Month: December 2019

Spoiler-Free Review of “Dare Me” on USA Network: Dark Sensational Potential with Spirit Fingers

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

“Cheerleading equals death,” according to Torrance’s hilarious younger brother in Bring It On and he may have been spot on when it comes to USA Network’s new teen drama.  Teenage girls can be dangerous, especially when the captain’s spot on her beloved squad is threatened, as secrets slither into the open, luring us into a promising slow burn thriller.

After watching the Pilot episode, the show already reminds me of Bring It On combined with some dark cult comedy greats like Heathers and Jawbreaker, which could be the formula for a fantastic new show.

Dare Me is based on the novel of the same name by Megan Abbott, following the plot of a cheerleader who seeks revenge on the squad that betrayed her.  The show premiered on the USA Network on December 29th 2019 and will feature 10 weekly episodes.  It stars Willa Fitzgerald (Scream), Marlo Kelly, Herizen Guardiola, Erika Prevost, and Taveeta Szymanowicz.

The show seems like it may have been better suited for a slot on Freeform and a mid-season premiere can be problematic, but the show could be a diamond in the rough.

Does Dare Me do enough to capture our full attention in its Pilot episode?  Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Dare Me USA Network 1
Images courtesy of USA Network

Strong and interesting characters.

I am already a fan of Willa Fitzgerald and she is definitely making waves as the new coach of this cheerleading squad.  Marlo Kelly is also proving to be quite the scene stealer as the mean girl captain with a bitter sweet tooth for revenge.  More please!

Cheerleading can be brutal.

I absolutely love the concept of this show and we are immersed into a competitive world where these girls will do anything to be the one on top of the pyramid.  The dark and sadistic hints are enough to hold my attention, as we begin to explore the secrets leading up to some kind of unspeakable crime.

I have a lot of questions already, but that just means this show is doing a good job of keeping me invested so far.

The Cons:

Dare Me USA Network 2
Images courtesy of USA Network

Super long montages and lots of fluff.

The show is already coming across as a slow burn thriller, which means we will need to invest some time into it before we get any major reveals.  There is a lot of set-up in the pilot episode to really introduce everything, but I could have done without the numerous montages.  Seriously, it seemed like they were endless.

So am I in or out?

Dare Me USA Network 3
Images courtesy of USA Network

I’m in for now, but I’m not completely convinced as of yet.  The show has a lot of promise and potential to become something truly dark and magnificent, but I just need things to speed up slightly so that I don’t lose interest too quickly.

When a show airs weekly episodes, they need to do enough to keep viewers coming back and I think they have, but we need to keep up the pace and introduce more dark secrets involving this major crime to prevent us from losing interest.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’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!

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

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 10 episode 8: “Debbie Might Be a Prostitute”

Happy Monday TV fans!  After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 10 episode 8, I realized that if you’re a Gallagher, “always lie.”  Seems like an easy motto to follow when in doubt…

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not watched the latest episode yet.

In last night’s episode, “Debbie Might Be a Prostitute,” Debbie realizes that there may have been a miscommunication between her and Claudia.  Meanwhile, Carl, Liam, and Kev and V try out new business ideas, Tami and Lip have trouble finding a sitter for baby Freddy, and Frank investigates a haunted house with Faye.

My top 5 moments from Shameless season 10 episode 8 are:

5

“This is my calling.”

After Carl’s attempt to clean up the streets of Southside, he now realizes that he wants to find his true purpose in life.  Carl wants to become a cop, but is too young, but that is not going to stop him.  After a failed attempt to show a fake ID, the cops tell him that they have the perfect opportunity for him.

Carl is now the leader of the youth committee and he is ready to whip these kids into shape, showing off his three skills:  Choking things, good with weapons, and a buttload of rage in his heart.  I mean, that would really make any resume stand out.

Shameless Showtime 12 30 1
Images courtesy of Showtime

4

“What do real people do with money?”

After getting an unexpected check from the IRS for $825, Kev and V are ready to be smart about their money.  Only they end up getting involved in a pyramid scheme for EscarGold, which is some kind of eye face mask thing that burns their faces off.

Kev and V are stuck now, but that is not going to stop them from being inventive, as they come up with an idea to sell it as some kind of hemorrhoid cream.  “Your butt will thank you!” 

3

“Who else you gonna call?”

Elizabeth Rodriguez continues to light up the screen as Frank’s new friend, Faye, who appears to live in a Rolls Royce, but after Kev asks her up front, we discover that she does have a beautiful house…except it is apparently haunted.

Frank is up for the challenge and offers to help her, especially after he hears about all the Scotch that is there, but things go off track when Faye handcuffs Frank to the bed, showing him an old videotape of when her husband was sent away to prison when Frank was given a pass.

Faye clearly blames Frank for what happened and it doesn’t look like she is going to let him go until she gets some answers, but we know that Frank Gallagher can somehow find his way out of every situation…

2

“You hit the jackpot.”

After Debbie discovers that her new friend, Claudia, gave her $1000, she realizes that she may have been mistaken for a prostitute.  Apparently, Debbie was hanging out at “hoe corner,”  so I guess she should be careful about where she stands.

Debbie visits Claudia to clear things up and Claudia seems willing to take her to dinner, but she insists that Debbie keep the money and starts to buy her extravagant presents.

Megan tells Debbie that she basically hit the jackpot or the “motherload” with this sugar mama opportunity, but I’m not sure how Debbie really feels about this.  We’ll have to see how this goes…

Shameless Showtime 12 30 2
Images courtesy of Showtime

1

“Do you love and trust me too?”

After Paula gets thrown out a window, both Ian and Mickey think the other one is responsible for her murder.  They find out that if they are married, they will never have to testify against each other and decide to see this plan through, but it is later revealed that Paula’s girlfriend was the one who killed her.

Mickey still seems ready to marry Ian, but Ian has second thoughts.  After all, he has witnessed a broken marriage in his own family so it may take him some time, but I am confident that Gallavich is going to find its happily ever after story!

Shameless Showtime 12 30 3
Images courtesy of Showtime

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Final Chapter Blog

**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!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “You” Season 2 on Netflix: Lifetime Dexter Does It Again

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

Obsession looks good on Joe Goldberg, played brilliantly by Penn Badgley.  After season one became a streaming sensation on Netflix, I was slightly worried that season two would not be able to deliver, but starting over in a new town gave us plenty of opportunities to witness Joe’s dark narrative come alive once again.

You (season two) began streaming new episodes on December 26th 2019 on Netflix.  Season two features ten episodes (about 50 minutes in length).  It stars Penn Badgley, Victoria Pedretti, James Scully, Ambyr Childers, Carmela Zumbado, and Jenna Ortega.

In season two, Joe moves from New York to L.A. and is determined to get a fresh start as “Will,” but things get complicated when he falls in love with his new romantic interest, Love.  He quickly becomes entangled in her family drama, which mostly involves her twin brother, Forty.  Joe tries to be a better person, but the darkness within him continues to stir, as he starts to lose self-control once again.

If you loved season one, you are probably wondering if season two lives up to it?  Let’s find out!

The Pros:

You Netflix 6
Images courtesy of Netflix

Strong supporting characters that steal the show.

As much as I love listening to Joe’s moody narrative, it can get a bit stale if we don’t shake things up with some interesting characters.  My biggest issue with season one was that I actually really didn’t like Beck as a character.  In season two, I really thought that Love had a lot of potential, but I was also intrigued by her twin brother, Forty, who is absolutely hilarious.

Joe’s new neighbors, Delilah and Ellie, are also both fantastic.  You care about their stories and they really allowed us to see Joe/Will’s struggle to be a hero you can count on.  Being a serial killer can get in the way of this; however, but these characters spark a lot of goodness within him, which really helps him grow as a person despite all of his past inner demons.

Joe’s backstory is revealed and seamless connections to season one questions.

We get a lot of flashbacks sprinkled in during the episodes about Joe’s childhood, which help us understand him a bit more.  Even though we get a new setting and characters for season two, I thought the connections to season one worked perfectly.  They weren’t forced or excessive and they really answered a lot of questions that I had without hitting us over the head with unnecessary cameos.

Really great twists.

I did not see the ultimate twist coming and I was very impressed with it, bringing me in that much more.  This show is addicting and I tend to watch it all in one sitting because I don’t want anyone to spoil it for me.  Each reveal was well timed and I actually thought this season was even better than the first.

The Cons:

You Netflix 4
Images courtesy of Netflix

Less kills than season one.

I mean, I guess that shows growth in Joe’s character, but I kind of missed seeing all of the Dexter-like kills from season one, but the ones we do get are rewarding enough.  That being said, it’s hard to continue listening to Joe’s conflicted narrative when we don’t get some surprising kills thrown into the mix to balance that out.

Can’t escape that Lifetime feel.

The show actually did originally air on Lifetime and Netflix ended up picking it up, but there are a lot of scenes that just scream Lifetime with so many over dramatic moments.  But to be honest, that’s why we are watching this.  I can’t say that this surprised me and we witness so many real and honest performances to balance this out, but there were some scenes that were just a little bit too outrageous.

So am I in or out?

You Netflix 5
Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent!  I really enjoyed season one of the show, but I loved season two even more. “I wolf you season two!”

This show is beyond addicting.  It’s dark and obsessive, but it also has so many genuine moments of compassion and humor. 

Stand out character:  Forty, who basically stole the show for me. 

Season two was also not afraid to make fun of itself, even having one of the characters comparing Joe’s actions to Dexter, which I appreciated.

The twists were so great and the pacing worked so well, making this show the perfect one to binge-watch.  I hope that we get a season three because this show is fantastic!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’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!

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

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Ranking the top Couples on Television for 2019: Ships that will warm your heart all year round!

As the New Year quickly approaches, it really got me thinking about some of my absolute favorite couples or ships on television.  Whether it was a moment of passion, a first kiss, or a love built on friendship, there were many ships that had my heart skipping a beat, as I gasped for air and fell in love along with them.

It was difficult for me to narrow down my favorite ships for 2019 and I didn’t think it was possible for me to choose my absolute favorite one, which is where you came in!

I ran a three round poll (randomized tournament style) on Twitter and asked for fans to cast their votes for their favorite ships of the year on TV.  Thank you so much for your participation and support, as the tournament was so much fun and actually really competitive!

Round One featured the following ships/couples from 2019:

  • Cheryl & Toni from Riverdale (Ship name:  Choni) 
  • Charles & Liza from Younger (Ship name:  Charliza)
  • FP & Alice from Riverdale (Ship name:  Falice)
  • Ian & Mickey from Shameless (Ship name:  Gallavich)
  • Murphy & Emori from The 100 (Ship name:  Memori)
  • Villanelle & Eve from Killing Eve (Ship name:  Villaneve)
  • McKenna & Trey from Light as a Feather
  • Veronica & Archie from Riverdale (Ship name:  Varchie)
  • John Dorie & June from Fear the Walking Dead
  • Betty & Jughead from Riverdale (Ship name:  Bughead)
  • Alex & Piper from Orange Is the New Black (Ship name:  Vauseman)
  • Bellamy & Clarke from The 100 (Ship name:  Bellarke)

After your votes, the following ships/couples moved on to Round Two:

  • Villanelle & Eve
  • Cheryl & Toni
  • FP & Alice
  • Betty & Jughead
  • Ian & Mickey
  • Bellamy & Clarke

Loved seeing Bellarke & Gallavich make it to the second round this year!

giphy
GIF courtesy of Wattpad AlysiaOlivas

After your votes in Round Two, the following ships/couples moved on to the FINALS:

  • Betty & Jughead
  • Cheryl & Toni
  • Villanelle & Eve

Most Spirited Ship Fans:  FP & Alice (Falice) fans deserve some recognition here even though they didn’t make it to the final round.  For two years in a row, these fans have pulled out all the stops to show their support and I adore them for it!

FP and Alice gif
GIF courtesy of @paleycenter

After your votes in Round Three, the FINAL results are:

3rd place:  Villanelle & Eve (Villaneve)

This ship screams passion and danger and we love them for it!

Villaneve gif
GIF courtesy of Killing Eve Tenor

2nd place:  Cheryl & Toni (Choni)

Last year’s winners still held strong. I loved seeing Choni explore more layers of their relationship this past year. Can’t wait to see what they do next!

tenor
GIF courtesy of THESHEDEVIL Tenor

 Drum roll please…

1st place:  Betty & Jughead (Bughead)

We have a new favorite ship for 2019 and I couldn’t be more pleased!  Even though their relationship may take a dark turn in the new year, these two constantly show each other unconditional love and support.

tenor (1)
GIF courtesy of LauraPedersen1 Tenor

Thanks to all the fans who voted!  I wish you all the best for the upcoming New Year!

View Final Poll Results Here!

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post your thoughts and comments below on some of your favorite ships on TV from 2019.  Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’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!

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!

Ranking my Top 10 Television Shows of 2019: Which Shows Made The Cut?

Greetings TV Fans!  I hope you all had an amazing holiday and I wish you all the best for the upcoming New Year!  As we get closer and closer to approaching 2020, I thought it would be the perfect time to count down my Top 10 TV Shows of 2019. 

While some returning shows continued strong, others fell off slightly.  Meanwhile, some other new shows completely captivated my attention, paving their way into my top 10.

**Please note some spoilers are ahead.**

Without any further delay, let’s get to my list!

My Top 10 Television Shows of 2019 are:

10

American Horror Story:  1984

AHS 1984 FX 1
Image courtesy of FX Network

Who doesn’t love the 80’s?  The first half of the newest season of AHS was so much fun.  The music was to die for and it really gave us this campy comedy horror vibe that also presented us with some fun throwbacks to horror movies we all know and love.

Emma Roberts did a fantastic job leading the cast and we got plenty of twists and turns along the way.  While the second half of the season fell off for me, I still was entertained, rooting for my Final Girls to kick some ass!

9

The Punisher (Season 2)

The Punisher Netflix 1
Image courtesy of Netflix

So I am a huge Jon Bernthal fan and I really think that he plays this role to perfection.  Bernthal is always a little rough around the edges, but that’s part of his charm and he is so believable as Frank Castle.  I absolutely loved the first season of the show and while I anticipated that this show would be canceled after season 2, I knew that it would provide us with a lot of action and it did!

8

The Purge (Season 2)

The Purge USA 1
Image courtesy of USA Network

Last year, The Purge (season 1) was my absolute favorite show of the year.  I am a huge fan of the movies and I didn’t go into the series with very high expectations, but it was bloody fantastic!  It’s hard to live up to something so spectacular and while season 2 fell slightly short for me, it still was such an entertaining watch.

The new characters were great and I loved the inside look into the NFFA.  Fans got a chance to see a world outside of Purge Night, which was so interesting.  They presented us with so many new layers, while sprinkling in some super fun cameos and Easter eggs too!

7

Riverdale (Season 3)

Riverdale CW 1
Image courtesy of The CW

Riverdale is definitely one of my favorite shows, but after all of the Black Hood dark twists in season 2, season 3 got a little bit weird.  We entered the world of Gryphons and Gargoyles and learned about The Farm, which was really bizarre and confusing, but there were still so many moments that kept this show going strong for me.

The Midnight Club flashback episode was fantastic and Cheryl Blossom was pretty much born to star in the Heathers musical episode, reminding me why I love this show so much!

6

The Walking Dead (Season 10)

TWD AMC 1
Image courtesy of AMC

I have been watching TWD since it first started and I loved the earlier seasons so much.  The show fell off for me along the way and I often felt like I was watching out of obligation.  However, the second half of season 9 and the beginning of season 10 made me a true fan once again.

The Whisperers are fantastic villains and we are finally getting some screen time for some of our favorite characters.  I mean, who doesn’t love seeing Daryl and Carol making friendship bracelets for one another?  Keep it up, TWD!

5

Unbelievable

Unbelievable Netflix 1
Image courtesy of Netflix

Not the typical type of show that I usually watch, but I heard really great things about this show and decided to give it a try.  There were some parts that were difficult to watch, but the performances were so real and inspiring.  I could not stop watching this show and I thought it was so thought-provoking and important.

4

Killing Eve (Season 2)

Killing Eve AMC 1
Image courtesy of AMC/BBC

While season 1 allowed us to really focus on Eve’s quest to take down Villanelle, we got to really know Villanelle in season 2.  Jodie Comer’s performance was beyond fantastic and I was so excited for her Emmy win!  The dynamic between Eve and Villanelle took some unexpected turns in season 2 and we were left with a major cliffhanger at the end of the season, but this show is so addicting and I can’t get enough!  More please!

3

Stranger Things (Season 3)

Stranger Things Netflix 1
Image courtesy of Netflix

I am a huge fan of Stranger Things, but I was slightly underwhelmed by season 2.  However, season 3 came back with a bang, giving us so many fun 80’s moments. Some of our favorite characters truly got to shine and we also got some fantastic new characters that I welcomed with open arms.  I think season 3 may be my favorite now, but I was so entertained by the watch and I can’t wait to see how it all ends!

2

Game of Thrones (Season 8)

GOT HBO 1
Image courtesy of HBO

I thought that GOT would pretty much be a given as my favorite show of the year, but the final season took some interesting twists that I’m still debating over.  That being said, the performances were brilliant, the action was intense, and we also got some heart-warming moments in the midst of the heartbreaking ones.

I loved seeing Arya’s “Not Today” moment and Jon Snow’s reunion with Ghost was very special for me.  This show will always be one of my all time favorites and overall, I was thoroughly entertained.

Drum roll please…

1

The Witcher

The Witcher Netflix 1
Image courtesy of Netflix

This show was such an unexpected and pleasant surprise.  Even though the show started off a little slow, it kicked things up a notch and quickly became my favorite show of the year!  The characters and performances were beyond fantastic.  The action was out of this world and the dark magic was so intriguing.

This show was fast-paced, fun, and addicting.  I never thought that I would even like this show and it somehow blew all of the other shows out of the water for me.  Cheers to The Witcher!

The Witcher Netflix 2
Image courtesy of Netflix

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments about your favorite television shows of 2019.  Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Final Chapter Blog

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

**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!

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

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 10 episode 7: “Citizen Carl”

Happy Monday TV fans!  After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 10 episode 7, I realized that the Gallaghers may not always have it all together, but they do pull off some pretty impressive plans along the way.

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not watched the latest episode yet.

In last night’s episode, “Citizen Carl,” Carl decides to become an active citizen to clean up the streets of Southside.  Meanwhile, Tami and Lip have a shitty adventure, Debbie and Megan go out to celebrate, and Frank meets an interesting new stranger.

My top 5 moments from Shameless season 10 episode 7 are:

5

“Big score.  Fresh dead guy.”

After a customer named Billy is found dead at The Alibi, Frank sheds quite a few fake tears while taking his wallet and keys.  Frank is quite the actor, but he ends up trying to steal as many things as he can from poor dead Billy while giving quite the inspiring eulogy.

Meanwhile, Frank meets a beautiful stranger played by Orange Is the New Black’s Elizabeth Rodriguez.  It looks like she is a woman of mystery herself, but has Frank finally met his match?

Shameless Season 10 Episode 7 3
Images courtesy of Showtime

4

“We killed Billy…”

After the coroners take Billy away, Kev and V start to wonder if they are responsible for his death since they continued to serve him alcohol.  This guilt lasts for only about a minute, as they start to realize a real problem…that Billy was a major part of their revenue.

Kev and V realize that they will need to bring in some new customers to make up for Billy and stoop pretty low, posing as “Teronica and Tevin” at an AA meeting.  V starts to feel really bad when some of the members actually show up, but the money seems to be rolling in for now.

3

“Here’s your demon child.”

Debbie’s plan works like a charm, as Peppa drops off Fake Franny (Bella) and the check, claiming she never wants to see her again.  Debbie takes some time for herself to celebrate by going out for drinks with Megan.  Megan explains that they need to find some new potential baby daddies with a lot of cash to prepare for when the money runs out, but Debbie is not really feeling it.

Rather, she meets a female stranger at the bar and they really hit it off.  Only Debbie is mistaken for a prostitute and is left a rather large tip in cash on the dresser.  Did Debbie just find a sugar mama or could this lead to a potential relationship?

2

“Little domestic bitches…”

Ian and Mickey (Gallavich) continue to be absolutely adorable together, but it’s time for Mickey to try out his new job…in retail.  Mickey actually rocks the headset and polo shirt with class and even runs after a shoplifter, asking her why she stole such an “ugly piece of shit,” which was probably the funniest part of the episode for me.

Ian’s crazy PO, Paula, makes an arrangement; however, and now Mickey is working for her too.  It looks like Ian and Mickey are going to be dealing with some crazy stuff together, but at least they have each other.

Shameless Season 10 Episode 7 2
Images courtesy of Showtime

So much for Mickey’s future in retail…

1

“Shit’s gotta change.”

After meeting an elderly woman named Esther at the bus stop, Carl gets on his bus, but witnesses her get mugged and shot.  The bus refuses to let him off to go and help, but Carl is not going to forget this anytime soon.

Shameless Season 10 episode 7 1
Images courtesy of Showtime

Carl is outraged that the city won’t replace the streetlights at the bus stop and decides to recruit Kelly and her high maintenance friend so that they can get the city to pay attention.

Apparently Anne moved?  OK…moving on.

Kelly and her friend shoot an Insta story while Carl pretends to mug them and the plan is a success, as the city now replaces the streetlights.  Good job, Citizen Carl!  Esther would be proud.  Stay tuned!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Dreaming of Wonderland Holiday 1

**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!

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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Witcher” on Netflix: Monsters, Magic and Melody

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

The world of a dark fantasy can be somewhat confusing, but with Henry Cavill’s portrayal of Geralt of Rivia, all bets are off.  We are quickly immersed into a world filled with terrifying nightmares, dark magic, and war, as we are reminded quite often about the importance of destiny while bursting into some welcomed song.

The Witcher began streaming episodes on Netflix as of December 20th 2019 and currently features eight episodes for season one.  Each episode is about an hour, so leave plenty of time to watch this.  It stars Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, and Anya Chalotra.  If you are worried about the cliffhanger ending at the end of season one, fear not!

The Witcher has already been confirmed and renewed for season two by Netflix.

Based on the popular video games and book series, The Witcher follows Geralt of Rivia on his monster hunting quest, as he tries to find his own purpose in the world while battling the forces of evil on a daily basis.  His destiny is linked to Princess Ciri, who ends up on the run during the war, and to Yennefer of Vengerberg, a powerful mage with her own inner demons.

Does The Witcher measure up to all the hype?  Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Witcher Netflix 1
Images courtesy of Netflix

Wonderful characters and performances.

If you were worried about Henry Cavill, don’t be.  He’s absolutely fantastic!  Once you get over his tone of voice, you will thoroughly enjoy his performance.  Some of my favorite moments include the dynamic between him and the bard, giving us a lot of unexpected comedy and fun banter.

My favorite character is definitely Yennefer of Vengerberg, however.  Her story is so intriguing and interesting.  I got some Melisandre vibes from Game of Thrones, but that is not a bad thing at all.  I’m always more interested in the darker anti-hero rather than a character who is so obviously good.

Gore, action, and passion.

The Witcher is definitely not for the faint of heart.  The battle scenes are intense and there are some disturbing images and moments that I am still cringing over.  Of course these moments are also balanced out with a lot of sex scenes, but that’s to be expected.  I don’t think that anything was overdone or over-the-top, however.

The Cons:

The Witcher Netflix 2
Images courtesy of Netflix

A lot of characters and time jumps.

So, when you play a video game, you get a guide to reference and I often felt like I needed one of my very own to keep track of everyone.  There is a lot jam-packed into eight episodes and you really need to pay attention.

I also thought the time jumps were slightly confusing.  I didn’t get any text clues as to where we were in time and I had to figure it out on my own.  Again, I don’t really think this was a huge issue, but I did feel like I needed to take notes to figure out some things…

So am I in or out?

The Witcher Netflix 3
Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent!  Wow, this may be one of the best shows I have watched all year.  I’ll be honest, I went into this show expecting to be confused and overwhelmed.  I am familiar with the video games and books, but I wouldn’t say that I am that well versed in either.

From my understanding, the show fits in somewhere between these plots while giving us enough of a unique story, but you can watch this show without knowing anything about either one.  Trust me.

If you are a fan of shows or movies like Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and Merlin, you will feel right at home, but I will say that you don’t need to be a fantasy fan to enjoy this series.  The story weaving is so intricate and well done and this show is beyond addicting.  Even though the episodes are long, I finished it in two days and as soon as I got to the end, I wanted more!

I highly recommend this show and I hope you enjoy it!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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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!

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My performance of the week ending 12/21/19 on TV goes to…

Paola Nuñez as Esme Carmona on USA Network’s The Purge season two.

The Purge season one was such a welcomed surprise last year and I wasn’t sure that a new group of characters would be able to live up to it, but Esme Carmona gave me someone to truly root for.  Paola Nuñez’s performance was inspiring, heartfelt, and powerful. 

**Please note major spoilers are ahead if you are not caught up on the series.

As soon as season two began, Esme immediately became my favorite character.  I thought it was so interesting that she worked for the NFFA, but had a moral compass.  The more secrets Esme uncovered, the more she was in danger, but her quest for the truth was truly inspiring.

We have seen members of the Resistance in the previous movies and season, but Esme’s transformation and discoveries as a part of the NFFA were truly unique, showing us just how corrupt the system was.  Esme could have easily stayed quiet, knowing full well what the NFFA was capable of, but she continued to take huge risks to get justice for those who were wronged by the system, including Professor Adams, who was very near and dear to her heart.

Once we glimpsed into Esme’s past, I was even more intrigued by her character.  Esme did not always follow the rules, but she fought for what she believed in and family and friendship were so important to her.  Esme’s dynamic with her sister was heartbreaking, which made the scene with her father that much more compelling and understandable.

During the season, I was really hoping that Esme would team up with Ryan and she did, which helped develop her character even more.  As Ryan and her grew closer, we got to see a softer side of Esme, making her even more likable.  Not too many characters tend to survive on Purge Night so I didn’t want to get my hopes up about these two, but I thought this gave Esme’s character even more layers and it made the season finale that much more shocking.

What’s next for Esme?  Well, not much if you watched the season finale, but that doesn’t mean that her actions were done in vain, as they actually inspired a Resistance movement.  Esme’s face was the symbol of this movement, as her friends refused to let society forget about who she was and what she stood for.

Nuñez was able to channel so much strength into Esme’s character.  I was captivated by her every single time she was on screen and I truly believed in her cause.  The quest toward truth and redemption is never an easy one, but Esme Carmona’s courage reminded us that our lives depend on it and we should keep fighting for answers one day at a time.

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

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The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

**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!

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

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Purge” season 2 episode 10: “The Purge Doesn’t Work”

Happy Wednesday TV fans!  After watching USA network’s The Purge season 2 episode 10 season finale last night, we were reminded that “the truth is the only thing more powerful than this regime, so demand the truth no matter the cost…your lives depend on it.”

Please note MAJOR spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.  

In last night’s episode, “7:01 AM,” Esme attempts to tell the public the truth, but the NFFA is not going to let her make this broadcast without putting up a fight.  Meanwhile, Ben and Marcus face off, Ryan’s group is ready to blow things up, and Michelle’s life hangs in the balance.

My top 5 moments from The Purge season 2 episode 10 Season Finale are:

5

“There is no way in hell that I’m gonna let you die.”

Marcus is not questioning things any longer and it looks like he has finally found his true purpose at the Triage center.  Michelle is not doing so great, but Marcus is able to save her life.  It looks like Michelle was actually trying to make things right after all and I have to say that I’m perfectly fine with that.

Marcus deserves a chance at real happiness and it looks like he and Michelle will continue to work with the Resistance to help others in need.

Will we get to see Marcus in any future Purge movies as a result?  We know that the Triage center always plays a major part and I would love to see more from his character.

4

“Don’t tell me this was all for nothing.”

Meanwhile, Esme breaks into the NFFA command center and is trying to release the footage from Olivia Hughes’s murder off Purge, but she can only send the file to the broadcast room, which really doesn’t leave her a lot of options.

Vivian meets up with her in the stairwell and agrees to grant her access into the room, but of course their boss, Curtis, breaks up the party.  Curtis initially seems like he believes Esme, but ends up shooting at her and poor Vivian is shot instead. 

Luckily, we find out at the end of the episode that Vivian is actually all right and is now working for the Resistance.

Go V!

3

“You’re trying to play God, but you’re not God. I AM!”

OK psycho Ben, you need to calm down.  Ben wakes up in the Triage center after Marcus brought him there to help him and he decides to return the favor by brutally murdering a bunch of doctors with a scalpel, claiming that they are robbing Purgers of their rightful kills.

Marcus ends up facing off with Ben and is able to stop him, but he doesn’t kill him.  Rather, he leaves him outside and says that the Purge will take care of him, but Ben somehow makes it out of there OK and is now left being creepy as ever with his God mask.

I guess if there is a Resistance, there still has to be a group dedicated to the Purge and it doesn’t look like Ben is going to stop the violence anytime soon.

2

“You see, it is a lie.”

After Ryan and his crew are able to blow things up and successfully steal their score from the Jackals, things are looking up for them, as they decide to head down to Panama to start new lives.  Only Ryan cannot leave Esme behind and decides to go after her.

Ryan tells Esme that he is where he’s supposed to be and plans on stalling the NFFA to give Esme enough time to broadcast her message, hoping that they will be forced to arrest Esme rather than kill her.

Ryan shows off some impressive shooting skills while Esme is able to successfully broadcast her message.  She explains that the Purge doesn’t work and goes into detail about Professor Adams and her study, revealing footage of the NFFA breaking into Olivia’s house off Purge.

Ryan is eventually killed and the NFFA comes face-to-face with Esme, but it is now after 7:00 AM and yet they still get the call to take her out.

Esme is shockingly killed and the NFFA claims that her broadcast was “fake news,” but Esme’s actions are not in vain.

1

“Our country deserves better.”

At the end of the episode, we learn that Darren is leading the Resistance movement, which features an image of Esme in the background, trying to tell the truth while fighting against the NFFA.  Vivian and Turner are also working for the Resistance, giving Turner a chance to really become someone worthy.

Marcus and Michelle are there as well and Ryan’s group ends up wiring his share of the money to the movement so that they can really make a difference, uniting our characters together.  Well, I guess except for psycho Ben, who seems to do better on his own.

Overall, this was a jam-packed season finale with so many twists and surprises.  I loved the fun cameo from Ethan Hawke in the beginning and I have to say that the season finale presented me with some twists that I did not see coming.

I hope this paves the way for a season 3 because I’m certainly not done with The Purge series just yet!

Stay tuned!

What did YOU think of the season 2 finale?  Did you predict who would survive?

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’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!

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 “Shameless” season 10 episode 6: “I’m Glad I Didn’t Sell You”

Happy Monday TV fans!  After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 10 episode 6, Frank reminded us that “there’s no room for sentiment in business,” but perhaps one should change the rules when it comes to your own children.

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not watched the latest episode yet.

In last night’s episode, “Adios Gringos,” Frank and Liam work together to obtain the highest bid for Ingrid’s baby.  Meanwhile, Tami and Lip continue to argue, V forgets the electric slide, and Carl leads Anne’s family to victory.

My top 5 moments from Shameless season 10 episode 6 are:

5

“What are you doing here?”

Luckily, Ian and Mickey don’t have to be separated for too long, as Mickey gets released from prison as well.  Mickey has Larry as his parole officer and he initially jumps off his bus thinking he is being followed, which was beyond hilarious.  Later on, we get a nice reunion between Ian and Mickey.

Meanwhile, Ian tries to help a pregnant woman in need of medical help, which goes against the rules of his insurance scam job.  His parole officer is not too pleased and almost offers Ian’s privates up as a snack for her dog, Biscuit.  Ian makes it out of there OK, but will he really be able to stay on the sidelines without helping people in need?

4

“Apparently I’ve raised a great kid.”

Deb is not giving up without getting her check, but she doesn’t want to hand Franny over to Peppa without a plan.  Debbie asks Franny to be bad, but Franny tries to tell her mother that she is a good girl.

Debbie realizes that she will need to find a stand-in for Franny to play the part and meets two sisters, Bella and Stella, who need Foster parents.  Stella blackmails Debbie, but she goes for it, realizing that she is desperate.  Peppa falls for it and the “new Franny” begins to wreak havoc and even sets a fire, so it looks like Deb’s plan is working like a charm.

3

“I’m glad I didn’t sell you.  You’re fun.”

Frank teams up with Liam in this episode to find the highest bidder for Ingrid’s baby, but Frank actually begins to bond with both Liam and his grandson.  Liam has to take over, reminding Frank about his own business motto, but it looks like they are both out of luck when one of the couples actually kidnaps the baby.

I’m not sure if we will circle back to this plot or not, but hopefully the baby is all right!  Either way, I enjoyed the screen time for Frank and Liam and perhaps we will get to see more business schemes from them in the future, but maybe they should stick to goods rather than people.

2

“I almost passed my battle strategy class.”

Well, I guess that makes Carl an expert on war, as he tries to help Anne’s family when some cowboy competitors show up to steal their tamales.  I almost felt like we were in the wild wild west at one point, but Carl does his best to motivate everyone, even though his plan falls through.

In the end, they are able to make some serious cash serving meatless tamales in a boujee part of town, but things are also heating up between Carl and Anne, as they finally kiss while making tamales.  It’s about time!

1

“I think we’re together.”

Tami continues to struggle with motherhood, but she also gets extremely jealous of Lip and Sarah and decides to even the score.  Tami has a meltdown and tells Lip that she feels like she can’t breathe in their house, which inspires him to get an RV for them in the backyard.

At least it’s a start and these two finally admit that they are together, so we’ll have to see how this relationship goes, but baby Freddy is adorable so hopefully this will give him a calmer environment!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

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The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

**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!

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!