Spoiler-Free Review of “Slasher: Solstice” Season 3 on Netflix: Gore and Gratuitous Sex Scenes Galore

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

“We all hate someone. We just need to find someone who hates enough to kill.” Well sure…that makes sense. But it doesn’t necessarily make it any easier to pinpoint the killer in Slasher: Solstice, as Netflix has finally released season three. So who is the Druid Killer? Think you already have it figured out? Maybe not, as season three genuinely keeps you guessing until the very end. If you are craving some slasher happy fun, you are in the right place.

Slasher is a horror anthology series. Each season follows a different killer and premise, but many of the actors take on different roles in each season, giving you an American Horror Story feel, while channeling I Know What You Did Last Summer and Scream. While the show is still far off from these slasher films, it does provide horror fans with plenty of creative kills and gore.

Season three features 8 episodes, all streaming on Netflix as of May 23rd 2019. It stars Dean McDermott, Joanne Vannicola, Baraka Rahmani, Mercedes Morris, and Salvatore Antonio. The opening episode starts off at some kind of Solstice rave and we cut right to the chase and witness a brutal murder by the Druid Killer. One year later, the Druid Killer returns and begins targeting the initial victim’s neighbors from the apartment building. Everyone is a suspect and no one is safe, as each episode reveals bits and pieces about their linked past, reminding us that standing by and doing nothing can have severe consequences.

The Pros:

Season three keeps you guessing until the very end.

If you’re like me, you immediately start playing Nancy Drew to discover who the killer is. I have to say that every time I thought I had it all figured out, my suspect would be killed and I would have to start all over again. One of the reasons why I enjoy this show is because every season keeps me guessing. The ultimate twists are not obvious and are satisfying enough to keep your attention.

The gore is extreme.

If you don’t like to watch horror and gore, this show is definitely not for you and I was even turning my head away after several of the kills, as I think this season has provided us with the most gore by far. Some of the kills are so outrageous that you will begin laughing, but each kill is more extreme than the next and some of them will genuinely make your skin crawl. I personally like my fair share of gore and season three didn’t disappoint with this.

The acting is decent enough.

I thought that the performances were solid enough in season three and I was interested in several of the backstories of the characters we meet. Standout performance goes to Baraka Rahmani, who plays Saadia. She had enough layers to hold my interest, as the story continued. I have been impressed with the cast each season and it was fun to see some of the actors from previous seasons play completely different roles.

The Cons:

The borderline soft-core porn sex scenes are unnecessary.

Season three seemed to go completely overboard with the gratuitous sex scenes. It was almost to the point where I could count to three and see another sex scene if it had been a few minutes since we witnessed our last brutal murder. These scenes took away from the show and made it obvious that they were completely filler. I would have rather had shorter episodes, as this almost ruined the season for me. Luckily, the reveal of the killer was interesting enough, but it seemed like every single time I went to grab a snack, I walked in to another pointless sex scene, which just made the show seem desperate.

The underlying themes hit you over the head.

While I was intrigued by the idea of punishing those who do nothing, the show also dealt with racism, stereotypes, and the dangers of social media. It just seemed like the show didn’t know which message to focus on and was trying to do too many things at once. I think that if the show had subtly introduced these issues, while focusing on how to be a good neighbor, it might have delivered the message a little better.

So am I in or out?

I am a huge fan of the series even though I much prefer season one. Seriously, The Executioner still gives me nightmares and I thought that season one gave me a true I Know What You Did Last Summer and Scream nostalgia. I love slasher films and I was genuinely excited when I first learned about this series. Season two fell short for me and had more of a contrived And Then There Were None approach, but it still had enough redeeming moments.

I personally enjoyed season three more than season two, but it still didn’t live up to season one for me. If the Druid Killer reveal wasn’t as satisfying, I probably would have been completely out, but this saved it for me. If you are a horror fan and love your fair share of gore, you will enjoy this, but if you don’t like this genre, I would say to pass on it. Overall, I was underwhelmed by the season, but I got through the 8 episodes very quickly and now is the perfect time to watch, since so many other programs are taking a break from new episodes.

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

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

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Chambers” on Netflix: Trippy Horror Identity Crisis

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

“It’s the unseen energy that surrounds your body. It tells you who you really are inside.” But what happens when your aura is shared with someone else? A good question for sure and Sasha Yazzie is about to experience this first hand after she survives a heart transplant and begins to feel more than connected to her dead donor, Becky Lefevre. Sasha is welcomed into Becky’s former home, as Becky’s family desperately tries to make a connection with her, still coping with the death of their teenage daughter.

Sasha learns that Becky’s death may not have been an accident after all, as she starts to put the pieces together after experiencing some hallucinations and distant memories. But are they actually hallucinations or has Sasha tapped into Becky’s spirit somehow? I’m ready to find out, as Sasha tries to unravel the mystery behind Becky’s death, but will she lose her own soul in the process?

Chambers currently features 10 episodes, all streaming on Netflix as of April 26^th 2019. It stars Sivan Alyra Rose, Marcus LaVoi, Uma Thurman, Tony Goldwyn and Lili Taylor. The show sort of has an indie horror supernatural vibe mixed with 13 Reasons Why, as we get some teenage drama sprinkled in along with some Native American culture. Throughout the series, we are presented with different suspects and new twists and turns, as we try to piece together the mystery surrounding Sasha and her dangerous passenger.

The Pros:

The premise of the show and the opening episodes are really intriguing.

The show actually starts off brilliantly. It captured my attention right away and I was immediately drawn to Sasha’s character and I felt a connection to her. The first three episodes of the series are haunting, eerie, and unique. They present us with some legitimately scary moments of horror, while introducing us to the other elements of the show, which immediately drew me in to the mystery.

The performances are believable and the characters are unique.

I have an issue with shows that give me an awesome story and plot, but characters who are underdeveloped and acting that is lacking. However, I almost felt the opposite with this show. The performances were incredible and moving. Stand-out performances go to Sivan Alyra Rose as Sasha and Uma Thurman as Nancy. All of the characters had interesting qualities and I even believed the friendships and relationships going on around them. I almost felt like these performances were too good for this series and they deserved better, but they did keep me invested in the show.

The music soundtrack and setting.

I don’t always pay attention to a music soundtrack, but this show has an amazing one. Throughout the series, we get an excellent mix of soulful R&B, subtle techno, and mesmerizing moody rock. The kind of moody rock that makes you want to lie down on your floor and listen to it again and again, while staring up at the ceiling and contemplating the world around you. And this worked perfectly with this show. The music mirrored the indie trippy vibe I was getting and I loved it.

The song that stuck out the most for me, and probably for you too, is “I Wanna Be Adored” by The Stone Roses, which you can listen to below.

Sasha begins hearing this song in Becky’s car and we later hear it again and again, as we learn that it has a connection to Becky’s mysterious death. Seriously, I loved it so much that I have been jamming out to it myself and dancing around, but I have yet to come in contact with another soul so far, so I guess my aura is clear for now. One of the lyrics in the song is, “I don’t have to sell my soul. He’s already in me,” which is clever and spot on, as Sasha deals with her own soul sharing.

The imagery through the setting of the show is beautiful and intriguing as well. The show takes place in Arizona, but was mostly filmed in New Mexico and gave me a Breaking Bad nostalgia. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking and the fade-ins and camera angles worked well with it, which was a pro for me. This show had so many beautiful and mysterious elements and this was complimented by the setting for sure.

The Cons:

This show drags in so many parts.

While the first three episodes moved rather quickly for me, the remaining episodes felt slow and I think it’s mostly because there were too many filler moments that just didn’t work. Each episode runs about 40-45 minutes, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but if it feels like an episode is taking forever, that’s not so great. There were just too many moments of fluff in-between that didn’t really do anything for the show and it just slowed down the tempo too much for me, while only giving me small pieces of the mystery I invested so much time into.

This show doesn’t really know what it wants to be.

So, my title for today’s blog included identity crisis and I think that’s probably this show’s main problem. It just felt like it didn’t know which way to go. While it is perfectly acceptable for genres to overlap with one another, this show seemed like it was zigzagging all over the place. Many of the plots started to branch out on their own with no real set-up or explanation. I was along for the ride, but I often felt like I was hallucinating myself, as I tried to grab hold of what this show was truly trying to be, which was kind of exhausting and disappointing.

So am I in or out?

Overall, I was actually really frustrated with this show because I felt like it had the potential to be absolutely brilliant. The first three episodes were different and unique and the pros that I mentioned earlier really held my attention. Even the ending of the show is really great and it left us with a major cliffhanger that will need to be explored if this gets picked up for a season two. I feel like a few tweaks could have made this show so much better. For example, we get 10 episodes, but I think this show could have been done in 6-8 episodes max. More episodes isn’t always better and this actually caused the show to drag and spiral out into too many directions.

The premise and the mystery will keep you guessing and is enough to hold your attention, but I guess I was just so upset that this could have easily become one of my new favorite shows if it just tried a little bit harder. Overall, I’d say it was OK to pretty good and I’d give it a B minus-B range. I wouldn’t say that you need to stop what you are doing to watch this, but it does have enough going on to provide you with some entertainment and some creepy horror elements, so I’d say to add it to your future watch list, once your other favorite shows stop airing new episodes.

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

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

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Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” season 14 episode 20: “Welcome to the End”

Happy Friday TV fans! After watching the CW’s Supernatural season 14 episode 20 season finale, I realized that stories can be dangerous, but what happens when the story is over? When there’s no glimmer of light left to maintain that last bit of hope? Can we write our own story or is the end clear cut? Please note major spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “Moriah,” Sam and Dean are visited by an old friend, who claims he just wants to help, but does he? Meanwhile, Jack’s powers continue to impact the world and Castiel tries to get through to him before it’s too late. My top 5 moments from the Supernatural season 14 episode 20 season finale are:

“Takes one to know one.”

In the beginning of the episode, Sam and Dean try to track down Jack using every resource they can find and Dean comments that he is surrounded by nerds. However, Sam gently reminds him that he does watch Jeopardy every single night. I do too, Dean! I thought this was a clever way to keep a little bit of humor going, as there were so many dramatic and serious moments during the season finale. Glad to see that Dean is a nerd at heart for sure!

“It’s everywhere…”

Jack’s powers continue to spiral out of control, as he demands that everyone stop lying, which causes the entire world to spill the truth about everything. This can be extremely dangerous, especially when we learn that Sam’s favorite music artist is actually Celine Dion, not Elvis. Even the president’s lies are being revealed and Crowley gets a special shout out, when we learn that he actually made a deal with him once upon a time. Sam, Dean, and Castiel recognize that Jack must be behind this, but it looks like they may need some extra help to stop him.

“You’re my favorite show!”

Surprise…God, aka Chuck, is back! It looks like Castiel’s long distance phone call actually worked, as Chuck makes an appearance to help the Winchesters deal with the Jack situation. Chuck fixes the lying issue with a snap of his fingers, but his solution for Jack is much more complicated. Chuck presents them with a gun, but he is still working out its name. Personally I liked “The Equalizer.” Chuck explains that the gun will work in some kind of quantum leap way and eliminate Jack, but Dean breaks it down and says, “You kill him…you die.”

So who is going to be the one to shoot him and is there any other way? Castiel wants Chuck to help restore Jack’s soul, but Chuck reminds him that souls are tricky and messy, so it looks like they may not have a choice. Sam refuses to accept this and asks Chuck why it always has to fall on them. Chuck reveals that Sam and Dean are his favorites, but they are much more than a story, as this is life to them. Is Chuck actually helping or is he about to cause even more damage now with his intervention?

“I understand.”

Castiel finally reaches Jack and the two sit down to have a father-son talk. Jack reveals to Castiel that he feels empty and that if he were able to love, he would love him. Before Castiel can get much further, Dean approaches them with Chuck’s gun, but Castiel and Sam try to stop him. Jack faces Dean and simply says, “I understand,” recognizing Dean’s decision and what this means, which was absolutely heartbreaking.

Sam tries to get Dean to listen to reason, revealing that perhaps they are only playing out parts in Chuck’s story. Dean puts the gun down, which frustrates Chuck, who tries to convince him to shoot Jack, promising that he will bring back Mary. This moment was truly significant for Dean because we know how much Dean loves his mother and he would do anything for her, but even he recognizes that this is not right and that Mary would not want him to do that.

“Welcome to the end…”

After Dean turns Chuck down, Sam reminds him that “this isn’t just a story, it’s our lives.” Chuck replies with, “Have it your way” and begins killing Jack. Sam shoots Chuck, which stuns him and he officially welcomes them to the end. The sun is gone and Sam, Dean, and Castiel are surrounded by darkness, as they lean over Jack’s lifeless body. Jack wakes up in the Empty and Billie is there, so does this mean that perhaps this is not the end for Jack? Is Jack able to help or intervene somehow? I’m not sure, but we’ll have to wait and see. Sam, Dean, and Castiel have a lot to deal with as well, as the souls from hell are released upon the world. The last scene shows the undead surrounding them, as they all grab a suitable weapon, but they are definitely outnumbered here.

So what does this mean for our favorite characters? We will now be approaching the final season of SPN and anything goes. If all the souls have been released from hell, does that mean we could see Crowley in the final season? We know that Chuck is a storyteller, but what does this actually accomplish? Is he so fed up with his favorite characters that he is willing to sacrifice the world and start over? Is he threatened by Jack? I’m not sure, but it looks like Sam, Dean, and Castiel have a lot to deal with. Stay tuned for the final season of Supernatural and in the meantime, “Carry on my Wayward son!”

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!

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

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” season 14 episode 19: “Jack in the Box”

Happy Friday TV fans! After watching the CW’s Supernatural season 14 episode 19, I realized that innocence can be dangerous. Good intentions can easily be manipulated or distorted and trusting the people you care about the most can help or hurt you. But what happens when that trust is finally broken? Do we give in to the emptiness or do we still try to find a glimmer of humanity buried within? Please note major spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “Jack in the Box,” Sam and Dean try to honor Mary and have a meaningful discussion with other Bobby. Meanwhile, Jack continues to be pestered by Lucifer and is tricked into doing “God’s work” by Duma. My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 14 episode 19 are:

“We’re so glad for the time that we had.”

In the beginning of the episode, Sam and Dean hold a memorial service for Mary and invite some of their hunter friends. Dean talks about how they got a second chance with her and how they really got to know Mary as a person. He explains that she was strong and stubborn as hell and also mentions that she really couldn’t cook worth a damn, but this moment was truly touching, as we see how many lives Mary influenced over the years. However, the moment when Dean goes off by himself and is just seen crying was very powerful for me and caused me to shed a few tears of my own. Dean always tries to be so strong for his friends and family, but when he is by himself, he finally allows himself a moment to truly mourn the loss of his mother.

“If his human side is gone, you know what’s left…Lucifer.”

Other Bobby makes an appearance at Mary’s memorial and takes out a monster who was lurking in the crowd, but please make sure he gets his hatchet back! Bobby actually provides Sam, Dean, and Castiel with some great advice, as he reminds them about what they need to do. Even other Bobby explains that he has a soft spot for Jack, but he understands that sometimes you need to do what is necessary for the greater good. Dean seems all for this, but can Castiel and Sam follow along? We know that they both have a strong connection to Jack and it may be more difficult for them to try and eliminate him, as they understand that he doesn’t fully comprehend his actions.

“It doesn’t have to be a dream.”

After Castiel fills Duma in about what’s going on with Jack, she takes this opportunity to use him to her advantage. Duma is trying to secure her place as the leader of heaven and she manipulates Jack by telling him that Sam and Dean would want him to do God’s work. However, Jack starts to take some passages from the bible too literally when he actually begins to make them come true. I even had to turn away from the screen when the worms started eating that pastor from the inside. Gross! Jack still has so much naivete, but this is now dangerous because he doesn’t have a soul to truly think about the consequences of his actions. Jack begins to make going to heaven a reality and he’s even making angels out of humans, which could become a very dangerous threat.

“They never loved you…”

Lucifer continues to exist within Jack’s mind and it doesn’t look like he is going anywhere. Jack tries to tell him that he doesn’t want to listen to him, but Lucifer can be very convincing and he plays on Jack’s weaknesses. He repeatedly tells Jack that he cannot trust the Winchesters and tries to get Jack to unleash the power within him. Is Jack a greater threat than Lucifer? I’m not sure, but it doesn’t help that he has him cheering in his mind’s corner at all times.

“I don’t know if I can do it.”

Dean recognizes that they cannot defeat Jack because he is so powerful, but he can be contained. He circles back to the Ma’lak box, which he was going to use to trap him and Michael once upon a time. Dean tells Sam that he needs to be the one to lie to Jack, but Sam is not sure that he can do this. Jack trusts Sam so completely and Dean knows that he will do what he says, promising that they are working on some sort of spell to restore Jack’s soul even though this is not true. Sam does what he has to and locks Jack inside, but his guilt is overwhelming him.

Castiel eliminates Duma and tries to tell the Winchesters that Jack was tricked, but it’s too late. The trust has been broken and Jack is actually able to tap into enough of his power to break free from the box with Lucifer’s support. Jack stares at Sam, Dean, and Castiel with glowing eyes, suggesting that he has become something even more powerful. Is there any way to stop Jack? Stay tuned for the season finale next week!

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!

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

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Black Summer” on Netflix: More than a Prequel to “Z Nation”

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

“You can’t be immortal if you ain’t alive.” A valid point for sure, but how is one actually defined as a member of the undead these days? While we are all used to the slow moving walkers in The Walking Dead universe, the infected we see in Black Summer sort of have a 28 Days Later vibe, as they move much quicker, which may have you contemplating your own cardio workout to stay prepared.

So are they actually zombies or are they something else? Either way, if you are craving some zombie apocalypse fun, you’re in the right place. Black Summer has been advertised as a prequel to Z Nation, but the show actually can stand on its own and that’s how I plan on reviewing it.

The show currently features 8 episodes, all streaming on Netflix as of April 11^th 2019. It stars Jaime King, Justin Chu Cary, Christine Lee, Sal Velez Jr. and Kelsey Flower. We follow these survivors and witness what occurs after the zombie apocalypse first takes place, as they all desperately try to make it to the stadium to find missing loved ones and some kind of sanctuary.

However, the threats keep coming, as our characters are tested again and again while the undead continues to threaten their survival. But we also find that these characters have to watch out for each other as well, as it’s difficult to earn one’s trust during the zombie apocalypse.

The Pros:

Black Summer Sun — Image courtesy of Netflix

The episodes are the perfect length.

The beginning episodes start out at about 40-45 minutes and as we move through the show, they actually shorten to 30 minutes and even 20 minutes, which makes binge-watching this show very feasible. I watched the first episode on Thursday night and I finished up the show the following night with very little effort.

The transitions between characters are clever and well done.

Another viewer mentioned to me that these transitions sort of reminded them of Pulp Fiction and I tend to agree. Credit on that goes to @NerdswithFriend on Twitter. We have seen so many shows and movies that feature a zombie apocalypse and it’s difficult to stand out and truly make a story unique. However, the clever fade-ins and transitions allow us to easily see things from different perspectives and it also helps quicken the pace of the show.

Some of the characters are absolutely fantastic.

While I was annoyed by some characters on the show, there are some standout performances. Christine Lee as Sun is truly amazing and you will root for her even more than the main billed cast. You may find yourself trying to determine who is going to make it and who will bite the dust, so to speak, but I will say that I was pleasantly surprised that so many of the characters did not just mold themselves into the stereotypical roles we sometimes see.

Some characters that you assume will make it, don’t, and others that seem so incompetent actually manage to scrape by, but I think that makes the show that much more entertaining.

Bone-chilling and terrifying moments.

There are some genuinely scary moments on this show and I found myself on the edge of my seat, not knowing what to expect. Sometimes the moments come out of nowhere, but I think that makes them even more brilliant. Maybe you will see some of the moments coming, but I think that they deliver and I still have been replaying some of them in my mind, as I have just created a whole new set of nightmares for myself.

The Cons:

Black Summer — Image courtesy of Netflix

The moments following the zombies around.

So I appreciate that the show is doing something different with these zombies, as they sprint after you as soon as they are turned, grunting and moaning. However, the noises are kind of jarring and distracting, as I found myself actually laughing several times when we followed around a zombie who was looking for their kill.

The show is meant to be serious so I know that this was not intended, but I just couldn’t take some of these zombies seriously. I don’t know if it was the acting or if was the amount of time we spent actually following them, which made me focus on this so much more, but it was slightly underwhelming and it took away from some of the initial scares.

The fluff in between the terrifying moments.

I’m all for character development and I’m not saying that the show needs to be jam-packed with zombies attacking, but I often found myself bored in between these moments. Some episodes are much better than others, but I think that the lack of background music during these moments really made this worse.

Don’t get me wrong, I thought that the lack of background music was brilliant during the moments where the characters were under attack, but how long do we need to follow someone walking in silence?

There are major plot holes.

I know that this a prequel, but I found several plot holes throughout the show and I was hoping to get some answers, but I realized that this was not going to happen once I got to episode 6, which was slightly disappointing.

So am I in or out?

Black summer 6 — Image courtesy of Netflix

I was initially very excited to watch this show because I absolutely love anything with zombies. However, after watching the first episode, I was slightly disappointed. Fear not, as I give all shows three episodes to start making a real assessment and the show did get better with each episode. However, I think that the show had a lot of potential to be absolutely brilliant, but it decided to settle comfortably as a standard zombie apocalypse show instead.

I’m not really sure if this show truly separated itself or provided us with anything new about the apocalypse, but it definitely had some terrifying and compelling moments.

If you love shows about zombies, I definitely recommend it and even if you don’t, you may find yourself intrigued for a quick binge-watch. However, I wouldn’t say that you need to move it to the top of your watch list, but the show had a lot of redeeming qualities and captured enough of my attention to make it an entertaining watch for sure.

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

The Search for Alice is available here!

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Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” season 14 episode 18: “Absence”

Happy Friday TV fans! After watching the CW’s Supernatural season 14 episode 18, Dean reminded us that sometimes we get a “get out of jail free card,” but nothing is ever really for free and everything has its price. Please note major spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “Absence,” Sam and Dean try to track down Jack and Mary with Rowena’s help and make a shocking discovery. Meanwhile, Jack continues to be burdened by his guilt and receives a visit from an unlikely guide. My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 14 episode 18 are:

“You cannot come back from that.”

After the major cliffhanger last week, we catch up with Jack, who is having trouble processing his actions. Jack is greeted by Nick…or Lucifer…or actually him in his subconscious. Nick/Lucifer/Jack channels his inner Jiminy Cricket and acts as a sort of guide or conscience for Jack, but what direction is he really pulling him toward? Jack desperately wants to find a way to make things right and bring Mary back, as he realizes that Sam and Dean may never forgive him, but can he really accept the consequences of his actions?

“They were never alone.”

Even though we find out that Mary Winchester is truly gone, we get to see her in a series of flashbacks done brilliantly in black and white sprinkled throughout the episode. One of my favorite flashbacks featured her and Castiel when Mary first returned from the dead. Castiel asks Mary if she is still afraid of him and it was interesting to see how much of an impact Mary made on each and every one of them. Later in the memory, Castiel tells Mary how happy Sam and Dean are now that she has returned to them so they don’t have to be alone and she tells Castiel that they were never alone, truly appreciating how much Castiel has looked after Sam and Dean for so many years like family.

“Don’t even say her name.”

Once Sam and Dean begin to realize that something terrible has happened, Dean’s anger gets the best of him. Castiel comes clean with Dean and explains that he knew that something was wrong with Jack and Dean says, “If he did something to her then you’re dead to me.” Castiel tries to explain that he was scared and that he wanted to believe that Jack was good, which is understandable, but we know that Dean has gone through so much and has a beautiful bond with Mary. It was heartbreaking to see this reaction, but I’m hoping that he will follow Mary’s lead and continue to try and do the right thing. However, I constantly notice that Sam, Dean, and Castiel keep things from one another to protect them and it seems like Jack has picked up on this behavior as well. Maybe it’s about time they begin to share everything with one another to avoid moments like this.

“Mary Winchester is no longer on this earth.”

Sam and Dean look to Rowena for help, but Jack has the same idea. Jack tries so hard to make things right, but sometimes dead is just dead. Rowena was absolutely fantastic in this episode and it was interesting to see her try and reason with Jack. She could have tried to fight him, but she tries to get through to him, telling him that they all want the same thing, which really shows how far Rowena has come as a character. However, it looks like it might be too late for Jack, as he fails to bring Mary back and he is left with his subconscious Nick/Lucifer/Jack telling him that he can no longer trust the Winchesters. Is Jack too far gone or is there some way they can still reach him?

“She is happy.”

The most resonating moment for me was when we got to see Dean’s flashback of Mary. It wasn’t a long conversation or some epic moment. It was just the two of them driving back together with Mary sleeping on his shoulder. I thought that this memory was so powerful and important, reminding us that it’s the series of little moments that truly count. Even though Mary is gone, Castiel peeks in on her personal heaven and tells Sam and Dean that she is happy and at peace with John. Mary Winchester is complete even though this may impact Sam and Dean for the rest of their lives, but at least she is not suffering. I had tears in my eyes when the last scene of the episode focused in on the desk with Sam, Dean, and Mary’s initials all carved in the center of it, reminding us that this bond will never be broken and that they will see each other again one day. Stay tuned!

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!

The Search for Alice is available here!

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Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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5 Spoiler Free Reasons why you should watch “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” Part Two on Netflix: Dancing with the Devil

“My soul is who I am and I signed it away willingly.” So what happens when we make that Faustian deal? Are we destined for darkness or can we still choose a path of light? For Sabrina Spellman, finding a balance between her mortal life and her witch one becomes that much more complicated in Part Two. Part Two features 9 episodes and they are all currently streaming on Netflix as of April 5^th 2019.

After watching all of the episodes in one weekend, I can tell you that I am even more hooked than I was before. While Part One subtly dipped us into darkness, we have now submerged ourselves in it completely, as the gates of hell threaten everyone in Greendale. However, sometimes the most dangerous threat is staring back at us in the mirror. Do we embrace the darkness or do we continue to fight for good to prevail? Please note that major spoilers have been left out for your convenience so feel free to read away! My top 5 reasons to check out Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Part Two are:

Part Two is darker.

The spells are darker, the threats are darker, and even the romance is. Sabrina embraces her life as a witch, but quickly realizes that she may no longer be able to balance it with her mortal life. We learn about dark prophecies and fears, as Part Two does not hold back. It gives us the perfect amount of horror and has quickly become one of my favorite shows about witches of all time.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer nostalgia.

Some fans of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina mentioned that they thought the show was similar to Buffy back in Part One. While I did see some similarities with certain episode plots, it still seemed far away from Buffy, which is one of my favorite series of all time and it’s difficult for a show to even come close to this for me. However, Part Two was a different story. We discover a lot about the gates of hell in Part Two, which will have you thinking about the hellmouth in Sunnydale. Also, Sabrina’s mortal friends come together and start helping out a lot more this season, reminding me a lot of the Scoobies in Buffy. Alexis Denisof (Wesley from Buffy and Angel) is a fun guest star and we also see a darker romance for Sabrina, which gave me a lot of Bangel feels. The end of Part Two will have you making some comparisons to “Becoming Part II” of Buffy, which is my favorite episode of all time. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is unique and can stand on its own, but I thoroughly enjoyed some of these parallels, which made me like the show even more.

All hail the Villainess, Ms. Wardwell.

One of my favorite characters on the show is Ms. Wardwell, better known as Lilith. In Part Two, her character is explored a lot more and she becomes even more entertaining, if that is possible. I always love a worthy villainess and while some of the Weird Sisters continue with their antics in Part Two, Ms. Wardwell takes the cake as a villainess you do not want to mess with. We get to understand a little bit more about her motives as well and her dynamic with Alexis Denisof’s character, Adam, is very entertaining.

Kiernan Shipka.

I devoted a previous blog to Kiernan Shipka’s performance as Sabrina Spellman and even gave her my performance of the week. Kiernan elevates Sabrina’s character to something greater in Part Two. She is so convincing and she constantly challenges authority, proving to be a female role model one can look up to. Sabrina never shies away from a challenge and always speaks her mind and tries to do what she can to make a difference. She is so believable and strong, but she makes mistakes too, allowing us to relate to her that much more. I absolutely love seeing Sabrina’s character enter into more layers, as we get to peel back each one to discover more and more about who she is and who she is destined to be.

New and dangerous threats.

Part Two gives us so many new threats and a lot of twists and turns as well. Sabrina continues to be tested and we get a huge reveal later in the season, which will have you glued to your television. Even with all of the dangerous threats thrown Sabrina’s way, she continues to persevere. However, we quickly realize that Sabrina’s biggest threat may be herself, but are we ever truly able to separate our darkness from our humanity? Just when you think you have witnessed the Big Bad of Part Two, a new threat emerges, keeping us entertained and guessing until the very end. I fell in love with this series in Part One, but my love has now quickly become an obsession, which is a good thing. I hope you enjoy Part Two as much as I did and I absolutely recommend it. Ready to watch?

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

The Search for Alice is available here!

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Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” season 14 episode 17: “Game Night”

Happy Friday TV fans! After watching the CW’s Supernatural season 14 episode 17, Jo reminded us that “we’re all lonely because we’re all alone.” But does that mean we stop trying to make connections? Castiel later pointed out that we’re not alone because we have each other, but what happens when the people we count on the most slip away from us? Please note major spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “Game Night,” Dean gets a disturbing phone call from Donatello that interrupts Game Night with the family. Meanwhile, Castiel tracks down Jo and asks for her help. My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 14 episode 17 are:

“I thought this was supposed to relax him.”

Dean is ready for a fun night with the family, but he gets a little bit too frustrated trying to put together the Mouse Trap game, which was absolutely hilarious. I definitely shared his frustration, as I remember spending countless hours trying to do the very same thing. However, this fun moment is interrupted when Dean gets a call from Donatello. It’s clear that Donatello is in trouble and he needs to go check it out with Sam, so it looks like Game Night will be put on hold for now.

“I’m grateful for every day I get to spend with you and Sam.”

Mary is back in this episode and starts talking to Dean about being closed off, but that she’s here for them now. Dean is very much like his mother so he understands, but I started to notice that Mary was really talking a lot about her feelings for her sons. She has a brief heart-to-heart talk with both Sam and Dean, which made me wonder if this meant that something big was about to happen to her…

“I need your help to contact God.”

Castiel tracks down Jo, played by the wonderful Danneel Ackles, and asks for her help. Castiel starts off by giving her a lovely set of earrings, but Jo realizes that something is up. Castiel knows that Jo spent quite a bit of time with Joshua and that he had a connection to God. Only God can restore Jack’s soul, but why didn’t Castiel inform Sam and Dean about this? Jo hilariously comments on Castiel’s “lone wolf desperation,” but begrudgingly agrees to help him. After tracking down the item they need, Castiel places a long distance call to God, but I’m not sure if he got the message. Let’s hope so!

“Nobody stays dead anymore…you know that.”

After Sam and Dean try to track down Donatello, they discover that Nick is there waiting for them. Nick is surprised when he doesn’t get a “hey, how you been” response, but what is his end game here? We know that Nick is desperate for Lucifer to return to him, but how is Donatello connected? Dean comments that Nick is “freakin coco puffs” and he’s not wrong, but that doesn’t make him any less dangerous. After Jack threatens Nick, he agrees to give up Donatello’s location, but we discover that Nick wants to use Jack’s blood to communicate with a prophet to ultimately find Lucifer and bring him back.

“You need help…”

After Sam is severely injured by Nick, Dean contacts Jack and Mary for help. They track down Nick and Jack is able to stop him before Lucifer takes over, but Jack takes it too far. He burns Nick alive, killing him, despite Mary’s cries to stop. Jack tries to rationalize his actions and does heal Sam, but Mary later confronts him about everything and tells him that he needs help. Jack’s soul has clearly been damaged and he seems to be having trouble controlling his anger and powers. Jack’s eyes begin glowing, as he tries to make everything stop and we get a major cliffhanger when he simply says, “Mary” at the end before the screen goes black.

It doesn’t look good for Mary here and her loving words to her sons earlier in the episode convince me that she is gone for good. However, I can’t help thinking about how Nick reminded us that “nobody stays dead anymore” and he’s spot on. However, it seems unlikely that both Nick and Mary will be returned to life so is there some other loophole here? Jack has ultimately become even more dangerous and I’m not sure how he will face Sam and Dean now. I’m sure that he will try to spin the story some other way, but it’s only a matter of time before the Winchesters ultimately need to face off against Jack before it’s too late. Stay tuned!

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!

The Search for Alice is available here!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Twilight Zone” Reboot

“You’ll have to decide how much you are willing to give to the Twilight Zone” and I think this pretty much sums up my thoughts on the series so far. Welcome to The Twilight Zone 2019 reboot, hosted by Jordan Peele. The original Twilight Zone series ran from 1959-1964 with five seasons and 156 episodes. The show was created by Rod Serling and it has been rebooted several times now as a 1983 film, a 1985 TV series, a 2002 TV series, and now with the latest addition in 2019.

The new series is airing on CBS All Access and you can currently watch the first two episodes as of April 1^st 2019. I did a free week subscription to check them out if you don’t already have CBS All Access. The season will feature 10 episodes. Starting April 11^th, the episodes will air weekly (On Thursdays) from my understanding. The show has a lot going on and it definitely tries to pay tribute to the original series, but I wasn’t really blown away by the plot for the first two episodes. The episodes run about 55 minutes in length and I constantly found myself checking the time, as it felt like it was dragging. I think that the episodes could have given us the same impact and mystery within 30-40 minutes.

The performances are believable and well done and we will get to see an amazing cast featured, which is definitely a positive. I also thoroughly enjoyed Jordan Peele’s narration, as I found myself ready to embrace the Twilight Zone. However, the story-lines for the first two episodes were somewhat predictable. I invested myself into the mystery, but I quickly found myself guessing the outcome. I appreciate that the show is trying to make its mark within our own society to stand out, but it failed to capture my undivided attention. Both episodes were slow moving, but they did have some redeeming moments. This was slightly underwhelming; however, as I typically make my determination of a show within 3 episodes.

From my understanding, the third episode (releasing April 11^th) featuring Sanaa Lathan, is the best one so far and is actually really well done and unique. I will definitely circle back and give this episode a chance, as I am a big fan of Sanaa and I would like to see her performance. However, I’m wondering why the series did not lead with this episode if it is so outstanding? I think that many viewers may tune out after watching the first two episodes, which really didn’t do much, especially since you need to continue with some kind of subscription to keep watching.

I appreciate that the show is trying to do something unique within our own society and time, but I found myself wanting to check out old episodes of The Twilight Zone instead. Overall, I still think that you should give the show a chance to make your own determination and check out the first two episodes, which did have some redeeming qualities, but I’m not sure that the series will truly stand out on its own the way it was intended to.

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

The Search for Alice is available here!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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**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 9 episode 16: “The Storm”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 9 episode 16, Ezekiel reminded us that “things fall apart.” However, “it’s knowing when to keep fighting and knowing when it’s over.” But is it ever really over? The threats continue to pour in and our characters are tested again and again, but somehow they continue to survive even when it feels like the entire world is against them. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “The Storm,” winter is the real enemy, but the walkers are not really up for a snow ball fight either. Meanwhile, Lydia gets up close and personal with a walker, Dog goes missing, Carol tries to cope with her loss, and Negan is finally let out of the cage. My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 9 episode 16 season finale are:

“You don’t have to protect me.”

In the beginning of the episode, the characters start to flee or prepare for the brutal winter storm that is headed their way. We get to listen in on some chatter on the way and find out that apparently we need to send a raven in order to get a response from Maggie, but I appreciate that they are trying to keep that story-line open. Lydia is not really a welcomed guest, but Daryl refuses to let anyone talk to her with disrespect. Lydia feels extremely guilty and tells Daryl that he doesn’t have to protect her, but Daryl reminds her that “it’s their problem, not yours.” I love that Daryl is looking after Lydia here because he obviously wants to do something nice for Henry, but I think Daryl also sees a lot of himself in Lydia as well. Daryl believes that she is a good kid and is willing to help her, but Carol is having a tough time, as she explains, “Every time I look at her, all I see is him.”

“It’s like Christmas to me.”

Back in Alexandria, the characters realize that they need to find a suitable place to get warm, but Gabriel recognizes that they have to let Negan out or he will freeze to death. Finally! Negan does not disappoint, as he hilariously comments on the “hot little quadrangle” we have to entertain us, which doesn’t really amuse Rosita and her suitors. Negan takes it one step further and tells Gabriel, “Your girl’s doc is also your girl’s baby daddy,” but refuses to have his comments be called predictable. He later says, “Father…not the Father” to keep the laughs coming for us, which reminded me why I love Negan’s character so much. He may not have too many fans in Alexandria, but he absolutely kept me entertained.

“You’re not weak.”

Lydia’s guilt is overwhelming her and she ends up getting up close and personal with a walker stuck in the snow. Lydia closes her eyes and starts bringing her arm toward its mouth, but Carol interrupts this before anything can happen. Later on, Lydia tells Carol that her son is dead because of her. In a heartbreaking moment, she says, “Henry said I was a good person, but he was wrong.” She asks Carol to kill her, hoping to fix everything. Carol’s grief has been consuming her and it was beyond heartbreaking to watch her go through Henry’s box of things. However, Carol knows that Henry truly cared about Lydia and is still a good person. Carol doesn’t grant Lydia her request and simply tells her, “You’re not weak,” which I thought was a really important moment between these two. Carol and Lydia may never really form a close bond, but they both have a shared love for Henry, which is a link that will never be severed.

“I feel like I’m losing myself again.”

Carol continues to lean on Daryl’s shoulder, but Ezekiel is not exactly pleased. He later approaches Daryl and asks him not to continue on to Hilltop with them once they are out of the storm. Ezekiel explains that he is not trying to be the bad guy, but that he wants to give Carol and him a fresh start after everything they have been through. Daryl doesn’t give him an answer, but he does later ask Carol what she wants him to do. The bond and friendship between Daryl and Carol is so strong, but Daryl is willing to walk away if that’s what Carol needs. Daryl and Carol have been through a lot together so it’s understandable why Carol is leaning on him so much, but it doesn’t make it any easier for Ezekiel. At the end of the episode, Carol decides to go to Alexandria and gives Ezekiel back his ring. Ezekiel tells Carol that he’ll never stop loving her and Carol says, “I’ll never regret the fairy-tale,” which broke my heart. Carol has been through unimaginable horrors and I just want her to have something good, but I think it will take a very long time before she is able to open up her heart again. Carol needs to heal, but she has to do this on her own so that she doesn’t lose herself again.

“Thank you for saving her.”

We get some action during the episode, as the walkers begin popping out of the snow while Daryl and the others cross into Alpha’s territory to get to safety. Daryl even cleverly uses an icicle as an interesting choice of weapon. Meanwhile, Judith also gets herself into trouble when she runs after Dog in the middle of the storm. Negan rushes after her and tells her, “You’re just trying to get a little extra Negan time.” I mean, we’ll take all the Negan screen time we can get. Negan saves Judith and Dog, but has injured his leg severely. Luckily, they make it out OK and Michonne later approaches Negan to thank him for saving his daughter. This is a very big moment, revealing that perhaps Negan can make a difference after all, even though Michonne has had a hard time accepting this. Does this mean that Negan will be out in the open from now on? I really hope so because I think that he can truly prove his worth in Alexandria. Negan also leaves us with a very important observation. Michonne risked a lot by cutting into Alpha’s territory, but will there be consequences? Negan explains that “no one ever thinks that they’re the evil one” and he’s spot on. We cut to Alpha briefly who says, “I’ll need to be stronger for what comes next,” as Beta begins whipping her arm. No wonder Lydia has so many issues.

So what exactly is coming next? It certainly gives us some setup for season 10, but we’ll have to wait to find out. We are also left with a mysterious voice coming over the radio at the very end. So who is on the other end? Is it an old friend or a new potential ally? It sounded like a female. Is it possible that this is a crossover from Fear the Walking Dead? Maggie? Someone connected to Rick? I’m not sure, but it definitely keeps my interest invested, as I am looking forward to finding out more. Overall, the episode provided us with a nice balance of setup and action. Nothing was going to compare to the shock of episode 15, but I still thought that the season finale had a lot of important moments and it really gave us a chance to connect with some of our favorite characters even more. Stay tuned for season 10 and don’t forget that Fear the Walking Dead begins June 2^nd!

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

The Search for Alice is available here!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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**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!