My performance of the week ending 11/9/19 on TV goes to…

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan on AMC’s The Walking Dead.

I’ve been waiting so long for Negan to do something earth-shattering and it looks like he has finally returned.

Whether you love him or love to hate him, Negan is one of the best villains I have ever witnessed on any television show. His actions are ruthless and he has killed some of our beloved characters and yet he still manages to find a way to be charismatic, thought-provoking, and absolutely hilarious.

Over the seasons, Negan has been on this journey toward redemption and the dynamic between him and the Grimes family is a major part of that. Negan is not completely bad and he has proven that there is this potential within him to do good, but it can’t completely wipe his slate clean either.

In the previous episodes, Negan really bonded with Lydia and I think it’s because he knows all too well what it means to be looked at as an outsider and the enemy. No matter how hard you try to do the right thing to fit in, you will always be the first one blamed for anything that goes wrong.

Negan’s past actions are beyond forgivable, but I also can’t ignore the anti-hero emerging within him either. I think that’s why I was so captivated by his performance in season 10, episode 5. Please note spoilers are ahead if you are not up-to-date on the series.

In this episode, Negan’s chance at goodness is brutally ripped away from him when his number one fan, Brandon, decides to murder an innocent family. Negan kills Brandon and the big bad wolf returns, as he grabs his new Lucille and leather jacket, ready to cross into The Whisperer territory with nothing to lose.

Except he did lose something, suddenly realizing that he isn’t going to get the chance to be a hero and that the darkness from his past actions will always follow him.

Is Negan going to be working with the enemy or is this his opportunity to truly make a difference and stop Alpha once and for all? I can’t ignore the setup here, but I also know that Negan has been broken after this moment with Brandon.

He can’t really blame Brandon because he is the cause of his actions in a way, but does that mean that he can only be a villain in the end or is there another way?

While I love Negan as a villain, I feel like he has grown so much over the seasons and I would like to see him thrive as a bad-ass anti-hero. That doesn’t mean that he needs to always do or say the right thing, but I think that Alpha is a worthy foe and only Negan or Carol really have the potential, or the motivation, to take her down.

What’s next for Negan? We’ll have to wait and see, but it looks like he will be tested by Alpha and Beta. I’m interested to see how he does and what their conversations will look like, especially since we know that Negan is no stranger to manipulation.

Either way, I’m excited to see some well deserved screen time for Negan’s character and I can’t wait to see what he does next. I’ve been very impressed with season 10 so far and Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s performance is a major part of that!

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

**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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Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Have a performance on TV that you think is simply outstanding? Feel free to contact me with your nomination for the week by Friday at midnight!

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” season 10 episode 5: “Little Pig, Little Pig!”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10 episode 5, Siddiq asked, “What are we here for if not for each other?” An important question for sure, but what happens when all of your efforts toward redemption are shattered completely? Do you keep trying or do you take the easy way out and embrace your old ways? Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, “What It Always Is,” we catch up with Negan while he is followed by a devoted fan boy named Brandon. Meanwhile, Connie and Daryl team up to find Kelly and Gamma crosses paths with Aaron. My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 10 episode 5 are:

“Now we both know what it means.”

Ezekiel gets some screen time during this episode and Siddiq worries about his developing cough. He reveals to Siddiq that he knows what it is and explains that Thyroid Cancer runs in his family. Siddiq explains that they can manage it, but Ezekiel realizes what this means in the world they live in now.

Ezekiel tries to find the courage to tell Carol what is going on, but shuts off the radio before she says anything on the other line. Will he finally be able to tell her the truth before it is too late? Is it possible that Siddiq may be able to find a way to help him?

After all, we have seen a lot of miracles on both TWD and Fear TWD, so I wouldn’t rule out the king just yet…

“Family…”

In the beginning of the episode, Kelly ends up in a very dangerous situation when her hearing gets even worse. Connie worries when she isn’t back yet and Daryl and Dog agree to help her find her. Luckily, Kelly looks like she is going to be all right, but Magna is forced to reveal a stash of supplies and food they have been stealing in the woods.

Connie is outraged by this and apologizes to Daryl about having to lie about it, but Daryl understands all too well what it means to do things for family.

Connie and Daryl share some really cute moments together and I am always smiling when they are on screen together.

Magna and Yumiko have a lot of tension going on in their relationship; however, as Magna reveals more information about her past crime, which causes a wedge between them. Will they be able to reconcile?

“You might just have to wear a new mask.”

Gamma reveals some of her frustration during this episode, but we also get this weird Romeo and Juliet vibe between her and Aaron. Aaron gives her a bandage for the wound on her hand and tries to talk to her, but you have to wonder why? Gamma tells Alpha about what happened and Alpha suggests that she wear a new mask to try and earn his trust and affection.

We’ll have to see how this plays out, but Gamma is not going to say no to Alpha, especially when she just brutally killed a Whisperer who questioned her methods, suggesting that they attack all at once.

So Alpha is behind the tree and the creek, but why is she changing up her strategy now? It seems like she is making everything really personal, but will this change once she crosses paths with Lydia?

“I passed, right? I am NEGAN!”

“Classic Negan!” Brandon is absolutely thrilled to catch up with his hero, Negan, and he even takes the time to bring him some gifts: another Lucille and his leather jacket. Brandon is the son of a Savior and he has been in Alexandria, waiting for his opportunity to help Negan.

Negan allows Brandon to tag along at first, but things go way too far when Brandon murders the mother and son that Negan just saved. Negan is beyond upset by this and smashes in Brandon’s head before he can finish saying, “I am Negan.”

Negan has tried so hard to follow this new path toward redemption, but everything is shattered in this moment, as Brandon reminds him of who he used to be. Even though Brandon is beyond disturbed, Negan probably also feels somewhat responsible for him.

He takes down the monster he helped create, but did he just unleash something inside himself that is even more dangerous?

“Ya’ll scared of the Big Bad Wolf?”

After Negan kills Brandon, he grabs his new Lucille and jacket and takes off. Bad-ass Negan is back, as he crosses into the Whisperer territory, taking out walkers left and right until he comes face-to-face with Beta.

Now that Negan has made his move, what will Alpha and Beta decide to do with him? He will be tested, but has Negan truly joined the dark side or is he taking the fight to them?

I actually felt really bad for Negan in this episode because he has been trying so hard to be good and you almost think it can be possible, but his past mistakes are never going to vanish completely and Brandon is a deadly reminder of that.

Negan has always had a strict rule about not killing kids and you could tell that Brandon really pushed his buttons when he talked about Carl Grimes.

Is Negan back to his bad ways or has he just embraced the ruthless strength within him to become the anti-hero we have been waiting for? I can’t wait to find out! Stay tuned!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” season 10 episode 4: “Silence the Whisperers”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10 episode 4, Michonne reminded us that sometimes there are bullies that you have to live with and other times you just gotta fight them. Is it possible to kill them with kindness or do you need to stand your ground every now and again? Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, “Silence the Whisperers,” the waves of walkers continue to threaten the group, while Lydia is targeted. Meanwhile, Negan finally makes an important move, but will he end up facing consequences because of it? My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 10 episode 4 are:

“Never take your enemy by their word…”

Michonne and Judith have some nice mother-daughter bonding moments during this episode. Judith reminds Michonne that she is always willing to listen and she actually has some pretty good theories about why the walkers are coming in waves. Are the Whisperers changing the rules or is something else going on here?

I’m still not really sure, but Michonne has been studying her enemy for a while now and she seems ready to put a plan in motion. Later on in the episode, I loved seeing the side-by-side fighting of Michonne and Judith, but now I’m starting to wonder more and more about how she will exit the show…

“I’ve been here before.”

Michonne notices Ezekiel going off by himself and decides to follow him. Ezekiel is standing at the edge of a cliff, feeling very defeated, and Michonne is there to support him, but we end up getting this extremely awkward kiss between them. Michonne later jokes that they never would have worked out anyway and I breathed a sigh of relief, but I thought the actual conversation was an important moment for these two.

Michonne recognizes the pain and defeat within Ezekiel, especially since she has been there before and opens up to him about her own past and how she misses her “partner in crime,” which brought me to tears. It really makes you think about how far Michonne has come since we first met her and how she is an inspiring leader that Rick would be so proud of.

“Don’t give them a reaction.”

Everyone is clearly on edge because of the waves of walkers and Lydia takes the brunt of it. Lydia is called a freak and is constantly bullied. Someone even paints, “Silence the Whispers” on her door, refusing to let her have a safe haven here. Negan reminds her that they are just looking for a reaction, but Daryl wants Lydia to stay away from him, telling her that “he ain’t your friend.”

It’s clear that both Negan and Daryl care about Lydia and want to protect her. They both see a lot of themselves in her and want to do what is right, but it doesn’t look like killing the bullies with kindness is going to do the trick here.

“He didn’t do anything wrong!”

After Lydia tries to stand up for herself, she ends up getting jumped later that night. They claim that they just want to scare her, but they beat her up pretty badly. Negan steps in to save her, but accidentally kills Margo when he throws her into a wall.

Everyone wants justice for this, but Lydia screams out that he didn’t do anything wrong and tries to tell Daryl that Negan saved her. Later on, Daryl goes to visit Negan to have a little chat. Rick isn’t around to save Negan anymore, but Negan reminds him that he doesn’t know what to do with him either.

Negan was not in the wrong here, but his actions have stirred up a lot of drama in Alexandria.

“You don’t belong in a cage.”

Daryl takes some time to talk to Michonne over the radio and Michonne reminds him that they need to protect Lydia, recognizing that Alpha will not attack if she is alive with them. Michonne and Daryl decide to keep this information to themselves right now, but Michonne is absolutely on to something here.

Michonne asks Daryl to be her proxy for the vote of the council, but it seems like they need some more time to deliberate. Only someone has freed Negan and he’s gone. Lydia says it was her, but Daryl kept an eye on her all night. So who let Negan out?

Daryl has this important moment with Lydia, telling her that she doesn’t belong in a cage and it’s clear that Lydia has been trying so hard to fit in for him. Lydia misses her father and I think that Daryl can absolutely step into that role for her. I actually really like Lydia as a character and I love the dynamic between her and Daryl.

While time played an important part last week, the concept of masks comes up in episode 4. It’s sometimes easier to wear a mask to pretend that everything is all right, but what happens when you reveal your true self? Will you be accepted as you are or are you safer hiding behind lies and deception?

My main question after the episode is what will happen now that Negan is free? This is not the first time we have seen Negan escape, but circumstances are different now. Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories & thoughts on The Walking Dead below in the comments section. 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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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” season 10 episode 3: “Ghosts”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10 episode 3, I realized that sometimes our worst fears and nightmares exist within our own minds. Can we ever truly shake them or will they continue to wreak havoc on our essence until we face our inner demons once and for all? Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, “Ghosts,” Alpha requests a meeting with Michonne and the others, reminding us that she is always watching. Meanwhile, Carol’s lack of sleep begins to catch up with her, Eugene gets a reality check, and Siddiq’s trauma continues to overwhelm him. My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 10 episode 3 are:

“We are going to listen.”

In the beginning of the episode, we are presented with several time stamps, throwing us into quite a bit of chaos, as our group begins to hold off constant waves of walkers. The group thinks that Alpha is behind this, but Lydia explains that this doesn’t seem like her mother, explaining that her mother would send her entire horde to eliminate them at once if she truly wanted to eliminate them.

After some lack of consensus among the group, Michonne puts her leadership skills to the test and gives a motivational speech, reminding everyone that they need to act as one. Michonne is ready to honor Alpha’s request for a meeting, but are they putting themselves in even more danger here?

“You think our friendship is just nothing?”

Eugene and Rosita get some screen time in this episode and it looks like the sleep deprivation is really allowing the truth to leak out, as Rosita tells Eugene that they are never going to happen. Eugene is head-over-heels in love with Rosita and while I feel bad for him, I think perhaps he needed to hear this. Is there someone else out there for Eugene or is it possible that Rosita has repressed some feelings for Eugene?

I’m not sure, but now I have this feeling that Eugene might sacrifice himself to protect Rosita or the baby. I guess I’ll leave that for a mid-season finale discussion when a main character is typically killed off, but nothing happens by accident on TWD.

“I am trying to make things better.”

Negan recognizes that everyone is on edge and would much prefer to stay in Alexandria in his peaceful garden, but Gabriel doesn’t give him much of a choice, sending him out with Aaron to take out some walkers. Negan tries to do his part, but Aaron is clearly not a fan, still blaming Negan for what happened to the love of his life.

After some funny moments from Negan, things get a little bit serious when Aaron reminds Negan that he is to blame for the death of his wife and I’m not sure he should be bringing this up, but Negan keeps his cool. After Aaron is temporarily blinded, Negan actually helps him and you have to wonder why? Negan claims he is trying to do better, but does he have another reason for keeping Aaron alive? Either way, it was great to see some well deserved screen time for our favorite anti-hero.

“You need to sleep…”

Carol has not been sleeping and she is also taking some kind of pills, but the ghosts become all too real when Carol begins hallucinating. She sees Henry and we even get an interesting breakfast table scenario with Daryl, which I kind of loved, bringing us this alternate reality to life. It was difficult to figure out what was real and what was just a dream, but I thought that worked well, as we almost felt like we were right there with Carol, desperately trying to put the pieces together.

Carol is clearly not over what happened and I can’t say that I blame her, but will her quest for vengeance break her in the end? We’ll have to see what happens next, but I’m hoping that Daryl can help her before it’s too late.

“I look at you…and I feel nothing!”

The most exciting part of the episode for me was the meeting with Alpha. Alpha reminds everyone that she is always watching and schools them all on how many times they have actually crossed the border. Alpha initially seems like she is ready to follow through on some kind of punishment, but decides that there will be no bloodshed today.

Carol speaks her mind and calls Alpha out on her “bullshit,” bringing a gun to this showdown. Alpha continues to test limits, telling Carol that Henry called out her name right before they took his head, which pushes Carol over the edge.

Michonne intervenes before Carol can shoot Alpha and Alpha is actually willing to forgive her “mother to mother,” but this is clearly not the end of this rivalry. Alpha wants more land and reminds them all of their place, but something tells me that Carol is not going to back down at all.

There was a lot of chilling tension in this showdown and I thought it really complimented Carol’s own mental battle. Alpha wants Carol to fear her, but Carol doesn’t feel anything when it comes to Alpha, but that doesn’t mean that her fears have vanished completely. Rather, they exist within her own mind, threatening to suffocate her with painful memories and thoughts, which may be even more terrifying.

I thought that the majority of this episode was so well done. I could have done without the drama between Rosita and Eugene, but I understand that we need to catch up with other characters, but it almost disrupted the chilling tone I was getting from the first half of the episode, which captivated my undivided attention.

Time played such an interesting component in the episode as well, as we got several time stamps in the beginning, a clock waking Carol up, and a watch with no second or minute hand, reminding us that ghosts exist outside of time and space. They never rest, but perhaps our group needs to take a serious power nap before they face the next threat of walkers.

My main question after watching the episode is…where are these walkers coming from? Gamma and Lydia say they are not coming from The Whisperers, so what’s actually causing the groups to head in their direction? I can’t wait to find out. Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories & thoughts on The Walking Dead below in the comments section. 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!

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!

My performance of the week ending 10/19/19 on TV goes to…

Samantha Morton as Alpha on AMC’s The Walking Dead.

What makes a truly formidable villain? I ask myself that a lot whenever I watch a television series, film, or read a book. There are so many villains emerging across the screen and page, but I find myself drawn to the villains with buried layers.

The ones that make you stop and think about how our choices can lead us down a dark path and how the difference between right and wrong is not always set in stone.

When it comes to TWD, Negan was always my go to villain, but can we really classify him as a villain now? To me, Negan is more of a former foe and he seems to be growing as an anti-hero. When The Whisperers were first introduced, we met Alpha and I immediately saw the potential for a villain who would not back down. Please note some spoilers are ahead if you are not caught up on the series.

Alpha has been making her mark and she really cut deep with that heartbreaking cliffhanger episode in season 9. Just thinking about it still gives me chills! There is this raw quality to Alpha. She is a survivor through and through and she refuses to let weakness taint this instinct. And yet, when it comes to Alpha herself, she clearly does have a weakness when it comes to her daughter, Lydia.

In season 10, episode 2, we are presented with Alpha’s backstory and it really put things into perspective for me. I never thought that I would feel any type of sympathy or understanding toward Alpha and yet I now see her in a completely different light. Alpha gives new meaning to the survival of the fittest concept and she understands that order must be followed to truly maintain power and unity.

However, the slivers of humanity presented make her a complex villain and I really started to think about if we can ever truly classify good guys and bad guys? After all, the bad guys always think they are the good guys and vice versa, but Alpha’s unconditional love for her daughter does seep into her decisions as a leader. She initially spares Gamma’s sister’s life because she understands what it feels like to be a mother without her child.

That being said, Alpha understands that she needs to keep this part of her hidden from the rest of the group. Any sign of weakness on her part could weaken the whole and she knows that examples must be set.

Samantha Morton is absolutely haunting and captivating as Alpha. There’s something about the way she looks at you, almost like she is looking right through to the very depths of your soul, bringing this necessary and chilling quality to her character.

What’s next for Alpha? We’ll have to wait and see, but it looks like she is ready to punish our group for crossing the line. Alpha’s actions can be beyond ruthless, but can Lydia still get through to her somehow? I have some knowledge of what happens in the comics and I’m wondering if the ultimate showdown will stay true to that or if we have just set up something even more interesting between Carol and Alpha?

I sort of like the idea of these two strong mothers going up against each other, but of course I’m always ready to throw Negan into the mix to shake things up! Either way, I think that Alpha’s past really revealed so much about her character. Samantha Morton is fantastic and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!**

In honor of the release of Book 3, ALL 3 books of the Dreaming of Wonderland Series are FREE for a limited time! (10/16-10/20) You can read now or recommend to someone who might enjoy at:

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Have a performance on TV that you think is simply outstanding? Feel free to contact me with your nomination for the week by Friday at midnight!

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” season 10 episode 2: “We Are the End of the World”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10 episode 2, Alpha reminded us that there are two kinds of people left in the world: “The ones brave enough to walk with the dead and everybody else,” but what happens when you blur the line between these two extremes? Can you still continue to believe in a vision when doubt and regret start to seep in? Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, “We Are the End of the World,” we dedicate an episode to The Whisperers, discovering how Alpha and Beta first met. Meanwhile, we also meet Gamma, played by Hocus Pocus star, Thora Birch. My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 10 episode 2 are:

“We’re all monsters now.”

In the beginning of the episode, we jump back to 7 years ago and witness Alpha and Lydia on the run from walkers. They end up in a building, but quickly learn that they are not alone, as Alpha and Beta cross paths for the very first time.

Alpha and Beta instantly form some kind of twisted connection and seem to truly see each other for what they are. We learn that Alpha used to enjoy singing and even hums Patsy Cline’s Walkin’ After Midnight, which gave me some LOST nostalgia.

“You’ll never understand how it feels to abandon your child.”

In present day, Beta takes two sisters out with him, but one of the sisters freaks out and starts crying, putting the pack in danger. We learn that she is the mother of the abandoned baby that Connie rescued and it’s clear that she is still broken from this trauma.

Beta wants to make an example out of her, but Alpha decides to spare her, understanding what it feels like to lose a child. Beta thinks that she has made a mistake and some other members of the pack begin to question everything. Losing Lydia has taken a toll on Alpha, but is it now impacting her decisions as a leader?

“You gotta become them. Feel what they feel…”

Back in the past, Alpha explains that they are in a world beyond names, but that they can still recognize each other on some primal level. She refers to Beta as “B,” which of course makes her “A,” as our origin story continues. Beta enjoys the sound of the dead and Alpha definitely beats to the sound of her own drum, as poor Lydia starts repeating over and over that “we’re all monsters now.”

Even though Lydia is not exactly like her mother, she doesn’t want her to ever leave her, but she is in such a vulnerable state right now and is extremely impressionable, which makes her past decisions even more understandable now.

“I anoint you Gamma.”

After Gamma’s sister is given a second chance, she loses it again when she sees a walker with a baby carrier and runs after it in a blind range. Gamma makes the decision to protect Alpha over her sister, as her sister is ripped apart. Alpha explains that Gamma has now accepted her new destiny, but is she a potential threat to Alpha?

Alpha’s better judgment has been clouded because of her own loss and it looks like Gamma is ready to take on more responsibility, which makes me wonder if an even greater threat has just risen among The Whisperers.

“Walk with me in the darkness.”

Beta follows Alpha and discovers that she held on to Lydia’s stuffed animal, realizing now that she wasn’t able to kill Lydia. Alpha explains that she is still her daughter, but that the others cannot know, recognizing that it will weaken her authority and the pack. Beta agrees to keep her secret and we also flash back to their connected past, learning how the beliefs of The Whisperers came to be.

We learn that Beta was keeping his undead best friend around with an unsettling smiley face T-shirt, but once Alpha eliminates him, she explains that Beta can still keep him with him, taking his skin for the mask that he now wears. The two of them embrace the darkness together here and we cut to present day, as Alpha explains that she will need to teach our group a lesson for crossing the border, recognizing that she needs to do something to strengthen her pack before anything else unravels.

Alpha is looking to punish our group, but will she truly be able to bury her own mixed emotions about her daughter? Stay tuned!

Overall, I thought this was an important and revealing origin story that truly allowed us to see things from Alpha’s perspective. Even though she is considered a villain, it really made me think about Michonne’s discussion last week about good guys and bad guys. It looks like everyone is blurring the line now between right and wrong, but is there still a chance to find some middle ground before it’s too late?

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories & thoughts on The Walking Dead 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’]

**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!**

In honor of the release of Book 3, ALL 3 books of the Dreaming of Wonderland Series are FREE for a limited time! (10/16-10/20) You can read now or recommend to someone who might enjoy at:

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 the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” season 10 episode 1 season premiere: “Lines We Cross”

Happy Monday TV fans! The wait is over and TWD has finally returned! After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10 episode 1 season premiere, I started to wonder how someone really determines if they are “the villains to someone else’s story?” Everyone wants to claim that they are the “good guys,” doing what is best for their people to survive, but where do we draw the line between right and wrong? Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, “Lines We Cross,” our walkers go through fire and water to cause the group some trouble, but it looks like their training is quite effective. Meanwhile, Negan gets promoted to growing vegetables and taking out the trash, and Carol and Daryl contemplate running away from it all. My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 10 episode 1 season premiere are:

“Remember your training…”

In the beginning of the episode, I almost felt like I was watching a Pirates of the Caribbean movie…with lots of walkers. Seriously, it seemed like Jack Sparrow was about to appear to help the group, but the change of scenery was nice and it allowed them to show off their training. The group has certainly come a long way and I’m sure Tara would be proud, but is training really enough for the threats ahead?

“People like the brave man are never really gone.”

Michonne continues to fight the good fight, but it’s never easy being the leader, especially when everyone is questioning every single one of your calls. Through it all, Michonne remains strong and explains that, “we have to keep our cool or they win.” We know that she is referring to The Whisperers, but whenever we get somewhat of a jump in time, I’m always slightly confused, but I’m sure the blanks will be filled in later.

Michonne overhears Judith telling RJ a story about the brave man who blew up a bridge to save everyone. Judith explains that the brave man (Rick) is never really gone because he lives inside our hearts and I have to say that she is wise beyond her years. I think that Michonne is doing an excellent job raising these two, but I also know that this is her last season, which makes me worry about their future…

“She’s a baby, not a science experiment.”

I guess we are going to get our fair share of Three Men and a Baby…TWD style. Rosita’s baby is beyond adorable and everyone seems to be doing their part to take care of her, but Eugene’s studies seem to be a little bit excessive, although his heart is absolutely in the right place.

Siddiq starts to have these hallucinations; however, and begins to replay the moment right before Alpha killed all his friends. Siddiq has clearly not recovered from this, but let’s hope that it doesn’t get in the way of his responsibilities as a father. Snap out of it, Siddiq! We need you!

“What does alert mean? It means watch your back, kid.”

Even though Negan is still technically a prisoner, he is now responsible for growing vegetables and taking out the trash. I guess that’s progress, but I’m just ready for Negan to be truly set free already. Negan overhears the group on high alert after they find out that a skin was recovered in the woods and shares his thoughts with Lydia.

Lydia is an outsider as well and it looks like they both may be getting the side eye for a while, but I’m starting to think that Negan and Lydia might be our best shot at taking Alpha down. We’ll have to see how this plays out, but I’m just ready for a Negan centric season.

“I need you to stay.”

So, I actually really liked some of the Daryl and Connie moments sprinkled into the mix and I’m starting to really ship these two together, but we also get a great moment between Daryl and Carol. Maybe we should just let Dog decide who Daryl should end up with, but Daryl learning how to sign is so sweet!

Meanwhile, Carol has been off fishing, clearly trying to get away from it all, but Daryl reminds her that he needs her and tells her that she is his best friend, which was so adorable to watch. After Carol jokes about friendship bracelets, Daryl actually makes her one, but they do have a serious moment, wondering if “this is all there is?” Are they simply just surviving one fight to the next or is there something else to live for?

A great question for sure, but luckily we also get some more action toward the end of the season premiere. After a satellite crashes into the forest, it causes a fire, but that’s not all…because you know this is the zombie apocalypse. Walkers are clearly drawn to the fire, but our group is ready for them, taking them out one by one.

Eugene takes some time to collect pieces from the satellite and I’m interested to see if there is more to this, but we know that TWD likes to keep us guessing. I feel like this is something that the mysterious 3-ringed helicopter group would be very interested in…just saying.

At the very end of the episode, Daryl and Carol are looking over a ridge, even though Michonne is anxious to get out of there since they have crossed Alpha’s line and of course, Alpha emerges. We get to witness this really intense stare down between Alpha and Carol, which makes me wonder if this is the fight I have been waiting for.

Now that our group has crossed the line, what does this mean? Will Alpha start a war again? We’ll have to wait and see, but it doesn’t look like she is going to stay quiet for long. Stay tuned!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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What to Watch on TV this Fall: The 2019 Fall TV Premieres I am Most Excited For!

Greetings TV Fans! As we enter into the Fall season, some of our favorite shows will be returning with new episodes and we can also look forward to some brand new shows as well that seem to have a lot of potential. Looking to find out when they all start and where to watch them? You came to the right place!

While some of our favorite returning shows already have 2019 premiere dates announced, others are still giving out a late 2019/early 2020 vague response, but it looks like we have plenty of shows to watch in the meantime! Without any further delay, the 2019 Fall TV premieres I am most looking forward to are:

American Horror Story: 1984 (Season 9)

Premiere date: Wednesday, September 18th 2019

Where to watch: FX Network

Welcome to Camp Redwood! Who doesn’t love the 80’s? The ninth season of AHS looks like it is going to provide us with a lot of slasher fun and nostalgia. While Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters will not be on the newest season (sigh), we do have some fan-favorites returning, including the wonderful and brilliant Emma Roberts.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Season 14)

Premiere date: Wednesday, September 25th 2019

Where to watch: FXX Network

I mean, who doesn’t love laughing along with our friends from Paddy’s Pub? The gang is back and I can’t wait to see what schemes they come up with next. After Mac’s moving dance performance, anything is possible! Perhaps another Charlie Kelly episode? There is plenty of Charlie work to go around after all.

Evil (New Series)

Premiere date: Thursday, September 26th 2019

Where to watch: CBS

I don’t know about you, but I am definitely down to watch another show with Luke Cage’s Mike Colter, but it looks like he will be trading in his super hero strength in order to investigate demonic possessions and other supernatural threats. I’m in!

Light as a Feather (Season 2, Part 2, episodes 9-16)

Light as a feather 9 10 — Image courtesy of Hulu

Premiere date: Friday, October 4th 2019

Where to watch: Hulu

Light as a feather…stiff as a board. I never get tired of hearing that and I’m hoping that the second half of season 2 can bounce back and provide us with some spooky haunting fun. This show is extremely addicting and there are constantly new twists and turns so I personally can’t wait!

The Walking Dead (Season 10)

Premiere date: Sunday, October 6th 2019

Where to watch: AMC

It’s time to silence the Whisperers once and for all, but what threats will emerge next? As we approach season 10, we know that this will be Michonne’s last season, but what does that mean for her character? I can’t wait to find out!

Riverdale (Season 4)

Riverdale 9 10 — Image courtesy of The CW

Premiere date: Wednesday, October 9th 2019

Where to watch: The CW

After that cliffhanger ending in season 3, it looks like we will have a new mystery to dive into for season 4, which centers around one of our main characters. What secrets will emerge next? Stay tuned!

Nancy Drew (New Series)

Nancy drew 9 10 — Image courtesy of The CW

Premiere date: Wednesday, October 9th 2019

Where to watch: The CW

It looks like I will be busy on Wednesday nights indefinitely! Nancy Drew is one of my favorite book series of all time and this new series looks like a dark and grown up version, giving me some Riverdale and Pretty Little Liars feels right off the bat. I’m in 100 percent!

Supernatural (Season 15) *Final Season*

Premiere date: Thursday, October 10th 2019

Where to watch: The CW

How will it all end for the Winchesters? After that cliffhanger ending in season 14, it looks like our favorite hunters have a lot of work to do, but luckily they have some backup in our favorite angel, Castiel. What can we expect for the final season? I’m not sure, but I would love to see some fun nostalgia sprinkled in with some returning guest stars. It will be beyond difficult to say goodbye, but I know that the series will end the way it is intended to and I’m looking forward to watching these final adventures with Sam and Dean.

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

Breaking Bad 9 10 — Image courtesy of Netflix

Premiere date: Friday, October 11th 2019

Where to watch: Netflix (to be released at a later date on AMC)

So I initially didn’t think to put this on the list since it is technically a movie, but how can I leave out one of my favorite series of all time?! Jesse Pinkman is back and Breaking Bad fans everywhere can rejoice, as we finally get to find out what happens next in the story!

The Purge (Season 2)

The purge 9 10 1 — Image courtesy of the USA Network

Premiere date: Tuesday, October 15th 2019

Where to watch: USA Network

What happens on Purge Night doesn’t necessarily stay on Purge Night. I love The Purge movies and when I first heard about the television series last year, I really didn’t go into it with high expectations. Well I was in for a huge surprise, as this show became one of my favorite series of the year. It’s fast paced, surprising, and a lot of fun and I can’t wait to see what happens in season 2 as we follow a brand new group of characters. Are you ready, citizens?

Castle Rock (Season 2)

Castle rock 9 10 — Image courtesy of Hulu

Premiere date: Wednesday, October 23rd 2019

Where to watch: Hulu

The Stephen King anthology series was another bone-chilling and haunting surprise for me last year and I have been waiting quite some time for a premiere date announcement for season 2. Well it looks like we are in luck, as new episodes will return right before Halloween, which certainly seems fitting. It looks like we will follow a new story and a new group of characters in the mysterious town of Castle Rock, but I am hoping to get some Easter eggs or connections to season one. We shall see!

Shameless (Season 10)

Shameless 9 10 — Image courtesy of Showtime

Premiere date: Sunday, November 10th 2019

Where to watch: Showtime

We said goodbye to fan-favorite, Fiona Gallagher for good last season, but can season 10 keep the Gallaghers relevant? Let’s hope so! While I am disappointed that Fiona will no longer be on the show, it looks like we will need to turn our attention to Lip, especially now that he is going to be a father. The laughs never fail on one of my favorite series of all time and I can’t wait to see what the Gallagher family does next!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to comment on any TV Premieres that YOU are looking forward to watching in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Fear the Walking Dead” season 5 episode 1: “We’re Still Standing”

Happy Tuesday TV fans! After watching AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead season 5 episode 1 season premiere, I realized that there’s always a story somewhere. But sometimes it may be better to leave that story alone, but you know what they say about curiosity and the cat. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet. In last night’s episode, “Here to Help,” we dive right back into the Fear Twd world, as our favorite characters face dangerous threats, putting their lives in immediate danger when their plane crashes in an unknown location. Meanwhile, Luciana is badly injured, Alicia and Morgan team up to make a nearly unstoppable team, and Victor discovers a surprising video. My top 5 moments from the Fear the Walking Dead season 5 episode 1 season premiere are:

“It’s OK…we’re here to help!”

In the beginning of the episode, we follow two young boys, Dylan and Max, who end up in a dangerous situation after some walkers surround them. We don’t waste much time; however, as our girl Alicia swoops in to save the day, kicking some serious ass! Seriously, she reminded me of a super hero or something! Morgan and Alicia also make quite the tag team, taking out walkers left and right, but the dead keep coming, putting our favorite characters in great danger. We quickly discover that they crash landed a plane after trying to help someone named Logan over the radio. So maybe flying was not the best plan, as Luciana is severely injured and we don’t really have any idea where they landed, but if anyone can survive, it’s our fearless group on Fear Twd!

“You should be a part of it.”

A young girl named Annie shows up in a van to help our characters out of a sticky situation and they hold up in a nearby truck stop, realizing that they need to treat Luciana’s wound as soon as possible. Luckily, she will be OK! Annie is the sister of the young boys and they refer to walkers as Growlers, which I thought was pretty catchy. Morgan wants the children to come back with them, explaining their mission to help others in need, but the children seem skeptical.

Clearly, they have been on their own for quite some time and they are hesitant about trusting others, warning our group about where they have landed. I mean, if they aren’t convinced by movie night, I’m not sure what will really do the trick. Sidebar, I found it absolutely adorable that John Dorie got the movie night going and I wonder if perhaps there could be a joint movie night in the future, since that was such a hit on The Walking Dead as well! However, the children ultimately decide to leave, but Morgan hasn’t given up on them just yet.

“Something’s not right…”

Alicia is on to something here, as Morgan tries to radio over to Logan. Only, we quickly learn that Logan is the “L” in C&L and he was Clayton’s former partner. Logan doesn’t want to continue on with this mission to help others, as he just wants to claim back what is his. He lured Morgan and the others away from the denim factory so that he could take it back, but he claims that he doesn’t want to hurt anyone. Logan says, “Looks like you’re gonna have to help yourself,” but he really shouldn’t underestimate our amazing group of characters. While it seems like this is the introduction of our new villain/foe for the season, it looks like there may be another threat out there as well. I’m looking forward to discovering more about Logan and his intentions, however.

“It’s not supposed to be easy.”

After finding out that their other friends may be in danger and that they are now stranded in unknown territory, Alicia begins to share her doubts with Morgan. Morgan continues to keep things positive; however, telling Alicia, “If we’re out here, we need to make it mean something. It’s not supposed to be easy. Maybe that’s how we know we’re on the right track.” I think Morgan is definitely on to something here. Our group has been through so much and they are still standing and surviving, trying to make the world a better place. It may seem like an impossible goal, but it’s something that truly gives them purpose and you have to admire them here. Rick would be so proud of Morgan, as it seems like he is the one following through on Rick’s own vision. But it definitely will be far from easy…

“I was right…there’s a story here.”

Al continues to try and record what’s going on, holding on to their story as much as possible. The journalist in Al has never really gone away, but she may want to rethink her skills as a pilot. Just saying. Al has a close encounter with a walker in a strange mask and uniform and she tells Morgan that she believes there is a story here. Patience is not one of Al’s strong suits, as she decides to head back there at night. She eliminates the walker behind the mask and discovers some papers with a three ring symbol all over them. What does the symbol mean? I’m not sure, but Al is interrupted when she is tased by someone in the same type of mask. Someone on Twitter posted a picture of the helicopter Rick got on with the same symbol so is everything connected and who are these masked strangers?

Earlier in the episode, the children warned our group that “this place is worse than it seems” and we can’t really ignore the reanimated heads decorating the trees, but perhaps the main threat here is another group that might be extremely dangerous. Let’s hope that Al will be OK, but it looks like we have a lot to discover about them. Also, let’s not ignore the fact that Victor finds a tape with Daniel Salazar on it. Are we finally going to find out what happened to Daniel? It looks like we may be in luck! I have been liking Fear the Walking Dead more and more and this season premiere did not disappoint. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Stay tuned!

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

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Black Summer” on Netflix: More than a Prequel to “Z Nation”

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

“You can’t be immortal if you ain’t alive.” A valid point for sure, but how is one actually defined as a member of the undead these days? While we are all used to the slow moving walkers in The Walking Dead universe, the infected we see in Black Summer sort of have a 28 Days Later vibe, as they move much quicker, which may have you contemplating your own cardio workout to stay prepared.

So are they actually zombies or are they something else? Either way, if you are craving some zombie apocalypse fun, you’re in the right place. Black Summer has been advertised as a prequel to Z Nation, but the show actually can stand on its own and that’s how I plan on reviewing it.

The show currently features 8 episodes, all streaming on Netflix as of April 11^th 2019. It stars Jaime King, Justin Chu Cary, Christine Lee, Sal Velez Jr. and Kelsey Flower. We follow these survivors and witness what occurs after the zombie apocalypse first takes place, as they all desperately try to make it to the stadium to find missing loved ones and some kind of sanctuary.

However, the threats keep coming, as our characters are tested again and again while the undead continues to threaten their survival. But we also find that these characters have to watch out for each other as well, as it’s difficult to earn one’s trust during the zombie apocalypse.

The Pros:

Black Summer Sun — Image courtesy of Netflix

The episodes are the perfect length.

The beginning episodes start out at about 40-45 minutes and as we move through the show, they actually shorten to 30 minutes and even 20 minutes, which makes binge-watching this show very feasible. I watched the first episode on Thursday night and I finished up the show the following night with very little effort.

The transitions between characters are clever and well done.

Another viewer mentioned to me that these transitions sort of reminded them of Pulp Fiction and I tend to agree. Credit on that goes to @NerdswithFriend on Twitter. We have seen so many shows and movies that feature a zombie apocalypse and it’s difficult to stand out and truly make a story unique. However, the clever fade-ins and transitions allow us to easily see things from different perspectives and it also helps quicken the pace of the show.

Some of the characters are absolutely fantastic.

While I was annoyed by some characters on the show, there are some standout performances. Christine Lee as Sun is truly amazing and you will root for her even more than the main billed cast. You may find yourself trying to determine who is going to make it and who will bite the dust, so to speak, but I will say that I was pleasantly surprised that so many of the characters did not just mold themselves into the stereotypical roles we sometimes see.

Some characters that you assume will make it, don’t, and others that seem so incompetent actually manage to scrape by, but I think that makes the show that much more entertaining.

Bone-chilling and terrifying moments.

There are some genuinely scary moments on this show and I found myself on the edge of my seat, not knowing what to expect. Sometimes the moments come out of nowhere, but I think that makes them even more brilliant. Maybe you will see some of the moments coming, but I think that they deliver and I still have been replaying some of them in my mind, as I have just created a whole new set of nightmares for myself.

The Cons:

Black Summer — Image courtesy of Netflix

The moments following the zombies around.

So I appreciate that the show is doing something different with these zombies, as they sprint after you as soon as they are turned, grunting and moaning. However, the noises are kind of jarring and distracting, as I found myself actually laughing several times when we followed around a zombie who was looking for their kill.

The show is meant to be serious so I know that this was not intended, but I just couldn’t take some of these zombies seriously. I don’t know if it was the acting or if was the amount of time we spent actually following them, which made me focus on this so much more, but it was slightly underwhelming and it took away from some of the initial scares.

The fluff in between the terrifying moments.

I’m all for character development and I’m not saying that the show needs to be jam-packed with zombies attacking, but I often found myself bored in between these moments. Some episodes are much better than others, but I think that the lack of background music during these moments really made this worse.

Don’t get me wrong, I thought that the lack of background music was brilliant during the moments where the characters were under attack, but how long do we need to follow someone walking in silence?

There are major plot holes.

I know that this a prequel, but I found several plot holes throughout the show and I was hoping to get some answers, but I realized that this was not going to happen once I got to episode 6, which was slightly disappointing.

So am I in or out?

Black summer 6 — Image courtesy of Netflix

I was initially very excited to watch this show because I absolutely love anything with zombies. However, after watching the first episode, I was slightly disappointed. Fear not, as I give all shows three episodes to start making a real assessment and the show did get better with each episode. However, I think that the show had a lot of potential to be absolutely brilliant, but it decided to settle comfortably as a standard zombie apocalypse show instead.

I’m not really sure if this show truly separated itself or provided us with anything new about the apocalypse, but it definitely had some terrifying and compelling moments.

If you love shows about zombies, I definitely recommend it and even if you don’t, you may find yourself intrigued for a quick binge-watch. However, I wouldn’t say that you need to move it to the top of your watch list, but the show had a lot of redeeming qualities and captured enough of my attention to make it an entertaining watch for sure.

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

**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!

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Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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