Tag: Daenerys

Ranking your Favorite Female Performances on Television for 2019

Happy New Year TV Fans!  We had so many incredible female performances on television in 2019, as these strong women lit up the screen.  Whether it was a moment of female empowerment, the unexpected transformation of a character, or a breakout role, these women captured our undivided attention throughout the year.

Again, it was difficult for me to narrow down my favorite female performances for 2019 because there were honestly so many and I didn’t think it was possible for me to choose my absolute favorite one, which is where you came in!    

I ran a three round poll (randomized tournament style) on Twitter and asked for fans to cast their votes so that we can all decide who our favorite female performances are for the year.  Thank you so much for your participation and support, as the tournament was so much fun and actually really competitive!

This was also the closest race I have ever seen in the Final round, which goes to show you how truly amazing all of these female performances were.  I can’t wait to see what they do next in 2020!

Round One featured the following Female Performances on TV from 2019:

  • Lizzy Caplan as Annie Wilkes from Castle Rock
  • Eliza Taylor as Clarke Griffin from The 100
  • Alycia Debnam-Carey as Alicia Clark from Fear the Walking Dead  
  • Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones
  • Emma Roberts as Brooke from American Horror Story:  1984
  • Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper from Riverdale
  • Anya Chalotra as Yennefer of Vengerberg from The Witcher
  • Jodie Comer as Villanelle from Killing Eve
  • Marie Avgeropoulos as Octavia Blake from The 100
  • Kiernan Shipka as Sabrina Spellman from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
  • Maisie Williams as Arya Stark from Game of Thrones
  • Danai Gurira as Michonne from The Walking Dead

After your votes, the following female actresses moved on to Round Two:

  • Anya Chalotra
  • Jodie Comer
  • Lili Reinhart
  • Kiernan Shipka
  • Alycia Debnam-Carey
  • Emilia Clarke

Honorable Mention:  Maisie Williams just came up short.  Arya’s growth and “Not Today” moment was one of the most fantastic performances I have ever witnessed on television and she deserves a mention here!

What Do we say to the god of death
GIF courtesy of maytheoddsbeeverinyourfavo

After your votes in Round Two, the following female actresses moved on to the FINALS:

  • Jodie Comer
  • Emilia Clarke
  • Anya Chalotra

Honorable Mention:  Lili Reinhart just came up short.  Betty Cooper continues to put her sleuth skills to the test, challenging anyone who gets in her way.  I can’t wait to see what her character does next in 2020!

Betty Cooper Gif
Gif courtesy of The CW

After your votes in Round Three, the FINAL results are:

3rd place: Anya Chalotra as Yennefer of Vengerberg from The Witcher

Anya-Chalotra-as-Yennefer-of-Vengerberg-the-witcher-netflix-43143164-540-314
GIF courtesy of JoJBrown at Tenor

Wow, talk about a breakout performance.  I was so mesmerized by her performance in The Witcher and she has quickly become a fan favorite for many.  This girl is on fire!

Drum roll please…

We actually have a TIE for first place!!!!!! I am so beyond excited to announce your WINNERS for Favorite Female Performance of 2019:

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones

giphy (2)
GIF courtesy of @GameofThrones

AND

Jodie Comer as Villanelle from Killing Eve

tumblr_prlvs6UuRp1vg1enro3_r1_500
GIF courtesy of Killing Eve on Tenor

Both of these ladies rocked it and deserve this win!  They pour their hearts and souls into their roles and captivate us every single time they are on screen.  Some of the most compelling performances I have ever witnessed and I am a huge fan of both of these amazing and strong women!

Thanks to all the fans who voted!  I wish you all the best for the New Year!

View Final Poll Results Here!

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post your thoughts and comments below on some of your favorite female performances on TV from 2019.  Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing for 2020!

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!

My performance of the week ending 5/25/19 on TV goes to…

Kit Harington as Jon Snow on Game of Thrones.  Jon Snow has always been my favorite character on the show, but I was worried that his character was losing himself by bending the knee.  However, he dug deep within to do the impossible, recognizing that sacrifice is sometimes required to protect the world.  Please note spoilers are ahead.  In the series finale, Jon witnesses the aftermath of the Mad Queen’s decision and is horrified by the results.  Jon has seen a lot of terrible things over the seasons, but he does understand right from wrong and realizes that he is the only one who can truly get close enough to Daenerys to do something about it.

When Jon tells Daenerys that she will always be his Queen, my heart instantly shattered, as I watched him swiftly take her life, eliminating the threat once and for all.  However, this may be the hardest thing that Jon has ever had to do and he is willing to deal with the consequences of his actions.  Kit Harington’s performance was incredible here, as I was emotionally moved and devastated.

Jon is ready to face his punishment and is banished back to the Night’s Watch, almost bringing his journey completely full circle.  Jon may not be the King, but he has proven his worth and his destiny and purpose is far from over.  Winter is forever, as Jon returns to the north and is reunited with his wolf, Ghost, which was the most rewarding scene for me personally.

Jon has always been somewhat of a lone wolf himself and an outsider, since he was brought up thinking he was a bastard, but he’s so much more than this.  He’s brave and selfless and I wish I could continue following his journey because I know that he is not done doing great things.  It breaks my heart that he had to eliminate the woman he loved, as Jon deserves happiness, but his reunion with Ghost assures me that he’ll never be truly alone.

I’ve fallen in love with Jon Snow over the years and I am grateful to Kit Harington for his portrayal, truly bringing his character to life for me.  Kit will always be “Jon Snow” to me even when he takes on other roles and that just shows that he really embraced this role and put his complete effort forward, which was absolutely incredible to watch.  Thank you Kit Harington and maybe Jon Snow does know something after all! 

Jon Snow gif.gif

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! 

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

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Blog

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

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

My performance of the week ending 5/4/19 on TV goes to…

Maisie Williams as Arya Stark on Game of Thrones. I don’t think that I have ever cheered so much for a character on television in my life.  However, when I watched Game of Thrones season 8 episode 3, Arya had my undivided attention.  Please note some spoilers are ahead.  All of Arya’s scenes had me on the edge of my seat.  Watching her fight the White Walkers was incredible and her character embodied female empowerment, but to a new level.  While some of the other male characters hid in the corner or gave up, Arya refused to back down and continued to fight.  Her father and Syrio Forel would be more than proud!

What Do we say to the god of death.gif

Maisie’s performance went viral on social media, as many fans began posting with the #NotToday hashtag.  Melisandre reminded Arya of Syrio Forel’s teachings when she asked her, “What do we say to the God of Death?” which brought everything full circle for Arya.  All of the lessons and everything that Arya has been through brought her to this very moment, as she now faces her most difficult challenge yet.

I love that Arya didn’t triumph with mere strength.  Rather, she uses her wit and her skills to outsmart her opponents, proving to be more than worthy of being the one to get that game winning shot later on in the episode.  Arya is a hero and she has been one of my favorite characters on the show since the very beginning.  She has grown up so much and I feel like we have all been there every step of the way, watching her mature and transform into a powerful warrior with a fire within her that cannot be put out.

What’s next for Arya?  I’m not sure, but I can’t wait to see everyone’s reaction to her victory.  Arya really did save the day, but the fight is not even close to being over, as we still need to tackle the fight for the Iron Throne.  It looks like it may be time for Daenerys to face off against Cersei, but one should never underestimate our girl and my hero, Arya Stark!  I can’t wait to see how it all ends!

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! 

**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!

**Book Two of the Dreaming of Wonderland series is scheduled to come out in June 2019 so stay tuned on that!!!!!

The Search for Alice is available here!

The Search for Alice Feb 2019

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

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

My top television shows of 2017 on Cable Networks: The best of the best!

Greetings TV Fans!  For today, I am going to be listing my top favorite television shows that aired in 2017 on cable networks.  While some shows near the top of my list were no surprise for me, there were others that crept into the top 5 that I would not have predicted last year.  There were also some shows that I used to enjoy a lot which fell short this past year and are in need of something earth-shattering to happen in 2018 to get them back to the top of the pack.  While I haven’t gotten a chance to view all shows that aired new episodes in 2017, I did get to more than I initially anticipated.  Please feel free to include some of your favorites below as well.  I will be breaking the shows into 3 categories:  the best of the best, honorable mentions, and shows that have lost some steam.  Please note some spoilers are ahead.

The Best of the Best for television shows airing on cable networks for 2017 in no particular order are:

Game of Thrones

Fear the Walking Dead

American Horror Story:  Cult

SMILF

Shameless

While Game of Thrones and Shameless are two of my all-time favorites, I was pleased with the seasons airing in 2017.  Game of Thrones sped things up to the delight of fans, which I guess makes sense since they are running out of time.  Either way, it was great to see Daenerys and Jon Snow finally meet face to face and discuss terms of an alliance on a war against the undead.  Everything is falling into place and I am eager to see the remaining episodes in 2018.  Shameless is another favorite of mine that has had me laughing out loud this season.  Even though the show is on its eight season, it is proving to still have fresh material.  American Horror Story:  Cult bounced back from American Horror Story:  Roanoke from 2016.  Cult was terrifying and real at the same time, providing viewers with a dangerous view of society.  Evan Peters played his best character yet in my opinion, diving into his terrifying role of Kai Anderson.  Newcomer SMILF is the perfect mix of raw humor and sentimental moments, as Frankie Shaw has had a stand-out performance.  The most surprising one of the bunch for me is Fear the Walking Dead.  I will be honest and admit that I had been previously watching the show out of obligation.  It’s the prequel to The Walking Dead and in some way I felt like I owed the show a chance, even though I wasn’t too hooked.  However, this all changed for me this past season in 2017.  Alicia played by the lovely and talented Alycia Debnam Carey stepped out from her shadow as Madison’s daughter and has grown into an independent and powerful survivor.  Main characters with interesting story-lines were killed off to the shock of fans everywhere; including myself, proving that the show is ready to take on a life of its own.  Rick and the gang should take some notes from the characters in Fear the Walking Dead who are making difficult decisions and moving on to each new obstacle without too much fluff in between.

Honorable mentions for television shows airing on cable networks for 2017 in no particular order:

Homeland

Bates Motel

Better Call Saul

Pretty Little Liars

The Strain

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

South Park

Some of these shows are favorites of mine and did enough in 2017 to earn a spot in my honorable mentions.  South Park and It’s Always Sunny kept the laughs coming and Homeland and Better Call Saul did the same with the edge of your seat drama and big moments.  While the shows had solid episodes, there wasn’t enough of a hook to move them into my top 5.  That being said, I thoroughly enjoy watching these shows and I am looking forward to new seasons.  Bates Motel, Pretty Little Liars, and The Strain ended in 2017 on a strong note.  While none of the series finales were that epic in my opinion, they did a good job of bringing everything full circle and satisfying the questions fans had.

Television shows airing on cable networks for 2017 that are running out of steam in no particular order are:

The Walking Dead

Archer

I have watched all of the episodes from both shows and was somewhat disappointed overall in the seasons from 2017.  While neither show was terrible enough for me to take them off my DVR line-up permanently, there was something missing.  Whether it was too much fluff in between major moments or a missing connection to characters, both shows have the potential to win their fans back and provide some good content.  Are they going to deliver on this, however?  I am optimistic and will continue to watch both series, but am looking for something fresh and over-the-top to remind me why I loved watching in the first place.  I know it’s a lot to ask for, but consistency in television entertainment is important.  Let’s make it a great 2018 for shows everywhere and hope these two shows ignite a spark that will keep viewers coming back for more and more.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post some of your favorite television shows from 2017 that aired on cable networks below.  Happy viewing and the countdown to 2018 is here!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl