Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” Season 4 Episode 12: “True Honor”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching The CW’s Riverdale season 4 episode 12, I learned that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but it’s usually a draw. When it comes to true honor, winning isn’t always the answer.

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

In last night’s episode, “Chapter Sixty-Nine: Men of Honor,” Jughead and Bret prepare for a duel, but Betty and Alice have a side mission of their own that may be more important. Meanwhile, Archie gets caught in the middle of Uncle Frank’s past, an old nemesis returns, and Veronica heads out to New York to catch up with Katy Keene.

My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 4 episode 12 are:

5

“New York is my town.”

Veronica takes a trip out to New York for a college interview and spends some quality time with her old friend, Katy Keene, presenting us with a fun crossover to prepare us for the premiere of the spin-off series.

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Images courtesy of The CW

After witnessing a super fun shopping spree with these two, Katy reveals that her mother is very ill, causing Veronica to have her own moment of self-reflection.

After Hermione reveals that Hiram is also very sick, Veronica decides to change her name back to Lodge. It may seem like a small gesture, but Hiram is clearly pleased with this.

Veronica was missing something, but will she find it in New York next year or will she stick around in Riverdale? We’ll have to wait and see, but it looks like we will get some serious Varchie screen time in next week’s episode.

4

“Bret is afraid of me?”

I mean, you are pretty intimidating, Betty, especially after smashing that headstone to pieces, but I am loving the rivalry between our girl and annoying Bret. In this episode, we get the team-up we fell in love with before, as Alice decides to tag along for Betty’s mission.

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Images courtesy of The CW

Betty and Alice meet with Mrs. Chipping, trying to piece together what happened to her husband and we finally discover that Moose left because Bret threatened him with a sex scandal video tape.

Betty fears that there may be a tape of her and Jughead as well and is determined to find his collection, but Bret is not making things easy with his secret alarms.

3

“And may the best man win…”

The duel between Jughead and Bret is quite eventful, as we get three rounds to determine who the best man truly is.

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Images courtesy of The CW

Round one is fencing and Bret takes the point, but Jughead literally knocks Bret out in round two, which was quite entertaining to see.

The final round is a chess match, but Jughead ultimately decides to throw the match, explaining that he is done playing this game. Even though Jughead doesn’t win the match, he is a winner in our books as he takes the moral high ground here.

However, it’s only a matter of time before we discover how Jughead meets his untimely demise (or not) and it’s hard to pinpoint the exact motive, but it looks like the Baxter Brothers book series may still be at the center of it.

2

“I will ruin you…”

Cheryl and Toni (Choni) seem to be quite the hit with their new Maple Club, but things get complicated when Nick Sinclair shows up. Cheryl spots him from behind the curtain and this brings up a lot of horrible memories for her. In case you forgot, Cheryl was drugged by Nick during her sophomore year and Veronica and the Pussycats came to her rescue.

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Images courtesy of The CW

Cheryl really opens up to Toni about what happened and we also learn that Toni went through something similar in her past as well. She shows her love and support for her girlfriend, but she also takes things one step further and decides to teach Nick Sinclair a lesson.

Toni teams up with Kevin and Fangs with their side hustle and videos Nick being tickled. Toni tells Nick that she will ruin him and saves the day, proving once again why Choni is such an incredible couple. I love these two so much! Go Toni!

1

“I think we need to be more worried about Donna.”

Even though Bret stops Betty and Alice from taking his precious collection, Betty does manage to slip Donna’s tape by him. Betty discovers Donna’s confession, which is an identical speech about a teacher she had an affair with.

Betty recognizes that she is lying and has done this speech before, but what is Donna’s end game here?

Betty is right about suspecting Donna as the greater threat, but what does she want with Jughead?

Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Riverdale in the comments section below. Thank you 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!

Love time travel? Me too! Check out my blog on The Octoberpod Guide to Time Travel and stay tuned for an all new episode of Octoberpod! Fun and spooky stuff for retro horror fans! Subscribe at Octoberpod Home Video

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Stranger” on Netflix: A Complex Thriller Worthy of your next Binge-Watch

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

“A secret revealed is a secret destroyed.”

The Stranger premiered on Netflix on January 31st 2020 with 8 episodes (40-45 minutes in length).  It stars Richard Armitage, Siobhan Finneran, Anthony Head, Dervla Kirwan, and Hannah John-Kamen.

The show is based on the book of the same name by Harlan Coben.  It is a mystery thriller that follows the lives of several families, as secrets are exposed by a stranger, creating a vortex of lies, murder, and a quest to uncover the truth.

This is not the first crime thriller that Netflix has released, but it’s difficult to deliver some worthy twists without over-complicating things.

If you enjoy movies like The Call, The Girl on the Train, and Gone Girl, this new show will make you feel right at home, but does it do enough to stand out as a worthy thrill ride?  Let’s find out…

The Pros:

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Images courtesy of Netflix

The mystery will keep you invested and guessing the entire time.

Adam Price basically has his entire life turned upside down when a stranger approaches him with a shattering secret about his wife.  As we begin to uncover the truth with Adam, you will find yourself on the edge of your seat, which makes the watch entertaining and fast-paced.  Unnecessary set-up does not get in the way, as we dive right into the mystery from the opening minutes of the series.

An amazing cast.

Richard Armitage does a fantastic job with his role, but I was also really impressed by Siobhan Finneran’s portrayal of Johanna Griffin.  Let’s not forget that we also have Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum, Anthony Head playing a supporting role to perfection.  The list goes on and on and every single performance was spot on.

The Cons:

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Images courtesy of Netflix

Way too many sub-plots.

Yes, this is one of those shows where everything connects.  However, we certainly get a lot thrown our way and some of it seems beyond outrageous.  If you pay attention, a lot of the connections and reveals make sense later on, but some of them are actually never explained, so I’m wondering why we didn’t just focus on the main mystery, which was compelling enough.

It’s easy to get lost in this show and perhaps it is too complex for its own good, but there are enough reasons why you should still watch the show in its entirety anyway.

So am I in or out?

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Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent!  While the show may be unnecessarily complex at times, it is the epitome of the perfect weekend binge-watch.  You can watch all eight episodes in one sitting and you will probably want to because each episode leaves you wanting more, as you try to figure out the mystery going on.

I tend to thoroughly enjoy mystery thrillers with a touch of Lifetime drama thrown in and this show exceeded my expectations.  While this isn’t the best show or thriller I have ever seen, it delivers as a quick and entertaining show you can watch while throwing in some unexpected twists and moments that will keep you guessing.

Keep these coming, Netflix!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Stranger 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!

**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!

Love time travel?  Me too!  Check out my blog on The Octoberpod Guide to Time Travel and stay tuned for an all new episode of Octoberpod!  Fun and spooky stuff for retro horror fans!  Subscribe at Octoberpod Home Video

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! 

 

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” Season 15 Episode 11: “The Gamblers”

Happy Saturday TV fans!  After watching The CW’s Supernatural season 15 episode 11, the Winchesters asked themselves if luck could really fix everything?  Well maybe not, but that will never stop them from doing the right thing, even if the odds are not in their favor.

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

In Thursday night’s episode, “The Gamblers,” Sam and Dean head to Alaska to see if they can turn their luck around.  Meanwhile, Castiel receives a surprising phone call that could change everything.

My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 15 episode 11 are:

5

“He wants us off our game.”

Sam and Dean’s luck has not turned around just yet, but they start to wonder why Chuck/God has stripped it away from them.  Dean recognizes that Chuck wants to make them weak, but what is Chuck’s ultimate plan here?

It may be possible that Chuck wants Sam and Dean to question everything so that he can take advantage of their decisions or is this all one big test for them to prove their worth in the final battle?

We’ll have to wait to find out…

4

“Magic Pool Hall.”

I don’t know about you, but I thought this was one of the coolest concepts and episodes I have seen on SPN in a while.  The idea of a Magic Pool Hall to gamble a chance at doubling your luck really worked for me.

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Images courtesy of The CW

Sam and Dean learn that if their coin goes blank, they have to leave.  There’s always a catch and we realize that once your luck is gone, you are out of time, but does Dean have what it takes to wipe out the competition?

3

“I learn from my brother.”

Dean proves to be quite the worthy opponent and I was beyond impressed with his pool skills, but Sam and Dean quickly realize that someone is stealing everyone’s luck…Atrox Fortuna, the Roman goddess of fate and luck.

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Images courtesy of The CW

Atrox Fortuna claims that Dean is just a “beach read” and is way more interested in Sam playing.  Sam accepts the challenge and shows off his own skills, proving that he has learned quite a bit from big brother Dean over the years.

Go Sam!

2

“Don’t play his game. Make him play yours.”

Sam and Dean decide to challenge Atrox Fortuna to free everyone in the pool hall, even though it looks like their luck may be running out.  Atrox Fortuna seems intrigued by their offer, but shows off her own skills before Sam even gets his turn.

Sam and Dean surprisingly leave with their lives, but are shocked when everyone else follows them out of the pool hall.  It seems their honorable acts did not go unnoticed, as Atrox Fortuna says she thought their kind no longer existed…heroes.

The Winchesters have certainly earned this title, but let’s hope they can use Atrox Fortuna’s advice to stop Chuck/God in the end.

Dean starts Baby back up and it looks like the Winchesters are back!

1

“It’s really him.”

Castiel tracks down a lead and is shocked to learn that Jack Klein has been spotted.  After witnessing Jack devour some hearts, Castiel is not sure what he is about to discover, but we learn that it is the real Jack and Billie has been keeping him hidden in The Empty to keep him off Chuck’s radar.

We witness a beautiful and heartwarming reunion between Jack, Castiel, Sam, and Dean, which honestly brought tears to my eyes, as their son returns to the family.

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Images courtesy of The CW

It seems that our theories have been spot on, as Jack may be the only one who is actually strong enough to stop Chuck/God for good.  And so the countdown to the end begins…

Stay tuned SPN family!  New episodes return on Monday, March 16th!  We’re nearing the end now!

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

[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!

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!