Spoiler-Free Review of “Castle Rock” Season 2 on Hulu: Lizzy Caplan as Annie Wilkes gets this Slow-Burn Horror off to a Chilling Start

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

Just in time for Halloween, Hulu has released the first three episodes of Castle Rock season 2.  I loved season 1 so much and it featured some of the most brilliant episodes on television that I have ever witnessed.

Seriously, if you haven’t seen season 1, episode 7 (The Queen) yet, I highly recommend it.  So that being said, Castle Rock season 2 has a lot to live up to, but I am excited that they are taking the anthology approach, as we get a new story with different characters.

Castle Rock is a psychological horror series on Hulu based on the characters and setting of Stephen King.  There will be 10 episodes for season 2.  Similar to the format with season 1, Hulu has released the first 3 episodes as of October 23rd 2019 and it will continue to run weekly episodes on Wednesdays.  Season 2 stars Lizzy Caplan, Tim Robbins, and Elsie Fisher.  

Season 2 follows a nurse named Annie Wilkes, based on the character of the same name in Misery.  While Castle Rock is not necessarily a prequel, it does bring us familiar elements from both Misery and Salem’s Lot

Annie has a lot of psychological issues and she is on the run with her teenage daughter when she arrives in Castle Rock.  Annie mostly keeps to herself, but when she goes through withdrawal from her medication, her hallucinations start to become all too real, as she finds herself doing some very bad things. 

The plot and characters certainly have a lot of potential, but will season 2 be able to hold its own?  Let’s find out!

The Pros:

Castle Rock season 2 1
Images courtesy of Hulu

Lizzy Caplan is beyond captivating as Annie Wilkes.  

Her performance will chill you to your core, disturbing you in just the right way.  Caplan absolutely nails the role and is the best part of the show so far.  She immerses herself completely in this role, bringing you wild eye stares and horrifying reactions that are so real and terrifying.

The perfect dose of psychological horror.

I love that this show brings you along for the ride, unfolding the mystery with its audience.  While a lot of the scares are psychological, there are some edge of your seat moments that remind us just how deadly an unhinged paranoid person can be.

I think it also works to the show’s advantage not following a specific plot from Stephen King, allowing familiar characters and settings to take on a life of their own, which makes this show unique and original.

The Cons:

Castle Rock season 2 2
Images courtesy of Hulu

A lot of setup.

There are a lot of elements to digest after watching the first three episodes of season 2.  You may find yourself slightly overwhelmed by this, but I had the same issue with season 1 and it ended up paying off, as other elements were revealed later on.

Slow moving at times.

Each episode is about 50-55 minutes in length and the show does move at a slow pace from time to time.  The show is more of a slow-burn psychological horror, so it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does make it difficult to binge-watch all at once.  You may want to try one episode at a time, but I thought that there were enough things going on to keep your attention.

So am I in or out? 

Castle Rock season 2 3
Images courtesy of Hulu

I am in 100 percent!  Lizzy Caplan’s performance is enough to keep me invested, but I love the intertwining between the two works from Stephen King, while creating a new story that branches off into something completely different. 

After watching the first three episodes, I am excited to continue watching weekly and I think this will actually make the watch that much more entertaining, as bits and pieces of the mystery are presented.  If you haven’t started watching yet, I highly recommend it, especially if you are a Stephen King fan.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Castle Rock in the comments section below.  Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Final Chapter Blog

Free Instant Preview of The Search for Alice is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” Season 15 Episode 3: “The Rupture”

Happy Friday TV fans!  After watching the CW’s Supernatural season 15 episode 3, I realized that sacrifice is never easy, but sometimes it is necessary.  Would you let the world die so that someone else could live or would you be able to make the impossible choice that Sam Winchester is left with?  Please note MAJOR spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. 

In last night’s episode, “The Rupture,” the team works together to retrieve Lilith’s horn to summon the souls back to hell, but not everything goes according to plan.  Meanwhile, a sacrifice is made that reminds us that we are coming to the end, but what does it mean for the fate of our remaining characters?  My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 15 episode 3 are:

5

“Go team!”

In the beginning of the episode, Rowena tries another ritual to cast the souls back to hell, but it doesn’t work.  Rowena says that they are all going to die and that no magic can stop it.  Dean insists that they try and come up with another plan and it seems like Belphegor has an idea with potential.

Belphegor explains that Lilith had a horn to summon all of the souls at once as a measure of last resort, but that it is probably locked away somewhere in hell.  At this point, no one else has another suggestion, so it’s time for the team to get to work.

4

“Not at any price…”

Ketch is still recovering in the hospital, but he is anxious to return to his friends.  We know that Ketch was hired to track down Belphegor by a demon named Ardat and she certainly makes her presence known now.  Ardat threatens Ketch and demands that he give up his friends, but Ketch has this moment of redemption. 

The old Ketch would have given them up to save himself,  but he remains loyal and true.  Ardat rips out Ketch’s heart and leaves him there to die, but we know that not everyone is going to make it on the last season of SPN.  Either way, I’m glad that he did the right thing in the end.  RIP Ketch.

3

“You’re an abomination…”

Castiel is forced to join Belphegor in hell to track down Lilith’s horn, but he is not exactly pleased about it.  Belphegor claims he wants to be friends, but Castiel cannot bear to look at him wearing Jack’s body like a suit.  Castiel tells Belphegor that he is an abomination, but proves to be quite useful when it comes to opening up the box to retrieve the horn.  Nice singing, Cass!

Ardat attempts to break up the party, but is eliminated.  However, she warns Castiel that Belphegor is trying to claim the throne of hell for himself.  Belphegor’s true motives are revealed, explaining that he wants to absorb all the souls so that he can become a god.  After all, there is a vacancy for that position.

Castiel is able to stop him in time, but Belphegor clearly does some damage when he pretends to be Jack one last time.  Castiel recognizes the lie and destroys Belphegor, but it broke his heart to do so.  Will Castiel be able to recover from this or is he too far gone now?  I can’t bear to see him apart from the Winchesters, but he may need to find his sense of worth on his own.  We need you Cass!

2

“It has to be you.”

SPN is not holding anything back for the final season, as Rowena suddenly realizes that “death is an infinite vessel.”  She explains to Sam that she can absorb all the souls and bring them back to hell, but her death will seal the spell.  Sam tells her that there has to be another way, but that pesky prophecy comes back up, as Rowena reminds him that he will need to be the one to kill her.

Sam and Rowena have grown very fond of one another and this moment was beyond heartbreaking, as Sam kills Rowena to save them all.  Rowena absorbs the souls and says goodbye to her boys before she enters into the rift, which had me crying my eyes out.

Rowena has been one of my absolute favorite characters, but I thought that she also found redemption here.  The witch who used to look out for her own interests truly discovered her purpose and this moment with Sam reminded her that she did have a family in the end.

Farewell Rowena.  I will miss you so much!

1

“I don’t think there’s anything left to say…”

After this incredibly heartbreaking moment, Sam and Dean return to the bunker.  Sam is dealing with his grief and Dean reminds him that they did it.  Dean and Castiel have an argument and Castiel feels like Dean is still blaming him for Mary’s death.  There has been a distance between these two for quite a while, but Castiel decides that it’s time for him to move on now. 

Where will Castiel go?  Is there a way for him and Dean to resolve their differences?  I hope so because I can’t bear to see him separated from Sam and Dean.  Castiel reminds Dean that he has Sam, but I have always looked at them all as a family and I can’t bear to see them apart.  Let’s hope this gets resolved!  Stay tuned SPN family!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Supernatural in the comments section below.  Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Final Chapter Blog

Free Instant Preview of The Search for Alice is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Do you love horror series?  Of course you do!  Please also check out 12 Nights of Horror Series Coming Soon.  It’s your home for everything you need to know about new and returning horror television series including new trailers, premiere dates, reviews, recaps, and renewals!