Spoiler-Free Review of “Challengers” in Theaters: Saucy and Stylish!

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

“It’s about winning…”

Challengers released in theaters on April 26th 2024. The romantic sports drama film stars Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor. It runs for approximately two hours and ten minutes.

Tashi, a former tennis player, tries to help her husband break his losing streak by signing him up for a challenger event, but when his opponent ends of being his former best friend and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend, tensions run high.

Here is the trailer:

Challengers is an intimate and intense watch that explores the drive to win and its impact on relationships. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

All hail, Zendaya!

She was PERFECTION in this role. I loved how well she portrayed so many different layers. Her character had her own issues to work out, but she stayed strong with an empowering confidence that was so fantastic to watch on screen. I’ve always like Zendaya, but she showed off so much range in this film. Talk about committing to a character…

Wow…she honestly took my breath away!

A gripping competition boosted by authentic character relationships.

I wouldn’t say that I’m the biggest tennis fan and I was a little hesitant to watch this movie at first because of that. Well, you don’t have to be a sports fan at all to feel the intensity in this one. Every moment was filled to the brim with it.

I loved the character relationships here and it was interesting seeing how they started and progressed over the years, making the challenger event that much more satisfying. Even though I’ve seen my fair share of love triangles before, these relationships felt very organic. They were rooted in something very relatable, which was refreshing to see.

The soundtrack complimented the vibe of this film so well.

I really dug the music used and thought it worked seamlessly with the way this film was shot. As much as this film embraced its intimate side, there was something very stylish and visually stunning about each scene, which made me savor each moment that much more.

The Cons:

The time jumps were distracting at times.

This wasn’t a major con because I actually thought both timelines were so interesting. My only issue was that I’d get really invested in one timeline and then have to re-focus when we jumped to the other. The movie was on the longer side, but I don’t think they dragged things out too much.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Challengers is a satisfying film that successfully blends several genres together, elevated by an electric performance by Zendaya.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Challengers 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 is out now! I hope you enjoy!

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” Season Two on Prime Video: Summer’s Back and Just as Wonderful!

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

“Nothing would ever be the same again…”

The Summer I Turned Pretty season two released on Prime Video on July 14th 2023 with the first three episodes available now. There will be eight episodes in total that will air weekly. The young adult drama series (based on the novel of the same name) stars Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, Gavin Casalegno, and Jackie Chung. Each episode runs for approximately 42-48 minutes.

Summer feels different this time around for Belly after suffering a tragic loss that has severely impacted her and everyone around her. After trying to re-connect with Conrad and Jeremiah, she gets tangled in a love triangle once again that isn’t so clear cut.

Here is the trailer:

The Summer I Turned Pretty was one of my favorite series of last year, bringing us plenty of emotional moments and a real depiction of growing up that just felt effortless and moving. Does season two do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

A coming-of-age series that gives you all the feels…

I love soapy teen dramas like Beverly Hills, 90210, One Tree Hill, and Melrose Place. But sometimes they can be over-the-top and really unrealistic. As much as I love them, I appreciate this series because it stays away from all of the crazy drama and focuses more on real characters who go through life-altering moments with honest reactions. It just feels fresh and organic without ever trying too hard and season two keeps that feeling going, which is important.

A love triangle plot that doesn’t seem overdone…

Love triangles can be completely exhausting, but this series makes them feel brand new again. I love both Conrad and Jeremiah and I honestly don’t know who Belly should end up with because they both bring out different sides of her. Sure, there is melodrama between them all when things get heated, but this is the driving plot of the show and it keeps us invested during season two for sure.

The Cons:

The flashbacks are really confusing at times.

I get that the series is trying to fill us in with what happened between last summer and this one, but the transitions don’t always work and I was often confused about where I was in the timeline. I’m hoping this improves as the episodes continue, but a lot is being jam-packed into these episodes and I want to get back to a natural sequence of events so I can appreciate everything going on more.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

The summer magic is back!

I can’t wait to watch the rest of the episodes!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Summer I Turned Pretty 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…

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Predictions for the “Younger” Series Finale: What I’m Dying to See and More!

Happy Saturday TV Fans! As we approach the series finale of Younger, there is quite a lot I want to see, but will we have time to address it all in the jam-packed finale?

**Please note spoilers are ahead if you are not caught up with this series.**

Younger is such a fun show and I have honestly fallen in love with it over the years. There is this seamless balance between rom-com perfection and drama to keep you coming back for more. While the love triangle has been done over and over again, it somehow seemed fresh and new on this show. There are also these incredible moments of self-reflection and growth presented and the show really captures the essence of true friendship without becoming too cheesy in the process.

It seems like the right time to end the series, but the final season has had its ups and downs. Will it end things on a high note? I’m remaining positive and I hope we can get back some of the magic from the earlier seasons in the final episode.

So, what can we expect from the series finale?

I really want to see Liza and Kelsey venture out on their own. We know that Charles is finally impressed with what they are creating with Inkubator, but maybe it’s time for them to step away from the company and branch out on their own.

Of course there is now some drama tangled up in this. After Kelsey agrees to let Rob show someone the pitch, it gets forwarded all over the place and eventually winds up with Quinn. We know she is going to make some waves here.

I think that Charles took too long to really believe in his employees and the beginning of the series started off with Liza having to lie about her age to land a job. Well, she has certainly proven herself and embraced her age and identity, so I think it’s about time for her to make it on her own with Kelsey.

I’m rooting for you ladies!

What about our favorite supporting characters?

So, I appreciate the amount of time we have been spending on Maggie and Lauren this season. But, what about Diana? We know that Diana and Zane will not be featured that much in the final season, but we have to see Diana in the final episode…right?

We brought back Max into Lauren’s life and Maggie has really found her identity again through her work, but what about Josh?

Now that we have been shoved back into the Charliza direction again, it seems like Josh has been mostly filler this season. There was a part of me that wanted Liza to end up with him, but now what’s next for him?

He’s a great father and he has his work, but I really feel like we mostly used Josh as a prop for other characters and he deserves a lot more than that.

Is Rob right for Kelsey?

I think Kelsey deserves a lot better and she is making some poor decisions when it comes to Rob. I don’t really agree with what she did to Clare. She should have been honest and upfront with her from the start. After that argument, it seems like she is moving too quickly with Rob.

I spent a lot of time falling in love with her and Zane and I will be extremely disappointed if this is truly the end of their relationship. I am hoping that Zane will also somehow get a hold of the pitch to save the day, but I really don’t know at this point.

I actually really liked the competitive drive between these two and I feel like Kelsey has lost a bit of herself in the final season. Fingers crossed that it will all work out!

Is Charliza end game?

Honestly, I don’t know if I’m sold on this one. Sure, we have built up this epic love between them over the years, but I am really annoyed at Charles for rebounding with Quinn so quickly after Liza. Charles is a smart man and even though his ego was hurt by Liza’s answer, this seems like an annoying plot device thrown into the mix.

Nobody likes Quinn and she has been shady from the start, so why would Charles go to her with open arms? We brought Pauline back to stir things up and I honestly didn’t care. Liza has been so strong on her own and I was sort of hoping that she would end the series without a man, but maybe have it implied that things weren’t off the table for her and Josh in the future.

Now, that has been thrown out the window and we are left with a cheesy Charliza happy ending. It’s not that I don’t like these two together. I just don’t like how they were split apart and I think that we should really question Charles’s character after his relationship with Quinn.

That being said, I’m going into the series finale with an open mind. This show has always been really entertaining and I will miss watching it. I hope we get a few surprises during the finale and some much needed guest stars, but we’ll have to wait and see!

If you haven’t watched Younger yet, you can catch up now on Paramount Plus and Hulu!

Feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Younger in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Panic” on Prime Video: Let the Game Begin

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

“Every small town has a secret…ours has a game.”

Panic premiered on Amazon Prime Video on May 28th 2021 with ten episodes available to stream now. The series stars Olivia Welch, Ray Nicholson, Jessica Sula, Mike Faist, and Camron Jones. Each episode runs for approximately 40-45 minutes.

After graduating from high school in a small Texas town, the seniors compete in a secret dangerous game to score a chance at a competitive cash prize that will grant them an escape from their boring lives. The series is based on the book of the same name by Lauren Oliver.

Here is the trailer:

Panic may initially appear to be a standard YA series filled with tropes and drama, but the show manages to hook its audience with the very first episode, reeling us in for more and more as the clever plot reveals the secrets and mysteries behind the game. Is Panic worthy of your next binge-watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Draws you in with adrenaline filled episodes.

This show was very effective at maintaining a fast pace even with some of the drama and set-up sprinkled in. I was invested from the start and by the time we got to the explosive end of the first episode, I needed to know what happened next and this continued to happen with the remaining episodes.

The episodes are only about 45 minutes in length but I often felt like I was only watching for five minutes because I was so drawn in.

Addicting premise with characters to root for.

The game itself is actually really interesting and intense. I found myself playing along with the characters, but it also helped to have really interesting characters to root for. I thought that each character had a lot to offer, but Heather, Ray, and Natalie were my favorites and I wanted each of them to succeed for different reasons.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Predictable teenage drama.

This is a YA series and we do get quite a lot of teen drama sprinkled into the mix. There is the obvious love triangle, the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks, the girl who is trying to do right by her family, and the supportive best friend. There was nothing truly unique or extraordinary here, but I kind of dug some of the drama and it wasn’t enough to overshadow everything else going on.

Also, it seemed like the cops were just really dumb in this show. It’s a small town so it shouldn’t be this hard to crack the case, but as long as you go into this show expecting to see some tropes and unrealistic moments, you will still be highly entertained.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime Video

I’m in 100 percent!

I went into this show thinking I was going to get a watered down version of The Hunger Games and I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I became obsessed with this show. This show is absolutely worthy of your next binge-watch and I think that Prime Video is really stepping up its game with YA thrillers. After the success of The Wilds, I am hoping that people will enjoy Panic also because I would love to see a second season…especially after that ending!

This show was so entertaining and really addicting. If you’re looking for a fast paced show with lots of twists and reveals, you are in the right place.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Panic 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 comes out October 7th 2021! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Behind Her Eyes” on Netflix: What did I just watch?

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

“You can never know everything about a person…”

Behind Her Eyes premiered on Netflix on February 17th 2021 with six episodes available to stream now. The limited series stars Simona Brown, Eve Hewson, and Tom Bateman. Each episode runs for approximately 50 minutes.

Based on the book of the same name, the series follows a single mother named Louise who meets a handsome stranger at a bar. Later on, she discovers that he is actually her new boss and married. Louise ends up also befriending his wife as this love triangle thriller begins.

Here is the trailer:

Behind Her Eyes initially feels like a typical Lifetime-esque thriller, but it branches out into an unpredictable mystery with many twists and turns. However, is the final reveal worth the wait? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Sympathetic characters.

I’ve seen plenty of thrillers where the crazy woman gets obsessed with a girl or a guy and becomes completely unhinged throughout the movie. While I was initially expecting to get that here, I was surprised at how normal Louise was. Yes, she makes mistakes and continues to do so throughout the series, but you see that she is a good person and is just really lonely.

Adele has her own set of issues and we’re not really quite sure what to make of her just yet, but there is this magnetic quality to her.

Louise’s son, Adam, is my favorite character and actually brought us some warmth and humor along the way.

David is just…eye candy, but we wouldn’t really have a show without that, would we?

Images courtesy of Netflix

The suspense builds and those twists…

I couldn’t figure out what was going on in this show and I was initially confused by the trippy dream sequences and some of the connections, but the show did enough to build suspense in each episode to keep you coming back for more.

Netflix was advertising this thriller as having a major twist and they were right about that. I’m still not sure how I feel about either of the twists, but I will admit that they had me stumped and shocked so that’s something noteworthy.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Slow moving at first.

The first three episodes really dragged for me and the episodes felt super long. I stuck around because I was hoping that the reveals would pay off, but I hate it when it feels like a chore to watch something. Even the sex scenes were just kind of meh…

The acting also left something to be desired, but I kind of expected that.

Switching genres with no warning.

There will be no spoilers here, but I honestly thought the change in genre felt jarring and out of place. I’m sure that the book did a much better job of executing this, but I almost felt like I had changed the channel and started watching a different kind of show.

Yeah, there were major twists, which I appreciated, but I’m still not sure if I even liked them…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m 50/50 on this one…

I am honestly really torn on this show. I feel like I put in a lot of work to get to the reveals and when we got there, I had this moment where I literally said out loud: what did I just watch?

Yes, there are twists and if you are looking for something unexpected, you will get that here. The show kept me invested and once I got to episode four, the pacing was much better and held my interest.

But then after the weird reveal, we also got another reveal on top of that. Was it shocking?

Yes!

Did I like it?

I still don’t know and I think that is why I am so torn on this one. The show effectively created a conversation; however, and many fans are reacting to the ending, which is a good thing, but I just don’t know if I liked the show after putting in all that effort.

Is it worth a watch? I wouldn’t say you need to move this to the top of your list, but it does fulfill that Lifetime thriller guilty pleasure binge-watch while throwing you for a complete loop.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

My new supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” Season 5 Episode 5: “The Homecoming”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching The CW’s Riverdale season 5 episode 5, I learned that coming home may seem difficult at first, but the more things change…the more they stay the same.

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

In episode, “Chapter Eighty-One: The Homecoming,” our core four adjust to life back in Riverdale. Meanwhile, Hiram attempts to destroy Riverdale for good, Veronica’s husband is proving to be a nuisance, and the potential truck killer returns.

My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 5 episode 5 are:

“It’s good to see you…”

In the beginning of the episode, we get a somewhat awkward reunion between Betty and Jughead. They both agree that it is good to see one another, but it’s clear that they haven’t really talked much in years. I think that the reunion went well, but I didn’t really see any sparks flying between these two anymore…

Is the love triangle over? We’ll have to wait and see…

“When do we kick their asses?”

Archie is determined to get the Ghoulies out of his house and even goes to Reggie for help. Only Reggie seems more interested in testing out his latest hair gel product and he is loyal to Hiram Lodge now…but why? Does Hiram have something over him?

Images courtesy of The CW

It’s clear that someone warned the Ghoulies and they got all of the drugs out of the house, but Betty is not about to sit by and let this happen…especially when she finds out that Polly is hanging around with them.

Yep, Polly is back and Betty discovers that she is lying about her waitress job, but where is she getting all of that cash?

Images courtesy of The CW

Betty and the others form a raid and find what they are looking for and I loved seeing the team-up between Betty and Archie here…talk about sparks…

“Would you do it for me?”

Meanwhile, the school administrators are concerned because Hiram Lodge is trying to dissolve the town. That means that funding would be cut and it would basically be “the death of Riverdale.”

Toni is determined to stop him and they come up with a plan to make the school private, which would allow them to hire their own teachers.

Toni goes to Cheryl and even though she initially doesn’t want to get involved, she ends up putting up the money to help Toni.

I still believe in Choni and I hope that Cheryl can see that she can still do good in this town…

“What just happened?”

What just happened is, we got the hot and steamy Barchie scene we have been waiting for…wow!

Images courtesy of The CW

Afterwards, Betty and Archie seem just as confused and say that they are friends, but I think this is the start of a beautiful romance.

Jughead has been out of the picture for years and Veronica is married, but things might get a bit complicated if Jughead actually decides to move in with Archie…

Betty and Archie have grown up a lot and they finally get a chance to explore the feelings between them, but I have a feeling that the drama will never leave them alone completely…

“Bulldogs forever.”

After getting the funding, Hiram does still dissolve the town, but we learn that life continues anyway. Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead will be staying in town as temporary teachers and perhaps they can really bring this town back to life.

Meanwhile, Pop retires and we get a heartfelt speech about his influence over the town.

Images courtesy of The CW

The mystery isn’t over just yet; however, as we now see Polly running from the mysterious trucker that followed Lynette Fields at the end of episode 4.

So, who is this trucker?

Is Polly alive or dead?

In the meantime, check out my feature for Mystery & Suspense Magazine on why the Riverdale time jump is exactly what we need here!

I’m invested and I can’t wait to find out more. Stay tuned, Riverdale fans!

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

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 is out now!

Play if you dare…

Dash and Seek 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 “Shameless” season 10 episode 12: “Gallavich!”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 10 episode 12 season finale, we knew it was going to be a stressful day, but the Gallaghers refuse to let hate win, reminding us that true love can conquer all…even Mickey’s dad.

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not watched the latest episode yet.

In last night’s episode, “Gallavich!” Ian and Mickey prepare for their wedding day, but things get complicated when Mickey’s dad decides to burn down their venue. Meanwhile, Lip tries to get through to Tami, Liam works his magic with Frank, and Julia gets punched in the face.

My top 5 moments from the Shameless season 10 episode 12 season finale are:

“You got game son.”

Liam tries to come up with the perfect present for Ian and Mickey and decides that he wants to get them a honeymoon car without spending money, which is where Frank comes into play. Liam tricks Frank by telling him that they are selling the house, which gets one of Faye’s cars in the right place at the right time.

Frank is impressed with Liam, but tells him he’s not going to the wedding. Liam reminds him that they don’t expect him to show up to much and actually talks some sense into his father, as Frank arrives to show his support…and to reunite with an old flame.

I thought it was nice that Ian spoke to Debbie about missing Monica, but no mention of Fiona not attending?

“You got another mask?”

Tami is furious at Lip for renting the house in Southside without talking to her first and tells him that she is going to take Fred to Milwaukee without him.

Shameless Showtime 4 — Images courtesy of Showtime

Lip is beyond heartbroken and resorts to drinking at the wedding, but luckily he shows up at Brad’s door and tells him he needs to find a meeting.

Tami has a change of heart and decides to move in with Lip after all. I’m not the biggest fan of Tami, but I don’t want Lip to be separated from his son. We’ll have to see how this all plays out in the final season, but it’s clear that Lip is destined to be a great father and now he’ll get the chance to prove it.

“Welcome to the Southside, Julia.”

Julia’s back and now she claims that she is moving in with Debbie.

Shameless Showtim3 6 — Images courtesy of Showtime

Sandy has other ideas after her own intimate night with Debbie and punches Julia…right in the face. It’s not like she didn’t have this coming. Nice Sandy!

Julia continues to argue with her mom and stirs up some more drama, but it looks like she is moving on to Carl...at least for a casual hookup. At the end of the episode, the police show up looking for Debbie, charging her with statutory rape since Julia is not 18 yet. Our girl Debbie Gallagher makes a run for it, but it looks like her love triangle fiasco is now catching up with her.

Run, Debbie!

“Ask me fool!”

Kevin Ball’s Keg Zone is really making some impressive progress, as Kev begins to save a stash of money. He doesn’t initially tell V about it, which makes her suspicious, but we later find out he was saving to buy V…an engagement ring!

Shameless Showtime 3 — Images courtesy of Showtime

Kev asks V to marry him after Ian and Mickey’s wedding and it’s about time! So happy for these two!!!!!!

“At last!”

After Mickey’s father burns down The Bamboo Lotus, Ian and Mickey are out of a venue. Debbie suggests that they “white trash this shit” up, as they pool together their resources. Eventually, they settle on The Polish Doll, but the owner is not a fan of the LGBTQ community.

Luckily, Lip and Debbie get creative, as Debbie wears a wedding dress, claiming to be the bride. She keeps the owner distracted with her wedding day jitters while the real wedding takes place.

“At Last” is the perfect song choice, Ian! We finally get to witness Gallavich earning their first step toward happily ever after as these two tie the knot!

Shameless Showtime 7 — Images courtesy of Showtime

The wedding is romantic and perfect and I teared up quite a bit, but we also get some true Gallavich adventure at the end when Mickey’s father tries to shoot up their honeymoon.

It’ll never be quiet for these two, but at least they have each other!

Stay tuned for the final season of Shameless!!!!!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts on Shameless below in the comments section. 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!

**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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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 10 episode 11: “Livin’ on a Prayer”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 10 episode 11, Kev reminded us that “the longest part of a journey is always the first step,” and if you don’t believe him, check your fortune cookie.

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not watched the latest episode yet.

In last night’s episode, “Location, Location, Location,” Debbie gets caught in the middle of Julia and Claudia’s drama while looking quite dapper in her tux. Meanwhile, Lip has second thoughts about moving, Liam attempts to track down Frank, and Ian and Mickey discuss wedding plans.

My top 5 moments from Shameless season 10 episode 11 are:

“So we’re not the good cops?”

Carl continues to work undercover to prove that the sanitation department is dirty even though his boss reminds him that he’s not undercover and perhaps he should stop telling people that he is.

Carl is definitely loyal to the cause and reminds his boss that he “took a shit in someone’s house” to keep up appearances, but it looks like he certainly is going to make a great cop one day.

Although, he might want to figure out what side he’s actually on…

“I found my calling.”

Kev comes to the realization that he needs a thing, now accepting that he won’t make it into the NBA. V hilariously reminds him that he was never going to play for the NBA, but Kev is still determined to write his letter of retirement. I mean, “Dear Basketball” is a great start!

Kev is anxious to discover the next chapter of his life, but V points out that “retirement is for rich people.” After the husband from the school auction shows up to cash in on his personal training session with Kev, this inspires a new calling, as he decides to train people with…“keg lifts.”

Shameless Showtime 5 — Images courtesy of Showtime

It seems like it’s working so far so perhaps Kev has found his thing after all!

“Remember, you’re desperately in love with me.”

How could Debbie forget?! Debbie continues to web a lie of deception, agreeing to go to the homecoming dance with Julia, but of course, Claudia’s birthday dinner is on the same night!

Debbie is convinced that she can swing both and even learns how to tie a bow tie like a champ from Sandy Milkovich, but it’s only a matter of time before she gets caught…

After starting off with an impressive run back and forth, Claudia notices the boutonniere on Debbie’s jacket and of course she recognizes it…since she bought it for her daughter’s date.

Debbie is caught in the middle of this mother-daughter drama and decides to leave them to their rich people problems while she ends up having a blast with Sandy Milkovich.

Shameless Showtime 6 — Images courtesy of Showtime

It looks like Debbie is moving on to Sandy, but what will happen when Julia shows up on their doorstep next week?

“The other path also led to addiction…”

Well, Frank may be honest here, but at least he’s out of the woods and out of rehab! Frank is ready to find his next scheme, but he runs into Faye, who tells him that she is going back to Puerto Rico for the winter.

Faye still seems to have some lingering feelings here, but Frank is not about to pass up a new scheme, as he decides to break into Faye’s house and enjoy some relaxation by himself.

Liam eventually tracks him down and Frank reluctantly agrees to sign his paper so he doesn’t get kicked out of school, but Frank now starts to think that Faye’s house may really be haunted after all…

Shameless Showtime 1 — Images courtesy of Showtime

After a few close calls, Frank runs into the “yard guy” and they realize that they are both staying there without Faye knowing. They strike a deal to both stay there and it looks like this may be the start of another beautiful friendship for Frank…

“Can’t we just be Ian and Mickey?”

After Mickey’s father threatens him, Mickey is ready to pull out all the stops for the wedding, but Ian just wants things to go smoothly. Mickey has quite a few thoughts about flowers and song choices, but don’t mess with him when it comes to selecting the perfect chairs…

Ian recognizes that Mickey is on edge because of his father, but he tries to be as supportive as he can while reminding Mickey that he does love him. In a truly romantic moment, Ian gets the guitar player to perform “Livin’ on a Prayer” for Mickey, which seems to get these two back on track.

It looks like we’ll be seeing the wedding in next week’s season finale, but I’m sure we will have to deal with a lot of obstacles along the way. Well, at least Lip isn’t moving anymore, although this may put a dent in his relationship with Tami…

Stay tuned Gallagher fans!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts on Shameless below in the comments section. Thanks 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 “Shameless” season 10 episode 10: “What’s an acronym?”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 10 episode 10, I realized that sometimes you have to say goodbye in order to truly start over. But is a Gallagher truly ready to leave the Southside behind?

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not watched the latest episode yet.

In last night’s episode, “Now Leaving Illinois,” Debbie gets caught up in a love triangle with Claudia and Julia. Meanwhile, Lip and Tami contemplate moving, Liam is threatened with a permanent vacation from school, and Carl discovers that “garbage is dirty.”

My top 5 moments from Shameless season 10 episode 10 are:

“I’m a user, not a seller!”

Frank gets caught up in quite the jam after Faye sets him up to wind up in prison, but Frank Gallagher can talk his way out of almost anything. After helping out the new processing officer and reasoning with the judge, Frank manages to get out of there with some community service and a trip to rehab.

Faye is less than pleased that her “pharmaceutical entrapment” did not work like she anticipated, but are there still some sparks flying between these two? We know that Frank likes his women on the crazy side, but it looks like he may be preoccupied with his new business venture within the behavioral rehab center.

Frank Gallagher always finds a way to make some fast cash…

“We need to get out of here while we still have a chance!”

After Kev determines the definition of an acronym, he heads out with V to a “Win a Date Couples Auction,” which could seal the deal to get their girls into a prestigious academy for kindergarten.

After Kev and V are auctioned for $5000, things start to get a little weird and they realize that the couple may actually be swingers. I guess that’s more believable than Kev’s initial theory about them being hunted down by rich people for sport…

Kev and V weigh the pros and cons and decide to go through with it for their girls, but they are more than surprised when the couple shows up with their son, claiming they want to show him true suffering among the poor so that he is motivated in life.

Perhaps the girls going to public school is not such a bad thing after all…

“So you’re doing the mom and the daughter? Cause that’s hot.”

Well said, Megan! Megan continues to be a supportive friend to Debbie, but Debbie has certainly gotten herself stuck in a mess of her own. Claudia seems to be very happy with her and even offers her a job at the house, but Debbie’s sexcapade adventures with Julia may put a hold on this.

Shameless Showtime 2 — Images courtesy of Showtime

After Debbie tries to let Julia down gently, Julia threatens to expose her to her mother, so I guess Debbie is going to the homecoming dance after all…

“When you know, you know.”

After Ian hilariously tries to bring a date to make Mickey jealous, he winds up with Cole, who certainly lights up every room with his presence. Ian overhears Byron speaking badly about Mickey and he defends his man’s honor, punching him in the face.

This act of Gallavich love gives Mickey the green light to punch Cole as well, as Ian then proposes to Mickey! In true Mickey fashion, Ian is told to save the speech and it looks like these two are finally ready to have their happily ever after.

Swoon!

“That’s all I got.”

After Lip successfully makes it through his first meeting with Tami’s family, he learns that they want to give them Tami’s grandmother’s house until they can get on their feet. Sounds perfect, but the house is located in Milwaukee, which is two hours away from Lip’s home.

Lip is initially hesitant, but after they see the place for themselves, Lip starts to realize that this could open so many doors for him and his son. Lip holds a family meeting of his own and tells the Gallaghers that he is leaving.

So, what does this mean for Lip’s character? We only have two episodes left this season and with Fiona’s departure last season, is Lip now going to make his exit as well? We’ll have to wait and see how this unfolds, but I do want Lip to finally find the happiness he deserves.

Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts on Shameless below in the comments section. Thanks 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 “Shameless” season 10 episode 9: “Gallagher Normal”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 10 episode 9, I learned that a “Gallagher keeps his promise,” but is a promise truly enough for a Milkovich?

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not watched the latest episode yet.

In last night’s episode, “O Captain, My Captain,” Faye continues to interrogate Frank while the rest of the Gallagher household carries on without him. Meanwhile, Debbie meets Claudia’s daughter, Lip tries to make some extra cash, and Kev and V’s latest side hustle takes an unexpected turn.

My top 5 moments from Shameless season 10 episode 9 are:

“Can someone be a hero please?”

Carl continues to take his position very seriously as the youth group leader for the police, but perhaps he should remember that carte blanche doesn’t exactly mean sending these kids to the hospital to prove a point. It looks like Carl is off to the sanitation department where he can literally clean up the streets of Southside.

“I’m a lot more lucid when I’m drunk.”

A fair point for sure, Frank, as Faye (Elizabeth Rodriguez) continues to keep him handcuffed to the bed until he admits that he wronged her former love. It takes Frank quite a few tries, but once she throws some opioids into the mix, the memories start to come back.

It looks like Faye is not done with Frank just yet, as she drugs him up and leaves him in a car with all of the evidence. Watch out, Frank!

“She’s a terror. Stay strong.”

After Debbie and Claudia try out using the commitment friendly word, “girlfriend,” it seems like things are going in the right direction. That is, until Debbie crosses paths with Claudia’s teenage daughter, Julia.

Julia explains that her mother constantly tells her that she is fat and convinces Debbie to help her skip out on the dreaded Spin Class so that they can get some fried food instead.

Shameless Showtime Episode 9 3 — Images courtesy of Showtime

After Julia kisses Debbie, it looks like she is now in a world of trouble. I can’t see this ending well, but it looks like this family love triangle will continue in next week’s episode.

At least Debbie has cleared up the hooker confusion.

“How do you know you love me?”

After Ian basically leaves Mickey at the altar, Mickey decides to move out and move on.

Shameless Showtime Episode 9 2 — Images courtesy of Showtime

Ian recognizes what Mickey is doing and tries to make it up to him by buying a promise ring, but Mickey is not so impressed.

Ian is clearly scared of marriage, but his love for Mickey transcends this so I hope that these two can figure things out before it’s too late! We’re rooting for you, Gallavich!

“Nurse V’s Jiffy Care!”

“Naked breasts don’t exactly say quality health care,” but Kev does make the point that they could if their new medical side hustle includes mammograms. The maid service van is cleverly turned into Nurse V’s Jiffy Care, as V decides to bring some cheap and needed healthcare to the Southside.

It seems like business is booming, but things get complicated when a fifteen-year-old girl from out of state is in need of an abortion. V gets creative with her new doctor friend to do all she can to help these girls in need, but it looks like they are now getting quite the reputation.

Shameless Showtime Episode 9 1 — Images courtesy of Showtime

Perhaps they need to come up with a new side hustle. Either way, I’m always on team Kev and V! More please!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts on Shameless below in the comments section. Thanks 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!