TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” season 13 episode 10 backdoor pilot: “Wayward Sisters”

Happy Friday TV fans! The weekend is almost here, but I find myself needing to discuss the backdoor pilot of “Wayward Sisters” via Supernatural before diving into any other shows. After watching the CW’s Supernatural season 13 episode 10 last night, I am pleasantly surprised by how seamlessly “Wayward Sisters” introduced itself to the world of Supernatural fans. These are some “amazing women” and they have somehow managed to create a real connection and believable family in just under an hour. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, we are introduced to the “Wayward Sisters” and learn how they have all come together to fight the good fight to save the world…or at least Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Meanwhile, Sam and Dean take a time out in the “Bad Place,” leaving the demon fighting to the very capable Claire Novak, Sheriff Jody Mills, and the hilarious, Sheriff Donna, to put their sisterhood to the test and save the day. My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 13 episode 10 are:

“D-Train” means business.

After the first twenty minutes or so of the backdoor pilot, I was getting a little antsy, waiting for that light and fluffy humor that Supernatural does so well to emerge. Well I got what I asked for when Jody calls in back-up and Sheriff Donna shows up with the license plate “D-Train.” While the girls are not really sure what to make of her, Donna does what she does best. She jumps right in as if she was part of the family the entire time and brings the basics: weapons galore and a wonderful sense of humor. When the monsters from the “bad place” are surrounding them, Donna takes them out one by one as if she is Super Sheriff with a gun. She quickly teaches Patience how to defend herself and adds a voice of reason when Jody is contemplating jumping through the open portal to protect her family. Something tells me that Donna will continue to bring on the laughs and is the perfect addition to the “Wayward Sister” family.

“I think it just rang the dinner bell.”

While Sam and Dean take a break in the “Bad Place,” they refuse to sit by quietly on the sidelines. After Dean enjoys some cooked lizard, they realize that they are about to become meals themselves for a very loud monster in the distance. When they are attacked by the cloaked shadowy figure, a bell sounds and Sam and Dean brace themselves for the worst. Even though the Winchesters play more of a supporting role here, the episode would not be complete without their commentary on being stranded. While they seem more bored than worried for their lives, they still recognize the fact that they can’t find the door back to their world. Maybe they had a plan…or maybe they knew they had left some great friends behind who would save the day. Either way, we are happy to have Sam and Dean back in one piece.

Claire comes through…with a flame thrower.

“Wayward Sisters” seems to be focusing on Claire Novak as the main protagonist. She is clearly bad-ass or “Biker Barbie,” but Claire needs to learn to think ahead. Her plan of attack typically involves her busting through a door to get the bad-guys without really thinking about the consequences. When Patience reveals her vision that Claire is going to die, she initially dismisses it. Jody is constantly trying to intervene and prove how much she cares about her and Alex, but Claire thinks she is just keeping her from following through on her destiny. Even though she needs to work on having a plan, she does certainly help out Jody and Donna when they are trapped in a car, surrounded by the monsters from the “bad place.” She makes quite the fiery entrance with a flame thrower, proving that she is very capable of fighting her own battles.

Claire and Kaia go through the door to save Sam and Dean.

Jody comes to the realization that she can’t always be there to protect Claire and the other girls. She learns to let go and allow Claire to prove that she can be the hero she so desperately wants to become. In the beginning of the episode, Claire and Kaia instantly have a bond, comparing scars and revealing secrets about how abandoned and alone they feel sometimes. Claire promises to protect Kaia who takes the jump with her, going through the open door to the “Bad Place.” They quickly rescue Sam and Dean, but Patience’s vision takes a detour when Kaia jumps in front of Claire to protect her. Kaia has made the ultimate sacrifice and Sam and Dean have to pry Claire away from her lifeless body to make it back safely. Claire confides to Jody that she understands why she is the way she is now. This teaches her a valuable lesson and gives her the motive to keep fighting the good fight…to protect the innocent and to avenge Kaia’s death.

“I saved Sam and Dean…WE saved Sam and Dean.”

Claire finally understands the importance of a team…or really more of a family. She recognizes these “amazing women” surrounding her at the dinner table and truly sees the importance of sticking by the ones you love. Claire says that her “family is her army,” and she is absolutely right. Sam and Dean came together after they lost their father and recognize that their bond as brothers is the most important thing in the world. They will always try to do good, supporting each other along the way. Claire now also sees that this is the key to her destiny and that she is not alone in the fight. She will stop the cloaked shadowy figure that ended Kaia’s life no matter what it takes. The end of the episode gives us a surprise twist, however; revealing that the shadowy figure is Kaia, but what does this mean? Does Kaia have a doppelganger? Is this the real Kaia? While we are not exactly sure just yet, it definitely leaves Supernatural fans wanting to see more of the “Wayward Sisters.” Overall, the backdoor pilot did a good job of introducing fans to a familiar premise, a great music soundtrack, and some truly remarkable women that we can learn to root for just like the Winchester Brothers. While we may not find out until May 2018 if we can expect a fall premiere of the spin-off series, I am hoping that we are able to give these ladies a chance to shine.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Supernatural and “Wayward Sisters” below. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” season 2 episode 10 mid-season premiere: Dangerous Liaisons

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching the CW’s Riverdale season 2 episode 10 last night, I am so beyond thrilled that one of my favorite shows on television is back with new episodes. The episode did a great job of tying up some of the loose ends and unanswered questions from the mid-season finale. Worlds collided and new characters and agendas were introduced, proving that the drama is nowhere near over for Riverdale. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “Chapter Twenty-Three: The Blackboard Jungle,” Veronica happily embraces her new productive role within the Lodge family business. Archie is approached by an FBI agent and Cheryl learns that her mother is happy being a “woman of the night.” Meanwhile, South Side High is officially closed; bringing everyone together for a happy reunion at Riverdale High, but Jughead is not ready to conform just yet. Betty decides to track down her last chance at family after a disappointing visit from Polly, which could be the most dangerous decision of all. My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 2 episode 10 are:

South Side & Riverdale High Schools collide.

In the beginning of the episode, it is revealed that the mayor is shutting down South Side High School because of dangerous fumes from a meth lab in the basement along with other issues involving drug trafficking. Where will Jughead and the Serpents go to school? You guessed it…Riverdale High School. While some students don’t seem to care very much about the change, others take a stand on both sides, refusing to share their space with their enemies. While this decision to bring all the students together created its own sense of drama and chaos, the real question still remains as to what the Lodge family has to gain from this? Mr. and Mrs. Lodge clearly desire the land underneath South Side High School but why? Are they making a play to take over the entire town? Who will get stepped on in the process?

Cheryl crashes the Welcoming Committee.

Veronica eagerly steps up to lead the Welcoming Committee, hoping to make a good impression on her parents and the entire student body. She even convinces Archie to help with it as well to keep the peace. Everything seems to be going well until Cheryl and some other angry students storm in, refusing to welcome the South Side students with open arms. Veronica comically refers to Cheryl as “Facist Barbie,” but Cheryl is unaffected by this, labeling the South Side students as “ragamuffins.” She tells Archie that he is on the wrong side and even attempts to black-mail him, revealing that she witnessed the secret kiss he shared with Betty. Cheryl proves once again to be the classic mean girl we adore, refusing to sit by on the sidelines.

“A Serpent never sheds his skin.”

You would think that Jughead would be excited to return to Riverdale High School. Even though he and Betty broke up, all of his friends are there and it’s not like he has been gone that long. When the Serpents cross paths with Cheryl and the jocks, Jughead is beyond frustrated. After a student paints graffiti on the school emblem, the principal makes the quick and rash decision to ban the Serpent jackets from school. Toni and some of the others are fine with the decision, happy to have new computer labs and a legitimate chance at a good education, but Jughead becomes more and more angry, refusing to comply. After he refuses to take off his jacket, he gets in a fight and is suspended. Jughead eventually comes around and decides to form a club so that they can still get together on campus, without revealing that they are a gang. He explains that it will be their “safe haven” and that they will be “lying low in the tall grass.” What exactly is Jughead planning? Has he gotten in too deep with the Serpents?

Betty finds her brother.

Betty is surprised to find Polly in her bedroom, picking up a few things and nonchalantly sharing the news that she had the twins already. When Polly goes back to the farm without even staying to say hello to their parents, Betty is feeling hurt and abandoned by her sister, causing her to put her Nancy Drew skills to the test once more. Betty is not good at sitting still, always diving into a new mystery to solve, refusing to take a minute to actually deal with her feelings. She tracks down the address of her brother, Charles Smith and lets her parents know that she wants to go and meet him. While Betty’s father wants no part of this, Mrs. Cooper visits Betty later that night and confides to her that she does want to meet her son. When they walk through the seedy motel to find him, Mrs. Cooper latches onto Betty’s arm, as if the infestation and filth will seep through their bubble of perfection. After meeting Charles or “Chic” as he likes to be called, Betty and Mrs. Cooper are horrified by his lifestyle and surroundings, feeling somewhat responsible for his current conditions. After Betty returns to check in on Chic, she finds him being attacked and stabbed. Betty saves the day with Pepper Spray, proving once again that she is not one to mess with. After taking Chic home, the Cooper family helps stitch him up and gives him a place to stay, but did they just “let another monster in?” Clearly there is something not right with Chic, especially after we see him standing over Betty’s bed in a beyond creepy way. Archie is not so sure they got the right bad guy…so is it possible that Chic is the real Black Hood? I’m thinking yes, but we will have to wait and see what this new character has in store for Riverdale.

Archie begins spying for the FBI.

At the end of the mid-season finale, Archie was clearly being watched, as someone took secret photos of him. We now learn that this was Agent Adams who works for the FBI and is seeking Archie’s help to be the inside man spying on the Lodge family. While Archie is hesitant about this at first, he soon realizes the importance of protecting his father and his girlfriend, Veronica. His first mission is to find out what really happened to Nick St. Clair, as the FBI has reason to believe that Mr. Lodge is responsible for his “accident” and is heavily involved in “organized crime.” After Archie learns that Nick also tried to attack Veronica, he is beyond angry. Archie proves to be the white knight coming to the rescue of both Veronica and Cheryl, paying Nick a surprise visit to get the check that Cheryl deserved. Archie lets his emotions get in the way, however; punching and attacking the already injured Nick several times before leaving. Archie is warned about this and realizes that he cannot let his emotions get in the way again if he is going to be successful with his mission. He now feels ready to do what needs to be done: to take down the Lodge family and assist the FBI. Archie even comes clean with Veronica and tells her about the kiss he shared with Betty, truly wanting a fresh and honest start with his girlfriend and reminding himself that he will do anything to protect her…even if means bringing down her own family in the process. Is Archie in over his head? Most likely, but I’m rooting for him just the same.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Riverdale below. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Mick” season 2 episode 12: “The City.”

Happy Wednesday! After watching Fox’s The Mick season 2 episode 12 last night, I’m left with the familiar quote that “it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” Although for Mickey, her idea of winning at a “break up” seems beyond competitive. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “The City,” Mickey, Alba, and the kids take a trip to Manhattan so that Chip can meet his real dad. Meanwhile, Mickey gets an unexpected request to identify the body of an old friend, and Ben and Alba are on a mission to track down Hamilton tickets. My top 5 moments from The Mick season 2 episode 12 are:

Mickey attempts to flee from the police.

In the beginning of the episode, Mickey answers the door and sees the cops standing before her. Without a moment’s hesitation, Mickey makes a run for it, refusing to stick around to find out what she may or may not be in trouble for. Unfortunately for Mickey, the stairs come out of nowhere and get in her way, causing her to comically trip and fall.

Mickey is asked to identify Jimmy’s body.

To Mickey’s surprise, the police request that Mickey come down to the morgue to identify Jimmy. While I knew the writers explained that the break-up was very real, I was shocked that these two might be separated forever. After seeing Jimmy’s wallet, Mickey takes a deep breath and is ready for them to unveil Jimmy’s body. Luckily it is not Jimmy, even though Alba is convinced they are one in the same. Mickey insists that they check his “ass” explaining that Jimmy has a burnt ass and that will absolutely shed some light on the confusion over the identity of the body. Once it is determined that it is definitely not Jimmy, Ben requests that they take the man’s ashes so he can spread them out in the city, only he ends up consuming them, mistaking them for candy at the Hamilton show.

Chip tracks down his real father…at a strip club.

After his failed attempt with Mr. Buckley, Chip is hesitant about meeting his dad. After some initial confusion and shock over the revelation, Chip’s dad seems actually happy about meeting his son. While he is initially upset that his bouncers let in both Chip and Sabrina since they are underage, he then insists on taking Chip for a tour around the establishment, which ends with him seeing his office/bedroom. Chip’s father confides in his son that he does have dreams and tells him that he wants to open up his own Strip Club in Florida one day. While not the sharpest tool in the shed, it seems like Chip’s dad actually shares something with his son….including an inhaler for when he can’t breathe after screaming at a stripper to get out of his office. While the reunion doesn’t lead to anything permanent, considering how his dad gets arrested at the end of the episode, perhaps Chip has now found the answers he was looking for.

Jimmy is back and has stolen Ben’s identity.

After Mickey is quite relieved that the body wasn’t Jimmy, they decide to visit the Pemberton penthouse and are confused when they find Jimmy dressed in a suit and eating shrimp galore. To Mickey’s shock, Jimmy reveals that he has stolen the identity of young Ben so that he can get a job and impress his new bosses in the finance world. While this seems too good to be true, Mickey has her suspicions about what is really going on. After she witnesses Jimmy in action, she explains that it seems like he is more of a secretary, rather than a sales man and tries to push him down the fast track to promotion. This plan back-fires, however; when she is convinced that they are pulling off a “boiler room” type of situation, scamming their clients out of money. This leads to her calling the IRS and a bowl of Manhattan clam chowder pouring all over Jimmy, now burning his nuts to match with his already burnt ass. While Mickey had good intentions, she shatters Jimmy’s new life and dreams.

“You won the break-up.”

Since Mickey bumped into Jimmy again, she has been obsessed with “winning the break-up.” It seems like Jimmy has the perfect life without her and she is not about to lose at anything. After the incident with the clam chowder, Mickey finally lets her walls down and tells Jimmy that he “won the break-up.” She admits she made mistakes and is the reason why everything is not going well in his life. Jimmy refuses to let her walk away and explains that he is the one who lost because he lost her. Mickey asks Jimmy to come home and he agrees. However, when he leans in for an epic and romantic kiss, Mickey turns this down because he smells like clams. Either way, I was very excited to see them get back together, as there has been a void since Jimmy has left. Welcome back Jimmy!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments on The Mick below. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 8 episode 10: Fiona buys a chair

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 8 episode 10 last night, I am left contemplating the Golden Rule, which says that you should “treat others the way you want to be treated.” In other words, you need to be nice to others and do the right thing if you want the same in return. However, what happens when you live by the Golden Rule and even go out of your way to do the right thing…only to get stomped on in return and sued for six million dollars? Poor Fiona. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “Church of Gay Jesus,” Fiona is enjoying living on her own and attempts to pay it forward to a family in need. Kev and V decide to coach Svetlana on how to find a rich husband, Debbie takes a night-time welding job which sounds “sketchy,” and Lip tries to deal with his grief. Meanwhile, Ian embraces his new calling with open arms while Frank and Liam attempt to turn it into a new business scheme. My top 5 moments from Shameless season 8 episode 10 are:

Lip attempts to deal with his grief.

When Lip decides to go check in on Professor Youens in jail, he is in for a horrible shock when he learns that he died that past week. All of Lip’s emotions that had been bottled up for so long come rushing to the surface as he desperately tries to deal with his grief. When Lip goes to Professor Youens’s home, he runs into his daughter there who tells him she’s got it handled. Part of Lip’s diversion from drinking has involved his constant distractions to help those around him. He returns home and tries to come up with the words to a truly representative eulogy and even crosses out the word “professor” and replaces it with “friend.” As Lip listens to tons of students get up and tell similar stories about how Professor Youens was like a father to them or believed in them when no one else would, Lip crumples up the eulogy and walks out. He releases all of his anger and takes it out on the motorcycle he has been working so hard on, unable to control the swirl of emotions rushing around inside him. Later in the episode, Professor Youens’s daughter gives him an unfinished recommendation letter she found about Lip, revealing that he was “amazed by his mind.” She offers to give the letter to Lip, thinking it may provide him with some sense of comfort, but Lip is still too angry to take it. It seems like nothing is going right for Lip these days, but he still holds on to his sobriety in the face of everything he has had to deal with, becoming someone truly worthy of that recommendation letter.

“Hot Gay Jesus.”

Ian’s growing popularity has the Gallagher family stunned, as more and more followers come to the house just to hear Ian speak. Fiona refers to it as a cult, but Cassidy reveals that he is more like a “Hot Gay Jesus,” sparking a business scheme in Frank’s unemployed head. Frank and Liam begin selling tee-shirts to make a profit off of the “prophet” otherwise known as Ian. Ian is unsure what to make of so many people coming out to hear him speak. At the end of the episode, Fiona accompanies him to the church where seas of people are anxiously waiting for him. Ian embraces his destiny and speaks out, realizing that he is making a difference.

Cassidy and Carl get married.

After Carl’s promise ring was misinterpreted as an engagement ring, his girlfriend, Cassidy, enthusiastically accepts. She provides the Gallagher family with engagement presents and explains that she will be “the best effin wife,” cooking Carl dinner every night with an interesting dessert menu. While it seems harmless at first, Cassidy then shows off her present for Carl, which is a vile of her own blood for him to carry around. Channeling her inner Angelina Jolie, Cassidy insists that they carry each other’s blood around to be closer to one another. When their wedding is delayed by a day, Carl begins to have second thoughts and his family members warn him that Cassidy is kind of “psycho.” He reveals his doubts to her, hoping that their love can be enough for now. However, Cassidy takes this to the extreme, refusing to not get what she wants. Carl walks in to his love, Cassidy, hanging on a noose and rushes to her side. While she explains it was more of a test for Carl, she reveals that all she wants is to get married. Carl agrees and the two tie a very different kind of knot…fake ids and all. Will Carl be able to have the first successful marriage of the Gallagher family? Time will tell.

Kev and V try to coach Svetlana on how to secure a rich husband.

After setting up an online profile for Svetlana, Kev and V are horrified by her actions on her first date, which involve an outfit mostly covered in fish-net and ending in a punch in the face. Kev and V try to “coach” Svetlana on “etiquette” and how to behave on a date, suggesting smiling as an easy first step. “What is the point of smiling?” Svetlana asks, not falling for the bait. Kev and V realize that their best hope of finding Svetlana a rich husband is to have her wear a microphone and earpiece so Kev can talk her through what to say. Svetlana seems reluctant at first, but Kev reminds her that “this is spy shit. It’s in your DNA!” After the code words fail and Kev realizes he forgot to test the microphone, he is still confident that his words of wisdom will help Svetlana. However, Svetlana takes off her ear piece and goes back to what she knows best…grabbing the man’s “goods” and seeing where this will take them.

Fiona buys a chair…and then gets sued.

Fiona is finally living on her own and even purchases a chair, revealing to Irish Ford that this is the first time she bought something she didn’t actually need. When she notices the injured roofer and his wife and kids living out of a car, she wants to help them. She secures a spot for them in a family shelter, but there is a two-day waiting period. Fiona generously agrees to let the family stay in her apartment, while they wait, showing a lot of compassion and goodness. Irish Ford and her grow closer and take their relationship to the next level, as he reveals that he has asked around about her and knows that she is a good person. When Fiona returns to her apartment, she finds more family members squandering there and a stain on her brand new chair. Fiona is starting to have second thoughts about her decision but takes a deep breath and reminds herself that they will be in the shelter soon. At the end of the episode, Fiona is served and she discovers that the injured roofer is now suing her for six million dollars. Fiona is beyond angry and realizes that doing the right thing doesn’t always guarantee that those you are helping will have the same good intentions. It’s clear this man messed with the wrong Gallagher, but we will have to wait and see what Fiona does next.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments on Shameless below. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Throw-back Sunday: Ranking the top 5 couples from “Beverly Hills, 90210”

Happy Sunday TV fans! This past summer, I invested quite a bit of time into re-watching all 10 seasons of the original Beverly Hills, 90210 series and I have to say it was very entertaining. I forgot how many episodes there were in some seasons especially when they had those special summer airings. I dusted off my old DVD set and watched Brandon and Brenda Walsh tough it out in Beverly Hills, California, leaving their wholesome and normal lives back in Minnesota.

It’s been at least 6 years since I have watched the series, as I used to binge-watch a lot on Soapnet, but everything came flooding back to me from the instrumental theme song to the over-the-top drama between Brenda and Kelly. Talk about paving the way for love triangles to come in later series!

After getting over the initial shock of how young everyone looked and watching them grow up all over again with drama never far behind, I started to think about some of my favorite couples on the series. There are quite a few who had an undeniable connection even though some of them did not even last for the entirety of the series. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. My top five ships from Beverly Hills, 90210 are:

Dylan & Kelly.

During the first watch of the series, I was shocked by the scandalous actions of Dylan and Kelly. Brenda went off to study abroad with Donna in Paris, leaving her best friend and her boyfriend behind for the summer. It seemed like nothing could break the bond between fan-favorites, Dylan and Brenda, but Kelly managed to come between the couple. I shouldn’t blame Kelly entirely, as Dylan was absolutely at fault here too. While the couple shares its ups and downs over time, some of their first moments together in the swimming pool and at the beach bonfire are beyond passionate. However, they lacked the friendship that Brenda and Dylan shared in my opinion.

Either way, their secret relationship caused a major rift between both the relationship of Brenda and Dylan and the friendship between Kelly and Brenda. When they finally come clean and tell Brenda the truth, her reaction is so real and heart-breaking. She trusted her two friends and is shocked at their betrayal.

Over the years, Kelly and Dylan have on and off again relations and never really end up together. However, at the end of the series they are seen gazing at each other during David and Donna’s wedding to imply that their relationship is not over. In the remake of 90210, Kelly reveals that Dylan is the father of her child, but is still not with him in this future. Guess it wasn’t meant to be after all.

Brandon & Kelly.

Yes, Kelly does earn two spots in this ranking and it’s because there is such an undeniable love between Brandon and Kelly. After my re-watch, I much preferred Brandon and Kelly together; as they seemed to balance each other out more and had more of that friendship I was looking for between Kelly and Dylan.

Kelly is familiar with betrayal and now turns the tables on Dylan to reveal her relationship with his best friend, Brandon. While the betrayal does not have the same feeling of twisting the knife like with Brenda, it does hurt Dylan to see them together. That being said, Dylan’s life is falling apart during this time and Kelly felt like she was drowning with him, descending further and further into his mess.

Brandon is very stable and charming, running for class office when they first meet. It seems like Brandon will be the man to turn Kelly’s life around. However, this couple deals with more drama and chaos than any other. It is almost impossible for them to survive a fire, a cult, a drug addiction, a shooting, and a failed attempt to get married. When you say that all out loud it seems very unlikely, but I promise this all happened to Kelly. While it doesn’t seem to be in the cards for Brandon and Kelly either, you can’t deny the love between these two characters.

Steve & Janet.

After Steve’s long-term relationship with ended with fan-favorite, Clare, viewers were wondering if he would ever find another love to provide him with the voice of reason he so desperately needed. Steve was always the “class clown” and stayed away from responsibility as if it were the plague. When he started working with Janet, he didn’t initially realize his feelings for her. They started a friendship first and eventually began dating.

Janet was perfect for Steve, almost becoming his moral compass, similar to Brandon. When Janet announced she was pregnant, Steve’s entire life changed for the better. He embraced his responsibility and married Janet to the delight of fans everywhere. This couple probably had the closest thing to a “normal relationship” on the show and continued to prove their love for one another as the series went on.

David & Donna.

This list would not be complete without including David Silver and Donna Martin. The couple began dating in high school and had a sweet and innocent quality. One of my favorite scenes is when Donna stops worrying about what others think and announces to her friends at the dance that she is dating David with confidence and love.

Over the years, this couple goes through a lot of ups and downs. Donna feels very strongly about staying a virgin to the disappointment of David. Although he tries to support her as much as possible, an affair takes place that breaks them up for a long period of time.

Even when David and Donna are not together, they keep their friendship alive. When Donna is attacked, David is the one who comes to her rescue and saves her. Toward the end of the series, Donna and David finally accept their destiny to be together and get married at the end of the show. Fans were delighted to see the happy ending between David and Donna. The high-school sweethearts have not had it easy at all, but they reunite and promise to love one another forever.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one ship are:

David & Valerie
Steve & Clare
Brandon & Emily Valentine
Noah & Donna
Dylan & Toni

Dylan & Brenda.

My number one ship has to go to Dylan and Brenda. At the beginning of the series, their blossoming relationship is beautiful and real. Brenda realizes that Dylan has a lot of baggage and a complicated life, but she doesn’t run away from it. Rather, she runs toward him with open arms, revealing her strong feelings for him. Even though they are in high school, Dylan and Brenda have a strong relationship filled with a lot of laughter and romance.

As they begin to get closer and closer, Brenda’s father attempts to intervene, fearing that his daughter is making bad decisions. While this does take a toll on Dylan and Brenda’s relationship, they continue to tough it out together. R.E.M’s song, “Losing My Religion,” is basically the anthem of Dylan and Brenda’s break-up and attempt to put the pieces back together.

After Kelly and Dylan have an affair, it seems like Brenda and Dylan will not end up together. However, once Brenda leaves the show, the writers add in that Dylan and Brenda are living together in Europe, trying to give fans the happy ending they so desperately wanted between these two.

There was something so believable and undeniable between this ship, still holding the test of time. Even when both characters were off the show, fans were still talking about them and rooting for them.

I hope you enjoyed my list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments about the ships on Beverly Hills, 90210. Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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 TV witches: “The power of 3 will set us free!”

Happy Friday TV viewers! When you think of witches, what comes to mind? Society has embraced the idea of the witch as an old hag with a wart, hooked nose, and pointy hat flying off on her broomstick, cackling across the night sky. But to be honest, witches have so much more depth and character than this common stereotype. Sure it may be fun to embrace the costume for Halloween, but what’s so great about witches is that they are a source of female empowerment.

They may possess magical abilities and can whip up a spell in the blink of an eye…or the wiggle of a nose, but what makes these women so intriguing is their humanity. Some of my favorite witches on television desperately attempt to balance a “normal human life” with their calling and magical duties. They want something more out of life and sometimes feel stifled by their magical responsibilities, feeling that it gets in the way of having true and meaningful relationships.

While they sometimes reveal their secrets to mortals, it is clear that being a witch is very complicated and not all it’s cracked up to be. However, they sure do have some very cool magical powers that could come in handy now and again. Please note some spoilers are ahead.

My top 5 TV witches are:

Bonnie Bennett from The Vampire Diaries.

When you combine being a witch with being a teenage girl, things get beyond complicated. Bonnie and her best friend, Elena, live in Mystic Falls where it seems like supernatural beings are creeping up behind every corner. While the show focuses primarily on vampires, Bonnie’s witchcraft is a key component and an influential force. When Bonnie discovers her powers as a witch and realizes that she comes from a very powerful line of witches in history, she has to confide her secret to her best friend.

One of my favorite scenes occurs when Bonnie and Elena are sitting on the bed and Bonnie closes her eyes and makes the pillow feathers float all around them. Her powers are beautiful and mysterious, but as the series goes on, she becomes more and more powerful. While she sometimes drains on magic and needs strength from those around her, Bonnie is the essence of good magic and is a great asset to Elena and the Salvatore vampires.

Zelena aka The Wicked Witch of the West from Once Upon a Time.

There is clearly a lot of unlocked magic in the quiet town of Storybrooke, ranging from evil queens to saviors. However, when something wicked comes their way, Zelena proves to be the witch you don’t want to mess with. She embraces the green skin and looks absolutely fabulous. We later learn that Zelena is Regina’s half-sister, which explains their connection and Zelena’s constant quest for revenge against her. While Zelena does transform into a powerful ally later on, her snappy one-liners and her refusal to let others get in her way make her stand out in a crowd of fairy-tale villains and heroes, absolutely stealing the show.

Fans everywhere root for Zelena and desperately want her to get her own version of a happy ending. In the most recent season, Regina goes off to find Zelena in San Francisco, when a new memory curse has been cast on our favorite characters. In Zelena’s new life, she is actually a cycling instructor and even tells her class to “fly like monkeys,” keeping her humor and character alive.

Willow Rosenberg from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

While the show focuses primarily on Buffy and her strength and powers as a vampire slayer, Willow gives up on a being a quiet nerd in the background and tries out witchcraft to help her best friend fight evil. In the beginning, her powers seem harmless and involve floating pencils, which does come in handy when she actually uses it to stake a vampire. As the series goes on, Willow becomes more and more powerful and has an unquenchable need to consume magic.

This dangerous consequence leads to her tapping into dark magic. Willow even gives up using her witchcraft, recognizing that the addiction is hurting those around her. When her love, Tara dies in her arms, there is no stopping her, however. The dark magic pours into her, making her one of the most powerful and dangerous villains Buffy and the Scoobies have ever faced. Luckily, Xander is able to bring her back to goodness, refusing to lose his best friend to evil.

Samantha Stephens from Bewitched.

This list would not be complete without including one of the most famous television witches who paved the way for the rest to come. I grew up watching re-runs of the show in black and white and was mesmerized by Samantha’s powers. With the wiggle of her nose, she used her magic to even the score, proving to be very powerful. Samantha had trouble balancing her life as a loving housewife with being a powerful witch, introducing the very concept of a witch looking for something more meaningful in life beyond magic. While she loved her husband dearly, she didn’t want to just be labeled as a housewife, still holding on to her identity as a witch. Samantha was absolutely a source of female empowerment, refusing to merely comply in a man’s world.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one pick for TV witches are:

Sabrina Spellman from “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”
Davina Claire from “The Originals”
Melisandre from “Game of Thrones”
Endora from “Bewitched”
Rowena from “Supernatural”
The Coven from “American Horror Story”
The Beauchamp family from “Witches of East End”

The Halliwell sisters from Charmed.

So my number one pick has to go to the Halliwell sisters. Prue, Piper, Phoebe, and Paige all possess amazing magical abilities and have a sisterly bond that cannot be broken by any evil that comes their way. Charmed is one of my favorite series of all time and each sister possesses their own strength, but as the “power of 3,” they are unstoppable. My favorite power belonged to Piper who could literally freeze time by putting her hands up. What makes the Halliwell sisters so great is that they didn’t always know they had powers. When their grandmother dies and they move back into their child-hood home, they release the power behind the “Book of Shadows,” reconstituting the power of 3. At

this point in their lives, they are already dealing with finding love, finding a career, and dealing with the daily pros and cons of being a sister. They are known as the most powerful witches of all time and many demons and evil beings try to defeat them. When Prue is tragically killed off at the end of season 3, Paige Matthews steps in as their long-lost half-sister and has just as much power as the rest of them. The sisterly bond continues and they deal with some really tough decisions. On more than one occasion, the sisters have the opportunity to relinquish their powers and lead normal lives, but the Halliwell sisters embrace their destiny and understand that protecting the innocent isn’t just a job…it’s who they are.

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post your thoughts and comments below on some of your favorite TV witches. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Mick” season 2 episode 11: “The Trip.”

Happy Wednesday! After watching Fox’s The Mick season 2 episode 11 last night, I am a little hesitant to ever borrow someone’s denim jacket again without truly understanding the consequences behind what lies in the pockets. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “The Trip,” Sabrina is feeling anxious and unsure about going to her Yale college interview and decides to take a “trip” to get there. This plan backfires, however; when she finds herself trapped in a closet and calls Mickey to help get her out of there. Meanwhile, Alba’s cousin visits her and she attempts to prove that she is still a maid living the American Dream and working hard in a “beautiful prison,” which causes her to enlist the unlikely help of Chip in the process. My top 5 moments from The Mick season 2 episode 11 are:

Mickey explains the importance of going to college.

In the beginning of the episode, Sabrina explains that she is thinking about ditching her Yale interview, claiming that she is a legacy and the interview is really just a formality. Mickey stresses the importance of going to the interview, as if she is invested in Sabrina’s future. She then reveals her true agenda, however; admitting that shipping Sabrina off to college is the first step in her elaborate plan to get the house all to herself. She allows Sabrina to borrow her denim jacket, hoping she will make the right decision, not realizing the consequences of this seemingly harmless gesture.

Alba pretends to be a maid again.

Ever since Mickey has moved in, Alba has pushed her duties as a maid aside, enjoying a life of leisure and relaxation. This is all about to change, however; when she gets a call that her cousin from Guatemala is planning on visiting her. Alba dusts off her maid’s uniform and attempts to prove to her cousin that she works very hard and that the American dream is not all it seems to be, desperately hoping that he won’t stay long enough to realize that this is all a lie. Alba explains that coming to America and not working is shameful and she doesn’t want her family to disown her as a result of her new lifestyle.

Sabrina takes the acid she finds in Mickey’s denim jacket.

Sabrina goes on an unexpected “trip” after she takes the acid she finds in Mickey’s old denim jacket. As a first-time user, she is having a hard time deciphering reality and locks herself in a closet in fear. She calls Mickey in a panic, as her anxiety and self-doubt have now come screaming to the surface. When Mickey tries to convince her to leave the closet and go out the door, Sabrina is horrified by this and says she would be going “through another door and another door without purpose,” unable to snap back into reality. Luckily for Sabrina, Mickey is not about to abandon her in this state.

Alba enlists the help of Chip…and then turns the tables on him.

After Alba realizes that her cousin may see through the lie and learn that she is not a maid anymore, she comes up with a plan to have Chip give him a temporary job there and treat him poorly so he will not want to stay. Alba forgets that her cousin’s work ethic is tremendous, however; accepting each new chore with eagerness. Chip even begins pouring his cereal and milk all over the counter, counting down until Alba can find a bowl in time and her cousin jumps in to make the best of the situation to the surprise of Chip. After Chip continues to go on and on about his gym story where he had to sit out because he bullied other kids, Alba sees the flaw in his story and turns the tables on him. She calls the school, goes through his room, and finds out about the “incident in the boy’s locker room,” threatening to expose Chip’s secret that he puts a “wig on his penis.” Chip backs down and fires Alba’s cousin in defeat, realizing that Alba is the one with all of the power after all.

Mickey takes acid with Sabrina to help break her out of the closet.

Once Mickey realizes that getting Sabrina out of the closet is harder than she initially anticipated, she decides that the best solution is to take acid with her so that they are both in the same state of mind. They share an interesting escape through the empty school hallway, which erupts into chaos and confusion when the bell rings for next period, separating Mickey and Sabrina. Mickey begins hearing voices and learns about the power of the school’s announcement system, coming up with a plan to leave a message for Sabrina so that they can meet up and find each other once again. Just when they are about to escape, Sabrina decides to go to her Yale interview after all. She finally comes to terms with the scary realization that she doesn’t know who she is yet but it’s the journey that is most important, now eager to take on her next adventure. While she seems to impress the admissions representative from Yale, she does confuse him with her constant need to touch his sweater after each response. Either way, Mickey has done her job as the “shepherd of self-revelation” and supports Sabrina through her uncertainty about the next chapter of her life. While Mickey’s methods are unconventional, her heart is in the right place and she ultimately helps Sabrina.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments on The Mick below. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 8 episode 9: “Yes Team Fiona!”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 8 episode 9 last night, I am left with the saying that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” and that past mistakes should not be repeated. The Gallagher family quickly forgets this advice, however; when they come to the realization that they are not so great at keeping relationships and are determined to make a change. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “The Fugees,” Fiona goes out with literally a bowling team of Irish Ford’s exes, Ian uses his YouTube fame to make a difference in the church and save a life, and Debbie enlists the help of a dog named, Toto. Not the Toto you are thinking of. Although I suppose she does find her own version of the yellow brick road paved with drugs to help her pay her welding tuition bill. Meanwhile, Lip is unable to put his past feelings aside for Sierra and gets stuck in the middle of a disaster of a love triangle, while Svetlana has a blast from her past as well. My top 5 moments from Shameless season 8 episode 9 are:

Frank makes it back to the USA.

It seems like everything is going well with Frank’s new business venture to illegally transport people across the Canadian border until he gets cornered by the “Royal Canadian Mountain Police.” While he is riding in the police car, he even jokes that they actually do wear those hats and that he “thought that was only in cartoons,” to the disapproval of the police. Luckily, Frank is able to escape his dilemma and goes on an adventure of his own to make it back safe and sound to the states. He knows he has arrived home safely when he spots a Costco, thrilled to embrace discount detergent with open arms.

Kev comes to the realization that “dominance is in his DNA” while Svetlana gets an unexpected visitor.

Kev or “Sir Kev,” or wait just “Sir,” as he wants to be called is still holding on to his new-found power of dominance, refusing to back down from it now. He explains to V that it was previously in “hibernation like a baby bear,” but now there is “no more Mr. Nice Guy.” V decides that his dominance could best be used to convince Svetlana to wear a new dress code, which he enforces to her enjoyment. “Dominance…boom.” Even though Svetlana is covering up her “tatas,” she still rocks some seriously fashionable glasses. Svetlana gets an unexpected visit from a woman she had helped smuggle into the country, which she previously referred to as a “bottom feeder,” only to get a slap of reality, realizing that the “bottom feeder” now has the American Dream she so desperately wanted. Svetlana is horrified at her own circumstances, wondering if she made the right choices for herself. Something tells me that Svetlana is not about to let anyone step on her, however.

Debbie befriends a dog named, Toto.

To make some extra cash for Welding school tuition, Debbie takes on a job watching someone’s dog. The adorable dog, Toto, has a unique set of skills that Debbie was not expecting, however. At first, Debbie thinks the dog has a problem with everyone when he continues to bark randomly, as if alerting her to something. After Debbie witnesses a drug-bust and finds the product, she realizes that Toto must have been a “drug dog” in the past. She quickly enlists his help as her new “drug supplier” to obtain the money she needs to go to school. Perhaps Frank should take some advice from his youngest daughter on how to successfully pull off a business scheme, although it could back-fire as well.

Fiona goes bowling.

After getting some mixed signals from Irish Ford, Fiona is not sure what to expect from him. When he invites her to hang out, she hesitantly accepts, not sure what she is in for. She quickly discovers she is hanging out with a bunch of Ford’s exes at a bowling alley. When they ask her what she typically averages in bowling, she admits “I have no idea.” Things are looking up, when she does a decent job and screams out, “Yes Team Fiona!” No one is really paying attention, but the important thing is that Fiona is actually having a good time. Later in the episode, Fiona feels the familiar reaction of confusion and mixed signals coming her way, revealing to Ford that she is an “amazing effin catch.” Irish Ford appears to agree, kissing her at the end of the episode, putting aside Fiona’s doubts for now. Is this the start of a solid relationship for Fiona?

Carl is getting married…

Carl’s girlfriend, Cassidy, starts out the episode making a video scrapbook for her beloved, not wanting him to abandon her and ship off to military school. Seems like a sweet idea, until she begins adding in some tasteless photos of her and some interesting recordings. Carl seeks out some advice from Kev and the guys on what to do, realizing that he needs to prove his commitment to Cassidy. Unlike most girls, Cassidy has an interesting perspective on love. She thinks of their “boning” as “uniting our souls” and tells Carl that he is “mutilating her effin heart” when she is convinced there will be tons of girls at military school, even though he repeatedly explains there are literally no women at the school. Carl takes the plunge and purchases a promise ring, staging a romantic re-creation of the day they first met…handcuffs and all. The sentiment is actually quite sweet, until Cassidy mistakes it for a marriage proposal and eagerly shrieks “yes!” How is Carl going to get out of this one? Is he actually going to marry Cassidy? We’ll have to stay tuned to find out, but it’s clear the adventure is not over yet.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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!

Throw-Back Sunday: Ranking the top 5 episodes of “Lost.”

It’s Throw-Back Sunday TV Fans! I hope you are enjoying your weekend. Fans everywhere were beyond disappointed that Lost was being taken off of Netflix streaming. Lucky for us, Hulu swooped in to save the day and you can now watch your favorite moments again and again. For today, I am going to be counting down the top 5 episodes from Lost. Out of the 121 episodes of the series, it was extremely difficult to narrow this list down to just 5 episodes and I did include some honorable mentions as well.

Over my 16 re-watches of the show, these episodes have proven to be timeless and epic, truly making an impact on me as a person and resonating with me even years after the show has been off the air. The entire series is filled with great episodes, all intertwining to create a masterpiece of story-telling, while keeping our favorite characters real and significant in the process. These stand-out episodes take it a step further; however, surpassing our expectations as fans and surprising us with unforgettable moments. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not yet watched the series. My top 5 episodes from Lost are:

“Ab Aeterno.” (Season 6, episode 9)

“I’ve changed my mind. Are you listening to me? Does the offer still stand?” (Richard from episode Ab Aeterno)

“Ab Aeterno” translated means “from eternity” in Latin, but in this context means “since the beginning.” Appropriately named, this episode reveals the long awaited back-story of Richard Alpert. Over the seasons, it is revealed that Richard does not age and is a sort of proxy for Jacob. When time travel is introduced, Richard still remains exactly as he looks today, leaving fans wondering how his immortality is possible. “Ab Aeterno” reveals Richard’s life before the island on the Canary Islands. He desperately tries to save his wife, Isabella, but kills the doctor refusing her medicine by accident, resulting in his capture as a prisoner. The secrets of “The Black Rock” ship in the middle of the jungle are also revealed in this episode. Richard and the other prisoners are chained up as slaves and Richard witnesses the “smoke monster” destroy all other survivors on board.

Richard is quickly introduced to both the Man in Black and Jacob. After the Man in Black’s failed attempt to trick Richard into killing Jacob, he is offered a job as a sort of “advisor” to the island. While Jacob cannot absolve Richard of his sins, he does grant his wish to live forever. The history of Richard and “The Black Rock” answers a lot of important questions for fans however; this episode is elevated beyond this, allowing us to empathize with Richard’s humanity and vulnerability. Even after so many years of being on the island, he still misses his wife dearly and feels responsible for her death. Richard is often seen in the background on Lost, but this episode allows him to step into the spotlight, revealing every depth of his character and proving his significance to the show.

Just like everyone else on the island, Richard has made mistakes in his past and is trying to start a new life. While it may take him longer to realize his purpose, his journey to the truth is emotional and heart-breaking.

“The Constant.” (Season 4, episode 5)

“I love you, Penny. I’ve always loved you. I’m so sorry. I love you.” (Desmond from The Constant)

My top 5 list would not be complete without including “The Constant.” In the beginning of the episode, Desmond and Sayid are flying on a helicopter back to the freighter, when Desmond begins shouting in confusion, not remembering where he is or how he got there. When they get to the boat, Desmond is connected with Daniel Faraday. Desmond believes they are in the year, 1996 and Faraday explains that if his mind continues to jump back and forth, his injuries will be fatal. He instructs Desmond to find a “constant” to prevent this from happening. Desmond asks if a constant can be a person and Faraday confirms this.

Ultimately, Desmond must connect something, or someone in this case, from both timelines so that his mind ceases from jumping through time. Sounds complicated, right? While a lot of confusing theories about time-travel are introduced in this episode, Desmond’s everlasting bond with Penny is what makes this episode so classic to Lost. Back in 1996, Desmond and Penny have broken up and he joined the military to prove his worth again to her. He shows up on her door-step and begs her not to change her number and explains he will not be calling her for eight years. Penny never gives up on Desmond and does answer the call on Christmas Eve, 2004, letting him know that she will keep looking for him.

Their love for one another is so transcendent and powerful, proving that it can stand the test of time, very much like this episode of Lost for me.

“Greatest Hits.” (Season 3, episode 21)

“It’s the five best moments of my…sorry excuse for a life. My greatest hits. You know, memories. They’re all I’ve got.” (Charlie from Greatest Hits)

During season 3, it is revealed that Desmond can see the future and that Charlie is destined to die to the shock and disappointment of fans. In “Greatest Hits,” Desmond has a different sort of flash, which involves Claire and her baby getting on a helicopter and finding rescue. Charlie has accepted his fate and will do anything to help Claire and Aaron, proving that he has grown from being a selfish junky into a real hero. As he gets ready to head out to the flooded “Looking Glass” Dharma station with Desmond, he takes the time to write down the five best moments of his life:

The first time that he heard his band’s breakout song on the radio.
His father taught him how to swim at Butlins.
The time when his brother Liam gave him their grandfather Dextor Stratton’s “DS” ring, for which Drive Shaft is named, as a Christmas present.
When Charlie saved a woman from being mugged and was called a hero.
The night following the crash, when he met Claire.

(Greatest Hits list credit to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greatest_Hits_(Lost)

What makes this episode so powerful is that we have previously watched Charlie show a glimmer of hope and change in episode, “The Moth,” but in “Greatest Hits” he has now become a man to be proud of, leaving the past behind him and holding on to his memories that changed his life for the good. While Charlie does not die at the end of this episode like fans anticipated, it makes his death in the season 3 finale that much more heart-breaking.

“The Incident parts I & II.” (Season 5, episodes 16/17)

“Come on! Come on! Come on, you son of a bitch!” (Juliet from The Incident)

While many of the season finales of Lost have been jam-packed with action and twists and turns, “The Incident” is on an entirely different level. Jack accepts his destiny and believes that he was meant to detonate the hydrogen bomb to reset them back in time before Flight 815 ever crashed. Some of the other Losties do not agree, reminding Jack that it wasn’t all misery and that they wouldn’t remember each other if he goes through with this. Ultimately, they all side with Jack and support his efforts, defending each other at the Dharma Swan Site where a pocket of electromagnetic energy has just been hit. While this chaos is occurring, each candidate is revealed to have met Jacob at some point in their former lives in a moment of great happiness or weakness.

For example, Jacob appears at Sun and Jin’s wedding, touches Locke’s shoulder after he is thrown out a window, and intervenes with a young Kate when she tries to steal a New Kids on the Block lunchbox. Jacob proves to be a guiding force in their lives, even though they didn’t know it at the time. Everything is about to change and the timelines will ultimately collide when Jacob whispers his last words after Ben murders him, “they’re coming.” As if this could not get any more dramatic, Juliet gets caught in some chains and is dragged to the bottom of the Swan Site. Sawyer and Kate desperately try to get her out of there, but she falls, leaving Sawyer in defeated tears, crushing fans everywhere.

At the end of the episode, Juliet’s eyes open and she is pinned under debris, but spots the hydrogen bomb. She detonates it with a rock, refusing to let their efforts be thwarted. The screen goes white for the first time in Lost history, leaving fans with a major cliff-hanger.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one episode of Lost are:

“LaFleur”
“The Brig”
“Meet Kevin Johnson”
“Some Like it Hoth”
“Expose”
“The Long Con”
“The Candidate”
“Tricia Tanaka Is Dead”
“Through The Looking Glass”
“Across the Sea”

“Flashes Before Your Eyes.” (Season 3, episode 8)

“Please let me go back. Let me go back one more time. I’ll do it right. I’ll do it right this time. I’m sorry, Pen. I’ll change it. I’ll change it.” (Desmond from Flashes Before Your Eyes)

“Flashes Before Your Eyes” remains unchanging as my all-time favorite episode of Lost. When I first watched the series, this is the episode that changed everything for me. Don’t get me wrong, up until now I was completely hooked on Lost. I watched every episode and paid attention to all of the details and character flash-backs, looking forward to what would happen each week. When I first saw “Flashes Before Your Eyes,” the series became something more to me than just entertainment. It had now become brilliant and life-altering for me. Sure time travel and seeing the future has been done before on other shows, but Lost does it so well and seamlessly, making you almost believe that all of this is absolutely possible.

When Eloise Hawking first appeared and told Desmond “you don’t buy the ring…you have second thoughts,” I remember being shocked and intrigued. The mystery of Lost was unraveling with Desmond at the very core of it all. Desmond desperately tries to replay his former days, realizing that this is much more than a case of Déjà vu. After he buys the ring for Penny and attempts to re-do his mistake, the past remains unchanged, as they get into a fight after he can’t afford to buy the photo of them. Desmond is still holding on to a feeling of being unworthy of Penny, determined to do things right and be someone you can be truly proud of. When Desmond is struck over the head in the bar, he snaps back into the present day timeline and is back on the island. He is desperate and crying at this point, exclaiming that he’ll do it right this time and that he’ll change it, but he can’t go back and what’s done is done, leaving Desmond with a heavy burden to carry.

This moment was so powerful and unforgettable for me, leaving me in tears every time I watch, sympathizing with Desmond. This is the moment that made me realize that Lost was truly the greatest show I would ever watch, impacting me on an emotional level and reminding me about what’s important in life.

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post some of your own favorite episodes from Lost below. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the Top 5 TV Bad Boys Redeemed by Love: “I’m a Complex Guy, Sweetheart.”

Happy Friday TV viewers! When you think of your favorite male hero on television, what comes to mind? Are you thinking about the selfless actions they make to help those in need? Perhaps, they become so good at playing the “hero” that we forget about the anti-hero who has just as much charm and more intrigue. While the good guy typically saves the day and gets the girl, what about our favorite bad boys who lurk in darkness and mystery? Being a “bad boy,” isn’t enough, however; as the hero will ultimately sweep in to make things right. For today’s topic, I am specifically looking at bad boys from television who are redeemed by love and transform into a more realistic hero we can root for as a result. These “bad boys” are nowhere near perfect and continue to make mistakes along the way, but that’s why they are so entertaining to watch. While a hero may sometimes feel destined for greatness, our favorite bad boys were initially looking out for themselves and possessed their own agenda. This changes drastically, however; when they fall in love with the right person who brings out the best in them and reveals an unlikely hero in the process. Please note some spoilers are ahead. My top 5 TV Bad Boys redeemed by love are:

Cole Turner from Charmed.

“I was dead before I met you. I was born the day you loved me. And my love for you will keep me alive…forever.” (Cole’s letter to Phoebe from Charmed)

When Cole was first introduced on Charmed, he was revealed to be a demon who was half-human, posing as a lawyer. His plan was to get Phoebe to fall for him so that he could worm his way into the Halliwell house to steal their powerful spell-book, “The Book of Shadows.” Seemed like a solid plan, until Cole fell madly in love with Phoebe. Cole had the tall, dark, and handsome role down pat, as he used his charm to get what he desired. What separated him from other “bad boys,” was his vulnerability for Phoebe. Even when he was the source of all evil, his love for her still allowed him to embrace goodness inside him that he thought was long gone. Over the seasons, Cole and Phoebe’s love was epic and messy, ending in heart-break and tragedy. Even though Cole overcame his demonic side on more than one occasion and came back from the dead repeatedly, their love did not ultimately win out to the dismay of fans everywhere. Phoebe even commented that “it wasn’t meant to be,” but the uncertainty in her voices suggested otherwise. While Phoebe ended up finding several new romantic loves later on in the show, none of them compared to her passionate love for Cole.

Killian Jones aka Captain Hook from Once Upon a Time.

“When I win your heart Emma, and I will win it. It won’t be because of any trickery.” (Hook to Emma in OUAT)

When the devilishly handsome Captain Hook sailed into our hearts on OUAT, he initially was out for revenge against the “crocodile,” otherwise known as Mr. Gold/Rumpel. While Hook innocently flirted with Emma from the start, his love for her allowed him to grow as a character and to learn from his wicked past. More importantly, he transformed from a classic fairy-tale villain into one of our favorite anti-heroes. Hook was always used to taking the easy way out and making decisions based on how well it suited him. Emma changed this perspective, however; proving that he could be a selfless man. When Hook realized his strong feelings for Emma, he even backed down and explained that she should be with Neal so that Henry could have his family all together. Hook truly loved Emma at this point, but was willing to sacrifice this so that she could find happiness. Later, when they did end up together, Emma’s power became too great and evil corrupted her heart. The only thing that could bring her back to goodness was Hook’s love for her. Emma and Hook had one of the most beautiful relationships on television, but Hook’s growth into a hero is what made him truly stand out.

Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries.

“I don’t mind being the bad guy. I make all the life and death decisions while you’re busy dealing with collateral damage.” (Damon to Stefan in The Vampire Diaries)

This list would not be complete without Damon Salvatore. He embraced the role of the bad brother, refusing to apologize for what he was and how he acted. Unlike Stefan, Damon was reckless and dangerous. He also possessed a magnetic quality about him that just reeled in the ladies with barely any effort. Damon’s initial mission was to free his love Katherine from a tomb, however; he soon realized that Katherine was not the epic love he thought she was. Damon’s jealousy for Elena and Stefan’s relationship reached new heights at this point, but he quickly realized that his feelings involved more than envy. He grew fond of Elena and fell in love with her, which quickly tamed the vampire beast within. Damon didn’t lose his “bad boy” charm, but put Elena before everything else, truly learning what sacrifice means. While the love triangle between Elena and the Salvatore brothers became complicated, Elena eventually followed her heart straight to Damon, allowing her own darkness to reach the surface as well.

Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

“What can I tell you baby? I’ve always been bad.” (Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

I have to admit it was extremely difficult for me to choose between my top 1 and 2 picks for this category. After all, Spike was the very epitome of the bad boy redeemed by love. Like Damon, Spike was a soulless vampire, only interested in power and his deranged and misguided love for Drusilla. Over the seasons, Spike proved to be a worthy foe of Buffy, constantly coming up with ways to stop her while having a little bit of fun in the process. In season 4, Spike is captured by a military order experimenting on supernatural creatures and a chip is placed in his brain which prevented him from harming anyone. While this brought on quite of bit of laughs, Spike eventually became a sort of honorary member of the Scoobies, trying to bring down evil, but still holding on to his own agenda to destroy the slayer one day. Like the other bad boys on this list, Spike was redeemed by his love for Buffy. What makes this love so special, however; was the fact that Spike still did not have a soul when he fell in love with Buffy. Sure he had the chip in his brain, but his thoughts and desires were the same as they had always been. Spike grew into an anti-hero that we rooted for above others because he learned how to get in touch with his humanity, with having literally no humanity within him. In season 5, he sets off to kill Buffy and finds her crying on the porch after she has learned about her mother’s illness. Spike puts aside his anger and sits on the porch next to her, offering his support without any hidden agenda. He revealed how much he truly cared for Buffy, as his feelings only grew stronger and stronger. Spike eventually came to realize that Buffy may never love him the way he wanted her to, but accepted this, realizing his destiny to be an unlikely hero for good.

James Ford…aka Sawyer from Lost.

“I’m a complex guy, sweetheart.” (Sawyer to Kate in Lost)

So my number one pick for best TV bad boy redeemed by love has to go to the charismatic and hilarious, Sawyer. When the survivors of Flight 815 crash on the island, Sawyer was revealed to be a con-man with a jaded past. He quickly shifted into survival mode, hoarding many of the supplies for himself. Sawyer wanted everyone to hate him, mostly because he didn’t feel like he was worthy of the love and compassion of others. He even put together several schemes, putting the Losties against each other and making deals that only benefited him. While Jack represented the good hero we came to know and adore, Sawyer proved to be an unlikely hero as well. In season 3, Sawyer returned to the Losties after being captured by the others and the survivors looked to him as their leader. Sawyer showed some promising signs of change, attempting to help out and to protect his love, Kate in the process. He also began to reveal signs of selfless behavior, jumping off the chopper so that Kate and the others could be rescued. While this seemed like a heroic gesture, Sawyer was still running away from his destiny. When Kate and the oceanic six said goodbye to the island, Sawyer was left behind with Juliet, Jin, and Miles. In episode, “LaFleur,” Sawyer put his con-man skills to good use and saved the day, convincing the Dharma Initiative to let them stay with them for a while. Juliet wanted to get on the sub and leave, but he asked her to stay with him. “Who’s going to get my back?” he asked, revealing the first real spark between them. It took traveling back in time for Sawyer to finally embrace the goodness that was there all along. His love for Juliet was pure and selfless, but he was no longer running away from himself or his feelings. Sawyer was finally ready to settle down and lead a simple life with the love of his life. The bad boy was truly redeemed, proving that love can help point our moral compass in the right direction.

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post your thoughts and comments below on some of your favorite TV bad boys redeemed by love. Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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!