Spoiler-Free Review of “Locke & Key” on Netflix: Unlocking the Door to your Next Binge-Watch

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

A dark, magical adventure filled with heart, leading us past our imagination with some worthy evil threats thrown into the mix.

Locke & Key premiered on Netflix on February 7th 2020 with 10 new episodes (40-45 minutes in length). It stars Connor Jessup, Emilia Jones, Jackson Robert Scott, Darby Stanchfield, and Laysla De Oliveira.

The show is based on the graphic novel series written by Joe Hill and illustrated by Gabriel Rodríguez. After the tragic death of their father, three siblings move into his old mansion with their mother, unlocking past secrets and discovering some magical keys that light the way to their new potential destiny. However, there is an evil lingering inside the well of Keyhouse that threatens them all.

This is not the first time we have seen a plot like this and there are a lot of similarities to The Chronicles of Narnia, The Haunting of Hill House, and Stranger Things. That being said, I absolutely love all three of those, so I welcomed this familiar plot with open arms.

However, does Locke & Key unlock its way to its own identity? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Locke and Key Netflix 5 — Images courtesy of Netflix

The Locke siblings are the heart of the show.

I loved the family aspect of The Haunting of Hill House and we get a young adult friendly version of that in Locke & Key. The relationship between the siblings is heartwarming and believable. All three of these characters are absolutely fantastic and you almost feel like you are a part of their family. The performances are well done and the family drama isn’t overly exaggerated.

Locke and Key Netflix 8 — Images courtesy of Netflix

The mystery is intriguing and entertaining.

From the very first episode, we get a sneak peek of what’s to come for the Locke family, as they explore Keyhouse with brand new eyes. The house is breathtaking, but the Locke siblings quickly discover that there are more secrets hidden within the walls of their father’s old home.

Locke and Key Netflix 6 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Evil looks good on our Villainess.

The villain in this series is beyond entertaining. She’s absolutely fantastic and will lure you over to the dark side for sure. She is cunning, powerful, and mysterious, as the Locke siblings are forced to really think outside the box to stop her, but do not underestimate her for one second. I love a good Villainess and Dodge or “Well Lady” certainly exceeded my expectations.

The Cons:

Locke and Key Netflix 7 — Images courtesy of Netflix

The rest of the characters fade into the background.

Unlike Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which has an endless amount of extraordinary characters, the rest of the group in Locke & Key are just kind of okay and very forgettable. Even Mrs. Locke seemed all over the place and I almost felt like they didn’t really know what to do with her character.

I did enjoy Scot the most out of the friend characters, who had the most adorable nickname for our girl Kinsey, Rocky Road, but the supporting characters seemed underdeveloped and uninspiring. That being said, the Locke siblings and Dodge certainly made up for that and stole the show.

Some plot holes and unanswered questions.

I wouldn’t say that this was a major con, but I found myself asking more questions about the keys and where they came from. A lot of things are explained in the end and we are left with a major cliffhanger, so I’m hoping for some more background information if we get a second season.

So am I in or out?

Locke and Key Netflix 1 — Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in! This series was so much fun and I watched it all in one day. It has a lot of heart and so many twists and turns that will keep you thoroughly invested throughout the show.

While it may not be the next Stranger Things, it doesn’t have to be. Locke & Key creates its own separate identity and has the potential to become my new favorite show with possible future seasons. Now about my key…

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

**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!

**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!

Do you love horror series? Of course you do! Please also check out 12 Nights of Horror Series Coming Soon. It’s your home for everything you need to know about new and returning horror television series including new trailers, premiere dates, reviews, recaps, and renewals!

Love time travel? Me too! Check out my blog on The Octoberpod Guide to Time Travel and stay tuned for an all new episode of Octoberpod! Fun and spooky stuff for retro horror fans! Subscribe at Octoberpod Home Video

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” Season 4 Episode 12: “True Honor”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching The CW’s Riverdale season 4 episode 12, I learned that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but it’s usually a draw. When it comes to true honor, winning isn’t always the answer.

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

In last night’s episode, “Chapter Sixty-Nine: Men of Honor,” Jughead and Bret prepare for a duel, but Betty and Alice have a side mission of their own that may be more important. Meanwhile, Archie gets caught in the middle of Uncle Frank’s past, an old nemesis returns, and Veronica heads out to New York to catch up with Katy Keene.

My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 4 episode 12 are:

“New York is my town.”

Veronica takes a trip out to New York for a college interview and spends some quality time with her old friend, Katy Keene, presenting us with a fun crossover to prepare us for the premiere of the spin-off series.

Riverdale The CW 7 — Images courtesy of The CW

After witnessing a super fun shopping spree with these two, Katy reveals that her mother is very ill, causing Veronica to have her own moment of self-reflection.

After Hermione reveals that Hiram is also very sick, Veronica decides to change her name back to Lodge. It may seem like a small gesture, but Hiram is clearly pleased with this.

Veronica was missing something, but will she find it in New York next year or will she stick around in Riverdale? We’ll have to wait and see, but it looks like we will get some serious Varchie screen time in next week’s episode.

“Bret is afraid of me?”

I mean, you are pretty intimidating, Betty, especially after smashing that headstone to pieces, but I am loving the rivalry between our girl and annoying Bret. In this episode, we get the team-up we fell in love with before, as Alice decides to tag along for Betty’s mission.

Riverdale The CW 5 — Images courtesy of The CW

Betty and Alice meet with Mrs. Chipping, trying to piece together what happened to her husband and we finally discover that Moose left because Bret threatened him with a sex scandal video tape.

Betty fears that there may be a tape of her and Jughead as well and is determined to find his collection, but Bret is not making things easy with his secret alarms.

“And may the best man win…”

The duel between Jughead and Bret is quite eventful, as we get three rounds to determine who the best man truly is.

Riverdale The CW 6 — Images courtesy of The CW

Round one is fencing and Bret takes the point, but Jughead literally knocks Bret out in round two, which was quite entertaining to see.

The final round is a chess match, but Jughead ultimately decides to throw the match, explaining that he is done playing this game. Even though Jughead doesn’t win the match, he is a winner in our books as he takes the moral high ground here.

However, it’s only a matter of time before we discover how Jughead meets his untimely demise (or not) and it’s hard to pinpoint the exact motive, but it looks like the Baxter Brothers book series may still be at the center of it.

“I will ruin you…”

Cheryl and Toni (Choni) seem to be quite the hit with their new Maple Club, but things get complicated when Nick Sinclair shows up. Cheryl spots him from behind the curtain and this brings up a lot of horrible memories for her. In case you forgot, Cheryl was drugged by Nick during her sophomore year and Veronica and the Pussycats came to her rescue.

Riverdale The CW 4 — Images courtesy of The CW

Cheryl really opens up to Toni about what happened and we also learn that Toni went through something similar in her past as well. She shows her love and support for her girlfriend, but she also takes things one step further and decides to teach Nick Sinclair a lesson.

Toni teams up with Kevin and Fangs with their side hustle and videos Nick being tickled. Toni tells Nick that she will ruin him and saves the day, proving once again why Choni is such an incredible couple. I love these two so much! Go Toni!

“I think we need to be more worried about Donna.”

Even though Bret stops Betty and Alice from taking his precious collection, Betty does manage to slip Donna’s tape by him. Betty discovers Donna’s confession, which is an identical speech about a teacher she had an affair with.

Betty recognizes that she is lying and has done this speech before, but what is Donna’s end game here?

Betty is right about suspecting Donna as the greater threat, but what does she want with Jughead?

Stay tuned!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Stranger” on Netflix: A Complex Thriller Worthy of your next Binge-Watch

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

“A secret revealed is a secret destroyed.”

The Stranger premiered on Netflix on January 31st 2020 with 8 episodes (40-45 minutes in length). It stars Richard Armitage, Siobhan Finneran, Anthony Head, Dervla Kirwan, and Hannah John-Kamen.

The show is based on the book of the same name by Harlan Coben. It is a mystery thriller that follows the lives of several families, as secrets are exposed by a stranger, creating a vortex of lies, murder, and a quest to uncover the truth.

This is not the first crime thriller that Netflix has released, but it’s difficult to deliver some worthy twists without over-complicating things.

If you enjoy movies like The Call, The Girl on the Train, and Gone Girl, this new show will make you feel right at home, but does it do enough to stand out as a worthy thrill ride? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Stranger Netflix 4 — Images courtesy of Netflix

The mystery will keep you invested and guessing the entire time.

Adam Price basically has his entire life turned upside down when a stranger approaches him with a shattering secret about his wife. As we begin to uncover the truth with Adam, you will find yourself on the edge of your seat, which makes the watch entertaining and fast-paced. Unnecessary set-up does not get in the way, as we dive right into the mystery from the opening minutes of the series.

An amazing cast.

Richard Armitage does a fantastic job with his role, but I was also really impressed by Siobhan Finneran’s portrayal of Johanna Griffin. Let’s not forget that we also have Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum, Anthony Head playing a supporting role to perfection. The list goes on and on and every single performance was spot on.

The Cons:

The Stranger Netflix Show 1 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Way too many sub-plots.

Yes, this is one of those shows where everything connects. However, we certainly get a lot thrown our way and some of it seems beyond outrageous. If you pay attention, a lot of the connections and reveals make sense later on, but some of them are actually never explained, so I’m wondering why we didn’t just focus on the main mystery, which was compelling enough.

It’s easy to get lost in this show and perhaps it is too complex for its own good, but there are enough reasons why you should still watch the show in its entirety anyway.

So am I in or out?

The Stranger Netflix Show 2 — Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent! While the show may be unnecessarily complex at times, it is the epitome of the perfect weekend binge-watch. You can watch all eight episodes in one sitting and you will probably want to because each episode leaves you wanting more, as you try to figure out the mystery going on.

I tend to thoroughly enjoy mystery thrillers with a touch of Lifetime drama thrown in and this show exceeded my expectations. While this isn’t the best show or thriller I have ever seen, it delivers as a quick and entertaining show you can watch while throwing in some unexpected twists and moments that will keep you guessing.

Keep these coming, Netflix!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Stranger in the comments section below. 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 “Riverdale” Season 4 Episode 11: “Quiz Show”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching The CW’s Riverdale season 4 episode 11, if you didn’t already have Quiz Show fever, I’m sure you do by now.

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

In last night’s episode, “Chapter Sixty-Eight: Quiz Show,” Betty prepares for the Quiz Show match against Bret and Stonewall Prep with Veronica, Cheryl, and Toni by her side. Meanwhile, Cheryl and Veronica team up to win the rum war, Jughead’s book material puts a dent in his relationship with Betty, and Kevin explores a new potential business opportunity.

My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 4 episode 11 are:

“I just want to make him sweat.”

Charles is back in this episode, as both Betty and Jughead turn to him for help. Jughead is looking for some serial killer information that might help his next book premise and Betty wants to dig up some dirt on the competition, Bret.

After Betty discovers that Bret cheated on his PSATs, Bret turns the tables and reveals some of Jughead’s secrets, but will this put a permanent dent in Bughead’s relationship?

Let’s hope not…

“My dad believed in second chances and so do I.”

Archie is showing some of his naivete; however, as he decides to put Uncle Frank in charge of his father’s business. Morale is low and Archie decides to pass up on a job that would link them to Hiram Lodge, determined to keep integrity as a part of the business.

Mr. Keller clearly has some thoughts about Uncle Frank and tries to get Archie to see reason, especially when Uncle Frank helps himself to some petty cash.

Mr. Keller walks away and Archie explains that this cannot happen again, but Uncle Frank tries to tell him he was only trying to win enough money for the crew’s bonuses.

We know that there is a void in Archie’s life, but I’m not sure that Uncle Frank is the father figure he is searching for…

“Not anymore…”

After Bret tells Betty that Jughead is writing the next book based on The Black Hood, Betty is more than upset. Jughead tries to tell her that he was just throwing ideas around and had no intention of actually writing it without talking to her first, but the lies keep piling up around these two.

Charles finds out that Betty did not get into Yale because they didn’t want to be linked to the daughter of The Black Hood and Betty loses it. She heads out to the cemetery and decides to destroy her father’s headstone, frustrated that he has ruined everything for her.

Poor Betty…

“Our rum war is back on.”

Veronica and Cheryl make a dynamic duo for sure, as they team up to “rum block” Hiram for good. Hiram claims he is the grand master and is ready for any challenge thrown his way, however. After Veronica and Cheryl turn La Bonne Nuit into a dance club with free samples of their new maple rum, Hiram arranges for them to be raided, proving to be quite the opponent.

But, no one should mess with Veronica Luna and Cheryl Blossom!

Veronica and Cheryl come up with a plan to use their new dance club as a distraction while they set up shop at Penelope’s Maple Club, promoting exclusivity to some wealthy clients. Penelope is let out of the bunker on good behavior, as Cheryl forces her to put on a mask and manage the shop while they are at school.

Riverdale The CW 1 — Images courtesy of The CW

Well played, Cheryl!

“Victory…tainted by a cloud of scandal.”

Rivw’s Quiz Show was quite competitive, but I would expect nothing less from our fabulous four Vixens, who really showed Stonewall Prep what they are made of. Only Alice tries to interfere and manages to sneak Betty a copy of the questions and the answers from the show, trying to make up for what happened to her to even the score.

Riverdale The CW 2 — Images courtesy of The CW

Our girl Becky is no cheater; however, and wins the game fair and square. We even got a fun Mean Girls reference, “The limit does not exist,” which I thoroughly appreciated!

Even though Betty did not cheat, we assume that Bret found the questions in her trash and turned her in. The victory is gone and Betty is suspended.

Seriously, can we get a win for our girl B?

Jughead is beyond furious and challenges Bret to a duel and we then flash forward ahead again to find Betty sitting with Archie. The two are trying to cope with Jughead’s death and we get an interesting focus on them holding hands that might suggest there is something more here?

Riverdale The CW 3 — Images courtesy of The CW

We’ll have to see how this plays out…

Stay tuned!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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

Spoiler-Free Review of “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” Part 3 on Netflix: Spellbinding Perfection

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

“Here’s to Sabrina Spellman! Cheerleader by day, Queen of Hell by Night!”

Hell looks good on our girl Sabrina Spellman, played brilliantly again by Kiernan Shipka.

In the midst of all of the dark and twisted spell-casting, there is still room for some fun bubble gum pop moments featuring cheerleading, Riverdale Easter Eggs, and romance.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Netflix 8 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Part 3 premiered on Netflix on January 24th 2020 with 8 new episodes (55-60 minutes in length). It stars Kiernan Shipka, Miranda Otto, Lucy Davis, Chance Perdomo, Ross Lynch, and Michelle Gomez.

Part 3 starts off with a bang, as Sabrina is desperate to find a way into Hell to free her boyfriend, Nick. With the help of her mortal friends, Sabrina crosses paths with some new foes along the way. Sabrina is destined for the crown, but is quickly challenged again and again.

Her loyalties are tested, but where does her heart truly lie?

Parts 1 and 2 were absolutely fantastic, but can Part 3 measure up? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Netflix 3 — Images courtesy of Netflix

We dive deeper into a magical world filled with history, wickedness, and mystery.

The show seamlessly submerges us into a world with dark magic wedged into every nook and cranny of history. We learn about Dante’s Inferno, vampires, banshees, voodoo, Pagan gods, and more. While it may initially seem like this is quite a lot to cram into 8 episodes, each adventure worked so well with the plot, luring us in that much more.

New and interesting characters.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Netflix 6 — Images courtesy of Netflix

The show already has a large cast with amazing characters, but some of the new additions really added to the charm of the show. But let’s not forget about Lilith aka Mary Wardwell, who continues to be a phenomenal scene stealer.

I also really appreciated the time spent toward developing some of the other characters, specifically Theo and Prudence.

Some of the new villains prove to be quite formidable, constantly putting our girl Sabrina Spellman to the test, which provides us with a lot of edge-of-your-seat moments and exciting twists. More please!

Lots of fun.

Even though Sabrina is now the Queen of Hell, she still decides to try out for the cheerleading squad with Ros. We get some fantastic musical numbers that gave me a 90’s nostalgia along with some crafty Riverdale Easter Eggs, which is known as the murder capital of the world. Where’s vigilante Archie when you need him?

I thought that this poppy fun feel really balanced out the darker elements of the show, giving me a Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibe while still casting its way toward its own magical identity.

The Cons:

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Netflix 4 — Images courtesy of Netflix

None. Well, I guess if I need to pick something, it would be that I wanted more episodes.

Parts 1 and 2 featured 16 episodes split up into 8 at a time. Parts 3 and 4 will follow the same format. We will get the next 8 episodes on July 3rd 2020, which is a long time to wait to catch up with our favorite witches!

So am I in or out?

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Netflix 5 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Of course I’m in…100 percent and more! This show gets better and better. Countdown until the next witching hour!

If you aren’t watching this show yet, I absolutely recommend it. It is so much fun and the characters are bewitching…even without the magic. Enjoy witches!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Part 3 in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, 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 “Riverdale” Season 4 Episode 10: “Cherry Bomb”

Happy Thursday TV fans! The wait is finally over and Archie and the gang are back just in time for the big game! After watching The CW’s Riverdale season 4 episode 10, I learned that Stonewall Prep “doesn’t play to win, they play to hurt,” but hell hath no fury like a Riverdale woman seeking out revenge. Watch out, guys!

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

In last night’s episode, “Chapter Sixty-Seven: Varsity Blues,” it’s time for the big football game, as our two rival schools prepare for war. Meanwhile, Cheryl meets the new cheerleading coach, Jughead reveals some secrets to Quill & Skull, and a B & V scam is up and running once again.

My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 4 episode 10 are:

“You respect what a man chooses for himself.”

Were you wondering about Archie’s Uncle Frank? Me too! Well, at least we get some answers, as we discover that Uncle Frank may be the black sheep of the family. Mrs. Andrews does not get along with him and tells Archie that Fred was blamed for a DUI when Uncle Frank was driving.

Things also start to get shady when Uncle Frank offers Munroe some drugs to help his kneel heal quicker, but Archie seems to have a fast change of heart, agreeing to allow Uncle Frank to stay with him temporarily.

Let’s hope he doesn’t bring our favorite vigilante to the dark side…

“It tastes like money.”

Veronica is determined to beat her father and even comes up with her own special blend of rum…Luna Rum. Sounds catchy and apparently it is quite spicy as well, but Hiram finds out and serves Veronica with a cease and desist letter, reminding her that she is still using his patented recipe.

Reggie has some interesting ideas about how to get revenge that are quite juvenile, but Veronica is playing to win and decides to team up with Cheryl to make the perfect blend using her maple syrup.

Go V!

“Maybe you could go turn on your femme fatale charm.”

Betty is determined to get some dirt on Bret and the rest of the team to prove that they are playing dirty, but it looks like we are ready for another classic B & V scam. Veronica, or “Monica,” wears her blonde wig to perfection and tries to get close to Bret.

She can “smell his privilege from across the room” and it looks like she is actually getting somewhere with Betty listening in, but Jughead outs her in front of the party as poor Betty now finds out that Jughead is part of the Quill & Skull secret society.

I always love an excuse for a good B & V team up, but let’s hope that they can take Bret down once and for all!

“I run the show around here.”

Yes you do, Cheryl! Cheryl and the Vixens are preparing for Spirit Week and the big game, but Mr. Honey reminds her that a new coach will be taking over, Miss Appleyard. Miss Appleyard doesn’t seem to be threatened, so has Cheryl finally met her match?

Cheryl refuses to take orders from her and reminds her that her “body is perfection, you crone!” After Mr. Honey threatens to take away prom for the squad, they turn their backs on Cheryl and agree to follow Miss Appleyard because you know, we can’t have any singing and dancing in cheerleading…

Cheryl is not through; however, and ends up locking Miss Appleyard in her office so that she can put on a showstopping number to “Cherry Bomb.”

Our HBIC is back, but I’m interested to find out more about Miss Appleyard and her motivation in all of this…

Theories on her arrival?

“We may have lost the game, but haven’t lost the war.”

After losing the game to Stonewall Prep, Bret seems quite confident. He tells Betty he’s sorry about her article getting canned with a lot of smug attitude. Betty doesn’t seem to be intimidated at all; however, especially since she just started digging. After all, who knows what else she will find?

Betty approaches Mr. Honey and tells him that Stonewall Prep also wins a Quiz Team tournament each year and is beyond motivated to kick their ass. Our new captain is out for blood and it looks like she will have an unstoppable team with Veronica, Cheryl, and Toni by her side, but we know that Betty is going to dominate the competition.

We then flash forward to one month later and see Betty packing up some of Jughead’s things. Bret says that they will be the only ones going to Yale now, which begs the question, did Betty feel threatened when Jughead got into Yale? We know that Betty was initially rejected, so how did she turn the tables here?

The plot thickens, but I can’t wait to find out more and next week’s Quiz Show looks like it is going to be vicious and fantastic. I can’t wait! Stay tuned!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Outsider” on HBO: A Glimmer of Haunting Potential

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

In the midst of this slow burn crime drama, there is this potential for chilling perfection lurking in the shadows. Combine that with an extremely talented cast, an intriguing plot, and some supernatural elements, and this could be the formula for a hypnotizing new show.

The Outsider premiered on HBO on January 12th 2020 with two full length back-to-back episodes. The mini-series will feature 10 episodes (60 minutes in length). It stars Jason Bateman, Ben Mendelsohn, Cynthia Erivo, and Julianne Nicholson.

Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, The Outsider follows the investigation behind the horrific murder of a young boy. After evidence begins to appear quite quickly, things become much more complicated with potential supernatural forces at play, causing the lead investigator to question things further.

This slow burn crime drama has the potential to hook its audience completely, but does it do enough in its first two episodes to keep us coming back for more? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Outsider HBO 1 — Images courtesy of HBO

An extremely talented cast.

The performances are so captivating and believable from the opening minutes of the series. Having an all star cast definitely works in the show’s favor. The characters are compelling enough and there are still a lot of secrets left to uncover, hooking us in that much more.

Some really creepy and gruesome elements.

There are some graphic images in this show, but it adds to the shock and horror behind the crime. We also get some really creepy moments that I haven’t quite figured out yet, stirring with disturbing possibility. The use of discord music to set some of these scenes is actually quite brilliant as well, really creating a world of unexplained mystery.

The Cons:

The Outsider HBO 2 — Images courtesy of HBO

The pacing is slow…extremely slow.

I watched the two opening episodes back-to-back and felt like I was sitting there for over three hours. I even almost fell asleep a few times because of that so I’m not sure that a double episode premiere was wise.

Moving forward, I will only watch one episode at a time. There is a lot to process, but I am really hoping that the show can pick up some steam because that may be its biggest downfall.

So am I in or out?

The Outsider HBO 3 — Images courtesy of HBO

I’m in…at least for now. Episode 3 will introduce us to Cynthia Erivo’s character, Holly Gibney, and I am truly hoping that she can liven things up and start to make sense of this case.

The unexplained mystery is genuinely intriguing and I want to see this unfold, but things need to pick up so that I don’t lose interest completely.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Outsider in the comments section below. 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!

My performance of the week ending 1/11/20 on TV goes to…

Marlo Kelly as Beth Cassidy on USA Network’s Dare Me.

There’s a new mean girl in town and she can already give Regina George and Heather Chandler a run for their money. Throw in some over-competitive cheerleading, dark secrets, obsession, and a possible murder, and she may just be crowned the new Queen Bee.

**Please note spoilers have been left out for your convenience.**

Dare Me has aired two episodes so far and I am already completely captivated by Beth Cassidy, played brilliantly by Marlo Kelly. While a lot of the other characters have potential as well, there is something almost magnetic about Beth. Her wide eye stares and dangerous actions make her a potential modern day femme fatale, but there’s also several layers beneath this tough appearance.

Beth clearly has a weakness for her best friend, but we all know that obsession can be a deadly game, especially when someone gets in her way. While the cheesy montages are a little bit much, Marlo nails every scene with unsettling perfection. This may be her break-out role because she is destined for stardom.

In addition, Beth clearly has some family issues going on. Her father moved in with his mistress across the street and their daughter is also on the squad, which causes even more drama during games and practice. Being on top of the pyramid is not just a privilege…it’s a necessity, and Beth is willing to take out the competition while keeping a smile planted on her face.

Beth is already set up to face off against our main protagonist, Coach Colette French (Willa Fitzgerald), but will she be able to put her personal agenda aside for the good of the team? I personally am looking forward to more interactions between these two because the tension is intense.

Coach Colette French does not initially seem to be intimidated by Beth, but she is not an ordinary teenage girl. There is clearly this jealousy and rage brewing inside of Beth, but she is able to appear so calm and in control on the surface. Sometimes, that can be even more dangerous; however, as Beth even keeps certain secrets from her best friend, Addy. Beth is manipulative and calculating and yet we can’t turn away from her.

Marlo Kelly fearlessly embraces this beautiful dark role with perfect poise. She is a scene stealer for sure and the main reason why I keep coming back for more every single week.

What’s next for Beth? Well, there is this mystery unfolding slowly week after week and you have to wonder if Beth is behind a possible crime, but is she the obvious choice? Beth has already demonstrated that she is not afraid to break the rules to get what she wants, but how far will she go?

I can’t wait to find out!

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

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!

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!

My performance of the week ending 12/14/19 on TV goes to…

Lizzy Caplan as Annie Wilkes on Hulu’s Castle Rock season 2.

As soon as I started season 2, I was completely mesmerized by Lizzy Caplan’s portrayal of Annie Wilkes. Her performance was so real and compelling each week and she had this wild eyed stare that would certainly make Kathy Bates proud.

**Please note major spoilers have been left out for your convenience.

While this story of Annie Wilkes is not necessarily a prequel to Misery, it does provide us with some fun Easter Eggs throughout the season leading up to the season finale. Lizzy Caplan is able to show off the psychotic sides of Annie with accuracy, but she also somehow makes this character real and sympathetic, as you start to root for her as an anti-hero on the show.

Annie’s darkness comes in and out, but her daughter, Joy, is her one shining light, constantly motivating her to be good and to be better. While Annie may not be able to overcome the darkness within her ultimately, she continues to fight and struggle, which is no easy task, especially after we are introduced to a Salem’s Lot inspired group to shake things up.

I thought that from start to finish, Annie was such an intriguing character with many layers. My favorite episode was “The Laughing Place” (season 2, episode 5). I thought this particular episode was so interesting because we got to explore Annie’s past to understand her a little bit more, but her younger self was played by another actress, who somehow managed to be just as brilliant as Lizzy Caplan. This really elevated her character that much more for me, as we continued with the rest of the season.

While the show started to get off track with some of the Salem’s Lot drama in later episodes, the end of the season was able to come full circle, allowing us to truly see Annie’s character development toward the character we all know in Misery, but the writers didn’t hit us over the head with this, which I appreciated.

Everything was subtle and well done, which really made me want to re-watch Misery that much more, but I also felt like I was introduced to a completely new side of Annie Wilkes, as her character came alive across the screen.

What’s next for Annie? Well, it looks like we will be closing the book on her chapter for season 2, as we will most likely explore a new character/plot if Castle Rock is renewed for season 3, but I may have just become Lizzy Caplan’s “number one fan.” She immersed herself into this role with disturbing perfection and I loved every minute of it!

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

Best,

Amy Koto, 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 “Riverdale” Season 4 Episode 9: “Tangerine Tangerine Tangerine”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching the CW’s Riverdale season 4 episode 9, I learned that sometimes it’s necessary to shatter the darkest parts of ourselves, but are they ever truly gone or have we just unleashed something even more dangerous in the process? Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, “Chapter Sixty-Six: Tangerine,” Betty’s life is put in danger after discovering that the Farm is using a trigger word to try and destroy her. Meanwhile, Cheryl confronts her intruder, Jughead finds his grandfather, and Archie and FP team up to clean up the streets.

My top 5 moments from the Riverdale season 4 episode 9 Mid-Season finale are:

“It’s on.”

Veronica vs. Hiram…place your bets now! Hiram shows off his maturity in this episode by trying to mess with everything his daughter cares about. He revokes her liquor license and even starts calling some college recruiters behind her back, but Veronica is not about to let him stand in her way.

She lets her grandmother know what is going on, but it doesn’t look like Hiram has learned his lesson yet. All hope is not lost; however, as the admissions rep from Columbia seems very interested in Veronica’s story.

“Let’s see how you do against someone your own size.”

FP has a talk with Archie and promises to help him send a message to stop these drug dealers from hurting kids, but he wants Archie to put down the vigilante mask for good. Archie and FP actually make quite the team, as FP even takes out his Serpent jacket for the occasion.

After FP is shot, Archie continues to react on instinct and almost beats Dodger to death. Luckily, FP will be OK, but it looks like Archie is in desperate need of a male role model.

And in walks Fred’s brother, Frank…

“You seize the opportunities you are given.”

Jughead wins the writing contest, so it looks like he will be the next ghost writer for the Baxter Brothers series. Congrats Jughead!

Mr. DuPont reminds Jughead that he needs to play by the rules, but Jughead is still not letting go of the past, as he decides to track down his grandfather to get some answers. After discovering that his grandfather sold the book over to DuPont, he starts to see the full picture, but it doesn’t look like the drama is over for Jughead just yet.

Jughead is now officially initiated into the Quill and Skull society, but it looks like he is going to be found dead four weeks later…

And so the plot thickens!

“I’m the Red Queen.”

I was so excited that Cheryl decided to tie in my favorite book of all time, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and of course she is our Red Queen. After pretending to poison herself, Penelope Blossom reveals herself, confirming one of my theories.

Penelope explains that she is jealous that Cheryl has been able to find happiness with dead Jason, but you would think she would try and salvage her own relationship with her daughter.

Cheryl is not about to let her mother walk away from this and decides to keep her captive in the bunker. Cheryl finally realizes that it is time to say goodbye to Jason and gives him a Viking funeral down at Sweet River with all of her friends.

I thought this was an important and vulnerable moment for Cheryl and I’m glad that Toni and her friends could be there for her. Even though Cheryl has a softer side, one should never cross the Red Queen, however.

“What did you do Betty?”

A good question for sure and of course we have to wait until January 22^nd for new episodes to find out more! During this episode, both Polly and Alice are hypnotized by a trigger word, tangerine. If the word is said three times, they try to eliminate “Evil Betty” or “Dark Betty” and we discover that Evelyn Evernever is the one making the calls.

Betty decides to have a little chat with Evelyn at Shankshaw Prison, but it looks like her greatest threat might be herself. Charles works with Betty and uses the word trigger, as Betty tries to go back in her memories to stop her childhood self from ever hurting her cat, Caramel.

It seems like everything works just fine, but when Betty turns to the mirror and says the trigger words again, she shatters it. Betty tells her mother that the darkness is gone, but now we discover that she may have been the one to kill Jughead.

Personally, I can’t believe that Betty would ever intentionally harm Jughead, but this is definitely a twist I did not see coming. Betty has been trying to stifle her dark side for a while now, but has she just unleashed something even more deadly in the process? Stay tuned!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

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!

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30