Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” Season 5 Episode 9: “Destroyer”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching The CW’s Riverdale season 5 episode 9, I learned that “either we are alone in the universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.”

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

In episode, “Chapter Eighty-Five: Destroyer,” Betty gets some disturbing news that causes her darkness to re-emerge. Meanwhile, Archie and Veronica try to promote some school spirit while Kev has a breaking point.

My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 5 episode 9 are:

“So why don’t you all show some school spirit?”

The Bulldogs are not great, but Archie sees the potential in each and every one of them. Veronica tries to spark some incentive and get the town motivated by flashing some cash and her connections, but Archie truly cares about his players and wants to make a difference.

It looks like he has done enough to make Hiram mad, which even prompts Reggie to switch sides, but can Reggie really be trusted?

Hiram somehow knows how to do everything and brings his team to victory, but Archie’s team shows a spark of life, proving that the town of Riverdale is not dead just yet.

“I think I’m ashamed of myself.”

Meanwhile, Kevin has a breakthrough after getting beat up in a steam room. He confides in his dad, who is always there to support him, and starts to break down why he goes cruising in the woods.

I think Kev has finally realized the root cause of his issues, but hopefully he will realize that he deserves to be loved. I’d love to see him and Fangs live happily ever after!

“I’ll even come out of retirement.”

And we’re so glad you did, Cheryl. Cheryl puts on a show-stopping number with the Vixens to really show some school spirit and it’s about time. Our Queen Bee is back and it looks like she is ready to bring her team straight to victory. Go Cheryl Bombshell!

We don’t get any further mention of Minerva, but I’m sure we’ll see that in the later episodes. Although, I really want Choni to mend things.

“Sometimes a story is just a story.”

Sure, but sometimes a story can be the key to some other phenomenon and Jughead is clearly obsessed with discovering the truth behind these alien Moth Man claims. Jughead reads a story from one of his students named Lerman which seems to point directly to a possible encounter with the Moth Man.

Jughead goes a little too far to get the truth and Lerman’s parents are very upset along with the principal. Later on, we get a Bughead team-up (loved this) to uncover the truth and learn that there may be a connection between Lerman and the missing girls since he lives by the Lonely Highway, but Lerman takes off and leaves town with his parents before they can really get any concrete answers.

“I’ll be damned if I let it happen to anyone else.”

Poor, Betty. She gets a phone call from her FBI friend/boyfriend Glen who tells her that the blood found was a match for Polly’s. It’s not 100 percent certain, but it’s fairly likely that Polly is gone.

Betty goes to Cheryl for advice because she wonders if knowing the truth is actually better in this situation and goes against her better judgment and lies to her mother.

Betty’s rage/darkness re-emerges later on as she begins striking her own form of justice into the creepy truckers on the highway. Betty kicks them all out of their trucks and tells them to leave.

Things go too far when she drags the man they spoke to before into the woods and almost shoots him, but Jughead calls her in the nick of time.

As much as I love seeing Betty kick some ass, when did she become Buffy the Vampire Slayer overnight? You would think that one of these guys might be able to overpower her, but they somehow just take it?

Anyway, Betty returns home later and finds her mother in tears. Glen is there and says he is taking over the investigation. Alice is very upset that Betty kept this news from her, but this really made me start to wonder about Glen’s involvement.

I don’t think he can be trusted at all and while he may not be our killer, there’s something certainly off about him.

Meanwhile, I really enjoyed seeing the sleuth team-up again between Bughead and while I don’t think they should jump back into a romantic relationship like over-eager Varchie, their friendship is a strong one and I think they can both help each other through this.

I also am still convinced that Polly is actually alive and maybe she wasn’t taken by the trucker killer, but by whoever this “Moth Man” mystery man or woman is. I’m still piecing together a few theories, but I don’t want to commit to her being dead just yet.

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 “Riverdale” Season 5 Episode 8: “Lock & Key”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching The CW’s Riverdale season 5 episode 8, I learned that the “more things change, the more they stay EXACTLY the same.”

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

In episode, “Chapter Eighty-Four: Lock & Key,” Cheryl decides to throw a key party to throw a little chaos at the drama brewing between the group. Meanwhile, Kev and Fangs contemplate the future of their relationship, Veronica wants a change, and Betty and Alice get a disturbing phone call.

My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 5 episode 8 are:

“I lost a lot of time.”

The extreme weirdness continues with Jughead’s plot as he begins to hallucinate. He thinks he is seeing the alien specimen lurking around, but is it all in his head?

Jughead even joins a support group to talk about it, but he decides to walk away from it when things get to be too much.

Just like I predicted, Tabitha clearly likes Jughead and even suggests that they go out on a normal date, but Jughead is too much in his head to even really hear her and decides to get drunk instead.

Tabitha actually may be the right choice for Jughead, but he has to get his addiction under control before he screws up this opportunity for good.

Or I guess some alien will take him away and probe him…

“What in the actual….”

Yep. You took the words right out of my mouth, Cheryl. Another theory of mine came true when we learned that Toni is actually the surrogate for Kev and Fangs. Cheryl is floored by the news, but Toni tries to tell her that she still cares about her deeply.

Cheryl’s stubbornness shines through; however, as she decides to throw a key party instead to shake things up. Everyone has to pick someone’s key in a bowl and have at it with their wildest dreams and fantasies.

Images courtesy of The CW

Parties don’t go so well at Cheryl’s house so I already could see the chaos swirling around everyone. Cheryl and Toni do end up picking one another, but Toni is upset by Cheryl’s behavior. Cheryl tries to surprise her with a nursery at Thornhill, but Toni reminds her that she doesn’t want her and her baby to stay locked away from everything and apologizes for leading her on.

Even though the Choni fan in me is rooting for these two to get together, things take time and it looks like Cheryl will be busy with Minerva. If Minerva looks familiar, it’s because she played Agatha on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina so I’m always happy to see a familiar face pop up in the Archie universe.

“A window of light in the dark.”

Even though the beginning of the episode presented us with some hot and steamy scenes between Barchie, these two are having mixed feelings once again. Archie tells Betty that he does still have lingering feelings for Veronica (really?) and Betty tells him that she needs to focus on Polly’s disappearance and she doesn’t want to bring Archie into her darkness.

It’s clear that these two will still remain friends, but I can’t say that I’m not disappointed. I don’t think we were given enough time to actually explore this relationship after seven years and now it seems like we’re right back where we started again…

“I will be fighting fire with fire.”

Veronica wants a change and she starts by having her entire apartment redone to really spark this change. But the real change Veronica is looking for is within her marriage. After Chadwick forces them to leave the party early, Veronica asks for a divorce because she is also not over Archie and these two are back together again?

Images courtesy of The CW

I’m sure the Varchie fan is excited for this, but I honestly thought this felt extremely rushed and out of place. Whether Archie has feelings for Veronica or not, he was just with Betty and I appreciate that he told Veronica about that, which shows that he has matured in some ways.

But on the other hand, Veronica is still married. She didn’t get divorced overnight and I have a feeling that Chadwick is going to team up with Hiram somehow to bring forth more drama and destruction.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you Varchie…

“She’s alive.”

Betty continues to deal with nightmares surrounding TBK, but we still have some time before we explore that plot fully. Meanwhile, Alice tells Betty that she received a call from Polly, but Betty is not so sure.

Images courtesy of The CW

Later in the episode, Betty actually picks up the call and Polly asks for their help, claiming she is on the side of the Lost Highway. Betty and Alice rush out to help her (with no back-up). This is when FP would really come in handy…

Only they don’t find Polly, but the phone booth she was in is broken and filled with blood.

We know that Polly was alive, but is this really it for her or is there still a chance that Betty can catch this roadside killer before it’s too late?

I’m ready to find out and next week’s episode looks fantastic already. We need a Betty-centric episode now!

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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “The One” on Netflix: Being Matched can be Deadly

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

“We all make our choices…”

The One premiered on Netflix on March 12th 2021 with eight episodes available to stream now. The series stars Hannah Ware, Zoë Tapper, Lois Chimimba, and Eric Kofi-Abrefa. Each episode runs for approximately 40-44 minutes.

Based on the book of the same name, the series centers around a popular dating app that promises to genetically match you with your true love. While it initially seems too good to be true, happy couples end up testing out their curiosity. Actions lead to deadly consequences as stable relationships are destroyed.

Here is the trailer:

The One may seem extremely similar to the plot of AMC’s Soulmates anthology series, but it adds in a murder mystery to give itself a unique edge. The thriller drama checks off everything needed for your next binge-watch, but does it do enough to separate itself from its predecessor? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Intriguing concept wrapped in a guilty pleasure mystery.

I’ve never seen Soulmates, but I read the synopsis and agree that the plots sound extremely similar. That being said, I think that the concept is actually really interesting. What if you eliminate everything you know about finding true love with science?

It sounds like a fairy-tale and too good to be true, but this show does a good job of exploring this concept while strategically revealing the pros and cons of changing the rules of dating forever.

There is also this dark mystery surrounding the main character, which keeps the viewer coming back for more.

Easy to binge-watch.

The pace moves very quickly and I thought that the amount of episodes paired with the length worked in its favor. There are many shows like this that drag and drag and this one was able to keep me watching for hours at a time.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Frustrating characters.

I mean, really frustrating. The dumb decisions continue over and over again which made it really difficult to connect to any of the characters except for maybe Kate, who was an actual likable police detective.

Rebecca is a villainess without any flair, but I actually thought her flashbacks were much more interesting and I would have liked to see more of a balance between her past and present self because it felt like a jarring disconnect.

Imitation is not always the sincerest form of flattery.

While I didn’t see Soulmates, many of the reviews I read are comparing the two and saying that this show pales in comparison. I think that it helped that I didn’t watch that show because I went into this show with fresh eyes, but I could see why this would be a con for some viewers.

Also, I didn’t read the novel, but many fans on social media are saying that the series really strays from the plot of the book, which makes me wonder why?

Sometimes doing too much forces the issue and I think that if this show had smoothed out some of its inconsistencies, it might have actually been something truly brilliant. The concept is there, but some things were not executed properly.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in about 75 percent.

I thought that this show got much better as it went on. While I have some reservations about it and there are some inconsistencies, annoying characters, and a lot going on, the show still has an addicting backbone at its core. It does enough to keep you coming back for more.

While I have seen a lot of comparisons to Big Little Lies and The Stranger, I thought that the show felt closest to What/If on Netflix. We have the ruthless villainess and a manipulative mind game weaving characters together while sprinkling in a murder mystery.

Like What/If, I finished this show very quickly and was never really bored. However, I was frustrated with both shows because I wanted a lot more from them and I think with a few tweaks, they could have achieved this goal.

While I enjoyed this thriller more than Behind Her Eyes and Tell Me Your Secrets, which were both disappointing, I’m still hoping for my next diamond in the rough.

If you enjoy guilty pleasure thrillers and are in need of a quick weekend watch, I recommend this, but if you are looking for something with more layers and heart, I would sit this one out.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The One 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 new supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen 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 “Riverdale” Season 5 Episode 7: “Fire in the Sky”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching The CW’s Riverdale season 5 episode 7, I learned that you actually fight fire with a fire department….

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

In episode, “Chapter Eighty-Three: Fire in the Sky,” Archie attempts to recruit the new volunteer fire department for the town. Meanwhile, Cheryl and Toni continue to clash over the Vixens, and Betty discovers a pattern involving Polly’s disappearance.

My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 5 episode 7 are:

“Who’s with me?”

After Archie’s family home is set on fire, Archie feels motivated to get the Riverdale fire department running again, but he strikes out when he asks some of his own friends. However, he is not out of luck because some of his new students seem up for the challenge.

Later on, Archie risks his life to try and save someone and has clearly not shed his hero complex over the years. While I love Archie’s heroic side, he needs to remember that he is not alone.

Plus, Veronica just bought that shiny new fire truck. However, I’m not sure how practical it is…

“This is personal.”

The feud continues between Veronica and Hiram. Veronica is not going to let her father ruin Riverdale and decides to work on a project with her economics class that involves her circulating “monopoly money with her face on it” in town.

Seriously, the funniest thing Jughead has ever said.

The concept seems to be working and it is certainly boosting morale, but things go south when someone inflates the cash and Veronica suspects her father. Only we discover that it was some of the students in her class and they actually feel pretty bad about it.

Well, at least they have been recruited to pick up the trash left out in Riverdale…

“The bitch is back in town.”

We have missed you Cheryl Bombshell! Cheryl makes a grand entrance and we watch an epic dance-off between her and one of Toni’s Vixens. Cheryl agrees to co-captain the team with Toni, but it’s clear that they have very different approaches to leadership.

Later on, Toni hits Cheryl with some hard truth and it looks like she has a new problem to face when she is exposed for trying to sell a counterfeit painting of her brother. I’m not really sure what this buyer wants from Cheryl and Nana Rose, but she’s not going to go away quietly.

Either way, I was really happy to see Cheryl break out of her shell again. The quiet/crazy version was not doing her any favors.

“What do you think it was?”

I didn’t realize that Riverdale had crossed into the sci-fi genre, but this Mothman mystery seems alien in nature. Jughead finds out more and learns that Pop and Nana Rose saw an unexplainable light many years ago outside of Pop’s.

Nana Rose actually kept the body in maple syrup that she discovered and Jughead and Tabitha are beyond confused, but things get even more strange when Jughead witnesses the same phenomenon and then the body mysteriously disappears.

So, is it government testing, aliens, or something else?

I’m not sure, but I have to say that I’m digging Jughead’s new look with the glasses. Although he needs to cut out his drinking…that’s going to become a bigger problem soon.

“Three’s a pattern.”

Meanwhile, Betty continues to investigate Polly’s disappearance and Hiram is less than helpful when he refuses to let them search his land on Swedlow Swamp. An unidentified body is discovered and Betty also learns about a girl named Margaret Harper who went missing three years ago.

Betty recognizes that three missing girls is definitely a pattern. Later on, Reggie actually helps her out and tells her he found another body. The body is revealed to be Margaret Harper and Reggie tells Hiram that if they let them search the land, he will look like the good guy.

But, what’s his real end game here?

Meanwhile, Betty learns that the Trash Bag Killer or “TBK” is back and we get a few more scattered flashbacks of when Betty was abducted. Honestly, I really hope they do an entire episode dedicated to this because I want to know what happened to Betty.

Are these two serial killers connected?

Is Polly still alive?

We’ll have to wait and see, but Betty is on the case!

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!

Checking in on “Nancy Drew” Season 2: Headed in the Right Direction

Happy Monday TV Fans! When we last checked in on The CW’s Nancy Drew, I mentioned that the show needed to adapt the weekly mystery style in order to keep things from becoming too heavy and stale.

**Please note spoilers are ahead if you are not caught up on the series.**

After defeating the Aglaeca, I started to wonder what would happen next. Sure, we have Odette occupying George’s body, which should become a major plot point at some point, but I also wanted something new and different for Nancy and I think we have finally reached that point!

Images courtesy of The CW

In the beginning of season 2 episode 6, Nancy is doing her community service in a morgue and I have to say that I loved the change of scenery for her. As much as I like her working at The Claw, she needed something to keep the mysteries going and with dead bodies turning up and spirits being unleashed, this is the perfect new setting for her and it really gave me some Tru Calling vibes, which I loved!

Images courtesy of The CW

After figuring out the newest case, I learned that we wouldn’t get a new episode until March 10th, but the trailer already looks like it is going to deliver. There is a haunted hotel and Nancy is brought on the case, which reveals that we are heading in the right direction for this show.

I loved the Nancy Drew book series growing up and part of that was because there was a new mystery to solve in each book. I was worried that the show might lose steam from the first season, but it is checking off my criteria and then some.

Sure, we know we have to figure out what is going on with the whole George/Odette thing. I’ve watched enough horror films to know that two souls can’t occupy one body for long and I’m not sure I’m a fan of George’s weird singing in French.

We also have the new dynamic between Nancy and Carson and she will be working for him as well, which should also give us plenty of material to work with. So, what can we expect?

Images courtesy of The CW

Well, I think we will get our share of hauntings and spirits since they released a lot after saving George. I also am hoping to get some mysteries based in reality as well to give us a steady balance and to keep us guessing.

Either way, I think that season 2 is headed in the right direction and I am anxious to find out what happens next!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Nancy Drew 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!

**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 “Riverdale” Season 5 Episode 6: “Back to School”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching The CW’s Riverdale season 5 episode 6, I learned that high school offers hope, but is that enough to bring a town back to life?

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

In episode, “Chapter Eighty-Two: Back to School,” the Barchie time jump continues to provide us with some passionate moments. Meanwhile, Veronica sings karaoke with her husband, Hiram eats a bag of Doritos in the most sinister way, and Betty investigates Polly’s disappearance.

My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 5 episode 6 are:

“What do you want to know?”

Images courtesy of The CW

Jughead wants to know more about the town for his next book and asks Tabitha if he can interview her. Tabitha Tate is the newest addition to the show played by Erinn Westbrook. Jughead starts to learn more about the “Mothman Mystery,” but I have a feeling that we may see a romantic story-line thrown our way between these two.

“What the hell?”

The Barchie time jump scenes do not disappoint in this episode. Betty and Archie realize that they need to be creative about where they get together and we witness a steamy make-out session in the car.

Images courtesy of The CW

Only, this is interrupted when some of the Stonewall Prep students decide to light a fire in Riverdale High.

Fear not because we do get some more Barchie action later on in the episode and I think that it’s safe to say that these two may actually be end game after all.

More please!

“Let’s see what you can do.”

Reggie continues to be annoying, but I actually really laughed out loud when Archie punched him in the face. You had it coming, Reggie. Archie decides to try and get the football team going at school, but he needs more funding and Cheryl has already done her part.

Images courtesy of The CW

Meanwhile, Toni re-ignites the Vixens and Cheryl is far from pleased. She takes a break from her counterfeit painting scam to tell Toni that she is not going to let her take the Vixens away and I think this is the spark we have been looking for.

Welcome back, Queen Cheryl!

Luckily Archie does get the funding from Veronica so it looks like the school spirit can continue, but I’m not sure if this will really resolve the Hiram Lodge problem just yet. Just keep eating those Doritos, Hiram.

“Have you and my father been talking behind my back?”

Chad is my least favorite character right now. It feels like Veronica just married a younger version of her father. I don’t trust him and I think she can do so much better.

Images courtesy of The CW

Sure, they put on a show-stopping karaoke number, but it’s all an act and I was proud of Veronica for telling him that they need some time apart at the end.

Although I can’t keep her name straight with all of these changes over the seasons…

“Polly’s missing.”

Betty and Kev start investigating Polly’s disappearance which was the most interesting part of the episode. Apparently Polly was selling Jingle Jangle and hooking up with truckers and Toni points Betty in the right direction on the highway.

Betty messages one of the truckers and asks him to meet, but it’s clear that he didn’t have anything to do with Polly’s disappearance. Betty enlists the help of Alice and they go looking for clues in Swedlow Swamp.

I didn’t even know that Riverdale had a swamp, but at the end of the episode we hear a cell ringing and see a corpse hand in a shallow grave.

Is it Polly?

I’m thinking it’s the body of Lynette Fields and they are going to connect this to Polly, but we’ll have to wait until March 10th for a new episode.

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

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!

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!

**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 “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!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Clarice” on CBS: The Silence is Over…kinda

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

“To be a survivor, you have to be a victim…”

Clarice premiered on CBS on February 11th 2021. Episodes will air weekly and are also available to stream on CBS All Access. The series stars Rebecca Breeds, Michael Cudlitz, Nick Sandow, and Kal Penn. Each episode runs for approximately 52 minutes.

The series takes place one year after the events that occurred in the iconic film, The Silence of the Lambs. We follow the untold story of Clarice, as she tries to piece her life back together again while taking on some new disturbing cases.

Here is the trailer:

Clarice has the potential to bring us back into this world while telling a unique story. However, it is difficult to find the perfect balance between the films and a new show. Hannibal was very effective at doing this, but can Clarice accomplish the same? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of CBS

Rebecca Breeds is fantastic as Clarice.

It’s not easy stepping into a role like this and Rebecca Breeds certainly has some big shoes to fill. I was already a fan of hers and remember her from Pretty Little Liars and The Originals. I think that she is doing enough to honor the original performance while branching out and creating a more layered identity.

There are a lot of familiar faces in this cast. We have TWD’s Michael Cudlitz, Orange Is the New Black’s Nick Sandow, and Houses’s Kal Penn, which should give us a good character dynamic.

Good balance between past and present events.

The flashbacks bring us back to the film, but they don’t overwhelm the show. It looks like we will be following a weekly case formula, which could be very effective with a show like this. I thought that the new mystery was disturbing enough and Clarice stepped into her new assignment well.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of CBS

Nothing truly unique going on here.

While I thought that the pacing worked well for the opening episode, this show can quickly become stale and forgettable. The problem with it airing on a network like this, is that it becomes lost in the shuffle of every other crime show. I have seen plenty of television series premieres based on films and eventually, they run out of steam.

I think that Clarice has to pick up the pace and do something really different to keep us invested or it could find its way on the cancellation chopping block…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of CBS

I’m in about 75 percent…

This show was really not bad at all. I think that some critics are being a little hard on it. The pacing worked and I thought that the moody flashbacks were necessary to remind us about the actual premise of this show.

I really want to like this show because I like Rebecca Breeds and I think it has the potential to do well, but it needs to step away from the crime drama formula and give us a lot more. I’m invested for now, but that could quickly change if nothing too drastic happens. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we will get there!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Clarice 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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Spoiler-Free Review of “Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Curse of the Shadows” on Nickelodeon: Season Two of the Revival Is Off to a Spooky Start

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

“Once you’ve been cursed, the Shadowman will come for you…”

Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Curse of the Shadows premiered on Nickelodeon on February 12th 2021. There will be six episodes in total that will air weekly. The series stars Bryce Gheisar, Malia Baker, Beatrice Kitsos, and Dominic Mariche. Each episode runs for approximately 50 minutes.

Based on the original Are You Afraid of the Dark? series that aired in the 1990’s, this revival is now on its second season. Only we get a new cast, a new location, and an entirely new mystery. The Midnight Society is ready for the case when their leader goes missing, but they may have inherited a dangerous curse in the process.

Here is the trailer:

Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Curse of the Shadows lures us in right away with an intriguing mystery and a scary villain that may actually give you some nightmares. It seems like season two has effectively found its own voice while bringing us some welcomed nostalgia along the way. Does season two do enough to keep us coming back for more? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Nickelodeon

Jumps right into the mystery.

While I enjoyed season one of the revival, there was a lot of set-up and fluff centered around the new stranger joining the Midnight Society and what that actually was. Thankfully, we skip all of that in season two and get off to a quick and chilling start.

While I’m still warming up to the new Midnight Society, I think that this was a wise decision and this anthology approach could actually allow this show to branch out even further in the future.

Welcomed nostalgia.

Images courtesy of Nickelodeon

If you are a fan of the original series, then you will be pleased with season two’s efforts to pay the show some real tribute. The character of Sardo is back in the revival. While he is played by a different actor, this character is the owner of the Magic Mansion and his presence is livening up the show for sure.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Nickelodeon

Watered down scares.

I wouldn’t say that this is necessarily a con, but this is a kids horror show and some of the scares and effects are a little cheesy. That being said, I think that the kids horror genre doesn’t get enough credit sometimes. The Shadowman is genuinely scary and there were quite a few moments that had me on the edge of my seat.

If you are looking for something truly scary, you won’t get that here, but as long as you manage your expectations, you will be pleasantly surprised.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Nickelodeon

I’m in!

This show is a lot of fun and it presented us with a spooky mystery right away without too much set-up. I’m intrigued to find out more and I may be looking over my shoulder if the Shadowman appears…

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Curse of the Shadows 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!

**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!

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