Ranking the top 5 moments from “American Horror Story: 1984” season 9 episode 4: “It Feels So Good”

Happy Thursday TV fans!  After watching the FX network’s American Horror Story:  1984 season 9 episode 4 last night, I realized that “we’ve always got a say in what happens next,” but what if you really can’t explain what is going on?  What if there really is no rational explanation for it?  Are we still in control or are we helpless?  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.

In last night’s episode, “True Killers,” we learn more about Montana’s connected past with the Night Stalker, along with their shared appreciation for Billy Idol.  Meanwhile, the two killers on the loose finally cross paths, but who will end up victorious?  My top 5 moments from the American Horror Story:  1984 season 9 episode 4 are:

5

“This is aerobics.  It’s serious!”

This show is really making me laugh out loud and I love it!  In the beginning of the episode, we get an important glimpse into Montana’s past and discover that she first met the Night Stalker when he stumbled into her aerobics class.

The Night Stalker seems to hit it off with Montana right away, but reacts when one of her students decides to go off on her for her music selection.  After the Night Stalker presents Montana with a bloody surprise, she seems more turned on than scared, revealing that perhaps she has had a darkness within her all along.

4

“Promise me she’ll suffer.”

We don’t have to wait too long to understand Montana’s motive for wanting Brooke dead, as we learn that her brother was the best man at Brooke’s wedding.  Montana blames Brooke for what happened and is looking for revenge, but she clearly wants to make Brooke’s pain last.  The Night Stalker seems to be on board with killing for his girl, but does he have an agenda of his own as well?

3

“You always hated the crust.”

While Mr. Jingles is off on his killing spree, Xavier attempts to get Birdy to safety, but when Mr. Jingles shows up, it appears they used to be friends and he remembers her from the camp prior to the massacre.  We learn that Mr. Jingles enjoys a PB&J sandwich, but once he spots Xavier, it’s clear that he also has a hunger for something else.

Poor Xavier almost gets cooked alive, but Birdy is able to save him in time.  Birdy asks Xavier to put her out of her misery and he reluctantly agrees, but once he sees the burns on his face, he realizes that his dream of being on the cover of TV Guide may be over…

2

“You shouldn’t have crashed this party.”

Brooke manages to escape, but ends up caught in a net, as Rita reveals her plan to her.  Brooke says, “F*ck your research,” but she really is in quite the jam now.  Montana finds her and realizes that she can finally have the Night Stalker kill her once and for all, but of course Mr. Jingles shows up with perfect timing and we get an impressive showdown between both killers, which ends with the Night Stalker getting a tree branch stabbed through his throat.

Brooke and Montana are able to get away and this certainly ruins Montana’s plan, but Rita witnesses something horrifying when she sees the Night Stalker’s body levitating in mid-air.  His eyes turn black and he is brought back to life, reminding us of the supernatural presence still lurking at Camp Redwood.

It’s one thing to have a harmless camp counselor marching around dead, but it’s quite another to have an undead serial killer on the grounds.  We’ll have to see how this plays out, but it is keeping things interesting for sure.

1

“You never had a chance…”

We certainly get a lot of plot twists thrown our way in episode 4, as we also finally learn what’s up with Margaret.  I suspected something was off with her from the start and so did many of you, but she finally steps into the light to face Mr. Jingles.  We get to see another flashback for Margaret and discover that Mr. Jingles had somewhat of a crush on her and wanted to protect her.

Margaret used this to her advantage and manipulated him, taking her own revenge out on her bullies at camp while framing her poor “Benji Bear.”  After being locked away in the asylum, Mr. Jingles started to truly believe that he was the killer, but Margaret reminds him now that she set the whole thing up.  She even cut off her own ear to sell it, but it looks like Margaret is ready to embrace her true self again.

After shooting Mr. Jingles and eliminating Trevor, Mr. Jingles manages to get away, but the real killer has now emerged.  We know that the campers will be arriving shortly, so what is Margaret’s end game here?  Is she looking to re-create another massacre?  How will the supernatural elements come into play?  Stay tuned!

American Horror Story:  1984 episode 4 Music Soundtrack Highlight:

Billy Idol – Rebel Yell (Official Music Video)

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories and thoughts on American Horror Story:  1984 below in the comments section.  Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Final Chapter Blog

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

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Do you love horror series?  Of course you do!  Please also check out 12 Nights of Horror Series Coming Soon.  It’s your home for everything you need to know about new and returning horror television series including new trailers, premiere dates, reviews, recaps, and renewals! 

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” Season 4 Episode 1 Season Premiere: “We Will Never Forget You Fred”

Happy Wednesday TV fans!  After watching the CW’s Riverdale season 4 episode 1 season premiere, I am in tears.  In fact, I was in tears throughout the entire episode, but I remembered that no one is every truly gone if we continue to honor them in what we do next.  Please note MAJOR spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. 

In tonight’s episode, “Chapter Fifty-Eight:  In Memoriam,” the gang gets ready for the 4th of July and everything seems to be really quiet in town…until Archie receives a phone call that will alter his life forever.  My top 5 moments from the Riverdale season 4 episode 1 season premiere are:

5

“I have to bring him home…”

In the beginning of the episode, Archie receives a phone call while he is at Pop’s and discovers that his father has been killed in a hit and run.  Archie is beyond devastated and shocked and so are his friends and mother.  Even his dog whimpers quietly by the door, which immediately broke my heart.  Archie decides that he wants to bring his father’s body home and his friends agree to help him along the way.

The sudden passing of Luke Perry toward the end of season 3 shook everyone, but the show did not truly get a chance to give him a proper goodbye before.  While I knew that something like this was coming, I was not prepared for this incredibly emotional and heartbreaking episode. 

Even though it was extremely difficult to watch and hit very close to home for me, it was something that Fred Andrews earned and something that Luke Perry deserved even more, reminding us just how many lives he has truly touched and how much he is missed every single day.

4

“I’m just paying my respects.”

It truly meant the world to me to see Shannen Doherty guest star on this particular episode to pay tribute to her good friend, Luke Perry.  I grew up watching her and Luke Perry on Beverly Hills, 90210 and both of them made a huge impact on my life.

Brenda gif

When I recently watched the BH90210 reboot, the tasteful tribute for Luke Perry was done perfectly and I thought it was so appropriate for us to see Luke Perry’s journey come full circle here.

Welcome to paradise 1

Doherty plays the woman that Fred saved on the road and while she doesn’t have a huge part, her presence was so powerful.  Seeing her standing next to Archie and the others truly allowed Luke’s memory to live on, seeing where he started and where he ended up, living on in every role he played.

3

“Whenever he looked at you, there was pride in his eyes.”

After discovering the identity of the man who killed his father, Archie decides to track him down to take justice into his own hands.  When Archie realizes that the man is innocent and is merely trying to protect his young son who made a mistake, Archie realizes how he could have been in this very same situation with his own father.

Archie feels ashamed and thinks he let his father down, but Veronica has a supporting and meaningful moment with him, telling him how proud his father truly was of him.  Sometimes Varchie can be over-dramatic, but I thought this was such a simple and perfect moment for them and I’m hoping Veronica can help him get through this because he is going to need her.

2

“We will never forget you Fred.”

After Cheryl initially feels some type of way about a parade on 4th of July, she has an immediate change of heart when she finds out what happened to Fred.  Cheryl and Toni go to see Mrs. Andrews and Cheryl explains that she knows what it feels like and she wants to do something for their family. 

When Archie brings his father home, the entire town is waiting and there are signs showing their love and admiration of Fred, which was incredibly heartwarming to see.  Even though this town has had its fair share of tragedy and misfortune, everyone comes together now to honor a man who always just tried to do his best and help others.

1

“Fred Andrews will always be a part of Riverdale…I’m going to honor him.”

I thought that Archie’s eulogy was beautiful and simple, but he talked about how his father helped build this town and it’s clear that Fred made an impact on everyone in it…even Hiram Lodge, who ends up doing the right thing by paying for all of the costs.

Archie says that his father was the greatest man he’s ever known and hopes that his spirit and memory will live on.  At the end of the episode, each character has a moment to self-reflect and mourn and we end with Archie going into the garage.  We actually see some past clips of Fred; right before the camera zooms out, leaving us with the photograph of Fred and Archie together.

Luke Perry 10 9

This was probably the most incredible episode I have watched of the series.  Yes, it took a break from the drama and the mystery we have come to know and love, but it truly dedicated itself to a character and an actor who was so inspiring.  I feel incredibly honored to have witnessed a true tribute that was so beautiful and well done.

Thank you, Riverdale for providing Fred and Luke with this tribute.

Fred Andrews will always be a part of Riverdale and Luke Perry will always be in our hearts.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Final Chapter Blog

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:

5

“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?

4

“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…

3

“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!

2

“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.

1

“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

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Blog

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

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Do you love horror series?  Of course you do!  Please also check out 12 Nights of Horror Series Coming Soon.  It’s your home for everything you need to know about new and returning horror television series including new trailers, premiere dates, reviews, recaps, and renewals!

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Affair” season 5 episode 7: “She Needs Someone to Blame”

Happy Sunday TV fans!  After watching Showtime’s The Affair season 5 episode 7, I realized that it’s never easy making amends.  Maybe we make progress and help others around us, but what happens when unfinished business from our past surfaces in the present?  Are we still able to push the reset button or do we discover that perhaps we haven’t really learned anything from our past mistakes?  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.  

In tonight’s episode, “507,” Noah helps Whitney prepare for her upcoming wedding and runs into an old friend.  Meanwhile, Joanie comes face-to-face with Benjamin Cruz, but will she get justice or will she wind up in even more pain?  My top 5 moments from The Affair season 5 episode 7 are:

5

“Let’s at least try.”

Part one of the episode follows Noah, as he goes with Whitney to Montauk, helping her with her upcoming wedding.  They arrive at Helen’s parents’ house and Bruce is getting worse and worse.  He doesn’t know who Noah is, which is clearly putting a lot of stress on Helen’s mother.  When the bills start adding up for the wedding, Whitney seems defeated and stressed, but Noah tries to remain calm and says they can figure this out, attempting to make things right for his daughter.

4

“End of an era…”

Noah and Whitney decide to stop at the Lobster Roll, but they discover that it is very different, as the new owners seem to have a different vision for it.  I have to say that the restaurant certainly lost its charm and it looks like everyone is not as friendly as they used to be.  This place clearly brings up some memories for Noah, as he reveals to Whitney that this is the place where he first met Alison. 

Noah and Whitney bump into Luisa, who is leaving for New York.  Noah finds out that she and Cole are separated and that Joanie is going to live with Cole in Vermont.  Noah wants to say goodbye to Joanie, but doesn’t make it there in time, but this does close the loop on a few questions I had about Cole during present day.

3

“You’re trying to make amends.”

I have to say that I was really impressed with Noah during this episode.  He really puts Whitney first and tries to make her wedding special for her, ultimately just wanting her to be happy.  Whitney confides in her father about her own affair and Noah tries to shed some light on his own past, but this is difficult since it involves their family.

Right before Noah’s part ends, we discover that Eden is claiming that Noah coerced her into a sexual relationship and he receives a call from Vanity Fair about it, which means that Noah’s past is about to come crashing into his present, but is he prepared to deal with his prior actions and take some real responsibility?  Even though Eden is probably trying to get something out of this, Noah is not completely innocent either so it will be interesting to see how this all unfolds.

2

“So glad you are finally here…”

Part two of the episode is from Joanie’s perspective and she finally tracks down Benjamin Cruz.  Joanie says her name is Gabrielle and claims she suffers from PTSD.  Ben seems to recognize Joanie when she takes off her sunglasses, but he plays along.  They even try out EMDR therapy, which is part of what brought Ben and Alison together in the first place.

After the charade is up, Joanie asks Ben if he killed her mother and he says, “Yes.”  Ben is not hiding anything from Joanie at this point and asks her, “Have you ever met someone who looked at you…all of you…even the savage parts and they didn’t flinch?”  Ben claims to have truly connected with Alison and he says what happened was an accident.  Ben wants Joanie to decide his fate now and he seems to be truly sorry, but I’m not buying it and neither should Joanie.

1

“You can’t touch me now.”

After talking it over with EJ, Joanie decides to call the authorities and they head out to see Ben, but he’s ready for them and says that Joanie is actually his patient.  When Joanie signed a paper, she actually signed a release to be a patient and he plays back parts of the recording where Joanie described how she wanted to brutally kill Ben. 

No one will believe Joanie now and she ends up attacking Ben, but he defends himself and then begins choking her.  Ben realizes that Joanie wants him to put her out of her pain, but does not kill her.

While Joanie has now finally discovered the truth by facing the man who killed her mother, she does not obtain the closure she was looking for, but I’m hoping that there is a way to still bring Ben to justice somehow for Alison and for Joanie.  Stay tuned!

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

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Blog

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

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Light as a Feather” Season 2 Part 2 on Hulu: “The Skin Crawling moments are Back with a Vengeance!”

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

Light as a feather, stiff as a board.

Light as a feather, stiff as a board.

She’s dying.

She’s dying.

She’s dead.

She’s dead…

Your favorite deadly slumber party game is back!  After airing the first 8 episodes of season 2 back in July 2019, Hulu has released part 2 of the season as of October 4th 2019.  Episodes 9-16 are all currently available to stream.

The show stars Liana Liberato, Haley Ramm, Brianne Tju, and Jordan Rodrigues and follows a group of friends who play a deadly game of Light as a Feather, which predicts exactly how they will die, targeting them one by one.  After a slightly disappointing start to season 2, I was worried about the second half of the season.  Did it live up to the bone-chilling moments in season 1 or did it fizzle out for good?  Let’s find out!

The Pros:

Light as a Feather Hulu October 2019 1
Images courtesy of Hulu

The performances of Haley Ramm (Violet), Liana Liberato (McKenna), and Brianne Tju (Alex).

Again, I have to give it up to this trio.  Some of the characters on this show seem filler, but these three ladies held my attention the entire time.  I love that they all didn’t start out as friends and their bond becomes stronger when they are all linked together by this curse, but the dynamic between them is fantastic and they really elevate the show.

The skin crawling moments are back!

Season 1 gave me some nightmares for sure, as some moments were genuinely shocking and hard to watch.  These moments really gave a show that is mostly dipped in bubble gum pop horror a chance to be a little bit darker and I was disappointed when this fizzled out in the first half of season 2.  However, the second half of the season delivered with this, giving us several moments that will really make you cringe and then some!

Satisfying twists.

We all know the game and I knew it would be hard to keep the show fresh and interesting, but I thought the second half of season 2 did a good job of keeping us on our toes.  The twists worked for the most part and they kept me guessing up until the end.

The Cons:

Light as a Feather Hulu October 2019 2
Images courtesy of Hulu

Channeling too much Lifetime…

So, this show has had a lot of teenage drama since the start and that’s not necessarily a bad thing if you are used to shows like Pretty Little Liars and Riverdale.  I didn’t even really mind the will-they-won’t-they love triangle and I appreciated the LGBTQ relationship, but there were some moments that just felt like a failed attempt to throw in some fatal attraction psycho components, which weren’t really needed in my opinion.

Some really obvious moments.

I don’t know what it was, but there were just some moments that had that hit you over the head feel that undermined the show slightly.  For example, (hey, here’s a bottle of pills…he must have taken these).  I don’t expect everything to be a major twist, but I do want it to be believable as well.  This didn’t happen all the time, but I did notice it more than I did in the first season.

So am I in or out? 

Light as a Feather Hulu October 2019 3
Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m back in!  Even though I had some issues with the season overall, I still enjoyed the watch.  The short episodes really helped move the binge-watching along and it’s just one of those shows that you can really enjoy especially around Halloween, so I have to give it up to Hulu for perfect timing.

Overall, I think this series is a lot of fun and it really gives you a lot of nostalgia for 90’s movies like The Craft and I Know What You Did Last Summer.  Sure, there is a lot of teenage drama mixed in, but the skin crawling moments really helped push this one over to the darker side for me. There is no word yet on a season 3, but I’m not sure that we necessarily need one, although there is always something left open at the end…

Enjoy the watch and perhaps you may want to re-consider any slumber party games in the future…

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Blog

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

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Do you love horror series?  Of course you do!  Please also check out 12 Nights of Horror Series Coming Soon.  It’s your home for everything you need to know about new and returning horror television series including new trailers, premiere dates, reviews, recaps, and renewals!

My performance of the week ending 10/5/19 on TV goes to…

Kaitlyn Dever as Marie Adler on Netflix’s Unbelievable.  So, I heard really great things about this limited series on Netflix, but it’s not something I would normally watch.  It deals with some difficult subject matter and I typically have to make sure that I am in the right state of mind to watch something like this.  That being said, I am really glad that I gave this show a chance because it was absolutely captivating and thought-provoking.  Please note major spoilers have been left out for your convenience.

The performances from the entire cast were beyond incredible, but I was mostly impressed with Kaitlyn Dever’s performance.  I could really believe her and there was something about her subtle indifference that really spoke to me, reminding me that we all handle trauma in different ways and sometimes we just need that one person fighting in our corner to bring out the spark within us that has dimmed so many times before.

It’s not always easy to believe in ourselves, but when someone else finally does, it reminds us that we do matter, helping us re-discover our own self-worth.

The show moves really quickly and I found myself addicted to binge-watching it right after the first episode.  It really draws you in and part of that is because of Dever’s portrayal of Marie.  Sometimes it’s more about the characters that don’t have that apparent strength you often see that truly resonate with you.

I actually prefer seeing characters who are broken and defeated, watching them grow and learn from their mistakes, while they try to pave their own path.  Maybe it’s the right path or maybe it isn’t, but that’s what makes these characters so real and interesting to me.

I really connected with Marie’s character and I was constantly rooting for her even when I was not sure if she was making the right call or telling the truth.  The other performances on the show are also really compelling and I really dove into the investigation as well, as you almost feel like you are along for the ride with the detectives because you want some kind of real and deserving justice for the victims.

There’s something to be truly said for a performance that can stay with you for quite some time and I really think that Dever achieved that in this role.  This role had to be incredibly difficult to play and I feel like another approach might not have struck the same chord with me.  Dever’s portrayal was so real and magnetic and she gave me chills.

I absolutely recommend this show, but please pay attention to the viewing warnings displayed because some parts are very difficult to watch.

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

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! 

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Blog

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 “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” season 14 episode 2: “Thunder Gun 4: Maximum Cool”

Happy Friday TV fans!  After watching the FXX network’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 14 episode 2, all you really need to remember is “No hesitation.  No surrender.  No man left behind!”  Well, unless you are Charlie and you think that perhaps you really did leave someone behind.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.  

In Wednesday night’s episode, “Thunder Gun 4:  Maximum Cool,” the gang is selected for a focus group, as they prepare to view a new movie coming out.  Initially the gang seems skeptical, but once they see the title…all bets are off.  My top 5 moments from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 14 episode 2 are:

5

“You’ve chosen wisely.”

In the beginning of the episode, the gang sits down for a movie screening, as they have been randomly selected to take part in a focus group.  The gang is ready to rip the movie apart…that is until the title comes up:  “Thunder Gun 4:  Maximum Cool.” 

Fans of the show will remember season 7, episode 11 (Thunder Gun Express), as the gang hilariously tries to make it to the showing of the greatest movie ever, dealing with a lot of obstacles along the way.  It’s safe to say that the gang is beyond excited to watch this, but they do have high expectations for the movie.

4

“Oh I think she sucks.”

After all the hype, the gang is somewhat confused by the new Thunder Gun movie and they ask, “Did they make Thunder Gun bad?”  The leader of the focus group does her best to go over the changes and the plot to get some answers out of the gang, but she has no idea what she is in for.

She looks to Dee, hoping to really get a female’s perspective, but Dee is not a fan of the strong female character approach, explaining that they should really just “bed em and dead em” so that she has no competition.

3

“The gratuitous nudity was a bit much.”

“F*ck you!”  I’m seriously still laughing over that response from Charlie, who is not pleased with this observation.  The gang seems to be most focused on the fact that there is “no dong” throughout the movie, explaining that it is really a trademark.

Dolph Lundgren hilariously plays “John Thundergun” in the film they are watching, which really made this so much more entertaining, but the gang almost loses it when they find out that the movie will be rated…PG-13.

2

“Save the dong…”

The gang decides to begin chanting “save the dong” to really get their point across, but Dee messes up the rhythm.  Come on, Dee!  Charlie consistently has no idea what is going on and it looks like the leader of the focus group is losing her patience with the gang, especially when they cannot grasp the concept of “passing the torch,” which includes John Thundergun literally passing a torch to his son to carry out the legacy.

1

“I am Thunder Gun.”

The gang decides that it is up to them to destroy it since the movie is such a disaster and they leak the film online before the release.  The mission is a success, as the movie is ultimately pulled, which leaves room for a better “Thunder Gun” movie to release in the future.

Overall, I thought this was a fun episode, especially since I really enjoyed the “Thunder Gun Express” episode back in season 7.  Dolph Lundgren fit in perfectly and really stole the show!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia 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’]

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Blog

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 “American Horror Story: 1984” season 9 episode 3: “Happy Jingles Day!”

Happy Thursday TV fans!  After watching the FX network’s American Horror Story:  1984 season 9 episode 3, I started to wonder if there truly is method behind madness or if some people are just evil?  Well, it looks like we are about to test this theory out and then some.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.  

In last night’s episode, “Slashdance,” we get a glimpse into Rita and Ray’s past, discovering that everyone has something to hide at Camp Redwood.  Meanwhile, there are still two killers on the loose while impostors run around dressed up as Mr. Jingles to celebrate the anniversary of the massacre.  My top 5 moments from the American Horror Story:  1984 season 9 episode 3 are:

5

“You totally missed it!”

Everyone gets quite a scare when multiple Jingles start appearing, as we quickly learn that it is Jingles Day.  Several kids decide to prank people to celebrate the day of the massacre because apparently it’s tradition, but they are in for a big surprise when the real Mr. Jingles shows up to break up the party.

I guess he isn’t too impressed by the day in his honor, as he proceeds to brutally kill these impostors, but he hesitates when he comes across one with an inhaler, which suggests that perhaps Mr. Jingles doesn’t want to kill everyone…

4

“Oh honey, I wish you could see your face right now…”

Brooke and Rita make it to the car, but Brooke starts to panic when her friends take too long to catch up.  She thinks that she should go for help, but Rita has other plans when she injects Brooke with a tranquilizer, providing us with an interesting twist for sure, as we learn that Rita has been less than honest with the rest of the group.

But why does everyone seem to be so focused on Brooke?  We already got a glimpse into her past and I’m sure some of Joey’s family members might want to seek out revenge, but is there something else from her past that has not surfaced yet?

3

“Maybe it isn’t all my fault.”

So, we learn that Rita is not Rita at all and her real name is Donna Chambers.  She is a psychologist who studies serial killers and she paid Mr. Jingles a visit in the asylum a week before he escaped.  Donna gets Mr. Jingles to open up and chat, as she explains that she thinks that something in his life caused him to be this way.

Donna certainly seems to blame pornography and the military quite a bit, but she wants to see Mr. Jingles in his natural habitat, as we discover that she was the one to help plan his escape.  Donna talks about redemption, but I’m not sure if Mr. Jingles is really making that much progress during his killing spree…although I guess sparing one life is something?

Donna is also far from innocent, as she meets the real Nurse Rita on the way to Camp Redwood and decides to take on her identity.  While it initially seemed like Donna killed poor Rita, Rita wakes up later on when Xavier and Montana are hiding from Mr. Jingles and begins screaming even after they tell her to be quiet.  Rita’s day doesn’t get any easier, as Mr. Jingles decides to shut her up permanently…by shoving an oar in her mouth.

2

“What the hell are you doing down there?”

“I’m dying!”  The campy horror humor continues in this episode and several moments made me laugh out loud.  Ray doesn’t learn from his past mistakes, as he repeatedly leaves his friends to die to save himself…but what goes around comes around.  Ray yells out, “See ya,” when riding off on the motorcycle…right before Mr. Jingles decides to decapitate him.  So long, Ray!

1

“Why the hell haven’t you killed her yet?”

Fake Rita was not the only twist during the episode, as Montana comes face-to-face with the Night Stalker at the end of the episode.  While it initially seemed like Montana was in some real trouble here, the two proceed to make out and Montana asks him why he hasn’t killed her yet.

So now of course, I am extremely interested in Montana’s past and motive and it looks like we will get to see a glimpse of it in next week’s episode.  The twists and turns keep coming our way and I have to say that I am absolutely loving the new season!

American Horror Story:  1984 episode 3 Music Soundtrack Highlights:

Chicago – If You Leave Me Now “HQ/HD”

Daryl Hall & John Oates – Maneater

Kajagoogoo – Too Shy

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories and thoughts on American Horror Story:  1984 below in the comments section.  Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Blog

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

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Do you love horror series?  Of course you do!  Please also check out 12 Nights of Horror Series Coming Soon.  It’s your home for everything you need to know about new and returning horror television series including new trailers, premiere dates, reviews, recaps, and renewals! 

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Fear the Walking Dead” season 5 episode 16 Season Finale: “Just Live!”

Happy Monday TV fans!  After watching AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead season 5 episode 16, I realized that our actions may be about the future, but what if we aren’t around to see their impact?  Do they still matter?  Should we still risk it all to do the right thing?  Please note MAJOR spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.

In last night’s episode, “End of the Line,” the group attempts to find another way around Virginia’s offer, but they run into some trouble.  Meanwhile, Dwight self-reflects, John and June finally tie the knot, and Alicia is back in action.  My top 5 moments from Fear the Walking Dead season 5 episode 16 season finale are:

5

“I’m not afraid of it anymore.”

Finally!  Our girl, Alicia Clark is back!!!!!  Alicia is back in action and Victor happily hands over her weapon.  There’s no reason why Alicia can’t paint things and kick some walker ass too!

Alicia is confident that they can clear the gulch and sparks are continuing to fly between her and Wes, but will we eventually get to see something beyond lingering stares?  I hope so, but I am thrilled that Alicia is ready to channel the strength within her because we need her!

4

“I am who I am because of you folks.”

Dwight gets his time to shine in this episode, as he tries to convince the group that they can make things work without Virginia.  Dwight does not want to repeat history and he remembers what happened with Negan all too well.  He clearly doesn’t want the same thing to happen to his new friends here.

After the walkers decide to go for a dip to cool off in the river, Dwight ends up surrounded, but Morgan and the others refuse to leave him behind.  I think the character development of Dwight is necessary and important and we will definitely need him in the fight against Virginia later on.

3

“I loved you since the first day you washed up on my shore.”

I don’t know what it is about John and June, but they make me swoon and then some!  These two finally get their special moment, as they tie the knot in front of the group.  The group still has a little bit of time left before Virginia gets there and they try to make the most of it.  I thought June looked absolutely stunning in her green gown and it was incredibly sweet and selfless of Dwight to give them his rings.

2

“I felt something.  I need you to know that.”

John and June aren’t the only ones to get their romantic moment, as Morgan finally tells Grace how he feels.  Grace reciprocates the feeling before they are separated, after confiding in Morgan about why she originally didn’t want him to say anything.

Well, we find out that Grace’s story about her past love interest at the plant does have a point, as she is actually pregnant, rather than sick, which I did not see coming.  I’m happy that Grace is all right, but I’m extremely concerned about the shocking moment that follows…here we go.

1

“Just live!”

So, I’ve been saying for a while that we need a major character death in order to shake things up on this show, but I was not expecting this.  After everyone is separated by Virginia’s people, I was beyond upset.  Side note, the separation of Daniel and Skidmark really made me cry!  But, Virginia decides not to take any chances with Morgan, leaving him for last.

Virginia turns the gun on him and shoots him, leaving him for dead.  It’s clear that Morgan has been threatening Virginia’s vision for the future a little bit too much and she wants to be rid of him once and for all.  We are left seeing Morgan bleeding out, as walkers approach him.  After finding out that Grace is actually pregnant, Morgan seems hopeful still and radios out that “it was about the future” and tells everyone to “just live.” 

Well, I’m hoping that Morgan can somehow take his own advice, but it doesn’t look too good for our main character.  That being said, I’m thinking back to TWD when we thought Glenn was originally dead in an impossible situation, so I know that sometimes the impossible is possible in TWD universe, but we will have to wait and see Morgan’s fate.

This was definitely the shocking moment I was looking for, although I don’t want anything to happen to Morgan.  I would love to get some of your theories.  Do you think Morgan is truly dead?  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!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Blog

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

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Do you love horror series?  Of course you do!  Please also check out 12 Nights of Horror Series Coming Soon.  It’s your home for everything you need to know about new and returning horror television series including new trailers, premiere dates, reviews, recaps, and renewals! 

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Affair” season 5 episode 6: “I Think He Killed Her”

Happy Sunday TV fans!  After watching Showtime’s The Affair season 5 episode 6, I learned that there can be an ongoing game of tug of war between resilience and trauma.  Is it possible to channel trauma to become even stronger or are we destined to be broken, repeating the fate of our parents?  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.

In tonight’s episode, “506,” Joanie meets a man named EJ, who has been studying the Lockhart family history for quite some time.  As Joanie uncovers new information behind her mother’s suicide, she begins to realize that perhaps there was more to it.  My top 5 moments from The Affair season 5 episode 6 are:

5

“If you touch me, I’ll stab you.”

Part one of the episode follows Joanie and I was really happy that part one lasted for the entire episode, as Joanie has deserved some screen time for a while now.  We catch up with Joanie in the cemetery and she meets a stranger named EJ.  After being momentarily creeped out by his staring, EJ offers to give Joanie a ride and she hesitantly accepts.

EJ studies family histories and is very interested in the Lockhart family tree, explaining that he has a theory on trauma running in families.  When he finds out who Joanie is, he is starstruck for sure, but Joanie doesn’t seem to be too interested in what he has to say just yet.  That is, until she finds out that she is taking samples at the place where her mother died.

4

“There’s no way she could have drowned herself in water that shallow.”

After parting ways with EJ temporarily after viewing some old police records, EJ calls her and says he has something to show her.  The two watch a breathtaking super moon in the sky, which ends up triggering something within Joanie.  Joanie brings up the data on the super moon from the night Alison drowned and realizes that the water where she drowned was extremely shallow, like a bathtub.

This brings up some questions about her death, but Joanie doesn’t seem quite ready to process it, as she decides to sleep with EJ, trying to turn everything off.  EJ questions her about her fetish for being choked and becomes a little bit too talkative, which prevents Joanie from truly losing herself…but perhaps she needed this to actually start dealing with the emotions swirling around inside of her.

3

“Are you sure it was suicide?”

Joanie returns home the next day, but seems extremely irritable and distracted.  Joanie’s mom comes to visit and we learn that she is referring to…Luisa!  Remember her?  Even though I was never a fan of Cole and Luisa’s relationship, I was happy to discover that Luisa remained in Joanie’s life even after she and Cole split up because Joanie needed a lot of support.

Luisa tells Joanie that Cole was the most determined person she ever met and that Joanie reminds her of him in so many ways.  Joanie proceeds to tell Luisa that she feels like Alison ruined everything, but it’s clear that she is unable to process the grief that is taking over right now.

2

“He could do anything.”

After having a meltdown over her oxygen garden failure, Joanie panics and tells her husband, Paul, that she has been cheating on him for years.  Paul tells her to get out and Joanie ends up on EJ’s doorstep.  She opens up to EJ about her father and we learn that Cole died of a heart attack at age 72.

Joanie blames herself because she thinks that if her father was not alone, he would still be alive.  EJ tries to get Joanie to talk about her father, recognizing that she is not allowing herself to feel anything and she tells him that Cole could do anything, bringing up some touching and heartwarming memories.

1

“I don’t know who the hell Benjamin Cruz is…”

EJ shows Joanie Cole’s box of letters, which he rescued from the trash, and shows Joanie some newspaper clippings about Benjamin Cruz.  Joanie initially doesn’t recognize him and I was laughing at EJ’s theory about him being Cole’s lover, but Joanie has a memory about the day she met Ben Cruz, as we see a flashback accompanied with Alison’s voice over.  Joanie wakes up suddenly and tells EJ that she remembers that Ben Cruz was her mother’s boyfriend and says, “I think he killed her,” as all of the pieces start to come together now.

Will Joanie be able to uncover the truth?  I can’t wait to find out!  I’ve been waiting for this episode since the new season started and I thought that it was brilliantly done, giving us the chance to truly understand Joanie and allowing Alison and Cole’s memory to still be present and relevant.  Joanie’s coming for you, Ben!  Look out!

Justice for Alison Bailey!

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

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Blog

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!