Category: The Order

Spoiler-Free Review of “Fate: The Winx Saga” on Netflix: Seems oddly familiar

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

“Magic can be dangerous…”

Fate: The Winx Saga premiered on Netflix on January 22nd 2021 with all six episodes available to stream now. The series stars Abigail Cowen, Hannah van der Westhuysen, Precious Mustapha, and Danny Griffin. Each episode runs for approximately 48-50 minutes. 

The series is based on the comic series, Winx Club by Iginio Straffi. Bloom (Cowen) enrolls in a school for fairies after she discovers her own abilities in the mortal world. Each of her classmates have unique powers of their own, as they deal with growing up and facing some scary monsters known as the Burned Ones.

Here is the trailer:

Fate: The Winx Saga may seem very similar to shows like The Order and Legacies…except it is with fairies. While the show could easily fall into The CW’s lineup, does it do anything truly original to make it stand out? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Fate The Winx Saga Spoiler Free Review 1

Images courtesy of Netflix

The plot is entertaining enough to keep you invested.

While I wouldn’t say that anything truly unique or spectacular was going on, there was enough happening in each episode to keep me coming back for more. The mystery behind Bloom’s identity, the violent monsters, and the abilities of the fairies helped carry along the pace of this show even though a lot of teen melodrama got in the way, but I expected that to happen.

Likable characters.

I actually really liked many of the characters, but I do feel like there were way too many of them for only six episodes. While Bloom may have easily found herself in the key to everything trope, she was layered enough and had some serious fire power.

The Cons:

Fate The Winx Saga 2

Images courtesy of Netflix

Check your tropes off here…

From the obvious love triangle to the slighted friend to the mean girl vs. the new loner…honestly I could go on and on. However, this formula does work and I do watch many of the shows that fit this bill, but I wanted a little bit more from this one. I thought it had the potential to tap into some serious darkness, but that quickly fizzled out.

So am I in or out?

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Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in about 75 percent…

This show was not bad at all and I actually finished it up pretty quickly because of the pacing. While it was basically your typical vampire teenage angst show but with fairies, I still thought that it did enough to serve as a quick binge-watch. However, it failed to present us with anything truly new or different and I’m afraid it may become quite forgettable when other shows premiere. I wouldn’t rush this to the top of your watch-list, but it’s decent if you enjoy shows like The Vampire Diaries, The Order, and Legacies.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

Girl Number Thirteen Lurking Promo

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My new supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Warrior Nun” on Netflix: It’s not easy being a Chosen One

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

One girl destined to fight against the demons of the world. Sound familiar? The premise screams Buffy the Vampire Slayer with religious undertones, which instantly sparked my attention, but sometimes a comparison is not always a good thing.

Warrior Nun premiered on Netflix on July 2nd 2020. It features 10 episodes (approximately 45-48 minutes in length). It stars Alba Baptista, Toya Turner, Emilio Sakraya, and Thekla Reuten.

Based on the manga style comic book character, Warrior Nun Areala, the show focuses on Ava. After waking up in a morgue, she discovers that she is far from dead and now possesses supernatural abilities as the chosen Halo Bearer. She faces new threats and demons while also searching for her own identity along the way.

Right away, I was completely hooked by the premise. The trailer was actually quite good and I’m all for a show that features a strong female character taking on the apocalypse, but does Warrior Nun do enough to make it stand out from its predecessors? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

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Images courtesy of Netflix

Delightful performances.

Standout performances go to Alba Baptista as Ava and Toya Turner as Shotgun Mary. They are believable and they really helped me connect more with these particular characters. There is subtle humor and sarcasm going on mixed with some real life altering scenarios, which gave us a good balance throughout the show.

These nuns kick ass!

The fight scenes may seem slightly ridiculous. They are flashy and unrealistic, but they are also really entertaining and they kept the pace going. If you’re a Chosen One, I want to see some bad-ass fight scenes and Warrior Nun certainly delivered with that.

The Cons:

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Images courtesy of Netflix

Awkward voiceover narration.

I get it. We are trying to connect with Ava and learn more about her past to truly appreciate and understand what she has to deal with now. However, the voiceover narrations were awkward and out of place. They actually made Ava seem more whiny than she actually is and I could have done without them.

Too many episodes.

There are ten episodes and I think this show really could have been done in eight. When you have that many episodes, it really slows things down. There was unneeded fluff that made me lose interest several times throughout the show, which is a shame. Sometimes less is more…

This show is NOT Buffy.

I’ve seen multitple comparisons going on between this show and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While I can absolutely see the similarities and noticed some myself, this show is nothing like Buffy, which is in a category of its own. I think this actually hurt the show because it just falls flat in comparison. On its own, the show actually has a lot of redeeming qualities, but I’m not sure it will be able to break through these comparisons.

So am I in or out?

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Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in…about 75 percent. Overall, this show was pretty entertaining. I liked the premise. I liked the characters and I loved the kick-ass fighting scenes. Once I got over the disappointment that this show would not be in the same category as Buffy, I started to enjoy it more…especially once I got to episode 4.

That being said, there is a lot slowing down the pace of this series and the exceptional premise falls flat in several areas, but there is still enough substance and heart in this show. If you are looking for a supernatural type of binge-watch, I would recommend watching The Order before Warrior Nun, but there is certainly enough to enjoy throughout your watch.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

Main promo smaller

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now! I hope you enjoy!

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek 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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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Order” Season 2 on Netflix: Surprisingly Addicting with Amazing Guest Stars

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

“It can’t be a secret society if outsiders know your secrets…”

The Order season two premiered on Netflix on June 18th 2020. It features 10 episodes (47-50 minutes in length) and it stars Jake Manley, Sarah Grey, Adam DiMarco, Katharine Isabelle, and Louriza Tronco.

Secret societies, dark magic rituals, and werewolves are back for season two, as we pick up right where we left off.

Season two is jam-packed with quite a lot, but are we ready to sign up for the Hermetic Order of the Blue Rose? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Order Season 2 Netflix 4
Images courtesy of Netflix

Deliciously dark magic rituals.

I thought that season two did an even better job than season one with bringing us into some serious dark magic rituals. Whether our favorite characters were performing a spell or summoning a demon, there were some cringe-worthy scenes that really allowed this series to embrace its supernatural horror qualities. 

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Images courtesy of Netflix

More please!

Villaness worthy Vera Stone!

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Images courtesy of Netflix

I don’t know about you, but I would love to see a spin-off series featuring Vera and maybe we could throw in Mary Wardwell (Lilith) from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. I think they would make a bewitching tag team.

Vera is the Villaness you love to hate, but we actually get to see several sides of her in season two, which added to the growth of her character. She’s strong, sexy, and a bad-ass magic practitioner you do not want to cross.

Her wardrobe is absolutely incredible as well!

Incredible Guest Stars!

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Images courtesy of Netflix

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Beverly Hills, 90210 fans will be beyond ecstatic when they see who appears on screen. I thought this was so much fun and I was cheering for these cameos/characters more than some of the main characters. The guest stars actually helped lighten up some of the heavy teen drama going on, which I appreciated. You won’t be disappointed!

The Cons:

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Images courtesy of Netflix

Too reliant on ships.

Don’t get me wrong. I love a good ship and I didn’t even really mind the will-they-won’t-they vibe between Jack and Alyssa, but the show relied a little too much on some of these teen drama moments and it didn’t really need them. This made it seem like more of a watered down version of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Charmed (reboot) and The Vampire Diaries at times.

The Order is actually really dark and different on its own and when it centers around these ships for too long, you start to make comparisons…

A lot going on.

I wouldn’t say this is necessarily a con, but you need to pay attention. There are a lot of characters and a lot of plot twists. I strongly recommend watching season two right after season one or at least watching the recap.

So am I in or out?

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Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in! This show is really entertaining and the twists and character dynamics will keep you invested. I actually may have enjoyed it even more than season one.

The Order is binge-watch worthy and I highly recommend it, especially since there is a gap in new shows and episodes right now.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

Main promo smaller

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now! I hope you enjoy!

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek 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! 

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Order” season 1: Secret Societies, Werewolves, and Magic

“Magic isn’t good or evil.  It just is.”  Welcome to The Hermetic Order of the Blue Rose, a secret society filled with magic practitioners, but this is no Hogwarts, as we dive into a dark war between werewolves and The Order.  Our main character, Jack Morton, finds himself in the middle of it, uncovering secrets about himself and his family, but what side will he end up choosing?

Love the premise?  Me too, which is why I was initially very excited to binge-watch this show.  The Order  premiered on March 7th 2019 and is available to stream all 10 episodes on Netflix. 

After watching the entire season within two days, I have a lot of mixed feelings on it.  I absolutely love that the show takes place on a college campus, rather than the typical high school setting we see with these types of series that are filled with teen drama with some light horror around the edges.

The show has a feel of The Covenant mixed with The Secret Circle, which should give you a good indication of whether you will like it or not.  I was also excited to see some familiar faces like Sam Trammell from True Blood, Max Martini from Revenge, and Jewel Staite from Firefly.

The show has a lot going on, but I wasn’t really pulled in until the third episode.  This was slightly underwhelming, as there are only 10 episodes in season one, but the plot was intriguing enough to keep me invested.  The spells gone wrong are fun and the show is not afraid to kill off main characters, keeping our attention.

Even the main love story is not nauseating and it doesn’t take away from the plot, which was a plus.  However, I wasn’t overly impressed with the acting from the majority of the cast and some of the humor did not land the way it was intended to.

I also felt like the show started to go in a few different directions, but ended up having a solid ending, leaving us with a major cliffhanger that will have you wanting a second season.  It has been confirmed that The Order has been renewed for season 2 so it looks like we will get some answers after all.

Overall, I enjoyed the series, but I wouldn’t say that I had to stop what I was doing to watch it.  If you like these types of shows, you will be entertained enough, but I recommend first watching shows like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Light as a Feather, which did a better job of holding my attention.

However, if you are finding yourself in need of a quick show to binge-watch, this might be the perfect option for you, as it does have a lot of redeeming qualities.

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

**Goodreads Giveaway currently going on for The Search for Alice (100 copies available) from 2/21/19-3/14/19. Enter Goodreads Giveaway Here!

**I am so excited to announce that my book, The Search for Alice, is now available!  If you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery, then this might be the book for you or someone you know!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I hope you enjoy!

The Search for Alice Feb 2019

The Search for Alice is available here!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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**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!