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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Passage” season 1 episode 1 Premiere: “This is How the World Ends”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Fox’s The Passage season 1 episode 1 series premiere, we learned that “something is coming. Something violent and terrible.” Are you ready for The Passage? Here we go! Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In tonight’s “Pilot” episode, we are immersed into a world that is threatened by disease. After coming across a creature referred to as a “vampire” in a cave, several scientists launch Project Noah and begin experimenting on prisoners on death row to see if they can create the ultimate vaccine. But we all know how well these experiments often go. Meanwhile, we also get to know Federal Agent, Brad Wolgast, who quickly realizes that his special assignment involves a ten-year-old girl named Amy, who has just lost her mother to a drug overdose. My top 5 moments from The Passage season 1 episode 1 series premiere are:

“If he’s still in there, I want to find him.”

After coming across a “vampire” in a cave, Dr. Tim Fanning is bitten, but somehow survives to the surprise of his good friend and colleague, Dr. Jonas Lear, played by the brilliant Henry Ian Cusick, who you may know from Lost and The 100. Dr. Tim Fanning quickly becomes “Patient Zero,” as he begins to evolve into something else that craves blood and is far from human. While Dr. Lear desperately wants to help his friend, it’s safe to assume that there may be no coming back from this infection or transformation and it’s only a matter of time before “Patient Zero” evolves into a threat.

“You could say don’t do it.”

Meet Federal Agent, Brad Wolgast, played by the amazing Mark-Paul Gosselaar. So I had the advantage of having read Justin Cronin’s book, The Passage, which gave me quite a bit of backstory on our guy, Brad. While I felt like Brad’s backstory was crammed quickly into one episode, I do realize that it is difficult to capture everything from the book. So what do we need to know about Brad? He’s an excellent Federal Agent and he has an ex-wife named Lila who is a doctor. Brad and Lila’s daughter died a few years ago and this certainly took a toll on their marriage. However, this allows us to understand the void in Brad’s life, which makes his next mission that much harder on him.

“I’m the girl from nowhere. The one no one will miss.”

Meet Amy Bellafonte, played by Saniyya Sidney. Amy is a ten-year-old girl who is forced to grow up way too quickly after her mother dies of a drug overdose. To make matters worse, Amy is kidnapped by Brad and Agent Doyle, which is extremely traumatic. We know that Project Noah is very interested in Amy, but we still have to discover the connection here and learn why she is so special and trust me, she is.

“You and me were made for each other.”

During the episode, we meet several “patients,” who are all responding to the transformation in different ways. Shauna Babcock, played by Brianne Howey, seems to be evolving the best so far and she definitely has the vacant and creepy stare through your soul mastered perfectly. While Shauna has a craving for blood, she also seems to be fixating on Agent Clark Richards, played by Vincent Piazza. Shauna begins appearing to Clark in his dreams and there seems to be some kind of hypnotic connection here. Other characters have mentioned dreams and disturbing thoughts as well, which implies that this is more than a mere case of cabin fever here. Either way, I’m intrigued.

“Your life is important. You are important.”

Since I have read the book, I understand the beautiful and heartwarming bond between Brad and Amy, which is somewhat similar to the bond between Wolverine and Laura in the film, Logan. Brad and Amy have both lost so much and they need each other. While I’m not sure that the premiere episode truly captured their bond, which developed over time in the book, it still resonated with me and I think they did a good job portraying it. I’m hoping that it will continue to grow, as the connection to these characters is extremely important, as the rest of the story begins to unfold. Either way, it’s clear that these two will face a lot of obstacles along the way, but at least they have each other. Stay tuned!

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

**I would love it if you would take a moment to check out my Whizbuzz Book page via the link below for everything you need to know about my new book, The Search for Alice, including my author bio page and links to my website and social media sites! Thank you!

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Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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I am so excited to announce that my book, The Search for Alice, is now available! If you enjoy 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!

When Kallie Bennett, a jaded teenage girl plagued by her alcoholic mother and her peers molded out of sheer bubble gum perfection, chases after Alice in Wonderland herself, she ends up lost in her own version of Wonderland, which forces her to face her utmost fears and introduces her to familiar characters with a dark twist. Among these characters is Ches, a gorgeous vampire with a conflicted conscience, who becomes Kallie’s guide and blossoming love interest. She also crosses paths with Queen Hartley, a manipulative witch who has the power to strip away one’s memories and imagination, which brings a bone chilling new meaning to “off with their heads.” In The Search for Alice, Kallie starts to realize that her Wonderland is just as frightening as her own reality and that she cannot always run away from her problems. She must figure out a way to defeat Queen Hartley and return home before it is too late, but she soon learns that escaping Wonderland means leaving Ches behind forever.

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

The Search for Alice is available here!

5 Spoiler Free Reasons why you should watch “The Haunting of Hill House” on Netflix: A Worthy Horror Series filled with Bone-Chilling Moments

“I am home.” But what if you share your home with ghosts and spirits? I’m not talking about Casper here, but potentially dangerous and manipulative spirits that can haunt you for the rest of your life. The Netflix series is based on the book by Shirley Jackson, which was also the inspiration for the film, The Haunting. There were two versions of the film in 1963 and in 1999 as well. The Netflix series follows a family who grew up at Hill House and flashes between the past and the present, unraveling the mysteries there. Each member of the Crain family encounters something different, but they are all connected to the house in one way or another. They desperately try to overcome their terrifying and traumatic past, as new obstacles and threats continue to surface in their present.

The show features 10 episodes and they are all currently streaming on Netflix as of October 12^th 2018. After watching all of the episodes in one weekend, I can tell you that the series was a pleasant surprise. There were absolutely terrifying moments that will have you going to sleep with the lights on for weeks to come and other moments that were so incredibly heartwarming and unpredictable. The show somehow successfully blends family drama in with genuine horror, giving me almost a Brothers and Sisters vibe, while continuing to provide me with frightening moments. The acting is absolutely incredible and the writing and dialogue is somehow poetic, luring you in to Hill House completely. Please note that major spoilers have been left out for your convenience. My top 5 reasons to check out The Haunting of Hill House are:

This show is genuinely scary.

I’m not talking about the typical jump scares that almost seem unnecessary and essentially become predictable, as you can almost count down to the next moment that is meant to make you pop out of your seat. The scares on this show are not forced and they seamlessly connect with the rest of the plot, which make them that much more terrifying in my opinion. You may have nightmares about “The Bent-Neck Lady” like me, but the show will continue to provide you with worthy bone-chilling moments up until the very end. I found myself needing to watch the show with all the lights on, even during the day. It’s seriously that scary and even if you don’t scare easily, you will appreciate the way these terrifying moments emerge.

Something different.

While some fans have been apprehensive about the series following a different plot, this works to the show’s advantage. It allows us to be presented with an entirely unique mystery in familiar territory and branches out further to form its own identity, separate from the novel and the films. If you are looking for just another remake of the films, this is not the show for you, but I would encourage you to give it a try anyway because it is well worth the watch.

Episodes 3, 5, and 9.

While all of the episodes were brilliantly done, these three were absolutely incredible. I will not spoil anything for you, but I would definitely recommend giving these three episodes your undivided attention. While important plot points are learned during these three episodes, there is something so incredibly magnetic about them. I found myself completely lost in the story during these three episodes in particular, unaware of anything else going on around me. That’s how good they are. Make sure you have your popcorn ready in advance!

The cast.

I was initially overwhelmed by the large size of the Crain Family. We meet Hugh and Olivia Crain, played by Timothy Hutton and Carla Gugino, and their children: Steven, Shirley, Theo, Luke, and Nell. The show flashes back between past and present quite frequently and everyone in the cast was absolutely terrific. I give standout performances to Carla Gugino, Kate Siegel (older Theo), and Elizabeth Reaser (older Shirley), but truly everyone was amazing. You really believed that they were all family and found yourself connected to each and every one of them as the episodes continued.

The family drama works.

Part of what made me enjoy this show so much was the fact that I was completely connected to the characters. I wasn’t willing to part with any character and I found myself rooting for them more than I normally would when watching a horror film. The show does an excellent job of combining the terrifying and unexplained moments with the horror we deal with in everyday life. I’m talking about unspeakable crimes that are committed, grief that we need to endure, addiction, and guilt that will eat us up from the inside if we let it. The show seamlessly blends the supernatural horrors with these very real ones, connecting us that much more to the characters and the story. While I initially thought that perhaps the show might have been better suited as a film, I quickly realized that this is not the case. You would lose out on the connection to these characters and the mystery unravels in perfect tempo, leading up to a satisfying crescendo at the end. While the series is not your average horror movie, it elevates to something more powerful and resonating. You won’t be disappointed. Ready to watch?

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