Spoiler-Free Review of “Wednesday” on Netflix: Jenna Ortega is Fantastic

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

“Emotion equals weakness…”

Wednesday premiered on November 23rd on Netflix with eight episodes available to stream now. The supernatural drama series stars Jenna Ortega, Christina Ricci, Gwendoline Christie, Emma Myers, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Each episode is approximately 48-50 minutes.

While attending Nevermore Academy, Wednesday Addams finds herself caught up in a mystery involving her parents from twenty-five years ago.

Here is the trailer:

Wednesday is addicting in all the right ways with an interesting mystery and wickedly fun premise. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

All hail, Jenna Ortega!

I expected her to be really good in this role, but she was even better than I could have hoped for. She was the BEST part of the series. This may be my favorite role by her yet. She does a fantastic job of paying tribute to the character while really putting her own spin on her as well.

I enjoyed the other characters as well and it was so wonderful seeing Christina Ricci in this one too for obvious reasons.

Emma Myers was a scene-stealer as Wednesday’s roommate along with Thing. Even though a lot of the characters fit into tropes, they were still a lot of fun to watch and I enjoyed the supporting characters more in this one than I typically do with other teen supernatural dramas.

Easy to binge-watch with very entertaining moments.

I enjoyed the sleuth-mystery approach to this series and even though we got to see some of the iconic characters from the Addams family, this was clearly Wednesday’s show and we stayed true to that, which I appreciated.

I loved each episode and the typical teen moments were actually really entertaining because of Wednesday’s reaction to them. The pacing was a little slow at first, but it improved significantly as the episodes continued. By the time I got to episode three, I was completely hooked.

The Cons:

Predictable at times with your typical teen drama.

I saw the ending reveal coming and I thought some things were easy to figure out, but I still enjoyed everything. There was also some typical teen drama in this series with another love interest triangle. In a lot of ways, this show was like a mashup of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Nancy Drew. I love both of those series so that’s not really a con, but some of the moments of drama could have easily appeared in any show on The CW.

That being said, the drama wasn’t overdone so it didn’t take away from the series that much at all.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Jenna Ortega is perfection!

This show was so entertaining and really put a unique spin on The Addams Family, allowing Wednesday to truly shine.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Wednesday 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!

**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 “Riverdale” Season 5 Episode 8: “Lock & Key”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching The CW’s Riverdale season 5 episode 8, I learned that the “more things change, the more they stay EXACTLY the same.”

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In episode, “Chapter Eighty-Four: Lock & Key,” Cheryl decides to throw a key party to throw a little chaos at the drama brewing between the group. Meanwhile, Kev and Fangs contemplate the future of their relationship, Veronica wants a change, and Betty and Alice get a disturbing phone call.

My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 5 episode 8 are:

“I lost a lot of time.”

The extreme weirdness continues with Jughead’s plot as he begins to hallucinate. He thinks he is seeing the alien specimen lurking around, but is it all in his head?

Jughead even joins a support group to talk about it, but he decides to walk away from it when things get to be too much.

Just like I predicted, Tabitha clearly likes Jughead and even suggests that they go out on a normal date, but Jughead is too much in his head to even really hear her and decides to get drunk instead.

Tabitha actually may be the right choice for Jughead, but he has to get his addiction under control before he screws up this opportunity for good.

Or I guess some alien will take him away and probe him…

“What in the actual….”

Yep. You took the words right out of my mouth, Cheryl. Another theory of mine came true when we learned that Toni is actually the surrogate for Kev and Fangs. Cheryl is floored by the news, but Toni tries to tell her that she still cares about her deeply.

Cheryl’s stubbornness shines through; however, as she decides to throw a key party instead to shake things up. Everyone has to pick someone’s key in a bowl and have at it with their wildest dreams and fantasies.

Images courtesy of The CW

Parties don’t go so well at Cheryl’s house so I already could see the chaos swirling around everyone. Cheryl and Toni do end up picking one another, but Toni is upset by Cheryl’s behavior. Cheryl tries to surprise her with a nursery at Thornhill, but Toni reminds her that she doesn’t want her and her baby to stay locked away from everything and apologizes for leading her on.

Even though the Choni fan in me is rooting for these two to get together, things take time and it looks like Cheryl will be busy with Minerva. If Minerva looks familiar, it’s because she played Agatha on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina so I’m always happy to see a familiar face pop up in the Archie universe.

“A window of light in the dark.”

Even though the beginning of the episode presented us with some hot and steamy scenes between Barchie, these two are having mixed feelings once again. Archie tells Betty that he does still have lingering feelings for Veronica (really?) and Betty tells him that she needs to focus on Polly’s disappearance and she doesn’t want to bring Archie into her darkness.

It’s clear that these two will still remain friends, but I can’t say that I’m not disappointed. I don’t think we were given enough time to actually explore this relationship after seven years and now it seems like we’re right back where we started again…

“I will be fighting fire with fire.”

Veronica wants a change and she starts by having her entire apartment redone to really spark this change. But the real change Veronica is looking for is within her marriage. After Chadwick forces them to leave the party early, Veronica asks for a divorce because she is also not over Archie and these two are back together again?

Images courtesy of The CW

I’m sure the Varchie fan is excited for this, but I honestly thought this felt extremely rushed and out of place. Whether Archie has feelings for Veronica or not, he was just with Betty and I appreciate that he told Veronica about that, which shows that he has matured in some ways.

But on the other hand, Veronica is still married. She didn’t get divorced overnight and I have a feeling that Chadwick is going to team up with Hiram somehow to bring forth more drama and destruction.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you Varchie…

“She’s alive.”

Betty continues to deal with nightmares surrounding TBK, but we still have some time before we explore that plot fully. Meanwhile, Alice tells Betty that she received a call from Polly, but Betty is not so sure.

Images courtesy of The CW

Later in the episode, Betty actually picks up the call and Polly asks for their help, claiming she is on the side of the Lost Highway. Betty and Alice rush out to help her (with no back-up). This is when FP would really come in handy…

Only they don’t find Polly, but the phone booth she was in is broken and filled with blood.

We know that Polly was alive, but is this really it for her or is there still a chance that Betty can catch this roadside killer before it’s too late?

I’m ready to find out and next week’s episode looks fantastic already. We need a Betty-centric episode now!

Stay tuned, Riverdale fans!

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

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” Part 4 on Netflix: Ends the Way it Should

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

“Cheerleader by day…Queen of Hell by night.”

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina part 4 premiered on Netflix on December 31st 2020 with eight final episodes available to stream now. The series stars Kiernan Shipka, Ross Lynch, Lucy Davis, Chance Perdomo, Michelle Gomez, and Miranda Otto. Each episode runs for approximately 55 minutes.

It was bitter sweet to discover that this would be the final season of the bewitching darker take on Sabrina the Teenage Witch and I was worried that the show would not be able to wrap everything up to our satisfaction. Either way, I knew we would be jam-packed with dark spells, rituals, and sacrifice along the way for Sabrina Spellman and the rest of our beloved characters.

Here is the trailer:

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Part 4 packs a punch with a dark and twisted new threat on Greendale, but is eight episodes truly enough to give this show a proper conclusion? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Image courtesy of Netflix

Darker with sci-fi horror.

While the earlier seasons of CAOS dipped into more of a bubble gum pop type of horror, the final season doesn’t hold anything back. There is more gore and more stomach-turning moments which actually had me cringing on more than one occasion. It helped that we got several well-placed mentions of classic movies like Alien and The Evil Dead thrown in for good measure, but I was pleasantly surprised by this darker turn, which worked in the show’s favor.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Supporting characters get to shine.

We’ve been getting hints along the way about Rosalind’s potential and we finally devote some time to her character, along with several others. While we couldn’t spend too much time on everyone, I thought that the show made a valiant effort to allow each and every character and every relationship a chance at some type of closure or growth.

Cameos done to perfection in episode 7.

There will be no spoilers in this review, but I am sure you are already aware of the cameos that will appear in the final season. That being said, I was really happy with episode 7 and I thought that the way everything done was beyond brilliant. They could have easily gone down a cheesier, quicker route and instead they presented us with something truly unique that kept the plot going.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Rushed and slightly chaotic.

I get it. There was a lot to cover in just eight episodes, but there was so much overstuffed into this season. I appreciate that the writers were trying to tie up loose ends, but I also thought that some moments of fluff were pointless because the plot was actually really good and captivating on its own.

I also thought that the second half of part 4 was much stronger than the first half.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

I am a huge fan of this series and I thought that the writers really tried their best to give this show a proper sendoff. There were moments that had me terrified, laughing, and crying my eyes out, but I am satisfied with the conclusion and after so many letdowns this past year from series finales, CAOS earned my respect by sticking to a proper conclusion.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My new supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen 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!

The 2020-2021 Mid-Season TV Premieres I am most looking forward to: Bring on the new episodes!

Greetings TV Fans! As we approach the end of the year, some of our absolute favorite shows will be returning with new episodes and we can also look forward to some brand new shows as well that have a lot of potential. Looking to find out when they all start? You came to the right place!

While some of our favorite returning shows already have 2021 premiere dates announced, others are still giving out a TBD 2021 response, as I vigilantly keep checking to see when they will be premiering. It looks like we have several new shows with a lot of potential and some of our returning favorites seem very promising as well.

Without further delay, the 2020-2021 Mid-season TV premieres I am most looking forward to are:

The Hardy Boys

Image courtesy of Hulu

Premiere date: December 4th 2020

Where to watch: Hulu

Based on the beloved book series of the same name, it looks like The Hardy Boys is going to follow in the footsteps of The CW’s Nancy Drew, bringing a modern/Riverdale vibe to the show. Bring on the new mysteries!

Shameless (Season 11, Final Season)

Image courtesy of Showtime

Premiere date: December 6th 2020

Where to watch: Showtime

It’s last call for the Gallagher clan and I can’t wait to see how it all ends. My major question is: Will Emmy Rossum return as Fiona Gallagher for the final season? Fingers crossed!

The Stand

Image courtesy of CBS All Access

Premiere date: December 17th 2020

Where to watch: CBS All Access

Based on the Stephen King novel, The Stand will hit the small screen via CBS’s streaming service. I may need to renew my subscription for this one…

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Part 4, Final Season)

Image courtesy of Netflix

Premiere date: December 31st 2020

Where to watch: Netflix

This is the final season for our bewitching Sabrina Spellman, which means all bets are off! Cast some spells and get your coven ready because the binge-watch friendly show is back!

A Discovery of Witches (Season 2)

Image courtesy of Sundance Now

Premiere date: January 9th 2021

Where to watch: Sundance Now

Time travel never really gets old, does it? Either way, I’m all for binge-watching the show based on one of my favorite book series of all time!

WandaVision

Image courtesy of Disney+

Premiere date: January 15th 2021

Where to watch: Disney+

I need some more Marvel in my life for sure and a show centered around Wanda/Scarlet Witch sounds like the answer to all my problems…grabbing the popcorn now!

Riverdale (Season 5)

Image courtesy of The CW

Premiere date: January 20th 2021

Where to watch: The CW

It’s no secret that I LOVE Riverdale and I have been missing this show like crazy. I think that leaving high school will bring on a darker maturity to the show and I’m ready for more mysteries!

Nancy Drew (Season 2)

Image courtesy of The CW

Premiere date: January 20th 2021

Where to watch: The CW

Nancy Drew really came out of nowhere last year and quickly became one of my new favorite shows. Will Nancy get a new mystery to solve filled with ghostly potential? Let’s hope so!

Walker

Image courtesy of The CW

Premiere date: January 21st 2021

Where to watch: The CW

Based on the original show, Walker, Texas Ranger, this new show will feature Supernatural’s Jared Padalecki as its lead. I’m not really sure how this show is going to be, but I will give it a chance for Jared!

The Walking Dead (Season 10, extended)

Image courtesy of AMC

Premiere date: February 28th 2021

Where to watch: AMC

Season 10 has been extended and we will get six new episodes in late February to get us through the winter. There have been a lot of shows popping up in TWD universe, but the original show is approaching its final season…although we have no idea when season 11 will actually drop.

Stay tuned for reviews, recaps, and top five moments! I don’t know about you, but I am very excited for new episodes to return and I am really looking forward to exploring these new promising shows!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post the shows you are looking forward to premiering in 2020-2021 in the comments below. I always love discovering new shows and that’s where you come in! Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Order” Season 2 on Netflix: Surprisingly Addicting with Amazing Guest Stars

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

“It can’t be a secret society if outsiders know your secrets…”

The Order season two premiered on Netflix on June 18th 2020. It features 10 episodes (47-50 minutes in length) and it stars Jake Manley, Sarah Grey, Adam DiMarco, Katharine Isabelle, and Louriza Tronco.

Secret societies, dark magic rituals, and werewolves are back for season two, as we pick up right where we left off.

Season two is jam-packed with quite a lot, but are we ready to sign up for the Hermetic Order of the Blue Rose? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Order Season 2 Netflix 4 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Deliciously dark magic rituals.

I thought that season two did an even better job than season one with bringing us into some serious dark magic rituals. Whether our favorite characters were performing a spell or summoning a demon, there were some cringe-worthy scenes that really allowed this series to embrace its supernatural horror qualities.

The Order Season 2 Netflix 5 — Images courtesy of Netflix

More please!

Villaness worthy Vera Stone!

The Order Season 2 Netflix 1 — Images courtesy of Netflix

I don’t know about you, but I would love to see a spin-off series featuring Vera and maybe we could throw in Mary Wardwell (Lilith) from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. I think they would make a bewitching tag team.

Vera is the Villaness you love to hate, but we actually get to see several sides of her in season two, which added to the growth of her character. She’s strong, sexy, and a bad-ass magic practitioner you do not want to cross.

Her wardrobe is absolutely incredible as well!

Incredible Guest Stars!

The Order Season 2 Netflix 3 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Beverly Hills, 90210 fans will be beyond ecstatic when they see who appears on screen. I thought this was so much fun and I was cheering for these cameos/characters more than some of the main characters. The guest stars actually helped lighten up some of the heavy teen drama going on, which I appreciated. You won’t be disappointed!

The Cons:

The Order Season 2 Netflix 2 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Too reliant on ships.

Don’t get me wrong. I love a good ship and I didn’t even really mind the will-they-won’t-they vibe between Jack and Alyssa, but the show relied a little too much on some of these teen drama moments and it didn’t really need them. This made it seem like more of a watered down version of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Charmed (reboot) and The Vampire Diaries at times.

The Order is actually really dark and different on its own and when it centers around these ships for too long, you start to make comparisons…

A lot going on.

I wouldn’t say this is necessarily a con, but you need to pay attention. There are a lot of characters and a lot of plot twists. I strongly recommend watching season two right after season one or at least watching the recap.

So am I in or out?

The Order Season 2 Netflix 6 — Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in! This show is really entertaining and the twists and character dynamics will keep you invested. I actually may have enjoyed it even more than season one.

The Order is binge-watch worthy and I highly recommend it, especially since there is a gap in new shows and episodes right now.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

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! I hope you enjoy!

READ 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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” Part 3 on Netflix: Spellbinding Perfection

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

“Here’s to Sabrina Spellman! Cheerleader by day, Queen of Hell by Night!”

Hell looks good on our girl Sabrina Spellman, played brilliantly again by Kiernan Shipka.

In the midst of all of the dark and twisted spell-casting, there is still room for some fun bubble gum pop moments featuring cheerleading, Riverdale Easter Eggs, and romance.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Netflix 8 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Part 3 premiered on Netflix on January 24th 2020 with 8 new episodes (55-60 minutes in length). It stars Kiernan Shipka, Miranda Otto, Lucy Davis, Chance Perdomo, Ross Lynch, and Michelle Gomez.

Part 3 starts off with a bang, as Sabrina is desperate to find a way into Hell to free her boyfriend, Nick. With the help of her mortal friends, Sabrina crosses paths with some new foes along the way. Sabrina is destined for the crown, but is quickly challenged again and again.

Her loyalties are tested, but where does her heart truly lie?

Parts 1 and 2 were absolutely fantastic, but can Part 3 measure up? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Netflix 3 — Images courtesy of Netflix

We dive deeper into a magical world filled with history, wickedness, and mystery.

The show seamlessly submerges us into a world with dark magic wedged into every nook and cranny of history. We learn about Dante’s Inferno, vampires, banshees, voodoo, Pagan gods, and more. While it may initially seem like this is quite a lot to cram into 8 episodes, each adventure worked so well with the plot, luring us in that much more.

New and interesting characters.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Netflix 6 — Images courtesy of Netflix

The show already has a large cast with amazing characters, but some of the new additions really added to the charm of the show. But let’s not forget about Lilith aka Mary Wardwell, who continues to be a phenomenal scene stealer.

I also really appreciated the time spent toward developing some of the other characters, specifically Theo and Prudence.

Some of the new villains prove to be quite formidable, constantly putting our girl Sabrina Spellman to the test, which provides us with a lot of edge-of-your-seat moments and exciting twists. More please!

Lots of fun.

Even though Sabrina is now the Queen of Hell, she still decides to try out for the cheerleading squad with Ros. We get some fantastic musical numbers that gave me a 90’s nostalgia along with some crafty Riverdale Easter Eggs, which is known as the murder capital of the world. Where’s vigilante Archie when you need him?

I thought that this poppy fun feel really balanced out the darker elements of the show, giving me a Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibe while still casting its way toward its own magical identity.

The Cons:

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Netflix 4 — Images courtesy of Netflix

None. Well, I guess if I need to pick something, it would be that I wanted more episodes.

Parts 1 and 2 featured 16 episodes split up into 8 at a time. Parts 3 and 4 will follow the same format. We will get the next 8 episodes on July 3rd 2020, which is a long time to wait to catch up with our favorite witches!

So am I in or out?

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Netflix 5 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Of course I’m in…100 percent and more! This show gets better and better. Countdown until the next witching hour!

If you aren’t watching this show yet, I absolutely recommend it. It is so much fun and the characters are bewitching…even without the magic. Enjoy witches!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Part 3 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!

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!

The 2020 Mid-Season TV Premieres I am most looking forward to: Bring on the new episodes!

Greetings TV Fans! As we approach Mid-January, some of our absolute favorite shows will be returning with new episodes and we can also look forward to some brand new shows as well that have a lot of potential. Looking to find out when they all start? You came to the right place!

While some of our favorite returning shows already have 2020 premiere dates announced, others are still giving out a TBD 2020 response, as I vigilantly keep checking to see when they will be premiering. It looks like we have several new shows with a lot of potential and some of our returning favorites seem very promising as well.

Without further delay, the 2020 Mid-season TV premieres I am most looking forward to are:

The Outsider

Premiere date: January 12th 2020

Where to watch: HBO

Based on Stephen King’s novel, this series will follow the murder investigation of a young boy, which leads a seasoned cop to question everything after discovering some supernatural forces and threats along the way.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Part 3)

Sabrina Netflix — Image courtesy of Netflix

Premiere date: January 24th 2020

Where to watch: Netflix

Sabrina Spellman is back and we can’t wait to see what she does next! Will she finally find a balance between being a mortal and a witch or will she lose herself to dark magic completely?

The Stranger

Premiere date: January 30th 2020

Where to watch: Netflix

Adam Price seems to have it all. That is, until a stranger approaches him one night and reveals a shocking secret that will change his life forever. This new mystery thriller looks binge-watch promising for sure!

Katy Keene

Premiere date: February 6th 2020

Where to watch: The CW

A spin-off of Riverdale? Yes please! Oh wait and it stars Pretty Little Liars’s Lucy Hale? I’m in!

Locke & Key

Locke and key Netflix — Image courtesy of Netflix

Premiere date: February 7th 2020

Where to watch: Netflix

Based on the graphic novel, this show follows a group of siblings who move into Keyhouse after their father is murdered, which leads to some creepy findings of their own.

Homeland Season 8 (Final Season)

Homeland Showtime — Image courtesy of Showtime

Premiere date: February 9th 2020

Where to watch: Showtime

It seems like it’s been quite some time since we’ve last checked in with Carrie Mathison, but it’s about time. I can’t wait to see how it all ends!

The Haunting of Bly Manor (The Haunting of Hill House Season 2)

The Haunting of Bly Manor Netflix — Image courtesy of Netflix

Premiere date: TBD 2020

Where to watch: Netflix

The second season of The Haunting of Hill House already looks extremely promising based on the premise. Much like the AHS anthology, we will see several of the stars return from season one as we are welcomed into a new story, which will loosely follow The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. Can’t wait!!!!

Cursed

Premiere date: TBD 2020

Where to watch: Netflix

A fresh take on the Arthurian legend starring 13 Reasons Why’s Katherine Langford? I’m definitely in! This show is based on Frank Miller’s novel and will center around the Lady of the Lake (Nimue) story in a re imagined way.

Lovecraft Country

Premiere date: TBD 2020

Where to watch: HBO

A Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams team-up seems too good to be true, but that’s what we have here for this highly anticipated horror drama. Based on the novel by Matt Ruff, this story follows Atticus Black, who is searching for his missing father.

Westworld (Season 3)

Premiere date: March 15th 2020

Where to watch: HBO

Season 3 will bring us into a whole new world and if Aaron Paul is around for it, I’m in!

Little Fires Everywhere

Premiere date: March 18th 2020

Where to watch: Hulu

Starring the talented and amazing Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington, this limited series will follow the fears of suburban mothers, which may give us some Big Little Lies and Desperate Housewives nostalgia for sure. I’m in!

Stay tuned for reviews, recaps, and top five moments! I don’t know about you, but I am very excited for new episodes to return and I am really looking forward to exploring these new promising shows!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post the shows you are looking forward to premiering in 2020 in the comments below. I always love discovering new shows and that’s where you come in! 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!

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 “Nancy Drew” Series Premiere on the CW: “Maybe more horror and less mystery?”

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

“Mysteries were everywhere and I loved solving them.”

Your favorite amateur sleuth is getting her own show, but it seems like this Nancy Drew is darker and more mature, but can she measure up to the competition? The series premiere of Nancy Drew aired on the CW on October 9th 2019. The show will run weekly episodes and it comes on directly after Riverdale. Know your audience, right?

The show stars Kennedy McMann, Tunji Kasim, Leah Lewis, and Scott Wolf. Nancy Drew makes reference to how she started solving mysteries at a young age, paying tribute to the book series character we all know and love. However, after tragically losing her mother, Nancy Drew is all grown up and it seems like she wants to stay away from mysteries and ghosts, but it doesn’t look like they are ready to let her go just yet.

Nancy Drew has a lot of competition, especially since other shows like Riverdale, Veronica Mars, and Stranger Things all have a captivating female lead who likes to solve mysteries, but where does that leave the girl who started it all? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Nancy Drew CW Premiere 1 — Images courtesy of The CW

True respect for the original character.

Nancy Drew was the first book series I fell in love with and I lost myself in the mysteries again and again. I have seen several movie interpretations and I appreciate that this show is trying to do something different, but I also respected the clever Easter eggs thrown into the mix, including our girl Nancy investigating with the infamous flashlight.

Some potential for the new Scoobies.

I am still sorting out who is who and I’m not sure how I feel about Nancy’s friends just yet, but I like that they all want to help out. I always loved “The Scoobies” on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, reminding us that you don’t have to be the obvious hero to make a difference and save the day, so I think this could be the start of something really fun and nostalgic.

The supernatural horror elements are genuinely scary!

If you know anything about Nancy Drew, you know that even though you get your fair share of ghostly mysteries, there is always some kind of rational explanation to bring us back to the real world. Even this Nancy reminds us in the beginning of the show that she doesn’t believe in ghosts and yet there is this very real ghost story going on, which has captured my full attention.

I expected this show to be more focused on teenage drama with mystery sprinkled in, but I was genuinely surprised by the supernatural horror aspect and I think this might be something that can help Nancy Drew create a voice of its own separate from Riverdale. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina comes to mind, but so far they are doing much better with that deliciously dark component, but that doesn’t mean that Nancy Drew can’t step up to the plate too. More horror please!

The Cons:

Nancy Drew CW Premiere 2 — Images courtesy of The CW

I can’t get a real read on Nancy yet.

Part of the reason why I like characters like Betty Cooper, Veronica Mars, and Nancy Wheeler is that they channel Nancy Drew while having this magnetic spark that really draws you in to their character. I’m missing something with Nancy Drew so far and while I get that she is dealing with her grief and seems closed off, I haven’t connected with her at all yet and that could be a problem. I’m only one episode in so I hope to get some more layers soon, but I want to ignite a fire within Nancy as soon as possible.

Forcing a ship.

Part of the way I fall in love with a ship, is that I see the progression of their relationship that leads to some epic moment between them that cannot be ignored. We dive into this relationship between Nancy and Nick (Ned Nickerson) and I just don’t feel the chemistry yet. I want to see some real moments between them leading up to something, rather than these bits and pieces that are being forced upon me.

The actual mystery is just kind of blah…

A dead body shows up and Nancy Drew is on the case, but there is nothing really unique or special about the murder and Nancy’s process to discover the clues seems very by the numbers and uninspiring. That being said, the mystery surrounding this ghost story and her parents might be the real winner, but I still want Nancy to surprise me and invest me in her other mysteries. Maybe she should call Betty Cooper up for some advice on this…

So am I in or out?

Nancy Drew CW Premiere 3 — Images courtesy of The CW

As of right now, it’s about 50/50 for me. The show isn’t necessarily bad, but there’s nothing that magnetic or special about it just yet. I feel like right now it is in the shadow of its competition and it needs to do something spectacular to pave its own way. Maybe that’s the horror element I mentioned earlier, which has a lot of chilling potential.

I plan on giving the show another two episodes to really get a feel for it, but I’m hoping for some kind of a spark here. Out of every new Fall show premiering, this is the show I was really looking forward to and perhaps I set my expectations too high, but I’m keeping an open mind for now.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Nancy Drew 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!

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!

5 Spoiler Free Reasons why you should watch “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” Part Two on Netflix: Dancing with the Devil

“My soul is who I am and I signed it away willingly.” So what happens when we make that Faustian deal? Are we destined for darkness or can we still choose a path of light? For Sabrina Spellman, finding a balance between her mortal life and her witch one becomes that much more complicated in Part Two. Part Two features 9 episodes and they are all currently streaming on Netflix as of April 5^th 2019.

After watching all of the episodes in one weekend, I can tell you that I am even more hooked than I was before. While Part One subtly dipped us into darkness, we have now submerged ourselves in it completely, as the gates of hell threaten everyone in Greendale. However, sometimes the most dangerous threat is staring back at us in the mirror. Do we embrace the darkness or do we continue to fight for good to prevail? Please note that major spoilers have been left out for your convenience so feel free to read away! My top 5 reasons to check out Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Part Two are:

Part Two is darker.

The spells are darker, the threats are darker, and even the romance is. Sabrina embraces her life as a witch, but quickly realizes that she may no longer be able to balance it with her mortal life. We learn about dark prophecies and fears, as Part Two does not hold back. It gives us the perfect amount of horror and has quickly become one of my favorite shows about witches of all time.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer nostalgia.

Some fans of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina mentioned that they thought the show was similar to Buffy back in Part One. While I did see some similarities with certain episode plots, it still seemed far away from Buffy, which is one of my favorite series of all time and it’s difficult for a show to even come close to this for me. However, Part Two was a different story. We discover a lot about the gates of hell in Part Two, which will have you thinking about the hellmouth in Sunnydale. Also, Sabrina’s mortal friends come together and start helping out a lot more this season, reminding me a lot of the Scoobies in Buffy. Alexis Denisof (Wesley from Buffy and Angel) is a fun guest star and we also see a darker romance for Sabrina, which gave me a lot of Bangel feels. The end of Part Two will have you making some comparisons to “Becoming Part II” of Buffy, which is my favorite episode of all time. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is unique and can stand on its own, but I thoroughly enjoyed some of these parallels, which made me like the show even more.

All hail the Villainess, Ms. Wardwell.

One of my favorite characters on the show is Ms. Wardwell, better known as Lilith. In Part Two, her character is explored a lot more and she becomes even more entertaining, if that is possible. I always love a worthy villainess and while some of the Weird Sisters continue with their antics in Part Two, Ms. Wardwell takes the cake as a villainess you do not want to mess with. We get to understand a little bit more about her motives as well and her dynamic with Alexis Denisof’s character, Adam, is very entertaining.

Kiernan Shipka.

I devoted a previous blog to Kiernan Shipka’s performance as Sabrina Spellman and even gave her my performance of the week. Kiernan elevates Sabrina’s character to something greater in Part Two. She is so convincing and she constantly challenges authority, proving to be a female role model one can look up to. Sabrina never shies away from a challenge and always speaks her mind and tries to do what she can to make a difference. She is so believable and strong, but she makes mistakes too, allowing us to relate to her that much more. I absolutely love seeing Sabrina’s character enter into more layers, as we get to peel back each one to discover more and more about who she is and who she is destined to be.

New and dangerous threats.

Part Two gives us so many new threats and a lot of twists and turns as well. Sabrina continues to be tested and we get a huge reveal later in the season, which will have you glued to your television. Even with all of the dangerous threats thrown Sabrina’s way, she continues to persevere. However, we quickly realize that Sabrina’s biggest threat may be herself, but are we ever truly able to separate our darkness from our humanity? Just when you think you have witnessed the Big Bad of Part Two, a new threat emerges, keeping us entertained and guessing until the very end. I fell in love with this series in Part One, but my love has now quickly become an obsession, which is a good thing. I hope you enjoy Part Two as much as I did and I absolutely recommend it. Ready to watch?

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

**I am so excited to announce that my book, The Search for Alice, is now available! If you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery, then this might be the book for you or someone you know! Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well. I hope you enjoy!

The Search for Alice is available here!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

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

My performance of the week ending 4/6/19 on TV goes to…

Kiernan Shipka as Sabrina Spellman on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Kiernan is so versatile and talented and she is completely spellbinding as Sabrina. In Part One, Kiernan nailed the bubble gum pop goodness of Sabrina, but Part Two is taking us somewhere much darker and Kiernan has been so convincing and captivating. Sabrina embodies female empowerment and constantly challenges authority, reminding us that she is strong, confident, and just as capable as any male warlock.

In Part Two, Sabrina is diving deeper into her path of night, but will she need to compromise her goodness to do so? I feel every part of Sabrina’s struggle here, as she is constantly tempted by darkness, but her glimmer of goodness continues to shine through. However, darkness looks good on her too, as she starts to fully experience life as a witch, but darkness always has a price.

What’s next for Sabrina Spellman? We’ll have to stay tuned to find out, but I am about halfway through Part Two and I am hoping that Sabrina can find a balance between her life as a witch and her mortal one, but this is no easy task. Sabrina will continue to be tested and she won’t always make the right decision, but that’s why I love her character so much. She learns so much with each new step she takes and she reminds us that we can always break through and challenge something even when it seems like everyone is against us. I can’t wait to see what she does next!

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!

The Search for Alice 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!