Tag: CW

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” season 13 episode 9: Dream-walking out of this world

Happy Friday TV fans! The weekend is almost here, but I find myself needing to discuss the mid-season finale of Supernatural before diving into any other shows.  After watching the CW’s Supernatural season 13 episode 9 last night, I am wondering exactly where everyone is and I am most concerned for the Winchester brothers.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, Sam and Dean are reunited with Jack, realizing that he is good after all.  Dream-walkers are introduced into the mix and some familiar friends return to warn us that something wicked comes this way.  Meanwhile, the angels are after Jack and will stop at nothing to capture him, but this doesn’t stop him from attending an addiction meeting along the way.  My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 13 episode 9 are:

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Jack attends an addiction anonymous meeting.  He is there to find the dream-walker, but he needs to take a page from Sam and Dean’s book on how to come up with a convincing cover story.  Kaia is a young dream-walker who is suffering from a drug addiction as she desperately attempts to escape “the bad place.”  When she crosses paths with Jack, she asks why he is there and he enthusiastically responds with “cocaine!” Kaia later refers to him as “cocaine boy” which keeps the laughs coming, as she is no fool and realizes that he is absolutely something other-worldly.

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Patience is back.  I was thrilled at the introduction of psychic, Patience a few episodes back and was wondering if we would see her again.  Luckily for the Winchester brothers, Patience has a vision and realizes that they are all in serious trouble.  She makes a difficult choice when her father tells her she cannot come back if she decides to go down this route.  Patience remains strong and realizes that she must embrace her destiny because it is the right thing to do.  She knocks on Jody’s door to tell her that they are all in great danger, leaving fans trapped in a cliff-hanger that we are all anxiously waiting to see unravel.  Either way, it is great to see Patience back and I am looking forward to the development of her character.

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Jack is able to see Sam and Dean’s mother.  While viewers have been able to see what is going on with Mary, Sam and Dean have been completely clueless regarding her well-being, fearing the worst.  When Jack taps into the power of the dream-walkers, he is able to get close enough to see her through a door to another world.  It is clear that Mary is in desperate need of rescuing, but now that Jack is there, how are they going to escape?

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Jack tells Sam and Dean that they are his family.  When Sam and Dean are riding in the car with Jack they express how worried they were that he would be looking for his father, Lucifer.  This word strikes a confused look on Jack’s face as he explains that Sam, Dean, and Castiel are his family and that is why he was trying to do one good thing for them and find their mother.  Although Jack is still very new to this world and his powers are alarmingly strong and dangerous, he possesses a child-like vulnerability and clearly does understand what family means, warming the hearts of us viewers in this touching moment.

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Kaia and Jack send everyone through the open doors of worlds via dream-walking.  While we know that Jack is in Mary’s world, Sam and Dean are somewhere else entirely, waking up inside an enormous foot-print of something otherworldly.  Is this the danger that Patience predicted in her vision?  Is this the “bad place” that Kaia feared? How will they get out of there and find one another? The mid-season finale leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions, but if there is one thing I’m certain of, it’s that Sam and Dean Winchester can escape the inescapable.  It’s just a matter of how and when.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Supernatural below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” season 2 episode 8: “It’s a Mad World”

Happy Thursday TV fans!  After watching the CW’s Riverdale season 2 episode 8 last night, I am left with the haunting melody of “Mad World,” playing in my head, wondering if the passionate and intense feelings of Archie and Veronica are enough to overcome dodging those three powerful words that have now ripped through their bond.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, Betty lets her pony-tail down and embraces her naughty side to try and fit into Jughead’s world, Archie and Veronica take a turn at playing detective, and FP contemplates retirement from the Serpents.  Seeing FP waiting on Cheryl Blossom at Pop’s diner puts things into perspective, however; as this is no place for a king.  Meanwhile, Cheryl continues to cling to Josie’s shadow while Alice Cooper breaks out of her cardigans to bring on the leather, and Archie gazes out his window at an unsuspecting Betty to wonder what could have or might still be.  My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 2 episode 8 are:

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A connection is confirmed between the Riverdale Reaper and the Black Hood.  In the beginning of the episode, Jughead sits down with Betty to discuss his research done at city hall.  They learn about the “house of horrors” and the tragedy that happened to the Conway family, begging the question, how does this fit in with the Black hood now?  Betty makes the connection that this house is the same one that the Black Hood lured her to, realizing that it is an important part of the equation.  Research does pay off, but what’s the next step from here?

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FP is released from jail.  Jughead is ecstatic to learn that his father is finally free from this nightmare and anxiously awaits his release with supportive Betty and who else but the witty Alice Cooper. Alice is not about to let things slide, however; continuing to pass her judgment on FP.  She asks him what his plans are now and FP jokingly calls her “Warden Cooper,” which doesn’t seem too far off for our tough cookie, Alice.  Now that FP is out of jail, he is left with the important decision of what to do with his freedom.  He decides retirement is the answer and even accepts a humble job waiting tables at Pop’s diner to prove to Jughead that he is serious about turning his life around.  But how long will this last?

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Archie and Veronica pick off where Betty left off.  “So you want us to be you guys?” Veronica asks with skepticism.  Veronica and Archie are already skating on thin ice as it is, when Archie tells her he loves her and she says nothing in return.  This brings up Veronica’s own insecurities, but the two need this distraction to find out more about the Black Hood and the connection to the Conway murders.  After some investigation of their own, they learn that the Conway family wasn’t of 4, but of 5 and that there is a third child who made it out alive.  They later discover this is none other than school custodian, Mr. Svenson, but quickly rule him out once Archie looks into his eyes and realizes he is not staring back at the Black hood.  More clues are falling right into their laps and they are hard to ignore.  Did Mr. Svenson get his justice in the past, or is there something else he is not telling us?

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FP is here to stay and he wants Jughead out.  At the end of FP’s retirement party, he quickly announces that he is there to stay to Jughead’s dismay.  He explains to Jughead that he did the one thing he asked him not to, which was to get stuck in the middle of a drug trafficking operation.  When FP reveals that he now has to clean up this mess and that Jughead has broken his heart, it clearly destroys Jughead.  Jughead realizes that his mistake has now cost his father a chance at having a clean slate, forcing him back into a world that he may never get out of now.

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Betty and Alice Cooper’s entrance into the party.  Both ladies have their hair down and prove they are a force to be reckoned with.  Alice’s ensemble is wild and she even pokes fun at Betty’s outfit, not realizing that she is about to strip off almost every layer to perform the Serpent dance.  Jughead is not pleased with this, begging her to stay away from him, as the mistakes he made with his father are now bleeding into his relationship with Betty.  Although the dance doesn’t have the impact Betty was hoping for, it does allow her to free her inhibitions and step out of her cookie-cutter mold of perfection.  Archie sees a new side of her when he gazes out the window and he’s not alone.  We salute you Betty!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Riverdale below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 spin-off television series of all time: Can a spin-off surpass an original?

Is it possible for a spin-off series to surpass the original?  Perhaps not in most cases, but that doesn’t mean that the spin-off can’t branch out into something entertaining and epic on its own.  Creating a spin-off series is always a gamble.  You are relying on the fans from the original series to follow the show and create a fan base with its own separate identity as well.

While many spin-off series have failed to capture this difficult standard, there have been some that are so memorable that you almost forget that there was an original series that started it all.  This really got me thinking about my own favorite spin-off series and why they stand out above the rest.

My top 5 favorite spin-off television series of all time are:

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The Originals

This show is a spin-off series of the CW’s successful hit, The Vampire Diaries.  Klaus Mikaelson and his family of original vampires are introduced as dangerous and worthy villains, but their history is so rich and intriguing, not leaving The Vampire Diaries much room to explore it among its own plot.

The Originals is set in New Orleans and fans were pleased to see the Mikaelson family as the center of it all, while introducing new characters as well with just as much complexity.  The Originals does not shy away from its roots and all fans know where it started, however; it takes a darker and more historical approach to vampires, allowing viewers to see the full picture of how everything started.

After years of watching both series, I came to ultimately prefer The Originals because it was fresher and explored darker elements.  Klaus, who was previously shown as a ruthless killer with no remorse, now shows a glimmer of a soul and reveals to us how he became so broken in the midst of family and romantic betrayals.

4

Melrose Place

This show is a spin-off series of one of my all time favorites, Beverly Hills, 90210.  90210 was such a success and targeted a teenage audience who craved a drama with more depth and complication than your average soap opera.  Some fans don’t remember that the very entertaining Melrose Place was actually a spin-off of 90210.  Jake is introduced as an old friend of Dylan’s and has a fleeting romantic moment with Kelly, only to decide to ride his motorcycle off to a new town to discover a life of his own.

The opening episodes of Melrose Place even feature Kelly coming to find him to see why he had broken their relationship off, strategically hooking in viewers from 90210.  While a lot of the love triangles, betrayals, and outrageous plots seem familiar to 90210, Melrose Place did a good job of capturing an old generation of viewers as well, breaking out of the mold of a high school drama and paving the way for many more shows to come.

3

Angel

A spin-off of the hit TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Joss Whedon recognized that Buffy and Angel’s story was over…or at least put on pause, leaving fans wondering where Angel would go after Buffy graduated and went off to college.  Lucky for us, Angel was not done with his destiny just yet, traveling to LA with fan-favorite, Cordelia, to help innocents along the way and even start his own business while doing so, taking on one evil lawyer at a time.

In Buffy, Angel’s back story is briefly explored, but his own show allows us to truly see and understand every aspect of his origin.  Also, Angel was not able to shine as much in Buffy since he was obviously not the center of the show.  Angel’s personality and potential were often stifled in Buffy because the focus was on more of the romantic relationship between them, rather than who Angel truly was or meant to be.

This spin-off series did have a strong following and it was lined up right after Buffy on the same night of airings, but Angel did have its own identity and voice, proving that a supporting character could become a principal hero after all.

2

Better Call Saul

A spin-off of the hit series, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul is a prequel to the beloved series, focusing primarily on our favorite scheming lawyer, Saul Goodman.  This spin-off is one of the most successful ones I have watched and I adore both series.

What’s so great about the show is that it introduces important elements and characters that fans recognize from Breaking Bad, giving us a chance to further dive into how everything started in Breaking Bad.  However, this does not outshine the incredible acting by Bob Odenkirk who does an excellent job at truly embracing his character.

While fans are pleased with his wit and schemes along the way, we begin to fully learn about his past life and what lead him to the decisions he made later in Breaking Bad.  Saul demonstrates his work ethic and how much he wanted to be a lawyer and prove to his brother and girlfriend that he is capable of being a good man.

This becomes difficult to maintain later on, but it is clear that Saul’s character is deeper and more complex than anyone could have imagined on Breaking Bad, creating something unique and separate from the series it came from.

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Xena:  Warrior Princess

Who could forget the fabulous and beautiful Xena, played by the brilliant and gorgeous, Lucy Lawless?  While fans remember that it is a spin-off of Hercules, this series surpasses it in my opinion.  Xena paved the way for strong female leads such as Buffy, proving that a female warrior can be just as dangerous as any man.  Xena fights warriors and gods along the way, refusing to back down.

Her iconic battle cry is still memorable along with her heart-warming and controversial friendship with her side-kick, Gabrielle.  While Xena did air directly after Hercules in the lineup, fans became more excited and hooked by Xena.  I did watch both shows and have to admit that once Xena came on, all bets were off.

While the show was darker and more violent than Hercules, it was the character of Xena that drew me in.  She wasn’t just a hero; she was jaded, and searching for forgiveness.  She masked her vulnerability and weakness behind her sword, but the humanity in her provided viewers with a true connection to her character.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your thoughts and comments below along with some of your favorite spin-off television series of all time.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” season 13 episode 8: What’s in the vault?

Don’t fret TV fans, it’s almost the weekend and there are plenty of shows to catch up on.  After watching the CW’s Supernatural season 13 episode 8 last night, I am reminded of that well-known question “what’s in the box?,” although in this case it’s more like what’s in the vault protected by Indiana Jones like booby-traps?  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, Dean takes a chance and opens up, reminding himself why they became hunters in the first place and that saving lives does matter, all while enjoying some well-deserved cherry pie.  A new cross-roads demon introduces himself, but he’s surely got something up his sleeve, and Jack is still nowhere to be found.  Meanwhile, Sam and Dean decide to embark on a heist filled with unexpected twists and dangers.  My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 13 episode 8 are:

5) The new cross-roads demon tries to make an impression.  Dean receives a cryptic phone call from this demon that he has something Sam and him will need to find Jack.  They take the bait and meet him at a diner where there is a freshly baked slice of heavenly cherry pie waiting for Dean.  This demon has done his homework for sure as he convinces the brothers to work for him to retrieve a vault that he desperately needs.  Dean demonstrates a lot of self-control and hilariously waits for the demon to leave before digging in to his favorite food.  Sam and Dean haven’t trusted a demon since Crowley and they are not about to start now but need to figure out a way to still get what they need to find Jack.

4) “Hey Winona, the 90s called and they want their shoes back.”  After much discussion, Sam and Dean decide to go on the heist with the help of a mortal we later find out is named Alice and another demon.  Alice is able to break into safes but it is unsure what her motive is at this point.  Dean decides to break the ice by teasing her about her fashion sense, but the two then bond over his favorite old caffeinated drink, “nerve damage.”  While Alice is weird and awkward, she seems to appreciate the company of Dean and it makes us wonder if Dean does really care about others after all.  He has been extremely negative lately about their purpose and all they have had to deal with along the way.  It’s nice to see him smile and take a moment to connect with someone even if it is on a minor level.

3) Dean is a “vault compass.”  Dean is needed on this heist because he has been to hell and back and his blood is the key to opening up where the vault is held.  The demon begins chanting and Dean rolls his eyes at the thought of something magical happening here, but he begins being dragged off as if by a magnet while gripping his flash-light tightly.  Alice and the demon follow Dean as he treks through the property against his will, but adds for some laughs along the way.  Dean’s reaction to opening up the vault later is very amusing as well, as he cringes and squirms through the one small prick on his finger.  Sure he can fight the most terrifying forces of heaven and hell, but gets queasy at the idea of giving some blood.  It reminds us why we have come to adore Dean over the years, keeping the episode light and fluffy with just the right amount of mystery.

2) Sam has a good idea on how to get through the Indiana Jones like booby-trap.  The immortal guarding the vault is not about to give up any secrets to the brothers and it is clear that the algorithms and design of the vault will lead to an unwanted arrow to the head.  Dean seems confident they can just “wing it” but Sam reminds us why he is the logical one in the family.  They strap the immortal to a chair and push him through so that he takes the hits from all of the arrows.  Good thinking Sam!

1) Sam, Dean, and Alice do the right thing and break the deal.  Alice has revealed that she sold her soul and made a deal with the cross-roads demon, but she is not a lost hope.  Once it is revealed that the cross-road’s demons bones are inside the trunk, they realize that it is not the greatest idea to just turn this over to him.  He holds Alice at knife-point and Dean trusts her enough to grab the lighter and set the bones on fire to rid the world of the cross-roads demon.  Dean later tells Sam that it felt good to save someone again and Alice is freed from her deal to start a new life.  Dean tells her to “stay weird” revealing that he is ready to make friends and embrace his destiny again.  Saving innocents and helping people does truly make a difference.  Welcome back Dean!

 

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments on Supernatural below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

My top 5 questions from “Riverdale” season 2 episode 7. Theories and spoilers ahead. Bobby pins required.

Greetings TV Fans!  I have to say I am absolutely thrilled to have a new episode of the CW’s Riverdale back after the break from last week.  After last night’s episode, so many new questions and mysteries have emerged.  Secrets and lies are creeping to the surface, Archie is at a crossroads…literally, and Betty might be pushing things out into the open too far.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  The episode is split into three parts from the perspectives of Archie & Jughead, Josie, and Betty & Veronica.  All three parts are occurring at the same time and intertwine along the way.  My biggest takeaway is to always have a bobby pin handy!  You never know what locked doors need opening, but will you like what you discover?  My top 5 questions from Riverdale season 2 episode 7 are:

5) Has Chuck truly turned over a new leaf?  When we get to Josie’s storyline, we find out that she has a secret admirer, which sounds harmless enough, but starts escalating into stalker territory.  Chuck is introduced back into the mix and Josie questions whether or not he has changed.  He offers to give her a ride home and they grab a quick bite at Pop’s diner.  Not only does Chuck reveal that he goes to church, but he is not a bad dancer either.  Just as we are starting to think that perhaps he really has changed, Josie’s mother bursts in and Josie receives a threatening note the next day.  She accuses Chuck of being her stalker, but this seems farfetched.  Is Chuck a good guy now?  I’m not sure I am buying the charming act either especially because we know the black hood targets sinners.  Is his new found religion a clue that he could be the black hood?  You never know but I’ve got my eye on Chuck for now.

4) Is Sheriff Keller off the hook?  When we get to Betty and Veronica’s storyline, both girls are anxious to get to the truth about Sheriff Keller.  Betty is convinced that he is the black hood and Veronica thinks that he is having an affair.  Veronica strategically plans a sleep over at Kevin’s but only ends up discovering Sheriff Keller’s secret of working out in the basement.  Betty has a little more luck when she breaks into his office, but he catches her in the act.  All of the information he has on the black hood relates to the case, which makes sense, but perhaps that is so he could easily be ruled out.  Betty is not buying it and spies on him with Veronica outside a motel.  They discover that he is in fact having an affair with…Josie’s mom!  It seems that we have discovered his scandalous secret, but is he hiding anything else?

3) Is the black hood connected to the Riverdale reaper?  When we are involved in Archie & Jughead’s story, Jughead leaves his better judgment behind and takes a ride from a stranger so he can move his illegal crate to his destination in time.  The stranger is certainly mysterious and has a creepy vibe going for him with his hidden dead animals in his truck, but does reveal some important information.  He informs Jughead that Riverdale once saw a killer like the black hood before and talks about what happened with the Riverdale reaper.  However, how has no one in the town heard about this before?  What are they covering up?  What else does this stranger know?  The questions are endless, but it looks like the boys will need to get caught up their town’s history pretty fast if they want to stop the black hood.

2) Is Cheryl Josie’s stalker?  When the stalker threatens Josie and sends her a portrait, we can quickly rule Chuck out.  It just seems too easy that it is him so who else could it be?  Cheryl has been clinging to Josie lately and is clearly very thankful that she helped stop her attacker, but has this gratitude gone too far?  Cheryl is shown drawing a very similar sketch of her and Josie, which seems like all signs are pointing to yes that she is the one threatening Josie.  Has Cheryl hit a breaking point?  Is there any chance it’s not her?  Just as Cheryl has been starting to display some redeeming qualities, she is being dragged back down by obsession.

1) What are the consequences of failing the black hood’s test?  At the end of the episode, all of the intertwining stories have caught up to one another and all parties are present at Pop’s diner.  Pop receives a phone call and reveals that it is the black hood and he said that they all failed his test and that the day of reckoning is upon them.  What exactly was the test and what is going to happen now as a result?  We know that the black hood is capable of murder, but does he or she have something else in mind?  We will have to stay tuned for more answers, but it doesn’t look like the black hood is finished with Riverdale just yet.

I hope you enjoyed my top 5 questions and please feel free to post your own theories and questions from Riverdale below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

“Supernatural” Season 13 episode 7 ranking the top 5 moments: Dead is dead…or is it?

Happy Friday TV Fans!  I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday spent with family and friends.  Thankfully, we were given a new episode of the CW’s Supernatural to enjoy.  After watching Season 13 episode 7, it feels like everyone is coming back from the dead.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  Our old prophet friend, Kevin has returned along with some enemies sprinkled into the mix.  Lucifer walks the mean streets of earth and gets a harsh slap of reality while seeking help from any unlikely source.  Fans are left with an open question as to Rowena’s whereabouts.  Sure we thought she was toast, but Supernatural doesn’t let any character rest for too long.  My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 13 episode 7 are:

5) Lucifer returns to earth and a woman mistakes him as a homeless man.  So Lucifer has once again figured out a clever way to escape the portal he was in and is making friends everywhere he goes.  His powers are severely weakened which makes this moment even funnier.  There is nothing Lucifer can do about it except to come up with a snappy one liner to satisfy his need for revenge.  Who would have thought that a mortal could put Satan himself in his place?

4) Kevin is back!  Or maybe a version of Kevin…I was a little unclear on this but either way it was great to see our old friend Kevin back in the mix.  He is still utilizing his gift as a prophet but is now working for the angel, Michael, and could be a threat to humanity.  Will Sam and Dean be reunited with him?  Is he back for more episodes?  It’s uncertain, but it was nice to see a familiar face amongst all of the villains coming to the surface.

3) Is Rowena alive?  Other characters are creeping to the surface so it would make sense that an all powerful witch like Rowena may be alive somewhere in another world or dimension.  I have to admit I do miss the way her accent pronounces Winchester every time she is trying to thwart an effort of the brothers.  With Crowley gone, we need a villain with a good sense of humor to work with or against Lucifer.  We know that Mr. Ketch is after witches searching for her, which makes one think she is more than likely alive.  I for one hope that she is and would love to see a bewitching come-back.

2) Lucifer turns to an unlikely friend for help.  Lucifer is back on earth and is threatened by Kevin and Michael so who does he go to?  Naturally, he teams up with our favorite angel, Castiel.  Lucifer’s pep talk to Castiel is hilarious as he underplays the severity of the situation saying “we’re sorta all going to die” with a playful shrug.  He is looking to recruit Castiel but is trying to use him at the same time to find out where Jack is in all of this.  I have to admit I also enjoyed the proud father moment from Lucifer even though it is twisted and centered on how much pain his son caused.  Lucifer listened like a giddy school girl, but clearly does have some connection to his son.  It will be interesting to see what happens when they meet for the first time.

1) Ketch is not a twin, but Ketch himself!  Dean knew that something was not adding up with Ketch’s story.  There was even documentation about this claim that he was a twin, but Dean still wasn’t buying it and I don’t blame him.  He noticed the look in Ketch’s eyes when he mentioned his mother, Mary, signaling to Dean that he is the real Ketch and somehow Rowena is the key to him surviving longer in this world.  Ketch was a worthy opponent mostly because he tugs at Dean’s emotions and vulnerability.  Will Dean be able to put his own personal vendetta against Ketch aside to do right by the greater good?  Good thing he has Sam there to keep him grounded.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories about Supernatural below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

“Riverdale” Season 2 Episode 6 Ranking the top 5 moments: Betty vs the Black Hood

Greetings TV fans!  For today, I am going to be counting down my top five moments from CW’s Riverdale season 2, episode 6.  The introduction of a new target on the Black Hood’s radar called the “Sugar Man” had everyone on edge.  Jughead and Archie took a page out of Dominic Toretto’s book from The Fast and the Furious, and Cheryl Blossom…well blossomed into a likable character.  Please note that spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  My top 5 moments from Riverdale, season 2 episode 6 are:

5) Archie makes the right call.  Archie and Jughead are about to participate in a drag race, winner takes all.  Jughead is out to win at any cost and Archie makes the right call by notifying the authorities ahead of time.  Since drag racing is illegal, the Ghoulies involved are arrested and off the streets for now.  While this may temporarily solve the Jingle Jangle problem, Riverdale’s new favorite drug, Jughead points out that the Ghoulies are going to be after Archie when they get out of jail and that the plan will back-fire.  Jughead has not been seeing so clearly since Betty broke up with him and he needed Archie to knock some sense into him before he spirals out of control.

4) Cheryl’s “moment” at the drag race.  Cheryl had me laughing out loud telling Toni to step aside and that she was born for this.  She was dressed perfectly for the occasion and dropped her red ribbon in perfect fashion, as the cars sped off in a fury.  I think you might have found your new calling Cheryl.  Keep the laughs coming.

3) Betty & Veronica team up to draw out the “Sugar Man.”  I have to admit when Veronica showed up on the corner to score some Jingle Jangle in her platform purple pumps; she took undercover to a new level.  The duo worked together in a failed attempt but it was nice to see them back on good terms again.

2) Cheryl’s mother proves she does have a heart.  I found it impossibly cold of Cheryl’s mother to make a deal with the Sinclair family, implying that Cheryl had something to do with her almost attack.  Cheryl has been looking for some sense of family since Jason has died.  At the end of the episode, Cheryl’s mother reveals to her the identity of the “Sugar Man” and throws the check into the fire that the Sinclair’s gave her.  This gesture provides Cheryl with a glimmer of hope that her mother does believe in her even if she doesn’t show it very often.

1) Betty turns the tables on the Black Hood.  Betty has been following orders and jeopardizing her relationships and friendships in the process.  After providing the Black Hood with the identity of the “Sugar Man,” who ends up being Jughead’s English teacher, she tells him that she is going to find out who he or she is next.  She’s coming for the Black Hood and I have to say it’s about time.  He or she is no match for Betty.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your thoughts and theories on Riverdale below.  Happy Viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

“Supernatural” Lucky season 13: How has the longest running show on the CW lasted?

Can a television series air for 13 seasons and still bring in viewers without becoming stale?  The CW’s Supernatural series is currently on lucky or perhaps unlucky season 13 and it begs the question, how has this show lasted so long?  A few thoughts come to mind as I myself am a long-time fan of the show.  For starters, Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles are believable as brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester and have an undeniable bond.  Viewers connect and empathize with them as you find yourself on the edge of your couch clutching your popcorn, wondering if one of these challenges along the way will ultimately separate the brothers forever.  That being said, they have survived hell, purgatory, and whatever else has been thrown their way while still keeping a sense of humor through it all.  Is the brotherly bond enough to keep the Supernatural series from becoming tiresome, however?

 

For me, it also comes down to the clever way that the writers integrate episodes that some critics may refer to as fluff.  Episodes like season 4’s “Yellow Fever,” where the opening scene reveals Dean running for his life from an adorable Yorkie or season 9’s “Thinman,” which has a creepy vibe brewing until you find out that it involves fan favorites, the Ghostfacers, are brilliant.  Throughout the serious plot twists or the enemies that come their way, whether it involves angels or demons, this can sometimes wear on you as a viewer.  Incorporating episodes where Sam and Dean are just merely going out on hunter adventures keeps it exciting and fresh, while giving true fans that sense of nostalgia that hooked them onto the show in the first place.  It’s the reason why shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Charmed which were also favorites of mine, did not have as long as a run as Supernatural.  These shows eventually ran their course, while Supernatural keeps going strong.   It follows the main plot for the season while strategically sprinkling in fun and lighter episodes that remind you why you keep coming back for more.

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

“Riverdale” Review Season 2 Episode 5: Lollipop, lollipop…sweet or sour?

“Lollipop, lollipop, oh lolli lolli lolli, lollipop.”  Not sure about the rest of you, but I had this song stuck in my head after watching yesterday’s episode of the CW’s Riverdale (season 2, episode 5).  Betty’s ringtone played over and over with this song while the black hood toyed with her, threatening her image of kindness and perfection.  I’m not sure if I was left with a sweet or sour taste in my mouth at the conclusion, however.  I have become a fan of Riverdale after binge-watching the first season on Netflix and have been really excited to see where the show is going after solving the first major mystery from season one.  Growing up, I loved reading the Archie comics and I enjoy how Riverdale has transformed into a saucier, more mysterious version of the comic series.  It has just the right balance of bubble gum pop with a hint of Gossip Girl nostalgia along with a Nancy Drew like quality.

Episode 5 had a vortex of story-lines going on, however; which split my attention a little too much.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode.  We had the mysterious black hood calling Betty and testing her left and right, threatening her sister’s life is she would not comply.  Who is the mysterious villain on the other end?  So far he or she has been outsmarting Betty with every move, convincing her to bring her mother’s secrets to life, spoiling her friendship with Veronica, and destroying her relationship with Jughead.  As I started to think about who the black hood might be, their motives seem focused completely on shattering Betty’s world, unleashing her own darkness in the process.  The black hood even leads her on a wild goose chase only for her to end up looking at her own reflection so that she would understand that they are very much alike.

While this story-line has my full attention, episode 5 also sprinkled in Jughead’s tests to become part of the Serpent gang, leading him to kiss Toni in the very same day Betty sent Archie to break up with him, which begs the question:  is the love between Jughead and Betty really that epic?  Will Betty and Archie get together instead?  They have been growing closer and closer trying to decipher the black hood’s clues, while Veronica has been distracted by her old lifestyle, desperately trying to win the approval of her father.  Speaking of Veronica, her old friend visiting only to bring havoc onto the small town of Riverdale and ultimately trying to attack Cheryl seemed forced.  While my heart goes out to Cheryl, was this necessary for the episode?  Was this only to set up a convenient bad guy for Betty to target, rather than the black hood going after her family?  Either way, the secrets and lies beneath the surface of Riverdale have not all reached the surface, so I will continue to watch to see them unravel.  Will you?

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl