Spoiler-Free Review of “Dexter: Resurrection” on Showtime: Dexter’s Back and Better than Ever!

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

“A heartbeat…I’ll take it…”

Dexter: Resurrection premiered on July 11th 2025 with the first two episodes available to stream on Paramount+ with Showtime. There will be ten episodes in total. The show stars Michael C. Hall, Jack Alcott, James Remar, David Zayas, Uma Thurman, Peter Dinklage, Krysten Ritter, and Eric Stonestreet. Each episode runs for approximately 52-55 minutes.

Dexter: Resurrection is the sequel to Dexter: New Blood, following up with Dexter waking up from a coma after his son shot him. He now tracks him down in New York City and begins to find new meaning in the code he has followed for so long.

Here is the trailer:

Dexter: Resurrection is the series fans have been waiting for, bringing Michael C. Hall back into the spotlight once again as our favorite serial killer with a conscience. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Cool guest stars and cameos!

The opening episode featured some terrific cameos. I was cheering in my seat! There were a few other faces I wanted to see, but I loved what I was experiencing so far and I really am enjoying the connections to the original series.

We have some stellar guest stars this time around and I can’t wait to see the rest of them.

Michael C. Hall eased back into the role of Dexter Morgan without skipping a beat. He has been excellent so far and I’m excited to see the progression of his character in this series.

The change in scenery is working!

Sure, I will always associate Dexter with Miami, but I have to say that I am enjoying him in New York City a lot more than I did with him upstate. The chaotic city is the perfect backdrop for him and I like that he seems a little unfamiliar with his surroundings, which will make following his code a little trickier this time around.

The Cons:

Weekly episodes.

It’s always been this way, but I’m anxious to watch more episodes and I hate that we have to wait each week for a new one to drop. The suspense may literally kill me!

Other than that, I don’t have any cons so far. The pacing is solid and I can’t wait to see the rest of the guest stars. The plot has so much potential and I’m looking forward to seeing it unfold with the next episodes.

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!

Dexter: Resurrection is everything I could have hoped for and more, reeling us in with a satisfying hook and exciting guest stars and cameos.

I can’t wait to watch more!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

When former friends, Shay and Adriana team up to participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt with a cash prize, they temporarily put their differences aside to outsmart their opponents. However, they soon start to realize that a dangerous threat is playing their own version of the game, stalking them during each hunt.

Winning is now a necessity as their lives are at stake. As old wounds and memories re-surface, Shay and Adriana attempt to unmask the threat before the night is over, but soon learn that Scream Hunt is not done with them just yet…

My young adult horror thriller is out now!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Love & Death” on HBO Max: Candy Returns…

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

“I will drag you through this…”

Love & Death premiered on HBO Max on April 27th 2023 with three episodes available to stream now. There will be seven episodes in total that will air weekly. The limited drama series (based on the true story of Candy Montgomery) stars Elizabeth Olsen, Jesse Plemons, Krysten Ritter, Lily Rabe, and Tom Pelphrey. Each episode runs for approximately 54-58 minutes.

Just less than a year later, we get another rendition of the true crime story involving Candy Montgomery and her best friend, Betty Gore.

Here is the trailer:

Love & Death brings us another talented leading lady and a chilling case, but did we really need another series on this crime so soon? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Talented cast.

I’m a big fan of Elizabeth Olsen and the rest of the cast is very talented as well, which almost makes me want to re-watch a series that I’ve already seen again just to see their take on things.

Fantastic soundtrack and vibe.

The music may be the best part of this series. It has been transporting me back in time seamlessly. I love the fashion and overall vibe as well. Even though I’m familiar with the plot and the ultimate outcome, I think I have been enjoying these aspects more in this series over Candy.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m not sure we really need this series…

If you haven’t seen Candy yet on Hulu, you’ll probably get more out of this series. Since I did watch that series less than a year ago, I feel like I already know everything that’s going to happen and I’m not sure that this series is doing anything that new or different this time around.

Also, as much as I love Elizabeth Olsen, I think I preferred Jessica Biel’s grittier portrayal. Elizabeth Olsen still seems so elegant and charming so I’m not sure she was the perfect match for this particular role. That being said, she’s still absolutely wonderful and talented. I’d watch her in pretty much anything…

The pacing is really sluggish so far. Candy only had five episodes and I was weighed down by that pacing as well, so having more episodes this time around that are longer is already problematic for me…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m in about 75 percent…

Elizabeth Olsen puts forth a valiant effort here and this is a fascinating case to see unfold on the screen, but the timing of this series seems odd and unnecessary. I’m in for now, but I’m hoping to see some drastic changes to keep me invested.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

My new young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Nightbooks” on Netflix: Wicked Fun with Krysten Ritter

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

“Is there anything special about you at all?”

Nightbooks released on Netflix on September 15th 2021. The dark fantasy film is based on the book by J.A. White and is co-produced by Sam Raimi. The film stars Krysten Ritter, Lidya Jewett and Winslow Fegley. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

Scary story enthusiast, Alex, ends up trapped in a magical apartment with a wicked witch. He must create a new scary story each night to entertain her…or die.

Here is the trailer:

Nightbooks has a kids friendly horror feel with some Evil Dead vibes thrown in for good measure. Krysten Ritter is promising as the wicked witch, but does this kids horror entry do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Krysten Ritter is fantastic!

I love a good villainess and Krysten Ritter is perfection in this movie as Natacha. She is so entertaining and she brings some humor in as well to lighten up the movie. Her wardrobe is incredible and she really dominates this film in a great way!

LOVE!

Clever use of stories and films.

In a way, this film is a modern take on Hansel & Gretel but I thought it did a really great job of referencing other stories and iconic films along the way without hitting the audience over the head. It was a real adventure and it reminded us that we can find our own adventures and stories within books and movies. They can be an escape, but they can also be a motivation, teaching us important life lessons.

Kids horror with bite.

I don’t think that kids horror gets mentioned enough but I absolutely adore films like The House with a Clock in Its Walls and the new Goosebumps. That being said, it’s difficult finding a balance for kids horror films and this one may be a little bit too scary for the younger generation, but it has plenty going on for fans of Sam Raimi and The Evil Dead franchise.

I definitely felt the vibe and LOVED every second of it.

The Cons:

Wavering with character development.

I absolutely adored Krysten Ritter as the evil witch and the kids put forth a valiant effort. We got more of a journey for Alex than we did with Yazmin, however. I wanted to know more about her backstory and I think that would have helped me connect with their characters a bit sooner, but we did eventually get there. It just took a little while…

I also think the film could have used a bit more humor sprinkled into the mix, but Krysten Ritter made up for it in a lot of ways. Having someone like Jack Black as a secondary character could have made things really fun, but I think we still witnessed plenty of entertaining moments.

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!

This movie was so much fun and it really gave me a sense of nostalgia. Krysten Ritter is bloody fantastic and I loved all of the references to fairy-tales, stories, and horror films. I adored this film from start to finish and I highly recommend it!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A Halloween they’ll never forget…

My new young adult horror thriller comes out October 7th 2021! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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My performance of the week ending 6/22/19 on TV goes to…

Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones on Netflix’s Jessica Jones, season 3. Even though I was extremely underwhelmed and disappointed with season 3 and the end of the series, there was one redeeming light that kept my attention and that is the talented and captivating Krysten Ritter. Please note that I have not included any major spoilers for your convenience. I have always been a fan of Krysten Ritter, but she really found her perfect role in this series, as she embraced it completely and really nailed the conflicted character. Even though Jessica sometimes comes off abrasive, Krysten still makes her incredibly charming and brings a likability to her, as you find yourself sympathizing with her circumstances.

Jessica has been through so much, but she still tries to repair and hold on to her friendship with her adoptive sister, Trish, but that proves to be quite the challenge in season 3. A lot of the episodes in season 3 moved incredibly slow and it felt like more of an obligation for me to watch, but I continued to be impressed by Krysten’s performance and it is worth mentioning here. Unfortunately Krysten couldn’t save the show enough to make this an entertaining watch for me, but I am still a fan and I can’t wait to see what role she takes on next!

What’s next for Jessica Jones? Well not much, since this is the end of the Marvel series on Netflix, but I am somewhat pleased with how they left the end of the show, deciding not to leave us with any loose ends that will continue to bother me later. I won’t give any spoilers here, but I think that Jessica Jones has been battling her own inner conscience for the entire series, which has been far from easy for her. While she previously just accepted being broken in some episodes, she does try to do the right thing, which makes her a reluctant hero, but a hero nonetheless. And I think that’s why we can all relate to her so much. She’s an everyday hero who has to deal with her own struggles in her life, but she still tries to make a difference.

If you do decide to sit through season 3, you will see Jessica and Trish’s views clash on how to make things right, which comes down to one’s moral compass. Sometimes it seems like the answer is to run away, but Jessica ultimately decides to face a lot of her problems head on, which makes me root for her that much more. Even though we are saying goodbye to Jessica Jones, I think it’s important to recognize Krysten Ritter’s performance throughout the series. Krysten really elevated the show and mesmerized me with her portrayal again and again. Bravo!

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Have a performance on TV that you think is simply outstanding? Feel free to contact me with your nomination for the week by Friday at midnight!

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!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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