family Archives - Page 20 of 23

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Once Upon a Time” season 7 episode 11: Love is Stronger than Magic

So I am thrilled that ABC’s Once Upon a Time has finally returned from its long winter hiatus, bringing us new episodes. While it was recently announced that this will be the final season for OUAT, it really gives the show the opportunity to sum up its new story line. When fan-favorite characters left the show and we found out about that season 7 would focus on a new story with only some of our favorite characters still sprinkled in to keep us hooked…pun intended, I had some doubts about how much longer the series would last for. Now that we know the series is ending, however; this could actually be a great thing. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore this show and will miss it, but I’d rather see it go out strong than continue to grasp at straws and unconvincing story-lines just to be able to produce new episodes. Either way, I’m looking forward to see how it all ends and I hope the Lost Easter eggs keep coming! Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “Secret Garden,” Zelena learns a hard lesson about parenting from Hook, Henry refuses to sit by without trying to help Lucy, and Regina opens her heart to her sister. Meanwhile, Mother Gothel has her own agenda and Victoria/Lady Tremaine makes the ultimate sacrifice. My top 5 moments from Once Upon a Time season 7 episode 11 are:

Lost Easter Egg: The Apollo Bar.

So my top 5 moments would not be complete if I didn’t dedicate one to our favorite candy bar, the Apollo Bar. For those of you who are Lost fans like myself, I am sure you jumped out of your chair with this Easter egg. While the Apollo Bar has made appearances before on OUAT, I was thrilled that it was actually in a hospital vending machine this time. In Lost, Jack is seen getting an Apollo Bar from the hospital vending machine and fans swooned over the “vending machine scene” featuring Juliet and Sawyer reuniting in the series finale. It was great to see our favorite candy bar make another appearance, keeping fans satisfied with a much needed sugar rush.

“Test me too.”

After watching the mid-season finale of OUAT, it was clear that Henry was in great pain over Lucy’s condition. While he hasn’t made the connection yet that he is her real father, he is not about to just sit around and pray that she gets better. When Lucy’s parents are blood tested, Henry asks the doctor to test him too. While she explains that the match would be much higher if he was blood related to Lucy, Henry is willing to try anything, even if there is the slightest chance that he could help her. Little does he know, his test results prove that he is a match to Lucy, bringing to light his relation to her. When the doctor looks over the results, an unknown threat poisons her and takes the results along with a lock of her hair. While we don’t know who is behind this just yet, I’m thinking that Rumpel has to be involved somehow. We’ll have to stay tuned to find out more, however.

“We’re going to do it together.”

We’ve seen so many ups and downs for our favorite sisters, Zelena and Regina, but it looks like Regina is ready to put all of their differences aside for good. When she suggests that they team up to take down Mother Gothel and help Lucy and Henry, Regina suggests that they do it together. Zelena says “wicked and evil,” but Regina corrects her with “no…sisters.” These two are a powerful force and now that they have truly embraced their sisterly bond, there will be no stopping them. Mother Gothel is no match for them, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy to take her down. When Mother Gothel approaches Zelena, she asks her to bring her the resurrection amulet, but Zelena immediately recognizes that there will be a catch. Mother Gothel will certainly not go down without a fight, but let’s hope Zelena and Regina’s bond doesn’t shatter like the sign of their bar. They need to stick together and fight the good fight.

“Piss off Nook.”

Zelena finds an unlikely source of help in Hook…or “nook.” She comically comments on how she forgets that there are two Hooks and gives him her new nickname, meaning “new Hook.” Zelena is distraught over her daughter, Robin’s decision to go to Mother Gothel to learn about magic, but Hook reminds her not to give up. He tells her that love is stronger than magic and he is absolutely right. Even though Zelena initially claims that “I don’t need a parenting lesson from a pirate,” she quickly realizes that her unconditional love for her daughter is the only thing that can save her. Hook tells Zelena that her love for her daughter makes her “so daring, so brave, so utterly fearless,” and I can’t think of a better description for our former wicked witch. Zelena is able to save Robin by taking her place as the sacrifice, allowing Robin to truly see that her mother cares for her. It looks like Zelena has found a calling far greater than ultimate magic and power. Good thing she had Hook…or Nook along to help her see it.

Victoria/Lady Tremaine redeems herself.

While it initially seemed like Victoria/Lady Tremaine was a villain without a soul, we now get to see her walls come down, as she finally does the right thing. She has a lot to make up for and even tries to come clean to Anastasia with all of her horrible deeds. The truth hurts, but Victoria knows that she needs to make amends, especially after what she did to Lucy. She refuses to let Mother Gothel keep her held captive, using her Louis Vuitton shoe to get her out of the well. Who said that fashion couldn’t be useful? When the power of the resurrection amulet is unleashed, Victoria quickly learns that the sacrifice is now her other daughter, Ivy/Drizella. Victoria makes the same decision as Zelena and takes the place of her daughter, sacrificing herself in the process to save her. This act of kindness and unconditional love is truly touching. Even though one cannot deny all of the horrible things Victoria has done in the past, her sacrifice shows her daughter that love can conquer evil. Let’s hope that this is enough to bring Ivy/Drizella to the side of good. We’re going to need all the help we can get against Mother Gothel.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” season 13 episode 14: “Whatever it Takes”

Happy Friday TV fans! After watching the CW’s Supernatural season 13 episode 14 last night, I am left pondering the quote: “war does not determine who is right—only who is left.” It seems that Castiel is more than ready for war, but are the Winchester brothers prepared to make the sacrifices needed to bring about the greater good? Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “Good Intentions,” Jack and Mary run into an old friend who helps save the day and Castiel explores his own purpose for returning to earth. Meanwhile, Sam and Dean try to make a decision based on their moral compasses, while Donatello goes completely mad from the raw energy of the demon tablet. My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 13 episode 14 are:

“Dude if bacon’s what kills me…then I win.”

Sam and Dean are not about to give up on getting Jack and Mary back safely while defeating Lucifer in the process. Sounds like a tall order for sure, but it looks like the prophet, Donatello may be able to help decipher the demon tablet. Unfortunately, Donatello goes completely mad in the process, hearing voices as he is overwhelmed by the text. It’s up to Sam and Dean to help pick up the pieces, but not before Dean enjoys his favorite breakfast food.

“They are equally pretty.”

When Dean tags along with Castiel to summon the ancient warriors they need the hearts of, it seems like an easy enough task. However, Dean is not convinced that Castiel got all the words in the summoning spell correct when no one initially appears to fight them to the death. Castiel comically reminds Dean that “I don’t get words wrong,” as the two warriors appear to fight Dean and Castiel. While Dean is distracted by their “loincloths,” Castiel tries to get him to take this seriously. After all, they are using weapons forged from God…or touched by God that is. The two warriors begin arguing in their native language over which one to kill first and have an interesting dilemma on their hands. One of them suggests killing the pretty one first, but they come to the conclusion that Dean and Castiel are “equally pretty.” While this distraction gets the two warriors killed off seamlessly by Dean, they do not have hearts, which doesn’t get Castiel and Dean any closer to finding an ingredient to open up the gate.

Bobby is back!

Well Bobby from another world is back…but still fans are always excited to see the return of one of our favorite hunters. When Jack and Mary are fleeing from the angels, Bobby pops up with perfect timing to lead them to safety. He reveals that he knew his own version of Mary Campbell and that she saved his life on more than one occasion. Mary realizes that this other Mary never made the deal with the demon that helped protect her sons, leaving her alone and heart-broken. It doesn’t seem like either choice was the right one, but a world without Sam and Dean Winchester is not a world we want to live in. Bobby becomes paranoid when he discovers that Jack is half-angel, looking out for the best interest of the people he is protecting, but Mary tries to get him to see reason, understanding that Jack is the key to returning to her world safely. While it’s unlikely Bobby will return to Sam and Dean’s world, it’s good to know that a familiar face is looking out for their family.

Jack’s powers are advancing.

In the beginning of the episode, the angel, Zachariah is playing mind games with Jack, desperately trying to trick him onto their side. Jack proves to be stronger than they anticipated, however; as fear is unable to break him. When Zachariah tries to show him the flaw in humanity and how they are responsible for the destruction of the earth, Jack sees through this despite only being alive for 6 months. He recognizes that none of this is real and tells Mary that he will protect her no matter what. Even though Mary is willing to sacrifice her life for the cause, Jack proves to be more powerful than anyone thought possible. When Mary is attacked, Jack channels his powers and is able to destroy an angel. It seems like he is the key to stopping Michael’s army and getting Mary home safely, but will he be able to stop his father, Lucifer? Time will tell.

“Whatever it Takes.”

Castiel contemplates his purpose and why he returned to earth and realizes it is to stop the pending war that is coming. Castiel understands that he needs to do what’s necessary in times of war and tries to explain this to Sam and Dean who do not want him to put Donatello out of his misery. Castiel taps into his mind to get the spell he needs, leaving Donatello brain-dead to the disbelief of the Winchester brothers. He explains that he is doing what a soldier would in a time of war and tells them that “some people just can’t be saved.” While Castiel is taking extreme measures, his methods do lead to us finding out the 4 ingredients needed to stop Lucifer and to bring Jack and Mary back to their world. The four ingredients are: “Grace of an archangel, a fruit from the tree of life, the Seal of Solomon, and blood from a most holy man.” While we know that Gabriel is the archangel, how will they obtain the other three ingredients? What other sacrifices will need to be made for the greater good? While Castiel is clearly on board to do whatever it takes to win, will Sam and Dean be able to overcome their own doubts to do what’s necessary?

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Supernatural below. Happy viewing and happy belated 40th birthday to Jensen Ackles! We love you Dean Winchester! 🙂

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Ash vs Evil Dead” season 3 episode 1 season premiere: “Evil…we’re coming for you!”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Starz’s Ash vs Evil Dead season 3 episode 1 season premiere last night, I think it’s important to stick to what you’re good at. In Ash’s case, this means fighting the good fight against evil while keeping a good sense of humor about it all. In case you have never watched Ash vs Evil Dead before, you should immediately watch the films: Evil Dead 1 & 2 followed by Army of Darkness. Actually, you can even skip Evil Dead if in a rush and go straight to Army of Darkness for some campy horror fun with outrageous laugh out loud moments. Seriously, Bruce Campbell is a genius. Many years later, Ash is back with his chain-saw arm and is pretty much the only thing standing in the way of “The Book of Dead.” Now that you are all caught up, please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the season 3 premiere yet. In last night’s episode, “Family,” Ash is living well in his hometown, Elk Grove, slashing high prices left and right with his new business venture. He gets an unexpected surprise, however; when he learns that he has a daughter named…wait what was it? Don’t worry Ash, you’ll get the hang of fatherhood soon enough. Meanwhile, Ruby is back and is unleashing some sort of hell, Kelly is rocking some serious leather, and Pablo’s not out of the woods just yet when the words of the dead resurface on his body. My top 5 moments from Ash vs Evil Dead season 3 episode 1 are:

Ashy Slashy’s.

In the beginning of the episode, it seems that Elk Grove has finally settled down and put evil in its rear view mirror. What’s next for Ash? I guess the only thing that makes sense is for him to open up a “hardware store/sex toy emporium” named “Ashy Slashy’s.” I mean he is slashing high prices with his legendary chainsaw arm which really gives it the dramatic effect that proves he means business. Plus, he’s getting to work with Pablo again and enjoying some well deserved margaritas along the way. Unfortunately for Ash, “The Book of Dead” has resurfaced and is coming for Elk Grove.

Ruby is back.

Ruby, played by the absolutely gorgeous, Lucy Lawless is back and sporting some fierce platinum blonde hair. Every time it seems like she may be dead for good, she resurfaces, causing trouble wherever she goes. While we see her chanting from the “Book of the Dead” and getting ready to give birth to something we can only assume is pure evil, where does she stand with Ash and the gang? Is Ruby out for revenge or is she scheming something new? We’ll have to stay tuned to find out, but it’s great to have one of our fan-favorites back for season 3.

Kelly shows up with a new friend.

As the episode went on, a mysterious guy dressed in leather seemed to be hanging around Elk Grove quite a lot, keeping a close eye on Ash and Pablo. Later, when Ash and the gang are under attack by a deadite, he shows up with Kelly to help fight the good fight. We learn that his name is Dalton and he is a “Knight of Sumeria,” which according to Kelly means he is a big fan, but it seems like we have a lot to learn about him. Either way, it looks like he’s on the side of good for now.

Ash has a wife…and a daughter.

When a woman claims to be Ash’s wife, he reminds her that he “never forgets a rack but faces are a little fuzzy.” Seems like a valid point, until his wife snaps him back to reality reminding him about a drunken night long ago where he met “Candy Bar,” otherwise known as Candace Barr. While the memories come rushing back, Ash insists that he can’t have a daughter because he was using his “lucky rubber.” Ash’s daughter, Brandy Barr is in high school and is literally about to be attacked by forces of evil. As Brandy and her friend, Rachel quickly realize that the Cougar school mascot has moved way past creepy into something full on terrifying, it’s up to Ash and his former wife, Candace to step in and save the day.

“Sorry jailbait my dance card is a little full.”

When Brandy’s friend, Rachel gets possessed by a deadite, she puts on quite the musical performance, even bringing out an old favorite, “Ashy Slashy.” Ash is not distracted by this in the slightest however, knocking her out with a trombone and telling her to “blow.” Unfortunately for Ash’s former wife, Candace, she gets decapitated with a cymbal to the horror of her daughter. After the deadite taunts Ash about destroying him and his seed, he puts her in her place and cleverly uses a harp as an interesting choice of weapon. After all, his dance card is full. This now leaves Ash to pick up the pieces and help his daughter; Sandy…wait was it…Mandy? I’m sure Ash will learn that her name is Brandy in time, but it’s good to have some fresh faces join the cast to add for some more campy horror fun. Either way, the family is back together again and they’re coming for evil…right after Ash smokes a jay.

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

Ranking the top 5 moments featuring Debbie from “Shameless” season 8: “I can feel the fetus growing inside me as I sit here!”

Happy Monday TV fans! When looking back on season 8 of Shameless, I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised with the character story-lines for Debbie this year. In the past, Debbie has been over-the-top and somewhat annoying. I much preferred the story-lines of Fiona and Lip. However, this year Debbie stepped into the spotlight. While she is somewhat embracing her role of motherhood, she is not about to compromise her dreams of becoming a welder so that she can provide for her daughter and stay fierce in the process.

For today, I am going to be recapping and ranking the top 5 moments featuring Debbie from season 8. Whether she was doing some interesting research on Google, befriending a dog named Toto, or stirring up frenzy with her “sexy welder girl” photo shoot, Debbie was absolutely hilarious with her antics. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the full season yet. My top 5 moments featuring Debbie from Shameless season 8 are:

Debbie welds a dumpster to Dr. Dick’s car. (Moment from Season 8, episode 7)

Just when Debbie convinces her boss to give her another chance at the parking garage, using Baby Franny’s cuteness to her advantage, she learns that she needs to be nicer to customers. Debbie gives customer service her best effort, utilizing words like “please” and “thank you.” However, there is one customer who insists on pushing her buttons and speaks to her in a condescending way.

She upsets him so much that he even proceeds to get out of his car and destroy property. Debbie has the last laugh; however, when she puts her new welding skills to good use. She literally welds his car to a dumpster and admits to her boss that she knows she is fired now but it was totally worth it.

Debbie befriends a dog named, Toto. (Moment from Season 8, episode 9)

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.

“Sexy Welder Girl Looking for Work.” (Moment from Season 8, episode 8)

It’s no secret that Debbie is now out of a job after her stunt with Dr. Dick’s car. Debbie is freaking out the entire episode, fearing she might be pregnant. After taking several pregnancy tests, Lip takes her to the Planned Parenthood clinic to put her at ease. In the waiting room, Debbie reveals her panicked fear to Lip: “I can feel the fetus growing inside me as I sit here!”

Debbie continues to wait for the results, but is not about to put her job-hunt on pause. She convinces Liam to take “sexy” photos of her for her Craig’s List ad: “Sexy welder girl looking for work. No job is too small or too big.” When she gets an immediate call-back, I was slightly concerned about what this job would entail; however, it did seem to be a legitimate welding job.

Debbie has less than 67 hours…make that 39 hours to obtain the morning after pill. (Moment from Season 8, episode 6)

After Debbie wakes up, she realizes that she has once again made the mistake of unprotected sex. She is not about to have another baby and a count-down clock appears on the screen as she sets off to get the morning after pill. However, to Debbie’s horror, they are out of it at the local store. She tries another pharmacy, but is carded and they refuse to sell to her because she is not 17.

When Debbie tries to enlist the help of a fellow shopper, she tries to run on her, and Debbie pounces on her and attacks her, leading to them both ending up in jail. What makes this moment even funnier is that Debbie is in the middle of face-timing baby Franny during the fight. Just when it seems that time is running out and Debbie has no other choice than to embrace her fate, her friends bail her out of jail, cause a distraction at the pharmacy, and obtain the pill, allowing Debbie to coast by in just the nick of time.

Debbie Googles “do you need your toes?” (Moment from Season 8, episode 11)

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.

What’s next for Debbie in season 9? We will have to stay tuned to find out, but I am hoping she thinks long and hard about what’s truly best for Franny.

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

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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.

Want to read more? You can click the link directly below for a free preview. Thanks for your support!

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

The Search for Alice is available here!

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:

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.

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.

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.

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 13^th 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

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 118^th birthday in the 100^th 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

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” season 2 episode 13: “Norman Bates made it look so easy.”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching the CW’s Riverdale season 2 episode 13 last night, I have to admit that even I did not see some of these twists and turns unraveling. While we will need to wait until early March for a new episode to air, let’s focus on what we know and what we still don’t know for today. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “Chapter Twenty-Six: The Tell-Tale Heart,” Betty goes down a dangerous path and makes the decision to help her mother and Chic clean up a mess that won’t make her guilt disappear along with it. Archie makes the brave decision to stand up to Agent Adams and Veronica chooses to do the right thing, weighing it above her family loyalty. Meanwhile, Cheryl refuses to let her mother ruin another family and Jughead decides to take on the big boss, Mr. Lodge to strike up a deal. My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 2 episode 13 are:

Jughead has a meeting with Mr. Lodge.

Jughead refuses to sit by quietly and enlists the help of his father, FP to sit down for negotiations with Mr. Lodge. Veronica happily mediates the discussion which seems to be full of all of the niceties one would expect at a legitimate business meeting. Mr. Lodge and the Jones family agree that they want peace in the land. After Mr. Lodge offers to meet them half-way, Jughead refuses to keep his name out of the expose he is writing and tells him “no deal.” FP is proud of his son and supports him completely. It’s good to see the Jones family making the right decisions. After all, making a deal with the devil deserves some much needed contemplation.

Cheryl does the right thing.

When Cheryl learns that her mother is having an affair with Hal Cooper, she argues that she is “destroying families with her courtesan ways.” Her mother shocks her by telling her that it’s the real deal with Hal and she doesn’t even blink an eye at the thought of shattering Alice Cooper’s family. Cheryl refuses to accept this especially after witnessing Betty sick to her stomach at school. Assuming it must be directly related to her family breaking apart; Cheryl confronts Hal and warns him to stay away from her “harlot mother.” Even though she offers to keep things quiet from Betty, Cheryl makes the decision to tell her what’s going on anyway because she feels it is the right thing to do. It looks like Cheryl is finally going down the right path. There doesn’t seem to be any ulterior motives here, but will her mother cross her once she finds out about her betrayal?

Veronica visits Mayor McCoy.

Even though Veronica has accepted her new role in the family business with open arms, it’s clear that she is not about to let her conscience be corrupted in the process. When she finds out that her parents intend to blackmail Mayor McCoy with information on the affair she is having with Kevin’s dad, Veronica makes the brave the decision to tell the Mayor what is going on. In an effort to protect her reputation, she admits to her what her parents know and Mayor McCoy asks “how much time do I have?” She steps down from her position as Mayor and Veronica reminds her parents that she is no longer a threat and exposing her now would only be cruel. Will her parents find out that she has put the Mayor over her responsibility to her family? Will Veronica be able to get out of this with a clean conscience? Time will tell but it’s great to see that she still has her morals intact.

Betty comes clean to Jughead.

While still withholding some very pertinent information from her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Jughead, Betty cannot keep her latest secret to herself. In the beginning of the episode, “the lives of the Cooper women were forever changed,” as Betty decides to help her mother cover up the murder of the shady man who came to see Chic. When Betty comes down for breakfast the next day, she is appalled that Chic and her mother are sitting there bright eyed and bushy tailed without any hint of remorse. Her anger leaks out when she says “I don’t like chocolate chip pancakes” in disgust. The doorbell rings and Betty shatters the plate in her hand, revealing her own guilt and nerves about what took place the night before. She is unable to let her guilt go as she goes back to the body and takes the man’s phone, going through each number to provide her with some sense of truth or closure. Betty learns that Chic is lying to the family as his info appears in the shady man’s phone, but Alice refuses to let Betty start a fight and divide the family. Not knowing where else to turn, Betty confides in Jughead about what has taken place and they sink the shady man’s car that has been parked on Betty’s block for two days. Not wanting for Betty to make the same mistake his family has, they bring in FP who helps dispose of the body and keeps their secret, understanding full well what a cover up can do to a family. Even though everything seems to be safely hidden under the surface, we know that things don’t always stay buried for long. Will someone come looking for the shady man? What else is Chic keeping from the family? How will Betty and Jughead cope with such a dark secret?

Archie meets “the boss.”

Archie is facing quite the dilemma when he has second thoughts about spying on the Lodge family. He loves Veronica very much and feels awful about what Agent Adams is asking him to do. Agent Adams pays his father a visit, reminding Archie what’s at stake here, but Archie holds his ground, risking everything to protect the Lodge family. He goes to Mr. Lodge and tells him everything, putting all his cards on the table. Later in the episode, Archie is escorted off to see “the boss.” Not knowing what to expect, the car pulls up to a secluded spot to reveal Veronica’s mother, Hermione Lodge as the HBIC. She reveals to Archie that Agent Adams isn’t real and this was all a test. Archie is completely shocked by this revelation. Luckily for Archie, he made the right decision, but what else is the Lodge family capable of? Now that he has been accepted into their family, what will they expect from him in return? We will need to wait until March 7^th 2018 for new episodes to air, but there are still a lot of mysteries to be solved. Stay tuned to find out!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments featuring Fiona from “Shameless” season 8

Happy Monday TV fans! As I woke up this morning, I felt a void not having a new episode of Shameless to discuss. However, just because Shameless is done for the season, it doesn’t mean we have to take a break from the hilarious Gallagher family and friends cold turkey. For today, I am going to be recapping and ranking the top 5 moments featuring the lovely Fiona Gallagher from season 8. Whether she was trying to make a point to her family or giving her tenants a piece of her mind, Fiona fully embraced her new role as a land lady with spunk and class…well maybe not class, but she does get her point across after a few tries. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the full season yet. My top 5 moments featuring Fiona from Shameless season 8 are:

Fiona is not a step in anyone’s rehab. (Moment from Season 8, episode 4)

Sean is back and Fiona is not about to let her heart stay shattered. When Sean walks through the door, Fiona’s first reaction is to walk out and leave him standing there with his mouth open. After she eventually goes to find out what he has to say, she learns that he is clean now, but also married and she realizes that she is a step in his recovery. Fiona storms out of the restaurant but is not done just yet. She writes down every lie and every promise in a fury and decides to let his wife know just how she is feeling. Sounds like the perfect revenge, only Fiona tells all of this to the wrong woman and she starts screaming at her husband thinking he is using drugs again. Sean then walks out of his motel room with his wife and Fiona just gets into her car laughing. It’s great to see Fiona can still have a sense of humor even when she is dealing with the jerk who broke her heart and left her on her wedding day. Fiona realizes that Sean is not worth it and heads home to be with her family. You are much more than a step in a program Fiona, you are our hero!

Fiona was right. (Moment from Season 8, episode 3)

When the kids come to Fiona about what to do about the angry meth dealer, Fiona is more than willing to help set it right. But not before she has each and every member of the family say “I was wrong, you were right Fiona.” Fiona has been telling them the entire time that this was a bad idea, but the kids continued on anyway and she wants them to learn a valuable lesson. The Gallagher family then proceeds to dig up Monica. So it happens that Fiona buried the rest of the Meth with their dead mother, Monica which leads to an interesting bonding moment between the siblings. They are covered in dirt, digging for an eternity, and you would think this would be bad enough. Carl then uses a forklift to speed up the process, only to drop the coffin, which opens suddenly as their dead Mother falls out. Their screams of horror are hilarious, but they work together as a team while they continue to tell Fiona that she was right all along.

Fiona says “Game On!” (Moment from Season 8, episode 7)

Throughout episode 7, Ian demonstrates that he is not backing down and is still mad at his sister for preventing him from obtaining the shelter for the homeless kids he works with. He pours ice-cold buckets of water on her, throws eggs at her apartment building, and sets up tents in the lot next door to bother Fiona. “Occupy Fiona!” the kids scream repeatedly, while Ian uses a megaphone to get the full volume and effect he is looking for. Fiona tries to be the bigger person and refuses to let Ian see that she is angry, but when he calls the fire marshal on her and messes with her business, it’s game on. Fiona bribes the homeless teens with pizza and when that doesn’t work, she whips out her wallet. “You get a 20 and you get a 20!” she shouts proudly, happy to have won. Her pride is intact, but most of her money has been sacrificed for the cause. Ian is furious that she has done this, but she tries to make amends by finding them another space to open the shelter. She tells Ian how much she cares about him and loves him, genuinely worried about his well-being, remembering that family comes first.

Fiona rescues her dog, Rusty. (Moment from Season 8, episode 11)

After learning that the injured roofer, 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 her boyfriend, 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.

“Time to go Gallagher.” (Moment from Season 8, episode 12)

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. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

“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 7^th 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:

Paige & Kyle aka Agent Brody.

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.

Prue & Andy.

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.

Phoebe & Coop.

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.

Phoebe & Cole.

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

Piper & Leo.

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 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:

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.

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?

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.

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.

“Time to go Gallagher.”

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

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” season 13 episode 11: “Breakdown.”

Happy Friday TV fans! The weekend is almost here, but my day would not be complete without discussing our favorite brothers: The Winchesters. After watching the CW’s Supernatural season 13 episode 11 last night, online auctions have a whole new meaning for me, as Sam and Dean dealt with something well beyond the routine bidding on eBay. You may want to think again about how badly you want to procure that collectible item. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “Breakdown,” Sheriff Donna returns when her niece, Wendy has gone missing. Even though it doesn’t initially seem like anything supernatural is going on, she is still relying on the help of Sam and Dean. We are also re-introduced to Donna’s love interest, Doug, who is quickly thrown into a world of monsters and mayhem which may be too much for him to handle. My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 13 episode 11 are:

Dean explains the importance of pancakes.

Sam is clearly still in a rut after everything that happened with “The Bad Place,” learning that their mother, Mary is still trapped with Jack in another world. Sam tosses and turns in bed, refusing to wake up until after 10am, worrying Dean, who is typically the one you would imagine to sleep in on a rainy day. Dean refuses to let his brother stew in his own misery, however; as he tries to distract him and cheer him up, even making a breakfast complete with pancakes. When Sam tells him he isn’t hungry, Dean feels the need to go into a big brother lecture on the importance of pancakes, keeping the vibe light, but also reminding Sam that he is there for him and won’t give up. While it seems like a small gesture, Dean knows his brother better than anyone else in the world, proving to be a good friend and an even better brother.

Dean has a heart-to-heart chat with Doug.

When Sam and Dean show up to help Donna find her niece, they seamlessly embrace their familiar identities as FBI agents looking to do the right thing and help their…cousin. Dean senses that the FBI agent he is talking to my check up on him so he backs off and lets him take charge, explaining that he is there for moral support and to get to the bottom of what happened to his family member. Doug proves not to be the sharpest tool in the shed when he believes that Donna and Dean are actually related, comically inquiring about the recent family reunion. Doug innocently seeks out some advice from Dean about Donna and Dean even teaches him “that’s how we do things in the FBI,” bringing him along for the ride to track down the killer.

“It’s like eBay…kinda.”

Once the Winchesters stumble onto the Butterfly’s website, they are appalled by what they see. There is an online auction going on while a victim is strapped to a chair, as the bids climb higher and higher, competing over body parts. Sam realizes that they are chatting about the parts as if they were food…leading to the conclusion that it’s basically “take out for monsters.” They discover there is something supernatural at play here after all, re-thinking their strategy on how they will rescue Donna’s niece and stop the evil in the nick of time.

“Bring it Twilight.”

Once the tables are turned on the Winchesters and they realize they are dealing with vampires, Sam is taken hostage and Doug is turned into a vampire to Donna’s horror. Dean is not afraid of the vampire cashier boy in the slightest, whipping out his blade and giving fans a catchy pun we can all appreciate, “bring it Twilight.” While there is hope for Doug to get a cure before he is permanently changed, our attention quickly shifts to Sam’s safety when we learn that the bids are hitting some new records. Vampire and monster bidders everywhere relish the idea of snacking on the hunter, Sam Winchester and are looking to win the auction no matter what the cost is. The FBI agent reveals that he was the Butterfly killer all along, spinning a horrifying story about how he actually thinks he is saving lives by keeping the vampires occupied so they are not roaming the streets. Sam’s heart gets auctioned for an impressive $500K but the show is over and Dean comes in to save the day, shutting down bids everywhere.

Doug can’t handle a life with monsters.

While I was relieved to see that Doug was alright, something in my gut told me that we wouldn’t be seeing him again. While he has a sweet and loving relationship with Donna, he could already feel the void as if she had been keeping something from him. When he gets tossed head first into the horrifying world of monsters, it’s too much for Doug to handle. He clearly cares for Donna, but he wants something normal and routine…something that Donna can’t give him because this is more than a job for her, it’s a calling. While this sets the path for Donna to embrace her new destiny with the “Wayward Sisters,” I can’t help feeling incredibly sad for her. Donna deserves love and happiness but understands his decision. Sam and Dean are all too familiar with a life on the road away from attachments, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be there for emotional support, helping each other along the way.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl