Spoiler-Free Review of “You” Season 4: Part 1 on Netflix: A New Setting does wonders for Joe

*This is a spoiler-free review for season 4 (part 1) so feel free to read on!*

“It’s you…or nothing…”

You season 4 (part one) released on February 9th 2023 on Netflix with the first five episodes available to stream now. The remaining five episodes in part two will be available to stream on March 9th 2023. The thriller-drama series stars Penn Badgley, Tati Gabrielle, Charlotte Ritchie, Tilly Keeper, and Lukas Gage. Each episode runs for approximately 45-50 minutes.

Joe Goldberg attempts to make a fresh start as Jonathan Moore in London, but he winds up caught in the middle of a dangerous whodunnit mystery.

Here is the trailer:

You (season 4, part 1) is off to an entertaining start, luring us into Joe’s twisted world once again with a few new twists to liven things up. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Sometimes change is good!

After the explosive season three ending, Joe left the US to start over, but can he really leave his past behind? Well, probably not and it will most likely continue to haunt him, but he’s got a new gig working as a professor in London and a new identity. There are still some ghosts lingering from his past; however, and we’ll have to see what else emerges once part two releases, but I absolutely love some of the changes to the show already.

The setting works for the most part and we have a brand new bunch of characters that all have a secret or two. Joe is transforming more into an “anti-hero” this time around, playing the role of the amateur detective. I have to say that Joe’s voice-over narration has been so incredibly funny and entertaining. I used to find him a little whiny when he obsessed over someone, but change looks good on him so far and I was actually laughing out loud quite a few times.

I also absolutely LOVE that the writers decided to turn the tables on him in season four. It’s genius! It’s really allowing Joe to shine and it’s preventing things from feeling too repetitive.

Fantastic pacing!

I got through all five episodes in one day and it was a binge-watcher’s dream! I thought each episode did just enough at the end to lure us in for more. This was always such an entertaining show, but I’m loving all of the tweaks and improvements in this department. I never felt like I had to sit through too much fluff, which was great.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

We have to wait for the rest of the episodes!

I really don’t have many cons at all. I’m not a fan of some of the new characters, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed my watch and I can’t wait for the rest of the episodes to drop. This season is checking off all the boxes and then some!

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent!

You (season 4 part 1) is addictive in all the right ways with some clever new improvements.

I can’t wait to see what happens next!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on You (season 4, part 1) in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

When former friends, Shay and Adriana team up to participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt with a cash prize, they temporarily put their differences aside to outsmart their opponents. However, they soon start to realize that a dangerous threat is playing their own version of the game, stalking them during each hunt.

Winning is now a necessity as their lives are at stake. As old wounds and memories re-surface, Shay and Adriana attempt to unmask the threat before the night is over, but soon learn that Scream Hunt is not done with them just yet…

My young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Don’t Breathe 2” in Theaters: A Worthy Sequel

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

“Now you’ll see what I see…”

Don’t Breathe 2 is the sequel to Sam Raimi’s Don’t Breathe, which came out in 2016. The sequel premiered in theaters on August 13th 2021. The film stars Stephen Lang, Madelyn Grace, Brendan Sexton III, and Stephanie Arcila. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

The original film was absolutely fantastic. It really nailed the suspense vibe while presenting the audience with some terrifying moments that had your heart beating right out of your chest. While the original film focused on the not so bad guys breaking in, the sequel presents us with a role reversal to switch things up.

Here is the trailer:

Don’t Breathe 2 has a lot to live up to and it’s difficult for a sequel to have the same impact with its audience since they know what to expect the second time around. Does Don’t Breathe 2 do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The role reversal works!

If you were concerned about the role reversal in the sequel, you can rest assured that it translates very well. I had my doubts as well, but I knew it would be difficult for the sequel to capture the same suspenseful feel the second time around since we knew what Norman was capable of.

In a way, the films reminded me of the first two Purge movies. The first Purge movie worked because it was this creepy home invasion story and The Purge: Anarchy moved things out into the open to show us the chaos going on beyond the four walls of someone’s home.

Don’t Breathe 2 managed to follow this successful formula so that it didn’t become stale or overdone. The suspense is still there, but in a different way, which worked in the film’s favor.

Lots of brutal violence to go around.

This film doesn’t hold anything back. I thought that it successfully balanced moments of suspense with edge-of-your-seat action that allowed us to witness some very bloody kills and attacks along the way. It wasn’t overdone, but it was extremely effective in my opinion.

The Cons:

Mixed thoughts about our anti-hero.

I can’t ignore the fact that Norman is a murderer and a rapist, but yet we are supposed to root for him in this film. That being said, the sequel did a good job of helping us change our minds somewhat, even though it can’t really change the monster he used to be. The people he is up against are despicable human beings, he’s an animal lover, and we also have the young girl he is trying to protect, which tips the scale.

Whether you love him or hate him, you’ll find yourself rooting for him during key parts. He doesn’t hold anything back in this film and his skills are pretty extraordinary. Seriously, don’t mess with this guy!

I don’t think that the slate can be wiped clean for him, but I like a good anti-hero arc to change things up.

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!

This movie was intense, brutal, and filled with edge-of-your-seat moments!

It was very entertaining and a solid sequel. It changed the tone of things quite a bit, but I thought it all worked well, allowing us to experience something new to keep us on our toes.

*There will be no spoilers in this review, but I recommend sticking around until after the ending credits.*

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Don’t Breathe 2 in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

My new young adult horror thriller comes out October 7th 2021! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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My performance of the week ending 3/21/20 on TV goes to…

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan on AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10.

Season 10 has been quite the ride, but I may have just watched one of the most epic episodes I have ever seen (Season 10 episode 12) and part of that is because of Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s beyond brilliant performance as our antihero, Negan.

**Please note MAJOR spoilers are ahead if you are not caught up on the series.**

Jeffrey Dean Morgan knows how to play a villain well. He’s ruthless at times, but he also has so much charisma and humor, really making him someone you love to hate and eventually transforming into more of an antihero rather than a villain. While I can’t forgive some of Negan’s actions that shattered TWD, I have been a fan of his for a while and I have enjoyed witnessing his character growth. Negan played the villain well, but he absolutely flourishes as an antihero.

Negan has many layers and he is no stranger to performing some unspeakable acts, but sometimes you need a villain to take down another villain and so our long con was created. Alpha is another villain who has been beyond ruthless, but Negan recognizes a lot of himself in her. Alpha talks about her decisions in terms of survival and destiny, but Negan also recognizes a vulnerability within her that Carol is determined to use to bring her down once and for all.

While many of the other characters on the show keep their moral compass steady, Carol has really lost her way after what happened to Henry and is completely driven by revenge. Carol recognizes that doing things the right way doesn’t always pay off and does what she has to do in order to bring down her enemy.

In season 10 episode 12, everything is revealed, as Negan approaches Alpha and explains that he has Lydia held up in a shack nearby. It has been obvious for quite a while now that Lydia would be Alpha’s ultimate downfall, even though she has been so obsessed with getting rid of her daughter in order to stifle this weakness within her.

Alpha clearly became somewhat intrigued by Negan and their tryst in the woods still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I think in a lot of ways, Negan truly did sympathize with Alpha and probably did connect with her on some level. However, Negan has always had a strict code about not harming children and we have witnessed his interactions with Lydia and Judith, suggesting that he would never let anything actually happen to them.

Negan’s long con works to perfection as he leads Alpha to an empty shack, immediately slicing her throat to put her down quickly before bringing her reanimated head back to Carol. Even though Negan did what was necessary, he tries to do so with compassion, holding Alpha gently while her life pours out of her, proving that Negan is not the same man anymore.

I thought that Negan’s discussion with Alpha about his own wife and how he shut down after her death was so important for his character growth. We have been witnessing the changes in Negan, but I think this may be the first time he actually sees it for himself and expresses it out loud. Negan certainly still has a long way to go until redemption, but I think taking down Alpha was a huge step in the right direction.

What’s next for Negan? It will be interesting to see how the rest of the group receives him now that he has taken down the other big bad wolf. Will they accept that Carol released him from his cell or will they still be cautious around him? I’m not sure, but I think it’s safe to say that we are done putting Negan behind bars.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the team-up between him and Carol and hope to see this dynamic duo get some more screen time together to take down the rest of their enemies. You have to admit, they make a pretty unstoppable team!

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

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!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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Spoiler-Free Review of “You” Season 2 on Netflix: Lifetime Dexter Does It Again

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

Obsession looks good on Joe Goldberg, played brilliantly by Penn Badgley. After season one became a streaming sensation on Netflix, I was slightly worried that season two would not be able to deliver, but starting over in a new town gave us plenty of opportunities to witness Joe’s dark narrative come alive once again.

You (season two) began streaming new episodes on December 26th 2019 on Netflix. Season two features ten episodes (about 50 minutes in length). It stars Penn Badgley, Victoria Pedretti, James Scully, Ambyr Childers, Carmela Zumbado, and Jenna Ortega.

In season two, Joe moves from New York to L.A. and is determined to get a fresh start as “Will,” but things get complicated when he falls in love with his new romantic interest, Love. He quickly becomes entangled in her family drama, which mostly involves her twin brother, Forty. Joe tries to be a better person, but the darkness within him continues to stir, as he starts to lose self-control once again.

If you loved season one, you are probably wondering if season two lives up to it? Let’s find out!

The Pros:

You Netflix 6 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Strong supporting characters that steal the show.

As much as I love listening to Joe’s moody narrative, it can get a bit stale if we don’t shake things up with some interesting characters. My biggest issue with season one was that I actually really didn’t like Beck as a character. In season two, I really thought that Love had a lot of potential, but I was also intrigued by her twin brother, Forty, who is absolutely hilarious.

Joe’s new neighbors, Delilah and Ellie, are also both fantastic. You care about their stories and they really allowed us to see Joe/Will’s struggle to be a hero you can count on. Being a serial killer can get in the way of this; however, but these characters spark a lot of goodness within him, which really helps him grow as a person despite all of his past inner demons.

Joe’s backstory is revealed and seamless connections to season one questions.

We get a lot of flashbacks sprinkled in during the episodes about Joe’s childhood, which help us understand him a bit more. Even though we get a new setting and characters for season two, I thought the connections to season one worked perfectly. They weren’t forced or excessive and they really answered a lot of questions that I had without hitting us over the head with unnecessary cameos.

Really great twists.

I did not see the ultimate twist coming and I was very impressed with it, bringing me in that much more. This show is addicting and I tend to watch it all in one sitting because I don’t want anyone to spoil it for me. Each reveal was well timed and I actually thought this season was even better than the first.

The Cons:

You Netflix 4 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Less kills than season one.

I mean, I guess that shows growth in Joe’s character, but I kind of missed seeing all of the Dexter-like kills from season one, but the ones we do get are rewarding enough. That being said, it’s hard to continue listening to Joe’s conflicted narrative when we don’t get some surprising kills thrown into the mix to balance that out.

Can’t escape that Lifetime feel.

The show actually did originally air on Lifetime and Netflix ended up picking it up, but there are a lot of scenes that just scream Lifetime with so many over dramatic moments. But to be honest, that’s why we are watching this. I can’t say that this surprised me and we witness so many real and honest performances to balance this out, but there were some scenes that were just a little bit too outrageous.

So am I in or out?

You Netflix 5 — Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent! I really enjoyed season one of the show, but I loved season two even more. “I wolf you season two!”

This show is beyond addicting. It’s dark and obsessive, but it also has so many genuine moments of compassion and humor.

Stand out character: Forty, who basically stole the show for me.

Season two was also not afraid to make fun of itself, even having one of the characters comparing Joe’s actions to Dexter, which I appreciated.

The twists were so great and the pacing worked so well, making this show the perfect one to binge-watch. I hope that we get a season three because this show is fantastic!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Witcher” on Netflix: Monsters, Magic and Melody

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

The world of a dark fantasy can be somewhat confusing, but with Henry Cavill’s portrayal of Geralt of Rivia, all bets are off. We are quickly immersed into a world filled with terrifying nightmares, dark magic, and war, as we are reminded quite often about the importance of destiny while bursting into some welcomed song.

The Witcher began streaming episodes on Netflix as of December 20th 2019 and currently features eight episodes for season one. Each episode is about an hour, so leave plenty of time to watch this. It stars Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, and Anya Chalotra. If you are worried about the cliffhanger ending at the end of season one, fear not!

The Witcher has already been confirmed and renewed for season two by Netflix.

Based on the popular video games and book series, The Witcher follows Geralt of Rivia on his monster hunting quest, as he tries to find his own purpose in the world while battling the forces of evil on a daily basis. His destiny is linked to Princess Ciri, who ends up on the run during the war, and to Yennefer of Vengerberg, a powerful mage with her own inner demons.

Does The Witcher measure up to all the hype? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Witcher Netflix 1 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Wonderful characters and performances.

If you were worried about Henry Cavill, don’t be. He’s absolutely fantastic! Once you get over his tone of voice, you will thoroughly enjoy his performance. Some of my favorite moments include the dynamic between him and the bard, giving us a lot of unexpected comedy and fun banter.

My favorite character is definitely Yennefer of Vengerberg, however. Her story is so intriguing and interesting. I got some Melisandre vibes from Game of Thrones, but that is not a bad thing at all. I’m always more interested in the darker anti-hero rather than a character who is so obviously good.

Gore, action, and passion.

The Witcher is definitely not for the faint of heart. The battle scenes are intense and there are some disturbing images and moments that I am still cringing over. Of course these moments are also balanced out with a lot of sex scenes, but that’s to be expected. I don’t think that anything was overdone or over-the-top, however.

The Cons:

The Witcher Netflix 2 — Images courtesy of Netflix

A lot of characters and time jumps.

So, when you play a video game, you get a guide to reference and I often felt like I needed one of my very own to keep track of everyone. There is a lot jam-packed into eight episodes and you really need to pay attention.

I also thought the time jumps were slightly confusing. I didn’t get any text clues as to where we were in time and I had to figure it out on my own. Again, I don’t really think this was a huge issue, but I did feel like I needed to take notes to figure out some things…

So am I in or out?

The Witcher Netflix 3 — Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent! Wow, this may be one of the best shows I have watched all year. I’ll be honest, I went into this show expecting to be confused and overwhelmed. I am familiar with the video games and books, but I wouldn’t say that I am that well versed in either.

From my understanding, the show fits in somewhere between these plots while giving us enough of a unique story, but you can watch this show without knowing anything about either one. Trust me.

If you are a fan of shows or movies like Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and Merlin, you will feel right at home, but I will say that you don’t need to be a fantasy fan to enjoy this series. The story weaving is so intricate and well done and this show is beyond addicting. Even though the episodes are long, I finished it in two days and as soon as I got to the end, I wanted more!

I highly recommend this show and I hope you enjoy it!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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My performance of the week ending 12/14/19 on TV goes to…

Lizzy Caplan as Annie Wilkes on Hulu’s Castle Rock season 2.

As soon as I started season 2, I was completely mesmerized by Lizzy Caplan’s portrayal of Annie Wilkes. Her performance was so real and compelling each week and she had this wild eyed stare that would certainly make Kathy Bates proud.

**Please note major spoilers have been left out for your convenience.

While this story of Annie Wilkes is not necessarily a prequel to Misery, it does provide us with some fun Easter Eggs throughout the season leading up to the season finale. Lizzy Caplan is able to show off the psychotic sides of Annie with accuracy, but she also somehow makes this character real and sympathetic, as you start to root for her as an anti-hero on the show.

Annie’s darkness comes in and out, but her daughter, Joy, is her one shining light, constantly motivating her to be good and to be better. While Annie may not be able to overcome the darkness within her ultimately, she continues to fight and struggle, which is no easy task, especially after we are introduced to a Salem’s Lot inspired group to shake things up.

I thought that from start to finish, Annie was such an intriguing character with many layers. My favorite episode was “The Laughing Place” (season 2, episode 5). I thought this particular episode was so interesting because we got to explore Annie’s past to understand her a little bit more, but her younger self was played by another actress, who somehow managed to be just as brilliant as Lizzy Caplan. This really elevated her character that much more for me, as we continued with the rest of the season.

While the show started to get off track with some of the Salem’s Lot drama in later episodes, the end of the season was able to come full circle, allowing us to truly see Annie’s character development toward the character we all know in Misery, but the writers didn’t hit us over the head with this, which I appreciated.

Everything was subtle and well done, which really made me want to re-watch Misery that much more, but I also felt like I was introduced to a completely new side of Annie Wilkes, as her character came alive across the screen.

What’s next for Annie? Well, it looks like we will be closing the book on her chapter for season 2, as we will most likely explore a new character/plot if Castle Rock is renewed for season 3, but I may have just become Lizzy Caplan’s “number one fan.” She immersed herself into this role with disturbing perfection and I loved every minute of it!

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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!

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

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

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

“Now we both know what it means.”

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

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

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

“Family…”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I passed, right? I am NEGAN!”

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

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

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

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

“Ya’ll scared of the Big Bad Wolf?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” season 10 episode 3: “Ghosts”

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

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

“We are going to listen.”

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

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

“You think our friendship is just nothing?”

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

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

“I am trying to make things better.”

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

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

“You need to sleep…”

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

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

“I look at you…and I feel nothing!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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

My performance of the week ending 8/10/19 on TV goes to…

Marie Avgeropoulos as Octavia Blake on The CW’s The 100. I know that Clarke gets a lot of the attention on this show and I am a huge Eliza Taylor fan as well, but there has to be something said for the “girl under the floor” who has grown into one of the most interesting female protagonists on any current show.

Octavia started out unsure of herself, but she has always been a survivor and she has been trying to make up for her ruthless actions as Blodreina in season 6, but quickly realizes that it’s not an easy path toward redemption. Please note some spoilers are ahead.

I was a little concerned going into season 6 about what would happen with Octavia’s character. In season 5, she truly broke out of her shell and was absolutely captivating as Blodreina. Even though her actions were beyond questionable, she had such a drastic character transformation and I was impressed again and again by Marie’s portrayal of her.

In season 6, Octavia has taken somewhat of a backseat, but things get interesting when she teams up with Diyoza after Bellamy leaves her behind. Octavia discovers a new potential destiny within The Anomaly and it seems like she has been chosen. Is she a savior or a threat? I’m not so sure, but this new plot has kept Octavia relevant, continuing her story.

It was heartbreaking to see Bellamy leave Octavia behind, but perhaps that is what she needed. Octavia has had strong attachments to Lincoln, Indra, and Bellamy, but when she is left on her own, she is forced to deal with her guilt head on, coming face to face with everything she has done as Blodreina. When Octavia goes into The Anomaly, she ends up on a journey of self-discovery, but Bellamy initially seems skeptical of her true intentions.

In the season 6 finale, Octavia is the first one to speak up about helping Gabriel, performing selfless actions to help save innocent lives, which is absolutely a step in the right direction for her. Octavia knows that she has a long way to go for forgiveness, but it looks like she has looked within herself to find a way to keep going, which makes her a strong female anti-hero to truly root for.

What’s next for Octavia? We’ll have to wait and see, but we are left with an uncertain fate for her for season 7 after that cliffhanger ending. Season 7 will be the last season for the series, but I’m hoping this is not the end for Octavia. Now that she is finally on her path toward redemption, I want to continue watching her grow.

Octavia is strong and fearless, but she is also vulnerable, which makes her such a compelling and layered character. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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