Tag: evil

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Ash vs Evil Dead” season 3 episode 4: No Boys Allowed

Happy Monday TV fans!  After watching Starz’s Ash vs Evil Dead season 3 episode 4 last night, I think it’s about time that Brandy bonded with someone other than Ash, her dead grandpa, or the queen of hell.  After all, this poor girl needs a break.  While Kelly is an excellent choice for this, it’s clear that they will not be braiding each other’s hair anytime soon.  Rather, they will need to team up to keep the forces of evil from ripping them to shreds.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.  In last night’s episode, “Unfinished Business,” Ash’s dad returns from the dead…again, but this time there are some good intentions behind it.  Meanwhile, Kelly and Brandy get attacked by a demon Pablo, Ruby learns that the Knights of Sumeria have surfaced again, and Ash finds out about the lost pages from “The Book of the Dead” before stumbling upon an unexpected bundle of…well maybe not joy.  My top 5 moments from Ash vs Evil Dead season 3 episode 4 are:

5

Ash’s dad is back…again.

After using his chainsaw to rip his already dead dad to pieces in front of poor Brandy, Ash’s dad returns again, but this time as a ghost.  Ash is more tolerable this time since the ghost is not influenced by Ruby and tells his dad “it’s nice to see you even though I’m looking through you.”  Ash’s dad always wanted to be a ghost and it looks like his dream has finally come true.  He reveals that he has returned to show Ash something important and proceeds to take him on a journey to his past memories.  Ash seems confused at first and his dad comically asks, “haven’t you seen It’s a Wonderful Life?”  While the memory reveals that his dad had the best intentions to protect Ash from harm, it shows him something even more important:  a Knight of Sumeria who possessed the lost pages of “The Book of the Dead,” which could be the key to Ash destroying all evil.

4

Ruby tries to get Dalton to talk.

Ruby is not pleased to learn that the Knights of Sumeria have re-surfaced and immediately recognizes the threat that they could bring.  She tracks down Dalton who is a deadite now and temporarily pushes away the evil so that she can get information from him.  Ruby demands to know where the rift is that contains the lost pages, but Dalton is not about to betray his calling or his friends.  He lets her know that they have the Kandarian dagger and will use it against her, right before blowing off his own head in a valiant, but really gruesome way to protect his friends.  Farewell new guy. 

3

“If you’re a deadite I’m in no fucking mood.”

Kelly proves once again why she is so bad-ass and amazing when she comes across Brandy, who is in desperate need of some female guidance.  After Brandy begins to whine about everything that has happened, Kelly cuts her off and says “hold up Daria.”  Kelly provides Brandy with a much needed reality check and tries to set her straight on Ash and Ruby.  While Kelly is a little rough around the edges at first, she does confide in Brandy about her own loss and tries to help her through it.  Unfortunately their female bonding is cut short when a demon Pablo jumps on the truck to attack them.  What’s the perfect background music for this violent attack?  You guessed it…Air Supply’s “All Out Of Love,” which really sets the mood for some serious ass-kicking.  Brandy and Kelly lock themselves up in Ash’s trailer, but Pablo continues to try and get in to retrieve the Kandarian dagger.  Pablo will stop at nothing to get in, which includes trying to wedge his way through Kelly’s open gash on her leg.  Talk about thinking outside of the box.

2

Ash learns about the lost pages from “The Book of the Dead.”

After re-visiting the past with his ghost dad, Ash decides that they need to return to the hardware cellar in present time to see if the lost pages are still there.  They discover a corpse that has been down there for way too long surrounded by empty cans of spam.  Ash’s ghost dad seems displeased by this, but Ash tries to remind him that the Knight of Sumeria was literally trying to survive since his dad locked him in a basement.  Ash comes across some type of hidden portal or rift in the wall and even sees Brandy’s friend Rachel.  While Ash desperately tries to put the pieces together, he gets attacked through the rift and has to put his chainsaw to work.  Ash’s dad has served his purpose and somewhat attempts to have a heart-to-heart moment with his son when he tells him that he will be a good father.  However, this moment is short-lived when Ash questions it and he admits “well not really.”  Either way, it appears that his dad has proven to be quite helpful, revealing the lost pages to Ash that could ultimately save the day.

1

Ash comes face to face with his demon offspring.

Ash tries to bring the fight right to Ruby and is surprised to find a woman chained up singing a lullaby in overwhelming fear.  Ash comes face to face with his demon offspring, although he doesn’t realize this just yet.  The woman begins to freak out and Ash tries to calm her down by telling her that he’s just sucking his thumb.  He quickly realizes that he is sucking someone else’s thumb and says, “ok that’s a choking hazard.”  Ash tries to get the woman out of there and tells her that he’s dealt with kids like this before just as the demon baby opens his mouth full of razor sharp teeth and the lights go out.  Even Ash is out of ideas here when he asks “what’s Norway for up shit creek?”  Will Ash be able to escape unharmed?  Is there still hope for Pablo?  Stay tuned for some more Ashy Slashy fun!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Ash vs Evil Dead” season 3 episode 2: “I need a Por Favor”

Happy Monday TV fans!  After watching Starz’s Ash vs Evil Dead season 3 episode 2 last night, I think it’s important to remember what’s truly important in terms of fatherhood.  While bonding and swapping stories may seem like the right play, perhaps filtering them for what’s appropriate might come in handy…. unless you are Ash Williams that is.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.  In last night’s episode, “Booth Three,” Ash is having some trouble connecting with his daughter, Brandy.  While he desperately tries to be a “cool dad,” it looks like he will have to find something more meaningful to connect to her on.  Meanwhile, Ruby has set her sights on Brandy and is posing as the school’s guidance counselor, Pablo is hearing voices, Dalton reveals he is gluten free, and Ash gets into a sticky predicament at the sperm bank.  My top 5 moments from Ash vs Evil Dead season 3 episode 2 are:

5

Pablo is hearing voices.

The ancient text from “The Book of the Dead” is back and insists on re-surfacing on Pablo’s body.  While it seems like it is merely causing him some discomfort at first, the side-effects are getting worse.  Pablo begins hearing voices and even hallucinates about a naked woman in a mask.  She warns him that only his uncle’s magic can save him, but will Pablo take her advice?  Kelly refuses to believe that Pablo’s soul is in mortal danger, despite the warning from Dalton.  She knows that Pablo can fight it and is nothing but good, but Dalton thinks he could still go demon.  Either “he kills us or we kill him.”  Perhaps there is a happy medium between all of the killing that Kelly can come up with to save her best friend.

4

Ash teaches the gang about “Multi-tasking.”

After listening to Dalton provide some history on the “demon woman of fire,” which is clearly Ruby, we learn about his role in protecting the prophesied one.  Ash has heard enough, however; and expresses his gratitude to Dalton:  “thanks for the scoop poindexter.”  Ash has a lot on his mind with dealing with the threat of evil and accepting his new role as a father so he suggests that they “gotta do that thing when you’re driving in a car putting on deodorant…what’s that called?”  Oh right…multi-tasking.  While it seems like a good enough suggestion, will Ash be too distracted to handle the deadites heading his way?

3

Ruby has a career change.

In the beginning of the episode, we learn that Ash’s daughter, Brandy’s guidance counselor has been trying to reach her, which seems innocent enough.  However, we quickly learn that Mrs. Prevett is Ruby in disguise.  She eagerly comforts Brandy while pressing her for information, but what does she want with Ash’s daughter?  Well after giving birth to a baby from “The Book of the Dead” that will literally eat your face off, she is ready for her child to grow up to be the new prophesied one and must eliminate Ash and his seed, Brandy in order for this to happen.  We learn that her baby was “born from the image of Ash but will be nothing like him,” so it looks like Ash will need to get this fatherhood thing down quickly if he’s going to be ready.

2

“I’m one of those cool dads like you see in the movies.”

Brandy doesn’t really seem to be buying into Ash’s “cool dad” act too much especially after losing her mother and her best friend in such a violent and horrible way.  Ash decides to try and bond with Brandy, which seems like the right call, until he goes into specific details about his sexcapades with her mom, forcing poor Brandy to tune out Ashy Slashy with the radio.  It is going to take some time for Brandy to accept Ash into her heart, but hopefully she will trust her father enough to protect her from the forces of evil.

1

“That is a long sad story.”

Ash pays his favorite sperm bank a visit and requests “Booth Three,” but comes to the realization that someone else might be using his sperm and that he could have a whole football team of Williams kids ready to knock down his door and ruin his life.  He requests a “por favor” and asks if anyone has used his sperm which is against the law.  Luckily for Ash, he has brought a 20 percent off coupon to his store.  After compromising on 30 percent off, Ash is in business.  He takes this opportunity to occupy Booth Three with one of his favorite dirty magazines, but things go horribly wrong when evil bursts in and Ash literally gets attacked by the woman in his magazine.  While the deadites are clearly after Ash’s sperm to destroy any future threats, Ash’s fantasy quickly becomes a nightmare.  Right before he shoves the magazine in a drawer the woman screams that “I’m not finished yet,” and Ash teaches her a valuable lesson when he explains “that’s what they all say baby.”  While this all happens before Ash can obtain the information he needs, it’s apparent that Ruby is behind this, clearing the way for her own baby to rule the world and destroy everything and everyone in its path.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments on Ash vs Evil Dead 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!

Throw-back Sunday: Ranking the top 5 villains from “Charmed”

It’s Throw-Back Sunday TV Fans!  For today, I have returned to one of my old favorites, Charmed, as I am currently on the last season of my re-watch.  The Halliwell sisters are always fun to watch and truly know how to protect their innocents from the forces of evil with good magic.  Even though most of their everyday foes are easily conquered with a Power of 3 spell, there are some villains on the show who just won’t go away…no matter how many times they vanquish them.

These villains become worthy opponents who continue to threaten the sisters over the seasons, trying desperately to bring down the infamous Charmed Ones.  While some villains are just completely terrifying, others take the time for a well-thought out pun, while others are tormented by the darkness that continues to incessantly creep in, wiping out any goodness that may be inside.

Either way, these villains have paved their way into my top 5, refusing to sit back and let good conquer evil.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the series yet.

My top 5 villains from Charmed are:

5

Christy Jenkins

In the final season of Charmed, we are introduced to the character of Billie, who is a young witch eager to take on demons and excited to have the Charmed Ones as her mentors.  We find out that Billie has a complicated past, however; and has unresolved memories about her older sister, Christy being kidnapped by a demon when they were children.  We later learn that former villains, The Triad, are responsible for this and have been training and raising Christy to be an unstoppable force of evil.

The Triad anticipated that sister witches could be the ultimate power to take down the Charmed Ones.  Christy initially pretends to be good to lure Billie to her side, but her childhood and innocence were corrupted long ago when she was taken, as she is unable to step away from the darkness.  Billie has to ultimately kill her sister in an act of defense, which is unbelievably heart-breaking.

The very idea of putting sisters against sisters is a genius move of the Triad, but they are unable to predict that Billie’s goodness combined with the Halliwell sisters is too powerful for evil to tip the scale.

4

Zankou

An upper level demon who is after great power, Zankou initially appears to be on the side of the Charmed Ones, when he teams up with them and Agent Brody to stop the Avatars.  He bids the Charmed Ones adieu, but they know this is not the last they will see of him.  Zankou begins to re-organize the underworld in an attempt to steal the power from the Nexus, which is beneath the Halliwell manor.

He also tries to obtain the Book of Shadows, which he successfully manages to steal.  Zankou stands out from other demons because he learns to anticipate their humanity, which so many other demons have failed to do in the past.  He spies on them in their home and even reads Piper’s diary to get the full inside scoop on the Charmed Ones and their human emotions giving the term “know thy enemy” new meaning.   This comes in handy later on when he causes the sisters to shake their bond, making the book and them vulnerable in the process.

Ultimately, the Charmed Ones are able to defeat Zankou by tricking him into absorbing the power of the Nexus so that they can cast a spell to destroy it and everything else in their path, causing the Charmed Ones to fake their own deaths in the process.

3

The Source

The Source is probably one of the scariest demons I have ever seen on Charmed.  He initially cloaks his face with a dark hood, but later reveals his half-face which had been mutilated from his many battles in the past.  The Source is the big bad that has been mentioned since the beginning of Charmed.  Even Rex, Prue’s demonic boss, mentions that he won’t be pleased without revealing his name.

The Source is always after power and is no longer interested in sharing a balance between good and evil.  He even takes in the power of the Hollow, which is forbidden, to try and kill the Charmed ones.  The Source is also responsible for the death of the oldest Halliwell sister, Prue.  His demon for hire, Shax is the one who kills her, shattering the lives of the Halliwell family.  Later, he tries to corrupt Paige to his side, but he is no match for the power of family and love.

Even though The Source is beyond scary, he does take a few moments to toy with his enemy, taunting the sisters to “say hello to Prue for him.”  However, this only enrages the sisters even further, using the magic of their entire ancestry line to stop him.

2

Barbas aka The Demon of Fear

Barbas first appeared in season one in one of my favorite episodes of all time where he appears on Friday the 13th to take out 13 witches to free himself.  He reads the fears of his victims and then uses that fear against them, causing them to die from what looks like a heart attack, as their hair turns completely white from the panic and fear.  The victims truly believe that their fear is coming to life, which makes him a very dangerous demon to say the least.

Barbas targets the Charmed Ones and comes very close to killing Prue, preying on her fear of drowning.  However, Prue is able to overcome her fear with love.  Barbas is banished as he is unable to obtain the 13 witches he needs for freedom but he is never gone for good.  Barbas has appeared as a recurring demon over the seasons, teaming up with other forces of evil to bring down the Charmed Ones.  When the Charmed Ones go on trial, he leads the prosecution, bringing up evidence against the Charmed Ones in quite the compelling argument.

When the Charmed Ones get trapped in a parallel world where everything evil is good, they have to go to Barbas as the source of all good to help them.  He is clearly one of the toughest enemies for the Charmed Ones and he is quite entertaining as well in the process.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one pick are:

  • Inspector Rodriguez
  • Bane
  • Shax
  • The Woogyman
  • Gideon
  • Evil Wyatt
  • Evil Charmed Ones
  • The Seer
  • The Triad
  • Agent Jackman

1

Cole Turner

It should be no surprise that my favorite villain has to be Cole Turner.  Cole first appears on Charmed in season 3 and is the love interest of Phoebe.  Cole reveals that he is half-demon and half-human, which causes quite the internal conflict.  His demon-side, Belthazor is an upper-level demon who is absolutely terrifying.  However, his human side is tall, dark, and handsome, proving to be quite the charmer and an excellent lawyer.

Later in the series, Cole becomes the source of all evil, taking in the hollow to protect Phoebe and her sisters from the original source.  When the sisters ask what happened to the powers of the source, the Seer says “into the void” with a knowing smile, as her plan to make Cole the new source has sprung into action.  Cole cannot control the powers of the source but he refuses to give up Phoebe in the process, his love remaining true to her.  He even corrupts Phoebe to darkness, tricking her into a dark wedding and impregnating her with the spawn of Satan.

The Charmed Ones are able to vanquish Cole but one learns that he is never gone for too long.  Cole remains trapped in limbo, collecting powers of vanquished demons along the way to become an even greater threat with more powers than the sisters thought possible.  Through it all, Cole tries to continue to change for Phoebe and hold on to their love, but he ends up being his own worst enemy.  In an effort to change his fate and be with Phoebe, he tries to create a new world and goes back in time.  This plan back-fires, however; as he is now in a time when it was possible for him to be vanquished as Belthazor.

Cole is vanquished on his 118th birthday in the 100th episode of Charmed and it seems like this one is for good.  He makes a special appearance when Piper is trapped in limbo later on in season 7, however.  Cole comes to her rescue and even sends Drake to Phoebe, to remind her about the importance of loving again, even though he will always be loving her just a little out of reach.

Either way, Cole is my favorite villain of all time on the series, proving that villains can find love too.  Unfortunately for Cole, his own inner-conflict and pride get in the way, preventing him from ever finding the happy ending he so desperately wanted for him and Phoebe.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to share some of your own thoughts and comments on your favorite villains from Charmed.  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!

“Charmed” is Back for a Reboot! Ranking the top 5 couples from the original “Charmed.”

Happy Wednesday TV fans!  I have been recently re-watching one of my favorite television series of all time, Charmed for the 7th time through and I was very interested to find out that the CW has requested a pilot order for the reboot of the show.  It has been about 20 years since the show premiered and ran for 8 seasons with the magical Halliwell sisters portrayed by Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs, Rose McGowan, and Shannen Doherty.  Holly Marie Combs is openly opposed to the reboot but Shannen Doherty is trying to stay positive.  It’s understandable for there to be controversy around the reboot, as the original story and characters can never be replaced.

The original Halliwell sisters of Charmed still represent strong female characters to look up to and root for even re-watching today.  That can never be replaced, but it would be exciting to see something similar for the new generation and something nostalgic for the rest of us who remember the series so well.  90210 had a reboot years later and even had special appearances by the show’s original cast, but it still doesn’t hold a candle to the original series and never will.  Other shows featuring TV witches such as The Secret Circle and Witches of East End didn’t last for very long airing after Charmed was off the air so it’s hard to predict if the reboot will be able to have a successful run.

Similar to the spinoff proposed series of Wayward Sisters from Supernatural, the Charmed reboot has a real chance to capture an audience in desperate need of strong and smart female leads who can save the day from demons and deal with everyday problems.  While I don’t know much about the pilot, it doesn’t seem like it will follow the lives of the next generation of Charmed ones, but may be set on a college campus with three new witches coming to power.  Either way, I am all for giving the show a chance.  How about you?

The attention around the Charmed reboot sparked my interest in discussing some of my favorite moments, episodes, characters, villains, and ships.  For today, I will be discussing the most memorable couples/ships from the series.  While some couples on the show do find their fairy-tale happy ending, others end a passionate bond in tragedy, breaking the hearts of our beloved Halliwell heroines along the way.  Either way, their love was inspiring, fiery, and memorable.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. 

My top five ships from Charmed are:

5

Paige & Kyle aka Agent Brody.

Kyle and Paige 1 30

When Paige is introduced as the half-sister of Piper and Phoebe in season 4, she has to learn about her powers and new destiny very quickly to keep up with the rest of the Charmed ones.  Paige steps into the role of the third sister seamlessly and really captures the sisterly bond, but her ultimate destiny focuses more on helping others through Magic School rather than on a romantic relationship.

Paige does have her share of relationships over the seasons, but the most memorable one for her would be with Kyle aka Agent Brody.  Portrayed by the charming Kerr Smith, Kyle came to the sisters seeking revenge on the new big bad, The Avatars, who he believes are responsible for the death of his parents.  Paige and Kyle instantly have a spark and move quickly into a romantic relationship.

One of my favorite moments is when they get trapped in a 1930’s novel set in black and white and need to solve a mystery to get back.  They embrace the world, costumes and all, and end with a very passionate kiss, letting fans know that this is the start of something lasting for sure.  Sadly, Kyle’s quest to take down the Avatars leads to his untimely death, separating him from his love, Paige.  While Kyle does become a white lighter and implies that they may see each other again, the series ends without them together, as Paige finds love with Henry instead.

4

Prue & Andy.

Prue and Andy 1 30

In the first season of the show, Prue is handling a lot.  She moves back in with her sisters, basically has to represent the mother-figure as the oldest sister, gets attacked at her new job, and is reunited with her childhood sweetheart, Andy.  As if that isn’t enough, Andy is an Inspector for the police and is desperately trying to figure out why Prue is connected to so many of his unresolved cases.

Prue’s love for Andy is pure and true, but she tries to keep her distance from him to protect him.  When Prue thinks that she may be able to trust Andy with her secret of being a witch, she casts a truth spell that lasts for 24 hours.  To her dismay, Andy reveals that he would not be able to continue a relationship with her.  At the end of the season, Andy sacrifices himself to protect Prue and her sisters.

Prue has a fleeting moment with him in limbo before he is gone forever and it’s now clear that he would have accepted Prue completely, secret and all.  He just needed more time to fully process what she shared, which is completely understandable.  Sadly for Prue, she has to say goodbye to Andy forever and is never really able to find anyone as worthy again.

3

Phoebe & Coop.

Phoebe and Coop 1 30

Out of all of the Halliwell sisters, Phoebe has gone through the most relationships.  Toward the end of the series, fans were wondering who she would ultimately end up with and immediately spot the romantic tension between her and Cupid, Coop.  Coop is there to lead the way for Phoebe to open her heart again and find love; only he ends up falling in love with her in the process.

Coop is funny and charming and is really the only worthy candidate for Phoebe to end up with since Cole is gone forever.  While they don’t necessarily have the same passion she had with Cole, Phoebe does learn to truly open her heart again with Coop and finally get the family she has been dreaming of.

2

Phoebe & Cole.

Phoebe and Cole 1 30

This list would not be complete without including Phoebe and Cole.  Cole is introduced in season 3 and is a demon who is half-human.  While he initially tries to use his budding relationship with Phoebe to worm his way into the house to steal the Book of Shadows, Cole falls deeply in love with Phoebe, jeopardizing his cover and bringing his humanity to the surface.

Phoebe and Cole’s love is the most passionate on the show.  They have this almost magnetic pull toward one another, which does lead to some rocky moments, however.  Cole eventually becomes the source of all evil, even luring Phoebe to darkness for a while, but his love for her never fades.  It seems like Cole has been vanquished several times, but he always finds a way to return, holding on to the hope that he can be with Phoebe.

When he is finally vanquished for good, Phoebe says that maybe “it wasn’t meant to be.”  However, fans still cling to the idea of Phoebe and Cole ending up together.  The downfall of Cole was too much, however; leading to his demise, but their connection to one another has always been undeniable.  Cole leaves a goodbye letter for Phoebe that reads:

Dear Phoebe, 
If I’m dead right now, 
I know it was at your 
hand. No one else in 
heaven or hell had 
Power over me. Please, 
don’t cry. I was dead 
Before I met you. I was 
Born the day you loved 
me. And my love for you 
will keep me alive… 
Forever 
Love, 
Cole 

This letter is one of the most resonating moments for me on Charmed.  Cole brought new life into the show and was one of my absolute favorite characters.  While being one of the greatest villains for the Halliwell sisters, he is Phoebe’s ultimate weakness.  Even when they were apart, Phoebe knew that she may never love anyone the same way again.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one ship are:

  • Paige & Henry
  • Prue & Bane
  • Phoebe & Jason
  • Piper & Dan
  • Prue & Jack

1

Piper & Leo.

Piper and Leo 1 30.jpg

My number one ship has to go to Piper and Leo as if there was any doubt!  At the beginning of the series, their blossoming relationship is charming and real.  Phoebe even initially competes with Piper to win Leo’s affection, but it’s always been clear where Leo’s heart lies.  As Piper’s white lighter, it is forbidden for them to be together, but they cannot deny their connection.

Piper and Leo have been through so much together and Leo is even ripped away from her during their first attempt at a wedding.  Ultimately, Piper and Leo are meant for each other.  However, they go through quite a lot on the way and are tested constantly.  Piper and Leo have two beautiful sons, Wyatt and Chris, and form a beautiful family together, constantly trying to keep this priority above all others.

While Piper is known for her quick temper, Leo balances her out and always keeps her calm.  When they are apart, it’s truly heartbreaking, as fans recognize the selfless love these two have for one another.  Piper and Leo do get their happy ending and keep their friendship and love strong in the process.  There is something so believable and undeniable between Piper and Leo, still holding the test of time and reminding us what true love is all about.

I hope you enjoyed my list and feel free to post your own comments and thoughts about the ships on Charmed along with your thoughts on the new reboot.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 siblings from television: Family is where the heart is.

As we are in the midst of the holiday season, it’s a time to re-connect with family and remember what’s truly important in life.  Many of us have an unspoken bond with our siblings, whether it is inside jokes or a similar laugh, which is natural when you have all grown up together and faced many of the same challenges and shared similar memories.  This really got me thinking about siblings on television and how difficult it must be to create that connection instantly.  The actors on these shows already have the complicated task of portraying their roles and diving deep into what makes that particular character tick.  However, when you also need to add on a believable and real connection as siblings, this becomes even more difficult to capture.  For today’s topic, I am going to be ranking my top 5 siblings from television.  The siblings I chose are not just cast well.  Rather, they become so believable as siblings that I have to bring up Wikipedia on my phone just to double check that the actors are not related.  Please note spoilers are ahead.  My top 5 siblings from television are:

5

Brandon and Brenda Walsh from Beverly Hills, 90210.

The Minnesota Twins!

Who could forget when twins, Brandon and Brenda Walsh move from Minnesota all the way to glamorous Beverly Hills, California.  While the twins quickly realize that West Beverly High is not like any other high school they have ever seen, they fast-track into a superficial bubble where they are faced with difficult decisions.  Luckily, the twins have each other to support one another.  Some of my favorite moments on the show are when Brandon or Brenda would make a huge mistake and they would end up meeting in their Jack and Jill bathroom, relieved to see their other half so they could confide in them.  Brandon and Brenda share quite a bit of fights along the way and introduce new friends like Kelly and Dylan into the mix, but there is something about their bond as siblings that is wholesome and unbreakable.  Fans were disappointed when Brenda left the show, wondering where that would leave Brandon now that his beloved sister was gone.  While Brandon still kept viewers hooked with his charm and good sense of right and wrong, the earlier episodes with the Walsh twins had something truly special that could not be so easily replaced even with new cast members.

4

Fiona, Lip, Ian, Debbie, Carl, and Liam Gallagher from Shameless.

“Hey, sometimes life throws a couple swings at you. But we’re Gallaghers, okay? And there’s two things that we’re really good at:  knowing how to get back up, and knowing how to party.” (Shameless)

This list would not be complete without the Gallagher siblings we have watched grow up over the years.  Fiona has the difficult task of taking care of her five younger siblings since their parents are rarely present…and when they are it’s like they are children too.  While this forced Fiona to grow up very quickly, she has always made it clear that family comes first.  The Gallagher siblings may appear to be a group of untamed misfits, but at the end of the day they are truly there for one another.  The family faces many problems over the seasons ranging from losing their house to Fiona winding up in jail.  When Fiona was not around, Lip and the others recognized that they now needed to step up.  Whether that meant collecting money in a jar for the electric bill or making sure that Liam was actually fed breakfast, the siblings are forced to grow up fast in a world that seems to be against them, but they are resilient and strong.

3

Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows from Prison Break.

“I’m breaking out, and you’re going to make sure my brother goes with me.” (Michael from Prison Break)

How many of us would tattoo our entire bodies with the blueprints of a prison and commit a crime so that you could help break your brother out of prison?  Seems extreme, right?  But Michael Scofield is a genius and will not stop until he frees his brother, recognizing that his brother was framed for a crime that he didn’t commit.  While this show keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with each new challenge that gets in the way of the escape, what keeps you coming back for more is the undeniable connection between Michael and Lincoln.  Lincoln is the older brother and used to take care of Michael when he was younger.  Michael feels like he owes him and has guilt about turning his back on him previously when he asked for help.  He sacrifices everything to help him escape, redefining what unconditional love means in the process.  Michael and Lincoln always have each other’s backs and their physical resemblance is uncanny.  Even though they are not related, I found myself repeatedly searching online to see if perhaps they were distant cousins to no avail.

2

The Halliwell Sisters from Charmed.

“The power of 3 will set us free!” (Charmed)

Charmed has always been a guilty pleasure of mine.  I always enjoy watching shows that feature a supernatural premise, but this series goes beyond that.  The sisterly bond between Prue, Piper, and Phoebe Halliwell is so heart-warming that you truly believe they are sisters.  In moments where one of the sisters faces an unstoppable evil or comes close to death, their heart-breaking tears even get me crying.  Through all of the evil monsters and demons they face as witches, they take the time to bond and fight over things normal sisters would, such as trying to stealing the other one’s boyfriend or remembering to ask before borrowing a favorite outfit.  This light comedy combined with some intense drama and action along the way makes this show truly unique.  Much like 90210, Shannen Doherty left the show, which had fans wondering how Prue could ever be replaced.  You couldn’t just recast her because the sisterly bond is what captured so many viewers.  Fans would have been put off if they just tried to pretend like another actress was the oldest sister. The producers and writers were smart enough to add in a new story-line where Piper and Phoebe discover that they have a half-sister they never knew about previously who could help re-establish the power of 3.  Whether you were on board with this or not, Paige stepped in seamlessly to fill the void Prue left and the sisterly bond continued to stay strong.

1

Dean and Sam Winchester from Supernatural.

“You saved my life over and over.  I mean, you sacrifice everything for me, don’t you think I’d do the same thing for you?  You’re my big brother.  There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”  (Sam from Supernatural)

So my number one pick for best siblings on television has to go to my favorite brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester.  The series has lasted for 13 seasons and is still going strong.  Like Charmed, this show features a supernatural premise…hence the title.  Sam and Dean are forced to grow up quickly when their mother dies when they are young and they follow in the shadow of their father’s footsteps to become hunters.  The brothers travel from place to place to take on cases and help save innocent lives, but deal with some powerful obstacles along the way.  Whether it is getting trapped in hell or purgatory or working with angels or demons, the brothers refuse to let death get in the way.  They support each other no matter what.  When one brother is going through a difficult time, the other recognizes that he needs to step up and help pick up the pieces.  Out of every show I have ever watched, the bond between Sam and Dean is the most real and uplifting.  You don’t doubt for a second they are brothers and you never give up on them.  What’s so great about the brothers is that they also have quite a few hilarious moments together as well, ranging from running away from an adorable Yorkie to reluctantly facing a child-hood fear of clowns.  This reminds viewers that the brothers are human and while their calling is to fight the good fight, they are not afraid to share some laughs too.  Fans love when the brothers show up posing as FBI agents, wondering what new dynamic duo they will pretend to be.  Like our own families, Sam and Dean portray the good, the bad, and everything in between, truly representing what it means to stick by one another through thick and thin.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Throw-back Sunday: Ranking the top 5 heart-breaking moments from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”

It’s Throw-Back Sunday TV Fans!  For today, I have once again returned to one of my old favorites, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  There’s something to be said about moments in television that can bring you to tears.  You invest a lot of time into the shows you watch and connect with the characters on a profound level, which is what makes it so impossibly emotional when certain moments happen, shattering the calm and happy existence you have come to know and rely on.

Whether it is one of your favorite characters dying, an epic romance coming to end, or something else entirely, there are certain heart-breaking moments on television that still impact us today.  After many re-watches of Buffy, there are still certain moments that I recognize.  I find my heart starting to skip faster, anticipating the worst, even hoping that somehow the outcome might be different with a re-watch.

However, the tragedy replays as it did the first time watching, still bringing tears to our eyes and tugging at our own feelings in the process.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the full series yet. 

My top 5 heart-breaking moments from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are:

5

Giles’s discovery of Jenny’s death. 

In season 2, Angel loses his soul when he experiences true happiness with Buffy.  When he returns to his former monstrous self, Angelus, he stalks and torments Buffy and her friends.  It is not enough to simply kill them.  He wants them to truly suffer, weakening them further in the process.  Fans loved the blossoming romance between Giles and Jenny Calendar.

When Angelus learns that Jenny is on the verge of finding out how to bring the curse back along with his soul, he views her as a threat in the episode, “Passion.”  He hunts her down in the school and snaps her neck, which was horrific enough for viewers.  However, Angelus doesn’t stop here.  Rather, he stages a romantic evening for Giles to walk into.  Giles approaches his doorway with a rose waiting for him and happily walks into opera music playing along with champagne and a note reading, “Upstairs.” 

To Giles’s horror, he finds Jenny’s lifeless body waiting in his bed, dropping the champagne bottle and shattering it, while the opera music crescendos louder and louder.  What makes this moment truly tragic is Giles’s reaction to it.  Giles and Jenny were finally going to be reunited and make things work, but Angelus viciously ripped this happiness away from him, toying with his emotions.

4

Tara’s death. 

In season 6, Warren is not about to let Buffy and the gang make a fool of him.  A once harmless villain has now become deadly.  He points a gun at Buffy and Xander to the surprise and horror of fans and shoots it.  Xander falls to the ground and it first appears that he is his victim, but the bullet ricochets to the upstairs window and strikes Tara right in front of Willow.

Tara’s blouse has a single blood stain on it, as she falls and collapses in Willow’s arms.  Willow’s eyes turn black in rage, now releasing the dark magic and power that she had kept away for so long.  The love between Willow and Tara was so pure and beautiful and fans were horrified to see Willow’s love taken away from her in a violent act.  The Scoobies have faced evil day after day, but what makes this so awful is that it was a mortal act of violence.

It wasn’t a vampire or a monster, rather it was a human being who felt wronged by the world and took his anger out with a man-made weapon, revealing that mortals can be just as dangerous as monsters in this world.

3

Buffy sacrifices herself to save Dawn. 

In the season 5 finale, “The Gift,” Buffy recognizes that her blood is just like Dawn’s.  Dawn’s blood is the key to closing the portal that will destroy the world, but she is not about to let her innocent sister suffer the consequences.  Buffy makes the decision to jump into the portal to sacrifice herself.

She tells Dawn that “you have to take care of them now. You have to take care of each other. You have to be strong. Dawn, the hardest thing in this world — is to live in it. Be brave. Live…for me.”

This is one of the most powerful and heart-breaking quotes in the entire series for me.  Buffy’s unconditional love for her sister, her friends, and the world is beyond words.  She has touched the lives of so many people and helped saved innocents with each action, but there is something about this act that transcends all of that.

She recognizes the sacrifice and embraces it, leaving her friends mourning her behind.  Spike is left in tears, making this moment that much more tragic for fans, as he does truly love her and feels like he let her down.

2

Buffy kills Angel when his soul returns. 

In the season 2 finale, “Becoming,” Buffy knows what she must do and is now truly ready to defeat Angelus so that she can save the world.  She recognizes that the good man she came to know and love is gone, leaving only a shell of a monster behind.  Seems easy enough, right?

Before Buffy is about to strike the final blow, Willow’s spell works and Angel’s soul returns.  Angel doesn’t remember what has happened and Buffy tells him to close his eyes and kiss her, right before she strikes him fatally with a sword, sending his body through the portal.  Buffy is still relatively new and young as a slayer in season 2, dealing with high school drama and this is more than any teenage girl could handle.

She leaves Sunnydale behind, unable to deal with her emotions and the loss of her great love by her own hand.

1

Buffy finds her mother’s body. 

In season 5, Buffy is dealing with a new sister and a god named Glory who will stop at nothing to find her key and destroy the world.  What makes this moment truly tragic is that it is a mortal tragedy.  Buffy’s mother, Joyce, has been sick for a while, but when Buffy discovers her body lying on the floor, she becomes an innocent and terrified young girl.  Buffy whispers “Mommy,” as we empathize with her completely.

Her powers will not help her here.  She is left to attempt CPR and call an ambulance, but it is too late.  Her mother is gone and she has to deal with this loss along with realizing that she will now have to pick up the pieces of her family and grow up even faster than she already has.

This episode did not feature any background music so that viewers were able to completely focus on Buffy’s reaction and emotions throughout this heart-breaking scene, which is still incredibly difficult for me to watch.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to share some of your own heart-breaking moments from Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the comments section.  Thank you so much for reading and happy viewing!

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

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Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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

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

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

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The Search for Alice Cover

Throw-back Sunday: Ranking the top 5 villains from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”

It’s Throw-Back Sunday TV Fans!  For today, I have returned to one of my old favorites, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  Buffy and her friends are a blast to watch and are always trying to ensure that goodness prevails in order to protect Sunnydale and the rest of the world.  But this would get boring if Buffy could always easily save the day against countless vampires. 

What makes the show surpass this is the introduction of formidable foes that cross her path.  Ranging from the geeks she went to high school with to the first evil that existed in the world, there is a lot of evil and chaos thrown at the Scoobies. 

Let’s not forget that some of Buffy’s closest friends have turned on her and mortal enemies have become great allies along the way.  Buffy is the Chosen One for sure, but these villains are not only worthy of an all out battle, they are more complex and smarter than your average vampire turned to dust.   Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the series yet.

My top 5 villains from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are:

5

Drusilla

Drusilla was introduced to Buffy in season 2 along with her boyfriend, Spike.  When she first came to town she was weakened from a mob, but was revealed to possess psychic abilities.  When Drusilla is at her full strength she proves to be extremely dangerous and even kills another slayer who gets in her way.  What makes Drusilla such a stand-out villain is that she is completely insane. 

She has an innocent girl-like quality at first and manipulates Spike to do her bidding, all while having a tea party with her dolls.  One of my favorite scenes with Drusilla is when she blindfolds one of the dolls and says she’s not allowed to watch with the rest, as she kills someone brutally in front of them.  There is a haunting quality about Drusilla that makes her beyond scary and a real threat to Buffy.

4

Glory

The best way to define her I suppose is if Cordelia had god-like powers with no sense of remorse.  Glory is revealed to be a god and Buffy’s sister, Dawn, is the key that she is desperately looking for.  In one of the first fights with Glory, Buffy is beaten not just badly, but to a bloody pulp, making fans wonder about how she would be able to defeat her.

Glory is an entertaining villain, keeping her manicure and lip gloss in check while continuing on her quest, refusing to allow anyone to get in her way.

3

The Master

The Master is introduced as the first main villain that Buffy must face in the first season.  His face has no humanity left in it, different from other vampires, because of his age.  There is a cringe-worthy factor here for sure, but the Master hasn’t left his sense of humor behind either.  He is ruthless and powerful and even is able to kill Buffy initially.  Thankfully Xander is able to revive her, but he proved to be a dangerous foe and an influence on other vampires nearby.

2

Evil Willow

Everyone loves Willow and she is a great friend to Buffy.  When she begins experimenting with witchcraft, it naturally seems like a great way to help Buffy fight the forces of evil.  But when Willow loses the love of her life, Tara, she is consumed by rage and evil magic corrupts her.

Willow becomes so powerful that it seems like no one will be able to defeat her.  If not for her best friend, Xander, who has no powers or supernatural strength, she would have been lost for good and the world might have been destroyed.  Xander uses love to remind Willow that he will always be there for her and it brings her goodness back to the surface.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one pick are:

  • Spike
  • Faith
  • The Mayor
  • The Judge
  • Mr. Trick
  • Anyanka
  • Darla
  • The First
  • The Gorch family
  • The Gentlemen
  • Kralik
  • Caleb
  • The Trio
  • Harmony

1

Angelus

Buffy and Angel’s love is so passionate and real throughout the beginning episodes.  There is something very romantic about the idea of a vampire with a soul and Angel has been trying to do good and make up for the monster he used to be.  However, when he is with Buffy, he loses his soul because he experiences true happiness, and Angelus is unleashed on the world once more as a result.  Not only is he a vicious killer, but he targets on Buffy’s weakness and mocks their love, making it seem like he did not care for her in the slightest.

He goes after her friends and family and toys with Buffy in a stalker-like way.  When Angelus unleashes a demon on the world to swallow it whole, Buffy knows that she must kill him to close the portal.  She has pushed her feelings aside and knows that she must defeat him for the greater good.  However, this becomes an almost impossible task when Angel’s soul is restored right at the moment she is about to kill him.

Buffy must follow through with this, sacrificing her love to save the world.  Her love for Angelus is what makes him such a dangerous villain.  Buffy is the Chosen One, but she is also human and a teenage girl with feelings.  Her strength is truly tested when Angelus is introduced, but she is able to do what is necessary to defeat him.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to share some of your own favorite villains from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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