chip and Sabrina lose the Colonel.

Chip is furious when Sabrina rolls the Colonel up to him, forcing him to lose his place in line to get his new “kicks.” The store clerk allows Chip to skip the line, however; since he is there with his grandfather. Chip also gets some free “kicks” or “lifestyle shoes” playing on his grandfather’s war hero story to get attention. Sabrina and Chip realize that having grandpa around is not so bad after all, deciding to see what else they can get out of this. The plan backfires, however; when he rolls out of the bar and takes off. After some failed attempts at tracking him down, Jimmy asks if he is “micro chipped” reminding Sabrina that she can track her phone that she left on the wheelchair. They finally find the colonel in an alley, stripped of his kicks, and ready to go home. Perhaps Sabrina and Chip will learn to finally treat him with respect and kindness, but the best we can hope for is that he gets home safe and sound without them being distracted by shiny objects on the way.

Mickey and Alba use “the last pay phone on earth” to call the police.

Mickey and Alba argue over what to do next when “Dump” is at their house, unable to provide them with any answers. They decide to find a pay phone and anonymously call the police to see what they know so they can get the boy back safely. After Alba’s racist accent on the phone referring to the police as “bacon,” and repeatedly leading with “yo,” they learn that everyone believes the boy to be kidnapped and they have now become the prime suspects. They also learn that he is deaf, which is why he hasn’t been responding to their threatening questions. Mickey later tries to call the police and Alba points out that her “Asian” accent is just as racist.

Kidnapping lingo.

After several failed ideas to return the boy safely, Alba and Mickey argue over what to do next. Alba suggests a form of good cop vs. bad cop, but Mickey is not convinced this will have an impact on Ben and his new friend and suggests that they set up a “drop point.” Alba comically tries it out anyway and begins smashing Ben’s games when they don’t get an answer out of “Dump.” Mickey grabs the gulf club out of Alba’s hands only to also begin smashing the games to pieces to the horror of Ben and “Dump.” Ben and “Dump” find their way back to the actual dump and tell Mickey that they are going to live there from now on. Ben strategically makes a deal with Mickey that she will need to go on field trips with him for the next century which is pretty much the worst possible punishment Mickey can think of while Alba proves her self-worth by taking on a guard dog. Ultimately, the police find “Dump” with a very honest and apologetic note from Mickey and Alba, letting them know that it was a mistake and they will try to be more sensitive next time about their racist accents. Looks like Mickey and Alba will be participating in their fair share of school field trips from now until the next century. Good luck ladies!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 8 episode 11: Fiona Rescues Rusty!

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 8 episode 11 last night, it is refreshing to see the Gallagher family put the needs of others above their own. While Fiona and Lip try out the whole rescuing a damsel in distress routine…or in Fiona’s case, a dog in distress; Ian turns a non-violent act into something extreme and Frank does what no one else can. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “A Gallagher Pedicure,” Debbie must make the important decision on whether or not to keep her toes, Fiona continues to fight against Rodney’s attempt to sue her, and Lip plays the role of the white knight to a tee. Meanwhile, Frank learns his life’s hard work of 6 weeks amount to $3.42 a month in Social Security benefits, Liam wants to go “yachting,” and Svetlana learns the value of humbling herself. My top 5 moments from Shameless season 8 episode 11 are:

Debbie Googles “do you need your toes?”

An important question for sure, but our poor Debbie’s welding accident has left her in quite the jam. The doctor informs her that the surgery to repair her three damaged toes costs $50,000 which is somewhat out of her current budget. The other option is to lose all three toes which would cost in the lower thousands, but Debbie decides to do it herself the old fashioned way. After Liam passes out at the sight of her toes, Debbie tries to do the horrible deed herself but also faints. Luckily for Debbie, Frank walks in and without a moment’s hesitation, cuts them off, commenting on how the burnt flesh “smells like steak.” Glad it sparked his appetite, but it looks like the “Sexy Welding Girl” will need to switch to some boot apparel.

Svetlana tries to humble herself.

Kev and V are still invested in finding Svetlana a millionaire of her own. Svetlana even writes down all of her skills on a napkin to prove her worth, after taking her friends out to a fancy hotel bar to find a man. Kev is excited when he gets approached, but learns it is not for Svetlana, but for the “chocolate one.” After explaining that V is his wife, the man offers to pay him $4000 for an hour with V, which even V is considering at this point. After all they do have bills to pay. Security explains that they have a strict “no prostitute policy,” and Svetlana comes to the epiphany that she needs to humble herself and go talk to the Russian “bottom feeder.” After her rival spits on an expensive gown in front of her and tells her that she would rather throw it out than give it to her, Svetlana realizes that she is getting nowhere. However, when the billionaire mistakes Svetlana for his bride to be in his old age, she realizes that all may not be lost after all. At the end of the episode, Svetlana drags a body bag into the bar and tells Kev and V that she is not dead yet with a glowing smile of victory. One should never underestimate Svetlana and I am rooting for her to finally obtain the “American Dream.”

Lip plays the white knight.

Lip absolutely needs a break from all of the hardship and drama in his life, but he invites it right back in when he allows Sierra and her son, Lucas to stay with him. Sierra confides in Lip that her father is out of prison and tells him about all of the horrible things he did to their family, including dumping their mother’s lifeless body into a dumpster after beating her to death. Sierra is beyond terrified and will not go back to her apartment until she knows that she is safe. While it seems like Lip is replacing one addiction with another, he does come up with the brilliant plan to approach Sierra’s father, Norman, provoking him enough to launch an attack against Lip. With the help of Eddie’s adorable niece catching the act on camera, Lip reports the attack and Sierra’s father is back in prison where he belongs. Sierra is beyond grateful and rushes back into Lip’s loving arms, but will the drama stop here? I’m hoping so, but Lip has not been able to escape it just yet.

Cassidy goes on a trip down memory lane with Carl.

After Carl’s rash decision to get married to his crazy girlfriend, Cassidy; she insists on knowing everything about him which includes visiting some dangerous places around the city. When they come across a dead body, Cassidy explains that “she needs to see the face of death” so she can “story the shit out of it” on Snapchat. She takes some interesting selfies in front of the dead body, including one of Cassidy comically pretending to choke herself out in front of death to give her followers the real experience. After visiting the former corner that Carl sold crack at, they get shot at to the excitement of Cassidy. Ultimately, Carl sacrifices going back to military school when Cassidy freaks out again at the thought of him leaving. While it seems like he is throwing away his chance at stability and purpose, perhaps he will change his mind if Cassidy continues to go further past the deep end of insanity.

Fiona rescues Rusty.

After learning that Rodney and his family are suing Fiona for 6 million dollars, she weighs her options and learns that she is basically screwed. Not only did she hire an unlicensed contractor with no insurance, she also only has liability coverage up to half a million dollars. Fiona would have to give up the apartment building and her house and still be in debt for the rest of her life if Rodney goes through with the law suit. Fiona tries desperately to get the family out of her apartment and is shocked when she finds out they even changed the lock. Fiona tries to make a deal with Ronald’s wife and even offers for them to stay in the apartment rent free for a year, but is not getting anywhere. Fiona’s main concern is for her dog, Rusty, however. She demands that “there better be water in her dog’s bowl” and launches a plan with Irish Ford to save him. After sealing the door shut and turning off the water, Fiona drills her way into the apartment and gets her dog, Rusty to safety. Ronald’s daughter screams out for “Sparkles,” horrifying Fiona even further that they had the audacity to rename her dog. Now that Rusty has reached safety, what’s next for Fiona? Will she be able to convince them to drop the suit by going Gallagher on them? Stay tuned to find out.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” season 13 episode 10 backdoor pilot: “Wayward Sisters”

Happy Friday TV fans! The weekend is almost here, but I find myself needing to discuss the backdoor pilot of “Wayward Sisters” via Supernatural before diving into any other shows. After watching the CW’s Supernatural season 13 episode 10 last night, I am pleasantly surprised by how seamlessly “Wayward Sisters” introduced itself to the world of Supernatural fans. These are some “amazing women” and they have somehow managed to create a real connection and believable family in just under an hour. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, we are introduced to the “Wayward Sisters” and learn how they have all come together to fight the good fight to save the world…or at least Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Meanwhile, Sam and Dean take a time out in the “Bad Place,” leaving the demon fighting to the very capable Claire Novak, Sheriff Jody Mills, and the hilarious, Sheriff Donna, to put their sisterhood to the test and save the day. My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 13 episode 10 are:

“D-Train” means business.

After the first twenty minutes or so of the backdoor pilot, I was getting a little antsy, waiting for that light and fluffy humor that Supernatural does so well to emerge. Well I got what I asked for when Jody calls in back-up and Sheriff Donna shows up with the license plate “D-Train.” While the girls are not really sure what to make of her, Donna does what she does best. She jumps right in as if she was part of the family the entire time and brings the basics: weapons galore and a wonderful sense of humor. When the monsters from the “bad place” are surrounding them, Donna takes them out one by one as if she is Super Sheriff with a gun. She quickly teaches Patience how to defend herself and adds a voice of reason when Jody is contemplating jumping through the open portal to protect her family. Something tells me that Donna will continue to bring on the laughs and is the perfect addition to the “Wayward Sister” family.

“I think it just rang the dinner bell.”

While Sam and Dean take a break in the “Bad Place,” they refuse to sit by quietly on the sidelines. After Dean enjoys some cooked lizard, they realize that they are about to become meals themselves for a very loud monster in the distance. When they are attacked by the cloaked shadowy figure, a bell sounds and Sam and Dean brace themselves for the worst. Even though the Winchesters play more of a supporting role here, the episode would not be complete without their commentary on being stranded. While they seem more bored than worried for their lives, they still recognize the fact that they can’t find the door back to their world. Maybe they had a plan…or maybe they knew they had left some great friends behind who would save the day. Either way, we are happy to have Sam and Dean back in one piece.

Claire comes through…with a flame thrower.

“Wayward Sisters” seems to be focusing on Claire Novak as the main protagonist. She is clearly bad-ass or “Biker Barbie,” but Claire needs to learn to think ahead. Her plan of attack typically involves her busting through a door to get the bad-guys without really thinking about the consequences. When Patience reveals her vision that Claire is going to die, she initially dismisses it. Jody is constantly trying to intervene and prove how much she cares about her and Alex, but Claire thinks she is just keeping her from following through on her destiny. Even though she needs to work on having a plan, she does certainly help out Jody and Donna when they are trapped in a car, surrounded by the monsters from the “bad place.” She makes quite the fiery entrance with a flame thrower, proving that she is very capable of fighting her own battles.

Claire and Kaia go through the door to save Sam and Dean.

Jody comes to the realization that she can’t always be there to protect Claire and the other girls. She learns to let go and allow Claire to prove that she can be the hero she so desperately wants to become. In the beginning of the episode, Claire and Kaia instantly have a bond, comparing scars and revealing secrets about how abandoned and alone they feel sometimes. Claire promises to protect Kaia who takes the jump with her, going through the open door to the “Bad Place.” They quickly rescue Sam and Dean, but Patience’s vision takes a detour when Kaia jumps in front of Claire to protect her. Kaia has made the ultimate sacrifice and Sam and Dean have to pry Claire away from her lifeless body to make it back safely. Claire confides to Jody that she understands why she is the way she is now. This teaches her a valuable lesson and gives her the motive to keep fighting the good fight…to protect the innocent and to avenge Kaia’s death.

“I saved Sam and Dean…WE saved Sam and Dean.”

Claire finally understands the importance of a team…or really more of a family. She recognizes these “amazing women” surrounding her at the dinner table and truly sees the importance of sticking by the ones you love. Claire says that her “family is her army,” and she is absolutely right. Sam and Dean came together after they lost their father and recognize that their bond as brothers is the most important thing in the world. They will always try to do good, supporting each other along the way. Claire now also sees that this is the key to her destiny and that she is not alone in the fight. She will stop the cloaked shadowy figure that ended Kaia’s life no matter what it takes. The end of the episode gives us a surprise twist, however; revealing that the shadowy figure is Kaia, but what does this mean? Does Kaia have a doppelganger? Is this the real Kaia? While we are not exactly sure just yet, it definitely leaves Supernatural fans wanting to see more of the “Wayward Sisters.” Overall, the backdoor pilot did a good job of introducing fans to a familiar premise, a great music soundtrack, and some truly remarkable women that we can learn to root for just like the Winchester Brothers. While we may not find out until May 2018 if we can expect a fall premiere of the spin-off series, I am hoping that we are able to give these ladies a chance to shine.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Supernatural and “Wayward Sisters” below. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” season 2 episode 10 mid-season premiere: Dangerous Liaisons

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching the CW’s Riverdale season 2 episode 10 last night, I am so beyond thrilled that one of my favorite shows on television is back with new episodes. The episode did a great job of tying up some of the loose ends and unanswered questions from the mid-season finale. Worlds collided and new characters and agendas were introduced, proving that the drama is nowhere near over for Riverdale. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “Chapter Twenty-Three: The Blackboard Jungle,” Veronica happily embraces her new productive role within the Lodge family business. Archie is approached by an FBI agent and Cheryl learns that her mother is happy being a “woman of the night.” Meanwhile, South Side High is officially closed; bringing everyone together for a happy reunion at Riverdale High, but Jughead is not ready to conform just yet. Betty decides to track down her last chance at family after a disappointing visit from Polly, which could be the most dangerous decision of all. My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 2 episode 10 are:

South Side & Riverdale High Schools collide.

In the beginning of the episode, it is revealed that the mayor is shutting down South Side High School because of dangerous fumes from a meth lab in the basement along with other issues involving drug trafficking. Where will Jughead and the Serpents go to school? You guessed it…Riverdale High School. While some students don’t seem to care very much about the change, others take a stand on both sides, refusing to share their space with their enemies. While this decision to bring all the students together created its own sense of drama and chaos, the real question still remains as to what the Lodge family has to gain from this? Mr. and Mrs. Lodge clearly desire the land underneath South Side High School but why? Are they making a play to take over the entire town? Who will get stepped on in the process?

Cheryl crashes the Welcoming Committee.

Veronica eagerly steps up to lead the Welcoming Committee, hoping to make a good impression on her parents and the entire student body. She even convinces Archie to help with it as well to keep the peace. Everything seems to be going well until Cheryl and some other angry students storm in, refusing to welcome the South Side students with open arms. Veronica comically refers to Cheryl as “Facist Barbie,” but Cheryl is unaffected by this, labeling the South Side students as “ragamuffins.” She tells Archie that he is on the wrong side and even attempts to black-mail him, revealing that she witnessed the secret kiss he shared with Betty. Cheryl proves once again to be the classic mean girl we adore, refusing to sit by on the sidelines.

“A Serpent never sheds his skin.”

You would think that Jughead would be excited to return to Riverdale High School. Even though he and Betty broke up, all of his friends are there and it’s not like he has been gone that long. When the Serpents cross paths with Cheryl and the jocks, Jughead is beyond frustrated. After a student paints graffiti on the school emblem, the principal makes the quick and rash decision to ban the Serpent jackets from school. Toni and some of the others are fine with the decision, happy to have new computer labs and a legitimate chance at a good education, but Jughead becomes more and more angry, refusing to comply. After he refuses to take off his jacket, he gets in a fight and is suspended. Jughead eventually comes around and decides to form a club so that they can still get together on campus, without revealing that they are a gang. He explains that it will be their “safe haven” and that they will be “lying low in the tall grass.” What exactly is Jughead planning? Has he gotten in too deep with the Serpents?

Betty finds her brother.

Betty is surprised to find Polly in her bedroom, picking up a few things and nonchalantly sharing the news that she had the twins already. When Polly goes back to the farm without even staying to say hello to their parents, Betty is feeling hurt and abandoned by her sister, causing her to put her Nancy Drew skills to the test once more. Betty is not good at sitting still, always diving into a new mystery to solve, refusing to take a minute to actually deal with her feelings. She tracks down the address of her brother, Charles Smith and lets her parents know that she wants to go and meet him. While Betty’s father wants no part of this, Mrs. Cooper visits Betty later that night and confides to her that she does want to meet her son. When they walk through the seedy motel to find him, Mrs. Cooper latches onto Betty’s arm, as if the infestation and filth will seep through their bubble of perfection. After meeting Charles or “Chic” as he likes to be called, Betty and Mrs. Cooper are horrified by his lifestyle and surroundings, feeling somewhat responsible for his current conditions. After Betty returns to check in on Chic, she finds him being attacked and stabbed. Betty saves the day with Pepper Spray, proving once again that she is not one to mess with. After taking Chic home, the Cooper family helps stitch him up and gives him a place to stay, but did they just “let another monster in?” Clearly there is something not right with Chic, especially after we see him standing over Betty’s bed in a beyond creepy way. Archie is not so sure they got the right bad guy…so is it possible that Chic is the real Black Hood? I’m thinking yes, but we will have to wait and see what this new character has in store for Riverdale.

Archie begins spying for the FBI.

At the end of the mid-season finale, Archie was clearly being watched, as someone took secret photos of him. We now learn that this was Agent Adams who works for the FBI and is seeking Archie’s help to be the inside man spying on the Lodge family. While Archie is hesitant about this at first, he soon realizes the importance of protecting his father and his girlfriend, Veronica. His first mission is to find out what really happened to Nick St. Clair, as the FBI has reason to believe that Mr. Lodge is responsible for his “accident” and is heavily involved in “organized crime.” After Archie learns that Nick also tried to attack Veronica, he is beyond angry. Archie proves to be the white knight coming to the rescue of both Veronica and Cheryl, paying Nick a surprise visit to get the check that Cheryl deserved. Archie lets his emotions get in the way, however; punching and attacking the already injured Nick several times before leaving. Archie is warned about this and realizes that he cannot let his emotions get in the way again if he is going to be successful with his mission. He now feels ready to do what needs to be done: to take down the Lodge family and assist the FBI. Archie even comes clean with Veronica and tells her about the kiss he shared with Betty, truly wanting a fresh and honest start with his girlfriend and reminding himself that he will do anything to protect her…even if means bringing down her own family in the process. Is Archie in over his head? Most likely, but I’m rooting for him just the same.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Mick” season 2 episode 12: “The City.”

Happy Wednesday! After watching Fox’s The Mick season 2 episode 12 last night, I’m left with the familiar quote that “it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” Although for Mickey, her idea of winning at a “break up” seems beyond competitive. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “The City,” Mickey, Alba, and the kids take a trip to Manhattan so that Chip can meet his real dad. Meanwhile, Mickey gets an unexpected request to identify the body of an old friend, and Ben and Alba are on a mission to track down Hamilton tickets. My top 5 moments from The Mick season 2 episode 12 are:

Mickey attempts to flee from the police.

In the beginning of the episode, Mickey answers the door and sees the cops standing before her. Without a moment’s hesitation, Mickey makes a run for it, refusing to stick around to find out what she may or may not be in trouble for. Unfortunately for Mickey, the stairs come out of nowhere and get in her way, causing her to comically trip and fall.

Mickey is asked to identify Jimmy’s body.

To Mickey’s surprise, the police request that Mickey come down to the morgue to identify Jimmy. While I knew the writers explained that the break-up was very real, I was shocked that these two might be separated forever. After seeing Jimmy’s wallet, Mickey takes a deep breath and is ready for them to unveil Jimmy’s body. Luckily it is not Jimmy, even though Alba is convinced they are one in the same. Mickey insists that they check his “ass” explaining that Jimmy has a burnt ass and that will absolutely shed some light on the confusion over the identity of the body. Once it is determined that it is definitely not Jimmy, Ben requests that they take the man’s ashes so he can spread them out in the city, only he ends up consuming them, mistaking them for candy at the Hamilton show.

Chip tracks down his real father…at a strip club.

After his failed attempt with Mr. Buckley, Chip is hesitant about meeting his dad. After some initial confusion and shock over the revelation, Chip’s dad seems actually happy about meeting his son. While he is initially upset that his bouncers let in both Chip and Sabrina since they are underage, he then insists on taking Chip for a tour around the establishment, which ends with him seeing his office/bedroom. Chip’s father confides in his son that he does have dreams and tells him that he wants to open up his own Strip Club in Florida one day. While not the sharpest tool in the shed, it seems like Chip’s dad actually shares something with his son….including an inhaler for when he can’t breathe after screaming at a stripper to get out of his office. While the reunion doesn’t lead to anything permanent, considering how his dad gets arrested at the end of the episode, perhaps Chip has now found the answers he was looking for.

Jimmy is back and has stolen Ben’s identity.

After Mickey is quite relieved that the body wasn’t Jimmy, they decide to visit the Pemberton penthouse and are confused when they find Jimmy dressed in a suit and eating shrimp galore. To Mickey’s shock, Jimmy reveals that he has stolen the identity of young Ben so that he can get a job and impress his new bosses in the finance world. While this seems too good to be true, Mickey has her suspicions about what is really going on. After she witnesses Jimmy in action, she explains that it seems like he is more of a secretary, rather than a sales man and tries to push him down the fast track to promotion. This plan back-fires, however; when she is convinced that they are pulling off a “boiler room” type of situation, scamming their clients out of money. This leads to her calling the IRS and a bowl of Manhattan clam chowder pouring all over Jimmy, now burning his nuts to match with his already burnt ass. While Mickey had good intentions, she shatters Jimmy’s new life and dreams.

“You won the break-up.”

Since Mickey bumped into Jimmy again, she has been obsessed with “winning the break-up.” It seems like Jimmy has the perfect life without her and she is not about to lose at anything. After the incident with the clam chowder, Mickey finally lets her walls down and tells Jimmy that he “won the break-up.” She admits she made mistakes and is the reason why everything is not going well in his life. Jimmy refuses to let her walk away and explains that he is the one who lost because he lost her. Mickey asks Jimmy to come home and he agrees. However, when he leans in for an epic and romantic kiss, Mickey turns this down because he smells like clams. Either way, I was very excited to see them get back together, as there has been a void since Jimmy has left. Welcome back Jimmy!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 8 episode 10: Fiona buys a chair

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 8 episode 10 last night, I am left contemplating the Golden Rule, which says that you should “treat others the way you want to be treated.” In other words, you need to be nice to others and do the right thing if you want the same in return. However, what happens when you live by the Golden Rule and even go out of your way to do the right thing…only to get stomped on in return and sued for six million dollars? Poor Fiona. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “Church of Gay Jesus,” Fiona is enjoying living on her own and attempts to pay it forward to a family in need. Kev and V decide to coach Svetlana on how to find a rich husband, Debbie takes a night-time welding job which sounds “sketchy,” and Lip tries to deal with his grief. Meanwhile, Ian embraces his new calling with open arms while Frank and Liam attempt to turn it into a new business scheme. My top 5 moments from Shameless season 8 episode 10 are:

Lip attempts to deal with his grief.

When Lip decides to go check in on Professor Youens in jail, he is in for a horrible shock when he learns that he died that past week. All of Lip’s emotions that had been bottled up for so long come rushing to the surface as he desperately tries to deal with his grief. When Lip goes to Professor Youens’s home, he runs into his daughter there who tells him she’s got it handled. Part of Lip’s diversion from drinking has involved his constant distractions to help those around him. He returns home and tries to come up with the words to a truly representative eulogy and even crosses out the word “professor” and replaces it with “friend.” As Lip listens to tons of students get up and tell similar stories about how Professor Youens was like a father to them or believed in them when no one else would, Lip crumples up the eulogy and walks out. He releases all of his anger and takes it out on the motorcycle he has been working so hard on, unable to control the swirl of emotions rushing around inside him. Later in the episode, Professor Youens’s daughter gives him an unfinished recommendation letter she found about Lip, revealing that he was “amazed by his mind.” She offers to give the letter to Lip, thinking it may provide him with some sense of comfort, but Lip is still too angry to take it. It seems like nothing is going right for Lip these days, but he still holds on to his sobriety in the face of everything he has had to deal with, becoming someone truly worthy of that recommendation letter.

“Hot Gay Jesus.”

Ian’s growing popularity has the Gallagher family stunned, as more and more followers come to the house just to hear Ian speak. Fiona refers to it as a cult, but Cassidy reveals that he is more like a “Hot Gay Jesus,” sparking a business scheme in Frank’s unemployed head. Frank and Liam begin selling tee-shirts to make a profit off of the “prophet” otherwise known as Ian. Ian is unsure what to make of so many people coming out to hear him speak. At the end of the episode, Fiona accompanies him to the church where seas of people are anxiously waiting for him. Ian embraces his destiny and speaks out, realizing that he is making a difference.

Cassidy and Carl get married.

After Carl’s promise ring was misinterpreted as an engagement ring, his girlfriend, Cassidy, enthusiastically accepts. She provides the Gallagher family with engagement presents and explains that she will be “the best effin wife,” cooking Carl dinner every night with an interesting dessert menu. While it seems harmless at first, Cassidy then shows off her present for Carl, which is a vile of her own blood for him to carry around. Channeling her inner Angelina Jolie, Cassidy insists that they carry each other’s blood around to be closer to one another. When their wedding is delayed by a day, Carl begins to have second thoughts and his family members warn him that Cassidy is kind of “psycho.” He reveals his doubts to her, hoping that their love can be enough for now. However, Cassidy takes this to the extreme, refusing to not get what she wants. Carl walks in to his love, Cassidy, hanging on a noose and rushes to her side. While she explains it was more of a test for Carl, she reveals that all she wants is to get married. Carl agrees and the two tie a very different kind of knot…fake ids and all. Will Carl be able to have the first successful marriage of the Gallagher family? Time will tell.

Kev and V try to coach Svetlana on how to secure a rich husband.

After setting up an online profile for Svetlana, Kev and V are horrified by her actions on her first date, which involve an outfit mostly covered in fish-net and ending in a punch in the face. Kev and V try to “coach” Svetlana on “etiquette” and how to behave on a date, suggesting smiling as an easy first step. “What is the point of smiling?” Svetlana asks, not falling for the bait. Kev and V realize that their best hope of finding Svetlana a rich husband is to have her wear a microphone and earpiece so Kev can talk her through what to say. Svetlana seems reluctant at first, but Kev reminds her that “this is spy shit. It’s in your DNA!” After the code words fail and Kev realizes he forgot to test the microphone, he is still confident that his words of wisdom will help Svetlana. However, Svetlana takes off her ear piece and goes back to what she knows best…grabbing the man’s “goods” and seeing where this will take them.

Fiona buys a chair…and then gets sued.

Fiona is finally living on her own and even purchases a chair, revealing to Irish Ford that this is the first time she bought something she didn’t actually need. When she notices the injured roofer and his wife and kids living out of a car, she wants to help them. She secures a spot for them in a family shelter, but there is a two-day waiting period. Fiona generously agrees to let the family stay in her apartment, while they wait, showing a lot of compassion and goodness. Irish Ford and her grow closer and take their relationship to the next level, as he reveals that he has asked around about her and knows that she is a good person. When Fiona returns to her apartment, she finds more family members squandering there and a stain on her brand new chair. Fiona is starting to have second thoughts about her decision but takes a deep breath and reminds herself that they will be in the shelter soon. At the end of the episode, Fiona is served and she discovers that the injured roofer is now suing her for six million dollars. Fiona is beyond angry and realizes that doing the right thing doesn’t always guarantee that those you are helping will have the same good intentions. It’s clear this man messed with the wrong Gallagher, but we will have to wait and see what Fiona does next.

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

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