Ranking the Top 5 “Nightmare on Elm Street” Films

One…two…Freddy’s coming for you.

Three…four…better lock your door.

Five…six…grab your crucifix.

Seven…eight…better stay up late.

Nine…ten…never sleep again…

Happy Wednesday TV Fans! With the lack of new programming, I have been re-visiting several film series and I was beyond thrilled to discover that HBO Max has all of the Nightmare on Elm Street films available to watch!

After quite the marathon, I started to think about which films held up and which fell flat. There are 8 NOES films, (not including Freddy vs. Jason) but today I will be ranking my top 5 films of the franchise. Please note that some spoilers are ahead.

Freddy is cool. Freddy is funny and Freddy will give you some nightmare for sure…along with some disturbing images that will forever be embedded in my brain. Robert Englund is absolute perfection as Freddy Krueger and I am a huge fan of Heather Langenkamp as Nancy Thompson. Nancy will always be one of my favorite Final Girls.

After all, she’s into survival…

Whatever you do, don’t fall asleep!

These films really have everything. They are scary, funny, and addicting!

Stars like Johnny Depp, Laurence Fishburne, and Patricia Arquette appear in them as well and we get some pretty unique death and dream sequences that really make the NOES films stand out.

While I thoroughly enjoy the Friday the 13th and Halloween franchises, NOES certainly measures up with these iconic films. After all, Freddy did have an epic showdown with Jason…

Without any further delay, my top 5 Nightmare on Elm Street films are:

5

A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)

Alice is back in the fifth film and we discover that she is pregnant. However, Freddy is back as well and he begins attacking and killing her friends using her unborn child as a weapon. Alice and Freddy have an epic showdown, as she does everything in her power to eliminate him for good and protect her child.

The fifth film is pretty good. I enjoyed seeing Alice again and I thought the buildup to the showdown was decent.

Standout kill: Poor Greta is what she eats, as she is force fed at the table. Gross!

4

Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)

Nancy is back! Well, Heather is technically back, but I was excited to see her either way. In this re-imagining of the NOES world, Robert Englund and Heather Langenkamp play themselves, but quickly learn that the world of fantasy may actually cross over into reality.

This movie actually really held up for me. I thought that it was unique and it gave fans a lot of nostalgia. Heather/Nancy even yells out “Screw your pass,” bringing us right back to the original film. While I love the NOES film franchise, the films can become repetitive. However, this film really stood out and did something truly unique and different, which I appreciated and thoroughly enjoyed.

Standout kill: Poor Julie gets tossed and thrown around against the ceiling while Heather’s child watches in horror.

3

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 Dream Master — Images courtesy of HBO Max

The Dream Warriors are back! But unfortunately, so is Freddy. As he begins to pick off the Dream Warriors one by one, Alice is dragged into this mess when Kristen Parker gives her the power. During Kristen’s fiery death, there is this weird electric blue energy floating around and Alice and Freddy’s abilities overlap.

Freddy collects souls and when he does, Alice begins to inherit a part of them. She starts smoking when she doesn’t smoke, she learns Kung Fu, and she wears a bad-ass leather jacket to prove she is ready to bring down Freddy by forcing him to take a good look in the mirror…

I really enjoy this film and I think it has a fantastic music soundtrack. The kills are really outrageous and Freddy’s humor takes on a life of its own in this one. More please!

Standout kill: Deb’s checkout at the Roach Motel still leaves a bad taste in my mouth…

2

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

Nancy is back! After the horrific sequel to the original film, we really needed Dream Warriors and it delivers! In this film, Nancy works as a doctor at a psych ward and helps troubled teens who may be having some fatal nightmares that she is all too familiar with…

Dream Warriors is fantastic. It allows Freddy to truly shine and we also get some interesting concepts on dreams and abilities and powers within them, which I thought was a welcomed and cool feature to prevent the films from becoming too repetitive.

Standout kill: “Welcome to Primetime, bitch” immediately comes to mind…be careful about what you are watching on television!

1

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

The original still remains as the absolute best film of the franchise for me. It really draws you in and the concept of someone killing you in your dreams is so terrifying, really allowing Freddy to reign as a supreme villain.

The characters are absolutely fantastic in this and Nancy really steps into the spotlight as a bad-ass Final Girl. Plus, she’s got her coffee machine ready under the bed! You have to admire her commitment to staying awake!

Standout kills: It’s probably a toss up between Tina being dragged up the wall in the opening scene and Glen getting sucked into his bed.

Overall, I had a blast re-watching these films. I may have some trouble falling asleep now, but it was worth it!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts on the NOES movies and your favorites in the comments section below. Thank you so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Killer Camp” on The CW: Reality TV Horror

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

A horror reality TV series that pays tribute to 80’s campy horror movies? Sign me up please! This show has an amazing premise, as a group of strangers arrive for a reality show called “Summer Camp,” quickly realizing that they are on an entirely different kind of show.

Killer Camp premiered on July 16th, but it was originally released back in 2019 on ITV. It features weekly episodes that will air on The CW.

Killer Camp seems like it could be filled with a lot of slasher and mystery fun, but it’s not easy pulling off a horror reality TV series without looking completely silly from time to time. Let’s not also forget that some people originally thought that contestants were actually being killed off on the series…

Either way, I was all for giving this show a chance and without any further delay, let’s dive right into it.

The Pros:

Killer Camp The Cw 1 — Images courtesy of The CW

A worthy killer!

I think the best thing about this show is Camp Handyman Bruce! He plays the part very well and really has the creepy killer vibe down pat. Sure, it’s all pretend, but I have to say that I loved watching Handyman Bruce hunt down his victims. This is the kind of campy horror material I want to see on a show like this.

Super awesome premise.

I love that the reality series combines the idea of a survival game show with a murder mystery. It allows you to participate along with the contestants, as we get clues along the way. Do you think you have the killer figured out? Maybe, but I have a feeling a lot of twists will be thrown our way.

The Cons:

Killer Camp The CW 2 — Images courtesy of The CW

Jarring host.

I expect a reality show like this to be silly and over-the-top and in order for you to enjoy it at all, you can’t take it seriously. However, part of the problem was that the host was so over-the-top that it became laugh out loud ridiculous. I understand that he is playing the part, but at one point he was screaming a campfire story at the top of his lungs, which just seemed unnecessary.

Not enough horror.

I went into this show expecting it to be different from other reality shows, but the show mostly centers around games that brought me back to my own school field day nightmares. There was really only a little bit of horror sprinkled in during the episode, which made it difficult for me to stick around to see who would be “killed off” next.

So am I in or out?

Killer Camp The CW 3 — Images courtesy of The CW

I’m out on this one.

I was really excited about this show, but it just fails to deliver. Maybe it will get better as the episodes continue, but I’m just not that invested in it. I realize that it is difficult to deliver an entertaining reality horror series, but I have seen it done well before. I’m thinking back to a show called “Scream Queens” that aired on VH1 and was hosted by Saw’s Shawnee Smith.

That being said, as long as you don’t take the show too seriously, you may enjoy it if you like reality competition shows and I would love to hear your thoughts on it.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Killer Camp in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now! I hope you enjoy!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Ju-On: Origins” on Netflix: Stomach-Turning Terror

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

If you thoroughly enjoy the horror film franchise, Ju-On or The Grudge, you may have been counting the days until the release of the streaming television series, Ju-On: Origins.

Ju-On: Origins is a Japanese horror series that premiered on Netflix on July 3rd 2020. It features 6 episodes (28-30 minutes in length). The series is available with subtitles or dubbed in English.

It’s difficult to present fans with something truly unique and different when coming from such an extensive franchise, but the series manages to bring us back to the beginning. We witness several timelines involving a house with unexplainable connections to horrific acts of violence and murder, as a paranormal investigator tries to obtain as much information as he can to get to the truth.

This show has the potential to truly terrify you with a satisfying binge-watch, but does Ju-On: Origins do enough to step out from the shadows of the films? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Ju On Origins Netflix 1 — Images courtesy of Netflix

The anthology style works.

Since there are only six episodes and each one is actually pretty short, the anthology style works well. We learn about several different characters who have all entered the house in question throughout the late eighties and into the nineties, presenting us with connections and a real mystery.

The series is supposed to represent the true events that actually inspired the franchise and this particular style allows Ju-On: Origins to branch out and form its own identity.

Moves away from jump scares/tropes.

I don’t know about you, but there are several moments from The Grudge movies that still don’t sit well with me. I’m constantly checking under the covers and that sound still haunts me to this day.

The series takes a different approach and moves away from the jump scares that we are all accustomed to. Rather, it leans more on some disturbing scenes of gore and a slow burn approach, revealing that sometimes cruel and unthinkable acts of humanity may actually be more terrifying in the end, which gives the audience something to truly think about.

While the show didn’t really scare me, there were some moments that really made my stomach turn. Seriously, I skipped breakfast today just because of it.

The Cons:

Ju Origins Netflix 2 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Slow moving at first.

There are only six episodes, but things really didn’t pick up for me until episode 4. Once the mystery started unraveling more and more, I became more invested and I was actually really interested in some of the character connections and the reveals.

It would have been great if the show had this same feel from the very start, but there are moments in each episode that have that shock value to grab your attention.

Not for the faint of heart.

As I mentioned earlier, there are some real disturbing moments of gore featured in the series. However, there are also some scenes that are extremely difficult to watch and I hope that Netflix considers adding a few advisories to these particular episodes that show a violent sexual assault and an extremely disturbing scene involving a pregnant woman.

As of right now, Netflix codes the show as being for mature audiences, featuring violence. However, I think that extra advisories should be added for episodes 1 and 4. Please be aware of these scenes during your watch.

So am I in or out?

Ju On Origins Netflix 3 — Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m about 50/50 on this one. I think that true fans of this franchise will thoroughly enjoy the series. If you are a horror fan looking for something quick to binge-watch, it only takes about three hours to get through all of the episodes.

The show does have some interesting qualities and I really did become more invested during episode 4, but I think we could have captured this feel from the very beginning and some of that was missed with the slower pace.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Ju-On: Origins in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Penny Dreadful: City of Angels” on Showtime: Evil Looks Good on Natalie Dormer

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“Until not a soul is left…are you ready?”

The sequel spin-off of Penny Dreadful may not be connected to the original show, but it does present us with a different kind of evil in a brand new time and setting with Natalie Dormer’s Magda at the very center of it.

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels premiered on Showtime on April 26th 2020. It will feature weekly episodes (55 minutes in length). It stars Natalie Dormer, Daniel Zovatto, Nathan Lane, and Lorenza Izzo.

While the show has been long awaited by fans of the beloved Gothic horror series, Penny Dreadful, there will be no crossovers or Easter Eggs to the original series, even though it seems like this could have been done.

The show takes place in Los Angeles, 1938 and follows several groups of characters as the demon, Magda and Santa Muerte clash on their involvement in mortal affairs.

The show certainly has a lot of possibility, but can it live up to its predecessor? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Penny Dreadful COA Showtime 1 — Images courtesy of Showtime

Natalie Dormer ignites the screen.

I am already a fan of the Game of Thrones alum, but I have to say that Natalie Dormer was born for a role like this. While it will certainly not be easy to live up to the breathtakingly magnetic, Eva Green in the original series, Dormer is taking on a new character and is embracing her dark side with style.

The opening scene leaves you wanting so much more and reveals just how manipulative and powerful Dormer’s character can be.

Penny Dreadful COA Showtime 2 — Images courtesy of Showtime

Exceptional cast and gorgeous setting.

The sequel is set in pre World War II L.A. The setting is absolutely gorgeous and I appreciated some of these smaller moments where we got to witness dancing in the street, beautiful outfits, and serene backdrops of the bluffs, transporting us back to a different time and place seamlessly.

The rest of the cast is talented as well, which should work in their favor, as they have the potential to really light up the screen with character dynamics and relationships.

The Cons:

Penny Dreadful COA Showtime 5 — Images courtesy of Showtime

A storyboard of ideas can get confusing…

After watching the premiere episode, there are already so many characters and sub-plots, which makes it difficult to keep up. I’m all for a slow burn type of reveal, but I think that some of these plots are going to get lost in the void. The premiere episode acted like a storyboard of ideas rather than a full developed plot, which could be problematic.

Penny Dreaful COA Showtime 4 — Images courtesy of Showtime

Don’t bench your best player…

Natalie Dormer is the best part of this series right now and yet she is taking a back seat in the premiere episode. While I understand that the show is focusing more on her whispering in the ears of men to convince them to do evil, she honestly deserves more than this.

I love seeing her take on different characters as she hides her true identity as the demon, Magda, but it seems like we are stifling a major asset on this series and I just honestly want to see more of her. Let her shine!

Not enough supernatural elements.

The original series did a fantastic job of transporting us into a world of Gothic horror as we met familiar characters from literature with a unique and dark spin. While I understand that the show is going in a new direction, I don’t want it to lose that supernatural spark. There are a lot of elements in history to explore during this time, but let’s tell a new story filled with legend and magical possibility.

So am I in or out?

Penny Dreadful COA Showtime 3 — Images courtesy of Showtime

Right now, I’m honestly about 50/50. The show has the potential to be something extraordinary. We get this interesting clash between the demon, Magda and the legend, Santa Muerte, which could really help the show find its own entertaining path, but I have a feeling that a lot of things will get lost in the midst of an over-complicated plot.

I’m going to give the show a few more episodes because Natalie Dormer honestly deserves it, but I really hope that this slow burn mystery can just start lighting things on fire already.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Penny Dreadful: City of Angels in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek comes out April 28th!

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” Season 10 Episode 15 “The Tower”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10 episode 15, we were reminded that “it’s so hard to take a chance on people in this world,” but every now and then, it pays off to open up to a new potential friend.

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, “The Tower,” we meet the new wild card character, Princess, who certainly makes things interesting. Meanwhile, Aaron and Alden wind up in trouble and Judith and Lydia try to come to terms with their own losses.

My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 10 episode 15 are:

“I’m great! You’ll see!”

Meet Princess! She is certainly a breath of fresh air, but Yumiko, Ezekiel, and Eugene quickly learn that she is unpredictable, but can they trust her?

Yumiko reminds the group that when you are alone for that long, you become selfish and crazy and perhaps Princess is a little bit of both, but at least she livens things up for our group. After scaring off their horses by mistake, Princess promises to make it up to the group and wants to help them with their mission.

Everything seems to be going just fine until she leads them right into a minefield. Watch your step, guys! Princess is running out of water canteens. Ultimately, everyone is all right and Princess comes through at the end. Yumiko apologizes to her and it looks like her intentions are pure after all. I personally really enjoyed her introduction onto the show and hope that she continues to make things interesting for us. I have a feeling that she will.

“Where are they?”

Meanwhile, Beta continues to channel his inner Alpha to find his enemies, but perhaps he should learn to look around a little harder…

Aaron and Alden are up in the tower, but they may have a difficult time getting out of there undetected. After Beta talks to the wind or to dead Alpha on his face, he seems to know where he is going and Aaron and Alden end up surrounded.

Now might be the perfect time for Maggie to show up…just saying.

“That’s your superpower.”

Carol and Kelly get some screen time during this transitional episode, as Carol breaks down and apologizes to Kelly about Connie. Kelly reveals that she doesn’t think Connie is dead and also explains that she does understand Carol and her actions.

Kelly tells Carol that when she first started losing her hearing, Connie reminded her that it was not a weakness…it was her superpower. She talks about how Carol is the “lone wolf” of the group and that’s OK because that is her own superpower.

I thought this moment was heartwarming and so well done. Kelly doesn’t often get enough screen time and this was a really important moment for both her and Carol.

Now let’s hope that Connie is still alive! I need her back!

“It’s not OK!”

Lydia is dealing with her own demons as well, shutting down to those around her. After snapping at Judith, Negan tries to approach her, explaining that he just wanted to tell Lydia that he did like her mom.

Lydia initially turns off all of her emotions here and is clearly afraid to process what has happened. She is mad to feel grief because she knows that her mother was a monster, but she still was her mother and that brings up some complicated feelings.

Later in the episode, Lydia finally breaks down to Negan and releases all of her emotions. It’s important for Lydia to grieve so that she can use it and move on, channeling that strength within her.

“I want to learn what you do.”

Judith also finds herself conflicted over her own feelings. After Lydia snaps at her, telling her that “not everyone gets to have a mom like yours,” Judith goes after Daryl and tells him that she wants to tag along and truly learn about what he does.

Daryl is hesitant at first, but agrees, reminding Judith that she needs to listen to everything he says. Daryl and Judith come across a Whisperer spy, or deserter, who has been badly injured. She isn’t really able to shed much light on anything and Daryl ends her life.

Judith does not react to this well and explains to Daryl that she could have had a family. Even though Judith told her mother to go and see if she could find Rick, she is clearly feeling abandoned and lost now.

Daryl reveals that he tried to radio over to Michonne, but didn’t hear back from her. Judith tells him that she is helping some people, but failed to mention anything about the possibility of Rick being alive. So, why did she keep this from him?

I think Judith is afraid of anyone else leaving her at this point and realizes that Daryl might go running off after Rick as well. We get a touching scene between Daryl and Judith, as Daryl tells her that he is her family. Let’s just hope that everyone can be reunited at some point because Judith’s reaction was honestly breaking my heart.

Overall, the episode functioned well as a transitional one prior to a season finale. While we did get a preview of the season finale, we still don’t know when it will air. I can’t wait to see it later in the year and hope that we can finally get some answers about both Maggie and Connie. I also want to see Eugene meet Stephanie as well, which should set up season 11 nicely.

Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on TWD in the comments section below. Thank you so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” Season 10 Episode 14 “Look at the Flowers”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10 episode 14, we were reminded that you should “look forward, not back.” After all, “you don’t know what lies ahead for us…no one does,” which makes the journey that much more important for each and every one of us.

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, “Look at the Flowers,” Carol is haunted by Alpha, causing her to look deeper in her own soul to discover what she truly wants. Meanwhile, Eugene heads off to meet up with Stephanie, a new Alpha is crowned, and Beta looks for signs from the old one.

My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 10 episode 14 are:

“You’re free now.”

In the beginning of the episode, Carol asks Negan again what took him so long. We flash back to the day she let him out of his cell, offering him a chance to help everyone forget what he has done in the past. Negan recognizes Carol as a “certified bad-ass” and so do we, but the task wasn’t that simple and Negan admits to Daryl later on that maybe he did like being undercover for a while.

Negan reminds Carol during present day that she needs to hold up her end of the bargain and escort him back to Alexandria so that everyone believes that he “silenced the Alpha” to save them, but Carol has other things on her mind and reminds Negan that he’s free and it’s up to him whether he wants to wait around for her or not…

“A fool willing to believe in future friends.”

Meanwhile, Eugene finally tells the group about his conversations with Stephanie, which puts everyone on edge. We don’t know if Stephanie is an ally or a foe, but Yumiko and Ezekiel are willing to escort Eugene on this journey, determined to stay positive.

Only Ezekiel starts to have several meltdowns along the way. We know that he is very ill and unsure of how much time he has left, but perhaps he can still shed some laughter after all.

We haven’t met Stephanie yet, but the group does stumble upon a city staged with walkers. We get to see some of them sitting down for coffee and even a police officer walker handcuffed, suggesting that someone may be having a little too much fun here.

A new character pops up at the end of the episode and seems more than thrilled to see the group, but can she be trusted?

I’m intrigued to find out more! Let’s spice up TWD with a pop of color and insanity!

“Just listen…”

After Beta discovers Alpha’s head on a spike, he is less than pleased. Two of the other Whisperers suggest that he is the new Alpha now, but Beta decides to teach them a lesson, pushing one of them close enough to hear what undead Alpha has to say about this while she rips the flesh from his ear…

Beta decides to carry Alpha’s head along with him. He cradles her head like a baby, which was beyond disturbing, searching for some kind of a sign. Eventually Beta has apparently found what he is looking for, finally stabbing his former leader’s head.

So, what is Beta planning next? It looks like we may have a split between The Whisperers now that Alpha is gone, but Beta should not be underestimated and I am still looking forward to a rematch between him and Daryl.

“We kneel to the new Alpha.”

After Daryl stumbles upon Negan, he is not entirely convinced about his story, especially when Alpha’s head is missing. Before they can hash this out further, some Whisperers show up and decide to bow down to Negan, which really entertains him.

Daryl is forced to kneel as well, but perhaps Negan has an in to truly save everyone now that they are looking at him as the leader. Let’s just hope the power doesn’t go to his head…

I’m also wondering where Lydia ran off to. Hopefully they can get her back before Beta finds her.

Since we know that Beta is seen as a leader as well, the war is far from over, but this should be interesting…

“They don’t know what you truly want.”

Even though Alpha is dead, Carol is not completely satisfied yet, as Alpha begins to haunt her. Carol goes on a journey of self-discovery, attempting to discover what she really wants, but it’s far from easy.

Alpha drags her back down into the darkest parts of her consciousness, reminding her of Henry, Sophia, Ed, Lizzie and Mika. Alpha represents the voice in Carol’s head that tells her that she isn’t good enough as a mother or as a person.

This journey was so important for Carol to snap her back to reality so that she can move on with her life. The threat may be over, but the real enemies are the inner demons swarming around in Carol’s mind, refusing to release their grip on her.

When Alpha tells Carol to “look at the flowers,” it reminds us of season 4 episode 14, “The Grove.” Carol had told Lizzie to simply look at the flowers before she killed her, which is still one of the most emotionally chaotic episodes I have ever seen on the show.

In this moment, Carol refuses to do the same. She doesn’t just accept her fate. She decides to change it and now finally understands what she wants.

She wants to survive. She wants to live. She wants to finally release all of the demons so that she can move forward.

Welcome back, Carol!

Overall, I thought this was another powerful episode. After Michonne’s own spiritual journey, Carol’s was necessary as well. We certainly moved a lot of other pieces of the plot as well and I’m looking forward to next week’s episode.

Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on TWD in the comments section below. Thank you so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” Season 10 Episode 13: “What We Become”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10 episode 13, we were reminded that “what happens next, it’s your fault.” Every choice we make is important. It can lead us down the path we are meant to pursue, but what happens if we take one false step? Will we still end up in the same place or will our lives change drastically?

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, “What We Become,” we catch up with Michonne and Virgil, as they finally reach Bloodsworth Island. Things are not as quiet as they seem, as Michonne ends up on a spiritual journey of her own that leads her to an incredible discovery.

My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 10 episode 13 are:

“I’m not staying here long…”

As Michonne arrives at Bloodsworth Island, she tells Virgil to “stop the bullshit,” explaining that she wants to find the weapons there as soon as possible so she can return home.

Only Virgil has some other ideas, as he ends up locking Michonne up in a cell after she hears voices behind a wall.

It’s clear that Virgil has snapped and possesses some inner demons of his own, but Michonne doesn’t plan on sticking around much longer.

“You were supposed to protect us.”

The opening of the episode flashes back to Michonne’s first episode right before she saves Andrea. Only in the flashback, we see that Michonne decides to walk away, choosing not to save Andrea. This twist makes sense later on when we discover that Virgil has drugged Michonne to make things even more complicated.

Virgil tells Michonne not to fight it and she begins to hallucinate. She has a chat with Siddiq and she flashes back to several key moments in the show we all remember so well, showing us what life could have been like for Michonne if she had decided not to save someone.

In this alternate flashback world, Michonne ends up joining Negan and is killed later on by Rick, revealing that every choice we make in our lives does matter. It makes us who we are and even though Michonne is hallucinating, I thought this was extremely powerful and revealing.

“Your mercy gives you something.”

After Michonne breaks free, she takes Virgil’s prisoners along with her, who seem to be trustworthy. They knew Virgil before all this happened and fill in some blanks about how he snapped after his family died. Michonne tracks Virgil down and really thinks about killing him, but reminds everyone that if they take his life, they will lose more of themselves.

Michonne’s decision to show Virgil mercy shows us just how far she has come as a character. Michonne could have taken the selfish or easy way out so many times in her life, but every single time she decided to risk it all to save someone, it made her who she is today.

Michonne is still determined to find what she is looking for on the island and Virgil finally agrees to help her.

Seriously, was that so hard, Virgil?

“Where the hell did you get these?”

Virgil takes Michonne to a ship that washed up on the island and she begins to go through everything left on board. Michonne is beyond shocked when she finds Rick’s cowboy boots and demands to know where Virgil got them from.

She frantically looks through the other items and finds an old cell phone with a chalk drawing of Michonne and Judith on it. Michonne’s reaction was so incredibly moving, now realizing that there is a chance that Rick may still be alive.

Of course this leads to even more questions. How did Rick end up here? Did he mean to leave these as clues or is someone else trying to get Michonne’s attention? Where is Rick? The questions are endless…

Michonne decides to head off the island on the ship with the others to try and find Rick, but Virgil stays there. He reminds her that he promised to leave his wife flowers everyday and he can’t leave her behind.

Michonne understands this all too well, realizing that she also has to follow her path and try and find Rick.

“I found something that belonged to the brave man.”

As if this wasn’t already an emotional roller coaster of an episode, Michonne radios over to Judith and explains that she found something that belonged to Rick. Judith asks her if he is alive and Michonne explains that she doesn’t know, but Judith wants her to find out, assuring her that Alpha cannot hurt them anymore. Judith wants her mother with her, but she also realizes the importance of Michonne trying to help her dad.

Michonne will be heading north and promises to still check in with Judith and RJ.

At the end of the episode, Michonne comes across people in need of assistance and ultimately decides to help them, remembering how Rick and Carl stopped to help her when she needed it. This will most likely stall Michonne’s discovery of Rick, but I thought it was the perfect scene to truly remind us that Michonne is a selfless hero and has come so far as a character.

Overall, I thought this episode was brilliantly done and the perfect exit and farewell to Danai Gurira. Michonne’s exit from the show gives me hope that she will one day be reunited with Rick and the rest of her family. It’s so often that we say goodbye to some of our favorite characters by watching them die, but this gave us another way, allowing us to truly be at peace with Michonne’s decision.

The flashbacks were so thought-provoking and emotional, giving us a chance to see former characters while providing us with an interesting perspective on Michonne’s own character development.

Farewell, Michonne! We will miss you and hope to see you and Rick soon in TWD future!

Stay tuned!

What were some of YOUR favorite moments with Michonne across the series? Feel free to drop them in the comments!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on TWD in the comments section below. Thank you so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” Season 15 Episode 12: “Galaxy Brain”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching The CW’s Supernatural season 15 episode 12, I remembered that sometimes less is more, but is canceling shows really the answer to Chuck’s problems?

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In tonight’s episode, “Galaxy Brain,” Sam and Dean attempt to figure out their next move while Jody ends up in trouble. Meanwhile, Chuck/God grows tired of the other worlds while the Winchesters risk everything to protect an innocent.

My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 15 episode 12 are:

“I trust Jack…”

“Trust is a strong word,” but Sam and Dean are running out of options to stop Chuck/God. Billie seems to know what she’s talking about most of the time and we know that Jack has good intentions, but it’s clear that Sam and Dean are treading lightly here.

Jack cannot use his powers or he will alert Chuck, but can he control himself now that he is back in the real world? Let’s hope so.

“If you don’t come, I’m dead.”

Meanwhile, Jody runs into some trouble as well and makes a call to the Winchesters to help her out of a jam. It’s always good to see Jody and as we approach the end of the series, I hope we get some more screen time for her because it brings back so much SPN nostalgia.

SPN The CW 3 — Images courtesy of The CW

It was also amazing to see Jody finally meet Castiel and I thought the chat about Claire was truly touching.

“She haunts me.”

Jody is not the only one to return in this episode, as we learn that Dark Kaia is responsible for holding her captive. She tells Sam and Dean that Jack can get her back to her world, but they are not initially too inclined to help her after she holds their friend against her will.

SPN The CW 2 — Images courtesy of The CW

Dark Kaia reveals that her world is dying and that she has been having some prophetic nightmares, revealing that the real Kaia is actually still alive and trapped in her world.

We know that Chuck is looking to potentially shut down all other worlds so they better get Kaia out of there quick. After all, they’re running out of time…

“I don’t belong in your world.”

Even though the Winchesters are risking exposure to save one life, they are not about to leave an innocent behind. They return to Dark Kaia’s world, which is just as ominous as I remember. Kaia is saved and Dark Kaia decides to stay, even though it doesn’t look like her world is going to last much longer.

Jack and Kaia have a nice chat and we learn that nursery rhymes can get you through quite a lot.

It seems that all is well and Chuck has not been alerted, but another surprise guest is about to make her own appearance with killer style.

“I see the big picture…”

Billie shows up and takes out the reaper who has been spying on Jack, but good news never seems to travel along with her. Billie reveals that all the worlds are dying except for this one. Chuck is “wiping the slate clean” for the end, but Sam asks Billie what her end game is.

SPN The CW 1 — Images courtesy of The CW

Billie reveals that everyone has a book in death’s library…even Chuck/God. Apparently the books write themselves and no one can read their own books. Billie reminds Sam and Dean that this is their destiny. They are the messengers of God’s destruction, but is there a price that comes along with this destiny?

What’s inside Chuck’s book and how is it linked to the fate of the Winchesters?

We’ll have to stay tuned to find out, but it looks like the glimmer of hope is increasing more and more now…even in the midst of the end of the world.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Supernatural in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” Season 10 Episode 12: “Walk With Us”

Happy Sunday TV fans! After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10 episode 12, we were reminded that “things don’t always work out the way you want” and sometimes what you desire most of all can lead to your downfall.

Please note MAJOR spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In tonight’s episode, “Walk With Us,” the war is here, as we get a few unexpected casualties. Meanwhile, Negan finally gives Alpha what she wants, leading to the epic ending you have been waiting for.

My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 10 episode 12 are:

“I’ll never walk with her.”

The opening of the episode is beyond intense. There are still flames everywhere as our group defends Hilltop. Lydia refuses to walk with her mother and runs off, but ends up bumping straight into Negan. She is initially relieved to see him, but it looks like he has another agenda up his sleeve. Where does Negan’s loyalty lie? We’re about to find out…

“Her hand just slipped out of mine.”

In the midst of all the chaos, Yumiko actually spots an injured Magna in the crowd.

Magna was able to survive the cave-in, but says that she lost track of Connie and couldn’t find her. This doesn’t necessarily mean that Connie is dead and I am remaining positive about one of my favorite characters on the show, but I was glad to see that Magna is all right.

Magna and Yumiko take a break from the war to break up, earning some screen time during the episode.

“Never!”

After Mary finally gets a chance to hold baby Adam, we witness a sweet moment. It’s good to see family back with family except they are being followed by a hungry horde of walkers. Mary sacrifices everything to protect her nephew and leads the walkers away, taking them out one by one.

Only Beta is waiting for her and stabs her, waiting for her to turn so that she can walk with Alpha. Mary’s actions were so brave and I was honestly so upset to see her die after showing so much promise and potential.

After being turned, Alden shoots her with an arrow to prevent her from falling victim to such a cruel fate. Beta runs off again and even takes out one of his own followers to protect his identity.

“I can stay here with you.”

Judith has always been so strong and mature, but she certainly grows up a lot after this episode and my heart goes out to her. The plans goes slightly off when Ezekiel is separated from the kids, but Earl gets them to the safe house.

Judith discovers that Earl has been bitten and offers to stay with him so that he does not have to be alone. Earl tells her that he is not alone and tells her not to come out again so that he can stop himself as a threat.

It’s not that easy to stab your own brain as we find out and poor Judith is left to take out undead Earl. Daryl and the others find the kids and they are all safe, but this has clearly taken a toll on Judith and I’m pretty sure that she has gone through more things than any other kid on the planet…ever.

Even though this was heartbreaking to watch, I finally felt like Judith got a true moment to shine, channeling Carl quite a bit here.

“Took you long enough.”

Negan informs Alpha that he has found the thing she is looking for, leading her off to where he has Lydia held captive. After an interesting Lion King debate, Negan actually reveals quite a bit about his own feelings after his wife died.

Alpha explains that it is Lydia’s destiny to die because she loves her. Lydia has always been Alpha’s weakness and as Lydia breaks free, we discover that she is in a different shack.

Alpha finds her own shack empty and Negan swiftly slashes her throat. He rolls her undead animated head toward Carol, revealing that these two make quite the team.

This was probably one of the best episodes I have seen on the series and I was very satisfied with this outcome. Welcome back to the team, Negan!

So, now that Alpha is dead, what does this mean for the fate of The Whisperers? Is the threat really over or will they take revenge?

Stay tuned! Next week we finally catch up with Michonne!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on TWD in the comments section below. Thank you so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” Season 10 Episode 11: “Morning Star”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10 episode 11, The Whisperers reminded us that they are the end of the world, but our group has been training for this very moment…and it’s finally here. “This is gonna be the fight of our lives.”

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, “Morning Star,” Alpha decides to declare war on Hilltop, as our group prepares for battle. Meanwhile, Eugene secures a date, Carol and Ezekiel catch up, and Judith presents Daryl with the perfect gift.

My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 10 episode 11 are:

“My mother’s coming…”

Not exactly the words you want to hear when Lydia’s mom is coming to visit. Lydia knows what her mother is capable of and she tries to warn the group, but there is initially some disagreement on how to proceed. Some of the Hilltop members want to stay and fight, but others think that they should leave to protect the children.

Well, it looks like our group doesn’t have much of a choice since Alpha decides to block all the roads. Hilltop is on their own, but that doesn’t mean that we should count them out just yet.

“Loser with a forlorn heart.”

Eugene gets some screen time in this episode as he continues to talk to his mystery woman over the radio…Stephanie. It’s clear that Eugene has some pretty intense feelings, but things get complicated when Rosita walks in and hears her on the radio.

Eugene is more than upset because he feels that he broke his promise to Stephanie, but this leads to a nice chat between him and Rosita. After turning down a kiss from our girl, he realizes that perhaps he really cares for Stephanie even though he has never met her.

Luckily, Stephanie comes back on the line and agrees to meet up with Eugene for their very first date. Eugene tells her about Rosita and refers to her as his “proverbial bff,” which was adorable.

Let’s hope that Eugene makes it out of the battle alive because I have a lot of questions about who Stephanie is and what her intentions are. I am aware that she is a character in the comics, but I’m trying to leave her mysterious story open for now.

“Never bullshit a bullshitter.”

Fair point, Carol! Everyone begins to have these important and dramatic conversations during this episode, unsure if they will make it out of the war alive. Carol discovers that Ezekiel has cancer and these two finally have a talk…followed by some extracurricular activities.

While this seems like more of an actual goodbye to give them both closure, it’s clear that they will always care for one another.

I was actually really moved by the later conversation between Carol and Lydia. Lydia sits down next to the heart she carved into the wall with Henry, holding on to her own grief and regret as well (Loved that Ezekiel gave her something of Henry’s to wear for the battle).

Carol confides in her and tells her that she had a life, which was really important and moving. Carol has shut down for so long and it looks like she is finally taking the first step toward recognizing her pain and deciding how to deal with it.

As if we didn’t get enough touching Carol moments, Daryl also tells her that he could never hate her, which brought tears to my eyes.

We’re rooting for you Carol!

“You know who you’re fighting for.”

The most heartwarming part of the episode was when Judith presented Daryl with his new angel wing. Judith wants to stay and fight, but Daryl reminds her that she needs to protect her brother and go with Ezekiel, even if she can’t find him.

Daryl is Judith’s family and I thought this moment was so important. We know that Daryl doesn’t always show his emotions, but it’s clear just how much he cares about Judith and he will die for her.

The angel wing look perfect on Daryl as he wears it with pride during the battle. Talk about an immortal…

“Formation!”

This is the moment we have been waiting for! Hilltop has been training and now they are about to put their skills to the test as they line up to protect their home and fight Alpha’s horde. The last few minutes of the episode were beyond intense as we witness the beginning of the war.

The Whisperers are more than prepared; however, as they begin to shower our group in gasoline, which was not expected. Hilltop is set on fire and our group is left standing out in the open.

We get several interesting interactions between Alpha and Negan (sans nudity, phew) and Negan suggests having the group surrender, which implies that he has something else up his sleeve. Negan seems surprised when Alpha notes that she will have them follow her as part of her horde, but what else does Negan have planned here?

We know how much Negan adores Judith and he also has a fondness for Lydia, so I can’t imagine him standing by and letting anything happen to them.

It seems like this may have been one hell of a long con, but I’m anxious to discover the results in next week’s episode.

Overall, this episode was an emotional roller coaster. We got several motivational speeches and glimmers of closure, but the final minutes of the episode had the majority of the action.

I personally cannot wait for next week’s episode and I’m anxious to see who wins the battle once and for all!

Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on TWD in the comments section below. Thank you so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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