Tag: character connections

My performance of the week ending 5/2/20 on TV goes to…

The cast of Dispatches From Elsewhere on AMC:

Jason Segel, Eve Lindley, Sally Field, and André Benjamin.

I’ve witnessed many shows with brilliant casts, but there was just something truly special and unique about this particular one. We fell in love with their characters in such a short amount of time. They made us laugh. They made us cry. They broke our hearts into a million pieces and then put them back together.

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

There have been characters over the years that I have really connected with, but Dispatches From Elsewhere took things one step further. We were asked to imagine each of these characters as “you” or “us,” but when it comes down to it, there’s really only one “you.”

These characters couldn’t be more different and yet they were all brought together by a mysterious game. However, once the game played out, we were left with connections, memories, and moments that reminded us what life is really all about. It’s about the people we choose to share them with, proving that every moment counts…even the small ones.

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Images courtesy of AMC

When the show began, the narrator asked us to think of each character as us. We were presented with a snapshot of each character’s life and routine. Some stories hit pretty close to home while others were inspiring on another level. While you may have been initially skeptical about how you could relate to each character, those walls and barriers quickly broke down as you found yourself along for the ride.

The show is really more of a journey than anything else, but it’s a journey that we went on as well as the audience. It had moments of pure brilliance and magic, translating past the page and screen. While the show may seem weird and complex, it’s so much more than that. Sometimes we need to look at the simplest version of things in order to get the most out of them.

As the show goes on, Peter, Simone, Janice, and Fredwynn find themselves questioning more than just the game. However, through it all, they also discover this important connection in their group. Their friendships and relationships are beautiful and touching. In a world filled with pain and loneliness, they are able to take a leap of faith in order to find one another, which is no easy task.

Dispatches AMC 2
Images courtesy of AMC

What’s next for our group? Well, the show is over for now, but the season finale was probably one of the most thought-provoking episodes I have ever witnessed on television. It was bold, different, and slightly all over the map, but by the time it was done, I had tears in my eyes and a new respect for the entire cast and crew of this show.

The show is meant to be a limited anthology series. If it is picked up for any additional episodes, we will most likely follow a new group of characters and plot, but I think that the journey and performances we witnessed will forever stay with us. 

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Images courtesy of AMC

I highly recommend this show to anyone who is looking for something slightly outside of the box. I can confirm that this show is like nothing else I have ever watched. I am truly grateful that I took a chance on it and these actors took my breath away with their incredible portrayals and performances.

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

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

Main promo smaller

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

Play if you dare…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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

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

My performance of the week ending 4/18/20 on TV goes to…

Kerry Washington as Mia Warren on Hulu’s Little Fires Everywhere.

There are a lot of emotions to tap into during this show, but Kerry manages to display every single one to perfection. Her performance as Mia Warren is real and honest and she brings me to tears.

**Please note some spoilers are ahead, but major ones have been left out for your convenience.**

It’s no secret that Kerry Washington is a fantastic actress, but she is exploring a whole new character in Little Fires Everywhere and I absolutely love every single second of it. Mia Warren clashes drastically with Reese Witherspoon’s Elena Richardson and the dynamic between these two is fantastic.

Even though both are talented actresses, Kerry has been stealing the show. Mia is broken and jaded in a lot of ways, but she also tells the blunt truth, which is not always received well in a small town where appearances matter.

Mia is a fantastic artist and photographer and she loves to take pictures of how people really are, capturing them in emotionally raw moments that reflect the parts of them they don’t always want others to see.

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Images courtesy of Hulu

And that’s what makes her work so unique, revealing the many layers of her own character as well. After learning more about Mia’s past, a lot of the jumbled pieces started to form into coherent images, but Mia is far from being perfect herself. She has made many mistakes in her life and she clings to her relationship with her daughter, Pearl, but quickly learns that perhaps her stance on honesty should also apply to her own family.

Mia’s connections with other characters are truly interesting because she really seems like more of a loner and yet she is able to make such an epic impact on all of their lives. Elena starts out wanting to gain Mia’s approval, but eventually changes her tune, determined to expose her for her own faults.

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Images courtesy of Hulu

There is this constant divide between these two and yet they both value motherhood above all else. Elena is all about perfection even though she has her own skeletons in the closet, but Mia recognizes the beauty in imperfection. It’s interesting how Mia’s daughter bonds with Elena and Izzy feels more comfortable with Mia, revealing that perhaps these two broad ends of the spectrum are not that different.

Mia has tried so hard to prepare her daughter, Pearl, for the harsh realities of the world while Elena refuses to let Izzy just be herself, which creates another interesting dynamic. Through it all, Mia’s love for Pearl is apparent and she will do anything to protect her child, but now that Elena is threatening that relationship, things may get ugly.

Mia Warren Hulu 3
Images courtesy of Hulu

What’s next for Mia? Well, we’ll have to wait and see, but Elena has crossed a serious line and Mia is not one to stay quiet. We also need to see how this impacts Mia’s relationship with her own daughter and how this plays out. The fires are igniting everywhere between these families and it’s only a matter of time before someone or something is destroyed.

I can’t wait to see how it all ends and I am so invested and grateful for Kerry Washington’s performances week after week. She is truly brilliant in this role and deserves some recognition for sure.

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

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

Main promo smaller

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek comes out April 28th!

Dash and Seek is available here!

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

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Purge” season 2 episode 6: “Happy Holidays”

Happy Wednesday TV fans!  After watching the USA network’s The Purge season 2 episode 6 last night, we finally got to see the man behind the voice of The Bobby Sheridan Show, as he reminded us that “You’re nobody in America unless someone wants to Purge you.”  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.

In last night’s episode, “Happy Holidays,” Esme is on the run from the NFFA, which forces her to turn to an unlikely source for help.  Meanwhile, The Campus Killer is certainly making a name for himself, but things get tricky when he returns home for break, and Marcus and Michelle invite Sam over for a chat.

My top 5 moments from The Purge season 2 episode 6 are:

5

“Either my guys join or I turn you in.”

Ryan tries to keep things moving for the plan, but things are getting much more complicated now that his former captain has joined in.  The rest of the group does not trust her and rightfully so and it’s likely that she will turn the tables on Ryan and his group in the end.

Does Ryan have another plan up his sleeve?

We’ll have to find out, but I can’t wait to see what happens once all of the players are in place.

4

“She has committed an act of treason.”

After following up on some leads, Esme’s discoveries have been noticed by her supervisor, who reports that this is now a “Priority 1 Manhunt.”  The NFFA shows off just how powerful they are, using every single form of technology against Esme to try and track her down.

Luckily, our girl is aware of some of the blind spots, which works to her advantage, but this is only a temporary solution.

It also looks like the girl she was training at the NFFA is on her side, as she changes several camera views to try and help Esme.  At this point, Esme needs all the help she can get because I’m not sure that one can truly outrun the NFFA.

I’m still rooting for her anyway!

3

“So messed up…”

Yeah, you can say that again Ben, although you are proving to be quite the good liar under pressure.  After being questioned about Andy’s death, Ben reveals that he was just nervous because he was smoking weed, which apparently is a class Y offense.

Ben returns home during school break with his girlfriend and it’s clear that the urge to Purge has not gone away just yet, as his older brother continues to push his buttons.

The Campus Killer is certainly making a name for himself,  but now that Ben’s girlfriend has found his bloody God Purge mask, it looks like Ben is about to be exposed.

Will Ben really try and kill his girlfriend to keep this secret?  We’ll have to wait and see, but she better watch her back for sure!

2

“I need your help.”

I had a feeling that Esme was going to turn to Ryan for help and she does in this episode.  Ryan is skeptical at first, but decides to help hide Esme, realizing that they are ultimately both good people and want the same thing.

Ryan asks Esme if she thinks she can really take down the NFFA and perhaps she can if she gets some support here, but it’s not going to be easy.

Esme is welcomed in as the newest member of the team, so perhaps she can also help Ryan deal with his Captain problem…

1

“I wasn’t the only one.”

Marcus is still in shock over Michelle’s confession, but he is not about to let things go, as he decides to text Sam from Michelle’s phone, asking him over for a chat.  Only Sam shows up with his wife, April, to make things even more awkward.

April apparently knows about the affair, but says she had no idea that Sam tried to Purge Marcus.  At first, Sam says he didn’t do it and even tries to put the blame on Michelle, but eventually has a change of heart when Marcus holds his face above the stove burner.

Sam takes down his part of the contract, but we get another twist and learn that he wasn’t the only one and that apparently the whole neighborhood wanted to Purge Marcus.

So, what did Marcus do to piss everyone off?  Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories and thoughts on The Purge 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 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 Purge” season 2 episode 2: “Everything Is Fine”

Happy Wednesday TV fans!  After watching the USA network’s The Purge season 2 episode 2 last night, I also started to ask myself:  “What do you do when every choice you can make seems like the wrong one?”  Is it possible to find redemption and goodness in the world of The Purge or is society too far gone?  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.  

In last night’s episode, “Everything Is Fine,” it’s the day after Purge Night, which may be even messier than the actual night, as our new characters deal with the aftermath, making new decisions that might change their lives forever.  My top 5 moments from The Purge season 2 episode 2 are:

5

“I know how you got this…”

After pulling off a dangerous heist, Ryan takes his bag of money to a facility where his mom is being treated.  We learn that Ryan’s mother suffers from some kind of dementia and Ryan is doing his best to take care of his family and his other team members from the heist.

Ryan is being presented as the leader with the moral compass, but it will be interesting to find out where his loyalties truly lie once he is connected with the rest of the characters.

4

“He’s family.”

After Tommy makes it to the safe house, Ryan is worried that he may have been followed and sure enough, the police show up with perfect timing.  Tommy walks out of the building with no weapon, but the police continue to beat him badly to make a point.  Ryan explains that Tommy will be held until the next Purge and then they will just kill him, which reveals quite a few holes in this justice system that the NFFA seems so proud of.

Will Ryan risk it all to free his friend?  We’ll have to stay tuned to find out, but I thought that this inside look during The Purge aftermath shed some new light on everything.

3

“I’m fine…”

But are you really, Ben?  After beating the boy in the “I Am God” Purge mask to death, Ben makes it home to his fraternity, covered in blood.  His roommate is extremely surprised to see him and things aren’t looking too good for him, especially since he left Ben to die.

Ben claims that everything is all right, but this trauma has clearly impacted him and it looks like it also unleashed some inner violence brewing within Ben.  He even tries out playing a Purge video game and gets a little bit too obsessed, revealing that Purge Night may have changed Ben for good.  It also looks like we haven’t seen the last of the “I Am God” Purge mask, as Ben goes back to retrieve it.

2

“I need to know what happened in that house.”

After Esme’s friend is brutally murdered, Esme continues to look into the case, even though her supervisor tells her to let it go.  Esme goes to her friend’s house and finds an envelope with an interesting recording of a woman’s voice.

The woman is talking about her need for violence and already I am connecting the dots, wondering if the voice on the other end is Marcus’s wife, Michelle?  I’m really interested in Esme’s character and I support her quest for the truth, but she better watch her back because the NFFA is always watching.

1

“Whoever is trying to kill you is still out there.”

During episode 2, we discover that Marcus is a doctor and he actually attempts to save the life of the man who tried to kill him.  Marcus doesn’t get any concrete answers out of him, but he decides to go visit his son at college.

In episode 2, we get several connections between our new characters already.  Marcus’s son had Professor Adams as a teacher, who is Esme’s friend, so the dots are already lining up for us.  Ben was in the same class, so we get that link as well, but I’m sure that there are more connections to discover.  Marcus’s son finds a hidden app on his phone that was spying on Marcus and they learn that there is still a bounty out on Marcus. 

So, who wants Marcus dead?  The obvious answer is his wife, but things are not always what they seem on The Purge.  Either way, I’m intrigued.  Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories and thoughts on The Purge 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 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 “Fear the Walking Dead” season 5 episode 6: “We’ve Done the Impossible Before”

Happy Monday TV fans!  After watching AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead season 5 episode 6, I realized that “more things are possible than impossible,” but what happens when you lose that last faint glimmer of hope?  How do you keep going?  Do you hold on to the dream or do you face reality and stop searching for the impossible?  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.  In last night’s episode, “The Little Prince,” the group works together to fix the plane, but they are running out of time.  Meanwhile, everyone takes a moment to share something about their feelings, connecting to the people around them.  My top 5 moments from Fear the Walking Dead season 5 episode 6 are:

5

“Off the record…”

Al went through quite the emotional roller coaster in episode 5, but she is trying to stay on track now and fix the plane.  Of course that’s easier said than done, but we take a brief moment for her and June to talk.  June recognizes that perhaps Al went through something when she was taken and reminds her that she once allowed her to talk about everything off the record, now giving Al the chance to do the same.

Al doesn’t share with June, but I thought this was a sweet moment and I actually really like the friendship between these two.  There are a lot of similarities between both characters and they both know what it’s like to shut people out, but it’s great to see that they are now developing so much and growing as characters.

4

“If you don’t do what I say, there’s gonna be another meltdown.”

Even though the majority of the episode is focused on filler share time for the group, we do get some drama, as we get to see Grace again in this episode.  Grace radios over to Morgan and explains that she needs their generator because the one she was using failed.  Grace explains that if the generator works, it will buy them some time, but that they better fix that plane soon.  No pressure guys!

3

“These things are always complicated.”

During the episode, John and Dwight continue their search for Sherry and Dwight doesn’t seem like he is initially up for any over sharing.  However, John continues to open up to him and shows him the scrabble letters he carries around with him from when June first revealed that she loved him.  I think it’s beyond sweet that John still holds on to them and I am still shipping John and June so much!

Dwight recognizes that John is a good person and sees the world a certain way.  He finally opens up a little bit about Sherry and explains that “she chose to give up everything” for him.  John finds a clue in the diner and ends up discovering an infinity note from Sherry or “Honey” in the car.  He reads the letter and discovers that this is the last letter that Sherry plans on writing, telling Dwight that she wants him to move on.

Dwight can tell that Sherry was there and is clearly excited and hopeful over this discovery, but John lies to him and tells him that he didn’t find anything. While I think that Dwight has a right to get some closure here, John recognizes that something like this would completely crush him and he decides to keep that glimmer of hope still going.  Is it the right call?  I’m not so sure, but I completely understand where John is coming from and I think he did this out of the goodness of his heart.  Then again, Dwight also deserves the truth.

2

“Just make sure you’re doing what they really asked.”

While the group is trying to fix the plane, Annie tries to convince Max and Dylan to leave with her.  Alicia explains that it’s not safe and desperately tries to get through to Annie.  Annie finally releases the guard around her and tells Alicia what happened with their parents.  She watched them all get sick after they were exposed to the radioactive walkers and was told to keep the group of children safe.  Annie has been carrying this burden around with her this entire time, which is no easy task for anyone.  Alicia recognizes where she is coming from and tells her that she constantly thinks about the last thing her own mother told her.

Annie still seems convinced that the right decision is to go back to hiding behind the dead, but Alicia asks her an important question, wondering if Annie finds surrounding herself with the dead easier than surrounding herself with the living.  Alicia understands what it feels like to want to run away, but she has gone through something very similar and wants to help Annie too.  Annie and the kids ultimately leave, but Alicia decides that she’s going in, even though she will need to make her way through a large group of walkers.  While Alicia Clark is my favorite zombie super hero, she is outnumbered here, but it looks like she is not giving up without a fight!

1

“Roads are not a necessary ingredient to this journey.”

While the group is working on the plane, Victor, Charlie, and Sarah continue to try and work on things on their end, but they don’t know how they are going to get to their friends.  It seems like the answer has been in front of them the whole time, as Charlie shows them a picture of our dear good friend Jimbo, sparking the idea to use his inflatable beer hot air balloon to reach their friends.

It looks like everything is working out, but Victor cannot find the perfect “coaster” to land on, as they end up having to put the balloon down very quickly, losing contact with Morgan over the radio.  Victor and Charlie are completely surrounded by walkers and they know that Morgan warned them to stay away from them, but will they be able to get out of this jam unharmed?  Luckily, Morgan has a new staff and he is going in, much like Alicia.  Let’s hope he can reach them in time!  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!

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!