Tag: Entertainment

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Mick” season 2 episode 16: “The Accident”

Happy Wednesday!  After watching Fox’s The Mick season 2 episode 16 last night, Jimmy provided us with a valuable lesson when he said “sometimes you gotta break the law to do the right thing.”  Well maybe it’s not the best lesson, but it’s clear that Mickey, Alba, and Jimmy are there to help Ben out of a jam, no matter what it takes.  Now that’s family.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “The Accident,” Mickey is outraged when Ben is excluded from Troy’s sleepover and is not about to let this go quietly.  However, things don’t go exactly as planned with Ben runs into some unexpected trouble once he is there.  Meanwhile, Chip tries to win over the approval of his sister, Sabrina by agreeing to make her a fake ID, but not without getting something in return. My top 5 moments from The Mick season 2 episode 16 are:

5

“Troy sounds like a dick.”

When Mickey learns that every boy in Ben’s class was invited to Troy’s sleepover except for Ben, she says out loud what we’re all thinking:  “Troy sounds like a dick.”  While Mickey doesn’t filter her thoughts in front of Ben, it’s clear that she is appalled by this exclusion and suggests that Ben have his own sleepover instead.  Jimmy even agrees to let Ben have “full access” to his movie collection.  When Mickey learns this isn’t possible, her and Jimmy fear the worst:  that if Ben is “cut off now, there might be no coming back.”  This brings Mickey back to her own days growing up and reminds everyone about what happened to her former friend, Marissa who had the audacity to get boobs before the rest of the girls.  Mickey explains that they “86ed her and now she’s a dentist.”  While Alba points out that being a dentist is actually a great profession, Mickey closes the argument by reminding them that it’s gross.  Either way, she is not about to let history repeat itself and have Ben left out in the cold.  Mickey pays Troy’s mother a visit and makes her feel bad enough so that Ben can enjoy the sleepover with the rest of his friends.

4

Ben has an accident and calls Mickey to rescue him.

Mickey is enjoying her sleep and is interrupted when Ben calls her in a panic to let her know that he has had an accident.  She initially mistakes this for a car accident, but then Ben explains that he wet the bed and doesn’t know what to do.  Alba was eagerly listening in at the door, which concerns Mickey about her boundary issues, but doesn’t have time to argue about this now since she needs all hands on deck.  Mickey, Jimmy, and Alba rush over to Troy’s house so they can help him.  Alba wants to know “what is our mission objective,” which seems like a valid question.  Mickey assumes the mission will be easy enough:  throw the dry pajamas and sheets up to the window and Ben can toss the dirty ones down.  Mickey gets the saturated fabric in her face twice, however; but she keeps her composure.  After all Ben is “lucky he’s cute because he is useless,” according to his Aunt.  It seems like the mission objective is complete, until they realize that Ben has peed through the entire mattress.  It looks like Jimmy will need to take a turn at saving the day.

3

Jimmy’s mission.

After they realize that the last mattress is toast, Jimmy accepts his mission and promises to get a mattress to replace it.  Mickey asks where he is going to find a mattress that late and Jimmy replies with “I didn’t say it would be new.”  He stealthily sneaks into a motel and even takes a break to enjoy some well-deserved snacks and TV.  Mickey and Alba run into their own dilemma during this time, however; and are now stuck on top of Troy’s roof while Ben accidentally locks the windows inside.

2

“Will you be the Maggie to my Jake?”

It’s clear that Chip has been spying on his sister, Sabrina and her friends for a while which is a little creepy.  Especially when he complains about them not getting naked and his friend points out “dude, that’s your sister.”  However, Chip is in luck when he overhears that Sabrina is in need of a fake ID to get into a club.  He is excited to help out his sister and to use this as leverage so that they can elevate their relationship from brother and sister to….best friends of course.  Sabrina seems hesitant at first to say yes explaining that “we can’t be seen in public with you.”  She eventually agrees but tries to outsmart Chip and his friend by updating their wardrobe and then leaving them behind.  Chip anticipated this, however; and left her with a Harriet Tubman ID to her horror and explains that they will need to take them along as originally agreed upon if they want the real IDs.  It seems like everything is going according to plan when Sabrina and her friends easily get into the club.  However, when Chip steps up to the bouncer, they are “at capacity.”  Chip tries to get the bouncer to see reason and even his friend gets in because his ID still says Jaden Smith.  Poor Chip is left alone and even his driver abandons him.

1

“100 percent saturation…not a chance.”

When Alba and Mickey are stuck on the roof awaiting Jimmy’s appearance with the new mattress, Mickey comes up with a plan for them to jump off the roof and land on the mattress.  When her plan is a success with her only getting some minor injuries, Jimmy arrives and hits her with the car, which then causes the mattress he just obtained to be ruined as well.  Luckily Mickey is ok, but now they are down two mattresses and Alba is still stuck on the roof.  They have only one choice now to protect Ben’s reputation: “100 percent saturation.”  Mickey lets Ben do what he does best, as he climbs into bed with each of the boys and wets the bed so that they can wake up to become “pee brothers.”  While it was a close call, Ben is in the clear for now and is even invited to the next upcoming sleepover.  Mickey and Jimmy are relieved but it seems like they are forgetting something very important…Alba is still on the roof sleeping.  It looks like they will need another mission objective after this one.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

You can now follow me on Twitter as well! https://twitter.com/TV_Fanatic_Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 8 episode 12 season finale: “Time to Go Gallagher!”

Happy Monday TV fans!  After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 8 episode 12 finale last night, I am certainly going to miss watching my favorite dysfunctional family for a while.  While new episodes will return later this year, I am happy that every member of the Gallagher family made the right call after being faced with a difficult decision.  Whether they were tempted by taking the easy way out or making someone else happy, each one of them ultimately found their way, reminding us that doing the right thing does pay off in the end.  Now Frank on the other hand is another story.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “Sleepwalking,” Fiona seeks out the help of “Pyro Paulie” to go full Gallagher on Rodney and his family, refusing to give up what she has worked so hard on.  Lip is finally back together with Sierra, but is he ready to get sucked back in the drama all over again?  Svetlana pursues her American Dream to get married while holding Frelania hostage and Kev embraces his new role as “father of the bride.”  Meanwhile, a warrant is out for Ian’s arrest, Carl attempts to make it to military school, and Liam is faced with the dilemma of making his father happy or betraying his new friend.  My top 5 moments from Shameless season 8 episode 12 are:

5

Liam does some recon.

Liam’s new friend, Dylan, is more than rich.  After Frank pays Dylan’s father a visit and does a quick scan of his assets, he enlists the help of his youngest son to do some full recon and obtain the alarm code.  Liam does a great job taking the pictures for Frank and even comes up with a brilliant plan to get the alarm code.  He sets off the alarm with Dylan as a prank on the maid and then zooms in on the code:  6197.  After he discusses everything with Frank, Liam begins having second thoughts.  While this may be the root cause of his sleepwalking, Liam decides that he wants to keep his friendship with Dylan and of course enjoy some much deserved “yachting” and relaxation.  Liam gives Frank the wrong code, which leads to a hilarious escape from the police, ending with Frank jumping into the portable toilet.  Not just the stall…but the actual toilet.  Frank manages to hold on to a few items and walks into the Gallagher home in victory, covered in blue dye and sewage.  I guess he’ll take this one as a win.

4

Carl attempts to get to military school.

Carl’s wife, Cassidy, actually has her named spelled with a “K,” which I learned in this last episode when she explains that all of their 6 children will have names starting with a “C” or a “K.”  Sorry Kassidi.  Either way, Carl’s girlfriend…wife, Kassidi played by the brilliant Sammi Hanratty is not about to let him leave without a fight.  Carl strategically jumps out the window when Kassidi is showering to buy new gear for military school.  He avoids her as much as possible and even brings her flowers as a decoy, but this is no match for Kassidi’s obsession.  She hand-cuffs him to the bed and refuses to let him go.  When Carl spots Debbie, he begs her to get the keys, but Debbie takes this as an opportunity to test out her brother’s listening skills, refusing to get involved in the middle.  After all she does love Kassidi’s waffles.  With the help of Liam’s habit to steal keys when he sleepwalks, Carl manages to escape and successfully gets on the bus to military school to the dismay of Kassidi.  While Carl does love Kassidi, he is not about to completely dismiss his other love for military school and he has the chance to really become someone to be proud of.  Will their marriage be able to survive this?  Will Kassidi resort to even crazier methods to get him back?

3

Svetlana gets married.

Svetlana’s plan seems to be going well when she kidnaps her former Russian friend, Frelania and keeps her held hostage at Kev and V’s home.  After realizing that she has the chance to successfully steal her husband and obtain the American Dream of becoming a rich trophy wife, there is no stopping her.  Kev and V are on board to help her and Kev fully embraces his new role as the “father of the bride.”  However, when Svetlana explains that if Frelania “tries anything you cut her face,” he is a little hesitant to put the machete to use.  Svetlana explains that the next part of their plan involves keeping Frelania’s mother, Zlata distracted, as she is the only person who will be able to recognize Svetlana at the wedding.  Kev hilariously dresses up as a chauffeur, complete with ripped sleeves underneath the suit jacket, and displays a sign at the airport reading “Zlata…super long last name” with an arrow.  Zlata is known to have a “taste for human flesh,” so Kev and V decide to try out her appetite for vodka to keep her as far away from the wedding as possible.  Everything seems to be going seamlessly when Svetlana walks down the aisle in a gorgeous wedding gown, only for Kev to find out that there is a Prenup.  Just as he reveals this to V, Svetlana says “I do.”  One can only imagine what she will do when she finds out the truth next season.

2

Lip finally makes the right decision. 

Lip seems to be getting everything he wanted.  He’s sober, he has a job, and now he even has Sierra back.  Everything should be fine, right?  After witnessing Sierra and her former boyfriend, Charlie arguing in the street, he realizes that he is about to get sucked up into a whirlwind of drama all over again.  Has Lip learned from his past mistakes?  Yes!  Lip walks away from Sierra and tells her that he’s not sure how he feels and he thinks she should give Charlie another chance.  At the end of the episode, Lip decides to help out Eddie’s niece and offers for her to stay with him until everything is sorted out with Eddie and her mom.  The little girl is beyond delighted that someone actually cares enough about her not to abandon her and happily helps Lip with his motorcycle.  Lip finally realizes that love doesn’t have to be romantic or messy.  The friendship and bond he has with Eddie’s niece goes beyond this and is the best thing for him right now to maintain his sobriety and his sanity.

1

“Time to go Gallagher.”

After Fiona talks with her lawyer, she is horrified that Rodney and his family are actually demanding custody of her dog, Rusty…or “Sparkles” along with 3 million dollars.  Her lawyer explains that her best option is to sell the building and to declare bankruptcy but Fiona is not ready to give up on her hard work just yet.  After consulting with a few others, Fiona realizes that she is going to take back what is hers.  She meets Frank’s friend, “Pyro Paulie,” who provides her with instructions on how to smoke out Rodney and his family…literally.  After they vacate the building, Fiona gives them an offer on her terms.  She says she will pay them a few thousand now for them to leave and never come back and that she will continue paying them $500 a month after that.  Rodney’s wife refuses the offer, which prompts Fiona to begin lighting cash on fire to show them she means business.  Rodney realizes that a lawsuit can take a very long time before he may see any money and takes the deal.  Fiona is able to keep her building and now has a new relationship with Irish Ford to look forward to.  Things are looking up for Fiona after all.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments on Shameless below.  Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@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!

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Mick” season 2 episode 13: “The Dump.”

Happy Wednesday!  After watching Fox’s The Mick season 2 episode 13 last night, I learned that school field trips can lead to some dangerous consequences and that everyone has their own interpretation on how to prove one’s self worth.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “The Dump,” Mickey and Alba volunteer as tribute…I mean as chaperones for Ben’s school field trip.  While the dump was not as inspiring as Mickey hoped for, she gets more than she bargained for when she realizes that they picked up an extra child by mistake on the way back.  Meanwhile, Jimmy has big plans for the day and Chip and Sabrina learn that their grandfather, the Colonel, may have some usefulness after all.  My top 5 moments from The Mick season 2 episode 13 are:

5

Jimmy has big plans for the day.

After Jimmy lectures Chip and Sabrina on leaving their grandfather outside and forgetting about him, they suggest that he takes him out for a hair-cut.  Jimmy politely declines explaining that he has big plans for the day.  While missing for most of the episode, Sabrina and Chip call him later on for his help, revealing that he is at an arcade trying to get a high score to be proud of.  While he doesn’t admit to Sabrina and Chip where he is, he still proves to be worthy and helpful in the situation.  One can always count on Jimmy even though he has an interesting perspective on priorities.

4

“His name is Dump now.”

On the way back from the field trip, Mickey reminds everyone that she needs to do a headcount to ensure everyone is accounted for.  She frantically recounts several times but keeps getting “21.”  Although they are not missing anyone, there is one little boy who has come along for the ride who doesn’t belong.  Mickey tries to ask him where he comes from and his address but he says nothing in reply.  When Mickey and Alba take the boy home, Mickey decides his name will be “Dump,” refusing “Ignacio” as Alba suggested.

3

Chip and Sabrina lose the Colonel.

Chip is furious when Sabrina rolls the Colonel up to him, forcing him to lose his place in line to get his new “kicks.”  The store clerk allows Chip to skip the line, however; since he is there with his grandfather.  Chip also gets some free “kicks” or “lifestyle shoes” playing on his grandfather’s war hero story to get attention.  Sabrina and Chip realize that having grandpa around is not so bad after all, deciding to see what else they can get out of this.  The plan backfires, however; when he rolls out of the bar and takes off.  After some failed attempts at tracking him down, Jimmy asks if he is “micro chipped” reminding Sabrina that she can track her phone that she left on the wheelchair.  They finally find the colonel in an alley, stripped of his kicks, and ready to go home.  Perhaps Sabrina and Chip will learn to finally treat him with respect and kindness, but the best we can hope for is that he gets home safe and sound without them being distracted by shiny objects on the way.

2

Mickey and Alba use “the last pay phone on earth” to call the police.

Mickey and Alba argue over what to do next when “Dump” is at their house, unable to provide them with any answers.  They decide to find a pay phone and anonymously call the police to see what they know so they can get the boy back safely.  After Alba’s racist accent on the phone referring to the police as “bacon,” and repeatedly leading with “yo,” they learn that everyone believes the boy to be kidnapped and they have now become the prime suspects.  They also learn that he is deaf, which is why he hasn’t been responding to their threatening questions.  Mickey later tries to call the police and Alba points out that her “Asian” accent is just as racist.

1

Kidnapping lingo.

After several failed ideas to return the boy safely, Alba and Mickey argue over what to do next.  Alba suggests a form of good cop vs. bad cop, but Mickey is not convinced this will have an impact on Ben and his new friend and suggests that they set up a “drop point.”  Alba comically tries it out anyway and begins smashing Ben’s games when they don’t get an answer out of “Dump.”  Mickey grabs the gulf club out of Alba’s hands only to also begin smashing the games to pieces to the horror of Ben and “Dump.”  Ben and “Dump” find their way back to the actual dump and tell Mickey that they are going to live there from now on.  Ben strategically makes a deal with Mickey that she will need to go on field trips with him for the next century which is pretty much the worst possible punishment Mickey can think of while Alba proves her self-worth by taking on a guard dog.  Ultimately, the police find “Dump” with a very honest and apologetic note from Mickey and Alba, letting them know that it was a mistake and they will try to be more sensitive next time about their racist accents.  Looks like Mickey and Alba will be participating in their fair share of school field trips from now until the next century.  Good luck ladies!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 8 episode 11: Fiona Rescues Rusty!

Happy Monday TV fans!  After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 8 episode 11 last night, it is refreshing to see the Gallagher family put the needs of others above their own.  While Fiona and Lip try out the whole rescuing a damsel in distress routine…or in Fiona’s case, a dog in distress; Ian turns a non-violent act into something extreme and Frank does what no one else can.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “A Gallagher Pedicure,” Debbie must make the important decision on whether or not to keep her toes, Fiona continues to fight against Rodney’s attempt to sue her, and Lip plays the role of the white knight to a tee.  Meanwhile, Frank learns his life’s hard work of 6 weeks amount to $3.42 a month in Social Security benefits, Liam wants to go “yachting,” and Svetlana learns the value of humbling herself.  My top 5 moments from Shameless season 8 episode 11 are:

5

Debbie Googles “do you need your toes?”

An important question for sure, but our poor Debbie’s welding accident has left her in quite the jam.  The doctor informs her that the surgery to repair her three damaged toes costs $50,000 which is somewhat out of her current budget.  The other option is to lose all three toes which would cost in the lower thousands, but Debbie decides to do it herself the old fashioned way.  After Liam passes out at the sight of her toes, Debbie tries to do the horrible deed herself but also faints.  Luckily for Debbie, Frank walks in and without a moment’s hesitation, cuts them off, commenting on how the burnt flesh “smells like steak.”  Glad it sparked his appetite, but it looks like the “Sexy Welding Girl” will need to switch to some boot apparel.

4

Svetlana tries to humble herself.

Kev and V are still invested in finding Svetlana a millionaire of her own.  Svetlana even writes down all of her skills on a napkin to prove her worth, after taking her friends out to a fancy hotel bar to find a man.  Kev is excited when he gets approached, but learns it is not for Svetlana, but for the “chocolate one.”  After explaining that V is his wife, the man offers to pay him $4000 for an hour with V, which even V is considering at this point.  After all they do have bills to pay.  Security explains that they have a strict “no prostitute policy,” and Svetlana comes to the epiphany that she needs to humble herself and go talk to the Russian “bottom feeder.”  After her rival spits on an expensive gown in front of her and tells her that she would rather throw it out than give it to her, Svetlana realizes that she is getting nowhere.  However, when the billionaire mistakes Svetlana for his bride to be in his old age, she realizes that all may not be lost after all.  At the end of the episode, Svetlana drags a body bag into the bar and tells Kev and V that she is not dead yet with a glowing smile of victory.  One should never underestimate Svetlana and I am rooting for her to finally obtain the “American Dream.”

3

Lip plays the white knight.

Lip absolutely needs a break from all of the hardship and drama in his life, but he invites it right back in when he allows Sierra and her son, Lucas to stay with him.  Sierra confides in Lip that her father is out of prison and tells him about all of the horrible things he did to their family, including dumping their mother’s lifeless body into a dumpster after beating her to death.  Sierra is beyond terrified and will not go back to her apartment until she knows that she is safe.  While it seems like Lip is replacing one addiction with another, he does come up with the brilliant plan to approach Sierra’s father, Norman, provoking him enough to launch an attack against Lip.  With the help of Eddie’s adorable niece catching the act on camera, Lip reports the attack and Sierra’s father is back in prison where he belongs.  Sierra is beyond grateful and rushes back into Lip’s loving arms, but will the drama stop here?  I’m hoping so, but Lip has not been able to escape it just yet.

2

Cassidy goes on a trip down memory lane with Carl.

After Carl’s rash decision to get married to his crazy girlfriend, Cassidy; she insists on knowing everything about him which includes visiting some dangerous places around the city.  When they come across a dead body, Cassidy explains that “she needs to see the face of death” so she can “story the shit out of it” on Snapchat.  She takes some interesting selfies in front of the dead body, including one of Cassidy comically pretending to choke herself out in front of death to give her followers the real experience.  After visiting the former corner that Carl sold crack at, they get shot at to the excitement of Cassidy.  Ultimately, Carl sacrifices going back to military school when Cassidy freaks out again at the thought of him leaving.  While it seems like he is throwing away his chance at stability and purpose, perhaps he will change his mind if Cassidy continues to go further past the deep end of insanity.

1

Fiona rescues Rusty.

After learning that Rodney and his family are suing Fiona for 6 million dollars, she weighs her options and learns that she is basically screwed.  Not only did she hire an unlicensed contractor with no insurance, she also only has liability coverage up to half a million dollars.  Fiona would have to give up the apartment building and her house and still be in debt for the rest of her life if Rodney goes through with the law suit.  Fiona tries desperately to get the family out of her apartment and is shocked when she finds out they even changed the lock.  Fiona tries to make a deal with Ronald’s wife and even offers for them to stay in the apartment rent free for a year, but is not getting anywhere.  Fiona’s main concern is for her dog, Rusty, however.  She demands that “there better be water in her dog’s bowl” and launches a plan with Irish Ford to save him.  After sealing the door shut and turning off the water, Fiona drills her way into the apartment and gets her dog, Rusty to safety.  Ronald’s daughter screams out for “Sparkles,” horrifying Fiona even further that they had the audacity to rename her dog.  Now that Rusty has reached safety, what’s next for Fiona?  Will she be able to convince them to drop the suit by going Gallagher on them?  Stay tuned to find out.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments on Shameless below.  Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@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!

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Mick” season 2 episode 12: “The City.”

Happy Wednesday!  After watching Fox’s The Mick season 2 episode 12 last night, I’m left with the familiar quote that “it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.”  Although for Mickey, her idea of winning at a “break up” seems beyond competitive.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “The City,” Mickey, Alba, and the kids take a trip to Manhattan so that Chip can meet his real dad.  Meanwhile, Mickey gets an unexpected request to identify the body of an old friend, and Ben and Alba are on a mission to track down Hamilton tickets.  My top 5 moments from The Mick season 2 episode 12 are:

5

Mickey attempts to flee from the police.

In the beginning of the episode, Mickey answers the door and sees the cops standing before her.  Without a moment’s hesitation, Mickey makes a run for it, refusing to stick around to find out what she may or may not be in trouble for.  Unfortunately for Mickey, the stairs come out of nowhere and get in her way, causing her to comically trip and fall.

4

Mickey is asked to identify Jimmy’s body.

To Mickey’s surprise, the police request that Mickey come down to the morgue to identify Jimmy.  While I knew the writers explained that the break-up was very real, I was shocked that these two might be separated forever.  After seeing Jimmy’s wallet, Mickey takes a deep breath and is ready for them to unveil Jimmy’s body.  Luckily it is not Jimmy, even though Alba is convinced they are one in the same.  Mickey insists that they check his “ass” explaining that Jimmy has a burnt ass and that will absolutely shed some light on the confusion over the identity of the body.  Once it is determined that it is definitely not Jimmy, Ben requests that they take the man’s ashes so he can spread them out in the city, only he ends up consuming them, mistaking them for candy at the Hamilton show.

3

Chip tracks down his real father…at a strip club.

After his failed attempt with Mr. Buckley, Chip is hesitant about meeting his dad.  After some initial confusion and shock over the revelation, Chip’s dad seems actually happy about meeting his son.  While he is initially upset that his bouncers let in both Chip and Sabrina since they are underage, he then insists on taking Chip for a tour around the establishment, which ends with him seeing his office/bedroom.  Chip’s father confides in his son that he does have dreams and tells him that he wants to open up his own Strip Club in Florida one day.  While not the sharpest tool in the shed, it seems like Chip’s dad actually shares something with his son….including an inhaler for when he can’t breathe after screaming at a stripper to get out of his office.  While the reunion doesn’t lead to anything permanent, considering how his dad gets arrested at the end of the episode, perhaps Chip has now found the answers he was looking for.

2

Jimmy is back and has stolen Ben’s identity.

After Mickey is quite relieved that the body wasn’t Jimmy, they decide to visit the Pemberton penthouse and are confused when they find Jimmy dressed in a suit and eating shrimp galore.  To Mickey’s shock, Jimmy reveals that he has stolen the identity of young Ben so that he can get a job and impress his new bosses in the finance world.  While this seems too good to be true, Mickey has her suspicions about what is really going on.  After she witnesses Jimmy in action, she explains that it seems like he is more of a secretary, rather than a sales man and tries to push him down the fast track to promotion.  This plan back-fires, however; when she is convinced that they are pulling off a “boiler room” type of situation, scamming their clients out of money.  This leads to her calling the IRS and a bowl of Manhattan clam chowder pouring all over Jimmy, now burning his nuts to match with his already burnt ass.  While Mickey had good intentions, she shatters Jimmy’s new life and dreams.

1

“You won the break-up.”

Since Mickey bumped into Jimmy again, she has been obsessed with “winning the break-up.”  It seems like Jimmy has the perfect life without her and she is not about to lose at anything.  After the incident with the clam chowder, Mickey finally lets her walls down and tells Jimmy that he “won the break-up.”  She admits she made mistakes and is the reason why everything is not going well in his life.  Jimmy refuses to let her walk away and explains that he is the one who lost because he lost her.  Mickey asks Jimmy to come home and he agrees.  However, when he leans in for an epic and romantic kiss, Mickey turns this down because he smells like clams.  Either way, I was very excited to see them get back together, as there has been a void since Jimmy has left.  Welcome back Jimmy!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 8 episode 10: Fiona buys a chair

Happy Monday TV fans!  After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 8 episode 10 last night, I am left contemplating the Golden Rule, which says that you should “treat others the way you want to be treated.”  In other words, you need to be nice to others and do the right thing if you want the same in return.  However, what happens when you live by the Golden Rule and even go out of your way to do the right thing…only to get stomped on in return and sued for six million dollars?  Poor Fiona.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “Church of Gay Jesus,” Fiona is enjoying living on her own and attempts to pay it forward to a family in need.  Kev and V decide to coach Svetlana on how to find a rich husband, Debbie takes a night-time welding job which sounds “sketchy,” and Lip tries to deal with his grief.  Meanwhile, Ian embraces his new calling with open arms while Frank and Liam attempt to turn it into a new business scheme.  My top 5 moments from Shameless season 8 episode 10 are:

5

Lip attempts to deal with his grief.

When Lip decides to go check in on Professor Youens in jail, he is in for a horrible shock when he learns that he died that past week.  All of Lip’s emotions that had been bottled up for so long come rushing to the surface as he desperately tries to deal with his grief.  When Lip goes to Professor Youens’s home, he runs into his daughter there who tells him she’s got it handled.  Part of Lip’s diversion from drinking has involved his constant distractions to help those around him.  He returns home and tries to come up with the words to a truly representative eulogy and even crosses out the word “professor” and replaces it with “friend.”  As Lip listens to tons of students get up and tell similar stories about how Professor Youens was like a father to them or believed in them when no one else would, Lip crumples up the eulogy and walks out.  He releases all of his anger and takes it out on the motorcycle he has been working so hard on, unable to control the swirl of emotions rushing around inside him.  Later in the episode, Professor Youens’s daughter gives him an unfinished recommendation letter she found about Lip, revealing that he was “amazed by his mind.”  She offers to give the letter to Lip, thinking it may provide him with some sense of comfort, but Lip is still too angry to take it.  It seems like nothing is going right for Lip these days, but he still holds on to his sobriety in the face of everything he has had to deal with, becoming someone truly worthy of that recommendation letter.

4

“Hot Gay Jesus.”

Ian’s growing popularity has the Gallagher family stunned, as more and more followers come to the house just to hear Ian speak.  Fiona refers to it as a cult, but Cassidy reveals that he is more like a “Hot Gay Jesus,” sparking a business scheme in Frank’s unemployed head.  Frank and Liam begin selling tee-shirts to make a profit off of the “prophet” otherwise known as Ian.  Ian is unsure what to make of so many people coming out to hear him speak.  At the end of the episode, Fiona accompanies him to the church where seas of people are anxiously waiting for him.  Ian embraces his destiny and speaks out, realizing that he is making a difference.

3

Cassidy and Carl get married.

After Carl’s promise ring was misinterpreted as an engagement ring, his girlfriend, Cassidy, enthusiastically accepts.  She provides the Gallagher family with engagement presents and explains that she will be “the best effin wife,” cooking Carl dinner every night with an interesting dessert menu.  While it seems harmless at first, Cassidy then shows off her present for Carl, which is a vile of her own blood for him to carry around.  Channeling her inner Angelina Jolie, Cassidy insists that they carry each other’s blood around to be closer to one another.  When their wedding is delayed by a day, Carl begins to have second thoughts and his family members warn him that Cassidy is kind of “psycho.”  He reveals his doubts to her, hoping that their love can be enough for now.  However, Cassidy takes this to the extreme, refusing to not get what she wants.  Carl walks in to his love, Cassidy, hanging on a noose and rushes to her side.  While she explains it was more of a test for Carl, she reveals that all she wants is to get married.  Carl agrees and the two tie a very different kind of knot…fake ids and all.  Will Carl be able to have the first successful marriage of the Gallagher family?  Time will tell.

2

Kev and V try to coach Svetlana on how to secure a rich husband.

After setting up an online profile for Svetlana, Kev and V are horrified by her actions on her first date, which involve an outfit mostly covered in fish-net and ending in a punch in the face.  Kev and V try to “coach” Svetlana on “etiquette” and how to behave on a date, suggesting smiling as an easy first step.  “What is the point of smiling?” Svetlana asks, not falling for the bait.  Kev and V realize that their best hope of finding Svetlana a rich husband is to have her wear a microphone and earpiece so Kev can talk her through what to say.  Svetlana seems reluctant at first, but Kev reminds her that “this is spy shit.  It’s in your DNA!”  After the code words fail and Kev realizes he forgot to test the microphone, he is still confident that his words of wisdom will help Svetlana.  However, Svetlana takes off her ear piece and goes back to what she knows best…grabbing the man’s “goods” and seeing where this will take them.

1

Fiona buys a chair…and then gets sued.

Fiona is finally living on her own and even purchases a chair, revealing to Irish Ford that this is the first time she bought something she didn’t actually need.  When she notices the injured roofer and his wife and kids living out of a car, she wants to help them.  She secures a spot for them in a family shelter, but there is a two-day waiting period.  Fiona generously agrees to let the family stay in her apartment, while they wait, showing a lot of compassion and goodness.  Irish Ford and her grow closer and take their relationship to the next level, as he reveals that he has asked around about her and knows that she is a good person.  When Fiona returns to her apartment, she finds more family members squandering there and a stain on her brand new chair.  Fiona is starting to have second thoughts about her decision but takes a deep breath and reminds herself that they will be in the shelter soon.  At the end of the episode, Fiona is served and she discovers that the injured roofer is now suing her for six million dollars.  Fiona is beyond angry and realizes that doing the right thing doesn’t always guarantee that those you are helping will have the same good intentions.  It’s clear this man messed with the wrong Gallagher, but we will have to wait and see what Fiona does next.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Throw-back Sunday: Ranking the top 5 couples from “Beverly Hills, 90210”

Happy Sunday TV fans!  This past summer, I invested quite a bit of time into re-watching all 10 seasons of the original Beverly Hills, 90210 series and I have to say it was very entertaining.  I forgot how many episodes there were in some seasons especially when they had those special summer airings.  I dusted off my old DVD set and watched Brandon and Brenda Walsh tough it out in Beverly Hills, California, leaving their wholesome and normal lives back in Minnesota.

It’s been at least 6 years since I have watched the series, as I used to binge-watch a lot on Soapnet, but everything came flooding back to me from the instrumental theme song to the over-the-top drama between Brenda and Kelly.  Talk about paving the way for love triangles to come in later series!

After getting over the initial shock of how young everyone looked and watching them grow up all over again with drama never far behind, I started to think about some of my favorite couples on the series.  There are quite a few who had an undeniable connection even though some of them did not even last for the entirety of the series.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  My top five ships from Beverly Hills, 90210 are:

5

Dylan & Kelly.

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During the first watch of the series, I was shocked by the scandalous actions of Dylan and Kelly.  Brenda went off to study abroad with Donna in Paris, leaving her best friend and her boyfriend behind for the summer.  It seemed like nothing could break the bond between fan-favorites, Dylan and Brenda, but Kelly managed to come between the couple.  I shouldn’t blame Kelly entirely, as Dylan was absolutely at fault here too.  While the couple shares its ups and downs over time, some of their first moments together in the swimming pool and at the beach bonfire are beyond passionate.  However, they lacked the friendship that Brenda and Dylan shared in my opinion.

Either way, their secret relationship caused a major rift between both the relationship of Brenda and Dylan and the friendship between Kelly and Brenda.  When they finally come clean and tell Brenda the truth, her reaction is so real and heart-breaking.  She trusted her two friends and is shocked at their betrayal.

Over the years, Kelly and Dylan have on and off again relations and never really end up together.  However, at the end of the series they are seen gazing at each other during David and Donna’s wedding to imply that their relationship is not over.  In the remake of 90210, Kelly reveals that Dylan is the father of her child, but is still not with him in this future.   Guess it wasn’t meant to be after all.

4

Brandon & Kelly.

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Yes, Kelly does earn two spots in this ranking and it’s because there is such an undeniable love between Brandon and Kelly.  After my re-watch, I much preferred Brandon and Kelly together; as they seemed to balance each other out more and had more of that friendship I was looking for between Kelly and Dylan.

Kelly is familiar with betrayal and now turns the tables on Dylan to reveal her relationship with his best friend, Brandon.  While the betrayal does not have the same feeling of twisting the knife like with Brenda, it does hurt Dylan to see them together.  That being said, Dylan’s life is falling apart during this time and Kelly felt like she was drowning with him, descending further and further into his mess.

Brandon is very stable and charming, running for class office when they first meet.  It seems like Brandon will be the man to turn Kelly’s life around.  However, this couple deals with more drama and chaos than any other.  It is almost impossible for them to survive a fire, a cult, a drug addiction, a shooting, and a failed attempt to get married.   When you say that all out loud it seems very unlikely, but I promise this all happened to Kelly. While it doesn’t seem to be in the cards for Brandon and Kelly either, you can’t deny the love between these two characters.

3

Steve & Janet.

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After Steve’s long-term relationship with ended with fan-favorite, Clare, viewers were wondering if he would ever find another love to provide him with the voice of reason he so desperately needed.  Steve was always the “class clown” and stayed away from responsibility as if it were the plague.  When he started working with Janet, he didn’t initially realize his feelings for her.  They started a friendship first and eventually began dating.

Janet was perfect for Steve, almost becoming his moral compass, similar to Brandon.  When Janet announced she was pregnant, Steve’s entire life changed for the better.  He embraced his responsibility and married Janet to the delight of fans everywhere.  This couple probably had the closest thing to a “normal relationship” on the show and continued to prove their love for one another as the series went on.

2

David & Donna.

David and Donna 1 14

This list would not be complete without including David Silver and Donna Martin.  The couple began dating in high school and had a sweet and innocent quality.  One of my favorite scenes is when Donna stops worrying about what others think and announces to her friends at the dance that she is dating David with confidence and love.

Over the years, this couple goes through a lot of ups and downs.  Donna feels very strongly about staying a virgin to the disappointment of David.  Although he tries to support her as much as possible, an affair takes place that breaks them up for a long period of time.

Even when David and Donna are not together, they keep their friendship alive.  When Donna is attacked, David is the one who comes to her rescue and saves her.  Toward the end of the series, Donna and David finally accept their destiny to be together and get married at the end of the show.  Fans were delighted to see the happy ending between David and Donna.  The high-school sweethearts have not had it easy at all, but they reunite and promise to love one another forever.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one ship are:

  • David & Valerie
  • Steve & Clare
  • Brandon & Emily Valentine
  • Noah & Donna
  • Dylan & Toni

1

Dylan & Brenda.

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My number one ship has to go to Dylan and Brenda.  At the beginning of the series, their blossoming relationship is beautiful and real.  Brenda realizes that Dylan has a lot of baggage and a complicated life, but she doesn’t run away from it.  Rather, she runs toward him with open arms, revealing her strong feelings for him.  Even though they are in high school, Dylan and Brenda have a strong relationship filled with a lot of laughter and romance.

As they begin to get closer and closer, Brenda’s father attempts to intervene, fearing that his daughter is making bad decisions.  While this does take a toll on Dylan and Brenda’s relationship, they continue to tough it out together.  R.E.M’s song, “Losing My Religion,” is basically the anthem of Dylan and Brenda’s break-up and attempt to put the pieces back together.

After Kelly and Dylan have an affair, it seems like Brenda and Dylan will not end up together.  However, once Brenda leaves the show, the writers add in that Dylan and Brenda are living together in Europe, trying to give fans the happy ending they so desperately wanted between these two.

There was something so believable and undeniable between this ship, still holding the test of time.  Even when both characters were off the show, fans were still talking about them and rooting for them.

I hope you enjoyed my list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments about the ships on Beverly Hills, 90210.  Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@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!

Ranking the top 5 TV witches: “The power of 3 will set us free!”

Happy Friday TV viewers!  When you think of witches, what comes to mind?  Society has embraced the idea of the witch as an old hag with a wart, hooked nose, and pointy hat flying off on her broomstick, cackling across the night sky.  But to be honest, witches have so much more depth and character than this common stereotype.  Sure it may be fun to embrace the costume for Halloween, but what’s so great about witches is that they are a source of female empowerment.

They may possess magical abilities and can whip up a spell in the blink of an eye…or the wiggle of a nose, but what makes these women so intriguing is their humanity.  Some of my favorite witches on television desperately attempt to balance a “normal human life” with their calling and magical duties.  They want something more out of life and sometimes feel stifled by their magical responsibilities, feeling that it gets in the way of having true and meaningful relationships.

While they sometimes reveal their secrets to mortals, it is clear that being a witch is very complicated and not all it’s cracked up to be.  However, they sure do have some very cool magical powers that could come in handy now and again.  Please note some spoilers are ahead. 

My top 5 TV witches are:

5

Bonnie Bennett from The Vampire Diaries.

Bonnie 1 12

When you combine being a witch with being a teenage girl, things get beyond complicated.  Bonnie and her best friend, Elena, live in Mystic Falls where it seems like supernatural beings are creeping up behind every corner.  While the show focuses primarily on vampires, Bonnie’s witchcraft is a key component and an influential force.  When Bonnie discovers her powers as a witch and realizes that she comes from a very powerful line of witches in history, she has to confide her secret to her best friend.

One of my favorite scenes occurs when Bonnie and Elena are sitting on the bed and Bonnie closes her eyes and makes the pillow feathers float all around them.  Her powers are beautiful and mysterious, but as the series goes on, she becomes more and more powerful.  While she sometimes drains on magic and needs strength from those around her, Bonnie is the essence of good magic and is a great asset to Elena and the Salvatore vampires.

4

Zelena aka The Wicked Witch of the West from Once Upon a Time.

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There is clearly a lot of unlocked magic in the quiet town of Storybrooke, ranging from evil queens to saviors.  However, when something wicked comes their way, Zelena proves to be the witch you don’t want to mess with.  She embraces the green skin and looks absolutely fabulous.  We later learn that Zelena is Regina’s half-sister, which explains their connection and Zelena’s constant quest for revenge against her.  While Zelena does transform into a powerful ally later on, her snappy one-liners and her refusal to let others get in her way make her stand out in a crowd of fairy-tale villains and heroes, absolutely stealing the show.

Fans everywhere root for Zelena and desperately want her to get her own version of a happy ending.  In the most recent season, Regina goes off to find Zelena in San Francisco, when a new memory curse has been cast on our favorite characters.  In Zelena’s new life, she is actually a cycling instructor and even tells her class to “fly like monkeys,” keeping her humor and character alive.

3

Willow Rosenberg from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

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While the show focuses primarily on Buffy and her strength and powers as a vampire slayer, Willow gives up on a being a quiet nerd in the background and tries out witchcraft to help her best friend fight evil.  In the beginning, her powers seem harmless and involve floating pencils, which does come in handy when she actually uses it to stake a vampire.  As the series goes on, Willow becomes more and more powerful and has an unquenchable need to consume magic.

This dangerous consequence leads to her tapping into dark magic.  Willow even gives up using her witchcraft, recognizing that the addiction is hurting those around her.  When her love, Tara dies in her arms, there is no stopping her, however.  The dark magic pours into her, making her one of the most powerful and dangerous villains Buffy and the Scoobies have ever faced.  Luckily, Xander is able to bring her back to goodness, refusing to lose his best friend to evil.

2

Samantha Stephens from Bewitched.

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This list would not be complete without including one of the most famous television witches who paved the way for the rest to come.  I grew up watching re-runs of the show in black and white and was mesmerized by Samantha’s powers.  With the wiggle of her nose, she used her magic to even the score, proving to be very powerful.  Samantha had trouble balancing her life as a loving housewife with being a powerful witch, introducing the very concept of a witch looking for something more meaningful in life beyond magic.  While she loved her husband dearly, she didn’t want to just be labeled as a housewife, still holding on to her identity as a witch.  Samantha was absolutely a source of female empowerment, refusing to merely comply in a man’s world.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one pick for TV witches are:

  • Sabrina Spellman from “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”
  • Davina Claire from “The Originals”
  • Melisandre from “Game of Thrones”
  • Endora from “Bewitched”
  • Rowena from “Supernatural”
  • The Coven from “American Horror Story”
  • The Beauchamp family from “Witches of East End”

1

The Halliwell sisters from Charmed.

Charmed 1 12

So my number one pick has to go to the Halliwell sisters.  Prue, Piper, Phoebe, and Paige all possess amazing magical abilities and have a sisterly bond that cannot be broken by any evil that comes their way.  Charmed is one of my favorite series of all time and each sister possesses their own strength, but as the “power of 3,” they are unstoppable.  My favorite power belonged to Piper who could literally freeze time by putting her hands up.  What makes the Halliwell sisters so great is that they didn’t always know they had powers.  When their grandmother dies and they move back into their child-hood home, they release the power behind the “Book of Shadows,” reconstituting the power of 3.  At

this point in their lives, they are already dealing with finding love, finding a career, and dealing with the daily pros and cons of being a sister.  They are known as the most powerful witches of all time and many demons and evil beings try to defeat them.  When Prue is tragically killed off at the end of season 3, Paige Matthews steps in as their long-lost half-sister and has just as much power as the rest of them.  The sisterly bond continues and they deal with some really tough decisions.  On more than one occasion, the sisters have the opportunity to relinquish their powers and lead normal lives, but the Halliwell sisters embrace their destiny and understand that protecting the innocent isn’t just a job…it’s who they are.

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post your thoughts and comments below on some of your favorite TV witches.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Mick” season 2 episode 11: “The Trip.”

Happy Wednesday!  After watching Fox’s The Mick season 2 episode 11 last night, I am a little hesitant to ever borrow someone’s denim jacket again without truly understanding the consequences behind what lies in the pockets.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “The Trip,” Sabrina is feeling anxious and unsure about going to her Yale college interview and decides to take a “trip” to get there.  This plan backfires, however; when she finds herself trapped in a closet and calls Mickey to help get her out of there.  Meanwhile, Alba’s cousin visits her and she attempts to prove that she is still a maid living the American Dream and working hard in a “beautiful prison,” which causes her to enlist the unlikely help of Chip in the process.  My top 5 moments from The Mick season 2 episode 11 are:

5

Mickey explains the importance of going to college.

In the beginning of the episode, Sabrina explains that she is thinking about ditching her Yale interview, claiming that she is a legacy and the interview is really just a formality.  Mickey stresses the importance of going to the interview, as if she is invested in Sabrina’s future.  She then reveals her true agenda, however; admitting that shipping Sabrina off to college is the first step in her elaborate plan to get the house all to herself.  She allows Sabrina to borrow her denim jacket, hoping she will make the right decision, not realizing the consequences of this seemingly harmless gesture.

4

Alba pretends to be a maid again.

Ever since Mickey has moved in, Alba has pushed her duties as a maid aside, enjoying a life of leisure and relaxation.  This is all about to change, however; when she gets a call that her cousin from Guatemala is planning on visiting her.  Alba dusts off her maid’s uniform and attempts to prove to her cousin that she works very hard and that the American dream is not all it seems to be, desperately hoping that he won’t stay long enough to realize that this is all a lie.  Alba explains that coming to America and not working is shameful and she doesn’t want her family to disown her as a result of her new lifestyle.

3

Sabrina takes the acid she finds in Mickey’s denim jacket.

Sabrina goes on an unexpected “trip” after she takes the acid she finds in Mickey’s old denim jacket.  As a first-time user, she is having a hard time deciphering reality and locks herself in a closet in fear.  She calls Mickey in a panic, as her anxiety and self-doubt have now come screaming to the surface.  When Mickey tries to convince her to leave the closet and go out the door, Sabrina is horrified by this and says she would be going “through another door and another door without purpose,” unable to snap back into reality.  Luckily for Sabrina, Mickey is not about to abandon her in this state.

2

Alba enlists the help of Chip…and then turns the tables on him.

After Alba realizes that her cousin may see through the lie and learn that she is not a maid anymore, she comes up with a plan to have Chip give him a temporary job there and treat him poorly so he will not want to stay.  Alba forgets that her cousin’s work ethic is tremendous, however; accepting each new chore with eagerness.  Chip even begins pouring his cereal and milk all over the counter, counting down until Alba can find a bowl in time and her cousin jumps in to make the best of the situation to the surprise of Chip.  After Chip continues to go on and on about his gym story where he had to sit out because he bullied other kids, Alba sees the flaw in his story and turns the tables on him.  She calls the school, goes through his room, and finds out about the “incident in the boy’s locker room,” threatening to expose Chip’s secret that he puts a “wig on his penis.”  Chip backs down and fires Alba’s cousin in defeat, realizing that Alba is the one with all of the power after all.

1

Mickey takes acid with Sabrina to help break her out of the closet.

Once Mickey realizes that getting Sabrina out of the closet is harder than she initially anticipated, she decides that the best solution is to take acid with her so that they are both in the same state of mind.  They share an interesting escape through the empty school hallway, which erupts into chaos and confusion when the bell rings for next period, separating Mickey and Sabrina.  Mickey begins hearing voices and learns about the power of the school’s announcement system, coming up with a plan to leave a message for Sabrina so that they can meet up and find each other once again.  Just when they are about to escape, Sabrina decides to go to her Yale interview after all.  She finally comes to terms with the scary realization that she doesn’t know who she is yet but it’s the journey that is most important, now eager to take on her next adventure.  While she seems to impress the admissions representative from Yale, she does confuse him with her constant need to touch his sweater after each response.  Either way, Mickey has done her job as the “shepherd of self-revelation” and supports Sabrina through her uncertainty about the next chapter of her life.  While Mickey’s methods are unconventional, her heart is in the right place and she ultimately helps Sabrina.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 8 episode 9: “Yes Team Fiona!”

Happy Monday TV fans!  After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 8 episode 9 last night, I am left with the saying that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” and that past mistakes should not be repeated.  The Gallagher family quickly forgets this advice, however; when they come to the realization that they are not so great at keeping relationships and are determined to make a change.   Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “The Fugees,” Fiona goes out with literally a bowling team of Irish Ford’s exes, Ian uses his YouTube fame to make a difference in the church and save a life, and Debbie enlists the help of a dog named, Toto.  Not the Toto you are thinking of.  Although I suppose she does find her own version of the yellow brick road paved with drugs to help her pay her welding tuition bill.  Meanwhile, Lip is unable to put his past feelings aside for Sierra and gets stuck in the middle of a disaster of a love triangle, while Svetlana has a blast from her past as well.  My top 5 moments from Shameless season 8 episode 9 are:

5

Frank makes it back to the USA.

It seems like everything is going well with Frank’s new business venture to illegally transport people across the Canadian border until he gets cornered by the “Royal Canadian Mountain Police.”  While he is riding in the police car, he even jokes that they actually do wear those hats and that he “thought that was only in cartoons,” to the disapproval of the police.  Luckily, Frank is able to escape his dilemma and goes on an adventure of his own to make it back safe and sound to the states.  He knows he has arrived home safely when he spots a Costco, thrilled to embrace discount detergent with open arms.

4

Kev comes to the realization that “dominance is in his DNA” while Svetlana gets an unexpected visitor.

Kev or “Sir Kev,” or wait just “Sir,” as he wants to be called is still holding on to his new-found power of dominance, refusing to back down from it now.  He explains to V that it was previously in “hibernation like a baby bear,” but now there is “no more Mr. Nice Guy.”  V decides that his dominance could best be used to convince Svetlana to wear a new dress code, which he enforces to her enjoyment.  “Dominance…boom.”  Even though Svetlana is covering up her “tatas,” she still rocks some seriously fashionable glasses.  Svetlana gets an unexpected visit from a woman she had helped smuggle into the country, which she previously referred to as a “bottom feeder,” only to get a slap of reality, realizing that the “bottom feeder” now has the American Dream she so desperately wanted.  Svetlana is horrified at her own circumstances, wondering if she made the right choices for herself.  Something tells me that Svetlana is not about to let anyone step on her, however.

3

Debbie befriends a dog named, Toto.

To make some extra cash for Welding school tuition, Debbie takes on a job watching someone’s dog.  The adorable dog, Toto, has a unique set of skills that Debbie was not expecting, however.  At first, Debbie thinks the dog has a problem with everyone when he continues to bark randomly, as if alerting her to something.  After Debbie witnesses a drug-bust and finds the product, she realizes that Toto must have been a “drug dog” in the past.  She quickly enlists his help as her new “drug supplier” to obtain the money she needs to go to school.  Perhaps Frank should take some advice from his youngest daughter on how to successfully pull off a business scheme, although it could back-fire as well.

2

Fiona goes bowling.

After getting some mixed signals from Irish Ford, Fiona is not sure what to expect from him.  When he invites her to hang out, she hesitantly accepts, not sure what she is in for.  She quickly discovers she is hanging out with a bunch of Ford’s exes at a bowling alley.  When they ask her what she typically averages in bowling, she admits “I have no idea.”  Things are looking up, when she does a decent job and screams out, “Yes Team Fiona!”  No one is really paying attention, but the important thing is that Fiona is actually having a good time.  Later in the episode, Fiona feels the familiar reaction of confusion and mixed signals coming her way, revealing to Ford that she is an “amazing effin catch.”  Irish Ford appears to agree, kissing her at the end of the episode, putting aside Fiona’s doubts for now.  Is this the start of a solid relationship for Fiona?

1

Carl is getting married…

Carl’s girlfriend, Cassidy, starts out the episode making a video scrapbook for her beloved, not wanting him to abandon her and ship off to military school.  Seems like a sweet idea, until she begins adding in some tasteless photos of her and some interesting recordings.  Carl seeks out some advice from Kev and the guys on what to do, realizing that he needs to prove his commitment to Cassidy.  Unlike most girls, Cassidy has an interesting perspective on love.  She thinks of their “boning” as “uniting our souls” and tells Carl that he is “mutilating her effin heart” when she is convinced there will be tons of girls at military school, even though he repeatedly explains there are literally no women at the school.  Carl takes the plunge and purchases a promise ring, staging a romantic re-creation of the day they first met…handcuffs and all.  The sentiment is actually quite sweet, until Cassidy mistakes it for a marriage proposal and eagerly shrieks “yes!” How is Carl going to get out of this one?  Is he actually going to marry Cassidy?  We’ll have to stay tuned to find out, but it’s clear the adventure is not over yet.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments on Shameless below.  Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@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!