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Throw-Back Sunday: Ranking the top 5 episodes of “Lost.”

It’s Throw-Back Sunday TV Fans! I hope you are enjoying your weekend. Fans everywhere were beyond disappointed that Lost was being taken off of Netflix streaming. Lucky for us, Hulu swooped in to save the day and you can now watch your favorite moments again and again. For today, I am going to be counting down the top 5 episodes from Lost. Out of the 121 episodes of the series, it was extremely difficult to narrow this list down to just 5 episodes and I did include some honorable mentions as well.

Over my 16 re-watches of the show, these episodes have proven to be timeless and epic, truly making an impact on me as a person and resonating with me even years after the show has been off the air. The entire series is filled with great episodes, all intertwining to create a masterpiece of story-telling, while keeping our favorite characters real and significant in the process. These stand-out episodes take it a step further; however, surpassing our expectations as fans and surprising us with unforgettable moments. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not yet watched the series. My top 5 episodes from Lost are:

“Ab Aeterno.” (Season 6, episode 9)

“I’ve changed my mind. Are you listening to me? Does the offer still stand?” (Richard from episode Ab Aeterno)

“Ab Aeterno” translated means “from eternity” in Latin, but in this context means “since the beginning.” Appropriately named, this episode reveals the long awaited back-story of Richard Alpert. Over the seasons, it is revealed that Richard does not age and is a sort of proxy for Jacob. When time travel is introduced, Richard still remains exactly as he looks today, leaving fans wondering how his immortality is possible. “Ab Aeterno” reveals Richard’s life before the island on the Canary Islands. He desperately tries to save his wife, Isabella, but kills the doctor refusing her medicine by accident, resulting in his capture as a prisoner. The secrets of “The Black Rock” ship in the middle of the jungle are also revealed in this episode. Richard and the other prisoners are chained up as slaves and Richard witnesses the “smoke monster” destroy all other survivors on board.

Richard is quickly introduced to both the Man in Black and Jacob. After the Man in Black’s failed attempt to trick Richard into killing Jacob, he is offered a job as a sort of “advisor” to the island. While Jacob cannot absolve Richard of his sins, he does grant his wish to live forever. The history of Richard and “The Black Rock” answers a lot of important questions for fans however; this episode is elevated beyond this, allowing us to empathize with Richard’s humanity and vulnerability. Even after so many years of being on the island, he still misses his wife dearly and feels responsible for her death. Richard is often seen in the background on Lost, but this episode allows him to step into the spotlight, revealing every depth of his character and proving his significance to the show.

Just like everyone else on the island, Richard has made mistakes in his past and is trying to start a new life. While it may take him longer to realize his purpose, his journey to the truth is emotional and heart-breaking.

“The Constant.” (Season 4, episode 5)

“I love you, Penny. I’ve always loved you. I’m so sorry. I love you.” (Desmond from The Constant)

My top 5 list would not be complete without including “The Constant.” In the beginning of the episode, Desmond and Sayid are flying on a helicopter back to the freighter, when Desmond begins shouting in confusion, not remembering where he is or how he got there. When they get to the boat, Desmond is connected with Daniel Faraday. Desmond believes they are in the year, 1996 and Faraday explains that if his mind continues to jump back and forth, his injuries will be fatal. He instructs Desmond to find a “constant” to prevent this from happening. Desmond asks if a constant can be a person and Faraday confirms this.

Ultimately, Desmond must connect something, or someone in this case, from both timelines so that his mind ceases from jumping through time. Sounds complicated, right? While a lot of confusing theories about time-travel are introduced in this episode, Desmond’s everlasting bond with Penny is what makes this episode so classic to Lost. Back in 1996, Desmond and Penny have broken up and he joined the military to prove his worth again to her. He shows up on her door-step and begs her not to change her number and explains he will not be calling her for eight years. Penny never gives up on Desmond and does answer the call on Christmas Eve, 2004, letting him know that she will keep looking for him.

Their love for one another is so transcendent and powerful, proving that it can stand the test of time, very much like this episode of Lost for me.

“Greatest Hits.” (Season 3, episode 21)

“It’s the five best moments of my…sorry excuse for a life. My greatest hits. You know, memories. They’re all I’ve got.” (Charlie from Greatest Hits)

During season 3, it is revealed that Desmond can see the future and that Charlie is destined to die to the shock and disappointment of fans. In “Greatest Hits,” Desmond has a different sort of flash, which involves Claire and her baby getting on a helicopter and finding rescue. Charlie has accepted his fate and will do anything to help Claire and Aaron, proving that he has grown from being a selfish junky into a real hero. As he gets ready to head out to the flooded “Looking Glass” Dharma station with Desmond, he takes the time to write down the five best moments of his life:

The first time that he heard his band’s breakout song on the radio.
His father taught him how to swim at Butlins.
The time when his brother Liam gave him their grandfather Dextor Stratton’s “DS” ring, for which Drive Shaft is named, as a Christmas present.
When Charlie saved a woman from being mugged and was called a hero.
The night following the crash, when he met Claire.

(Greatest Hits list credit to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greatest_Hits_(Lost)

What makes this episode so powerful is that we have previously watched Charlie show a glimmer of hope and change in episode, “The Moth,” but in “Greatest Hits” he has now become a man to be proud of, leaving the past behind him and holding on to his memories that changed his life for the good. While Charlie does not die at the end of this episode like fans anticipated, it makes his death in the season 3 finale that much more heart-breaking.

“The Incident parts I & II.” (Season 5, episodes 16/17)

“Come on! Come on! Come on, you son of a bitch!” (Juliet from The Incident)

While many of the season finales of Lost have been jam-packed with action and twists and turns, “The Incident” is on an entirely different level. Jack accepts his destiny and believes that he was meant to detonate the hydrogen bomb to reset them back in time before Flight 815 ever crashed. Some of the other Losties do not agree, reminding Jack that it wasn’t all misery and that they wouldn’t remember each other if he goes through with this. Ultimately, they all side with Jack and support his efforts, defending each other at the Dharma Swan Site where a pocket of electromagnetic energy has just been hit. While this chaos is occurring, each candidate is revealed to have met Jacob at some point in their former lives in a moment of great happiness or weakness.

For example, Jacob appears at Sun and Jin’s wedding, touches Locke’s shoulder after he is thrown out a window, and intervenes with a young Kate when she tries to steal a New Kids on the Block lunchbox. Jacob proves to be a guiding force in their lives, even though they didn’t know it at the time. Everything is about to change and the timelines will ultimately collide when Jacob whispers his last words after Ben murders him, “they’re coming.” As if this could not get any more dramatic, Juliet gets caught in some chains and is dragged to the bottom of the Swan Site. Sawyer and Kate desperately try to get her out of there, but she falls, leaving Sawyer in defeated tears, crushing fans everywhere.

At the end of the episode, Juliet’s eyes open and she is pinned under debris, but spots the hydrogen bomb. She detonates it with a rock, refusing to let their efforts be thwarted. The screen goes white for the first time in Lost history, leaving fans with a major cliff-hanger.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one episode of Lost are:

“LaFleur”
“The Brig”
“Meet Kevin Johnson”
“Some Like it Hoth”
“Expose”
“The Long Con”
“The Candidate”
“Tricia Tanaka Is Dead”
“Through The Looking Glass”
“Across the Sea”

“Flashes Before Your Eyes.” (Season 3, episode 8)

“Please let me go back. Let me go back one more time. I’ll do it right. I’ll do it right this time. I’m sorry, Pen. I’ll change it. I’ll change it.” (Desmond from Flashes Before Your Eyes)

“Flashes Before Your Eyes” remains unchanging as my all-time favorite episode of Lost. When I first watched the series, this is the episode that changed everything for me. Don’t get me wrong, up until now I was completely hooked on Lost. I watched every episode and paid attention to all of the details and character flash-backs, looking forward to what would happen each week. When I first saw “Flashes Before Your Eyes,” the series became something more to me than just entertainment. It had now become brilliant and life-altering for me. Sure time travel and seeing the future has been done before on other shows, but Lost does it so well and seamlessly, making you almost believe that all of this is absolutely possible.

When Eloise Hawking first appeared and told Desmond “you don’t buy the ring…you have second thoughts,” I remember being shocked and intrigued. The mystery of Lost was unraveling with Desmond at the very core of it all. Desmond desperately tries to replay his former days, realizing that this is much more than a case of Déjà vu. After he buys the ring for Penny and attempts to re-do his mistake, the past remains unchanged, as they get into a fight after he can’t afford to buy the photo of them. Desmond is still holding on to a feeling of being unworthy of Penny, determined to do things right and be someone you can be truly proud of. When Desmond is struck over the head in the bar, he snaps back into the present day timeline and is back on the island. He is desperate and crying at this point, exclaiming that he’ll do it right this time and that he’ll change it, but he can’t go back and what’s done is done, leaving Desmond with a heavy burden to carry.

This moment was so powerful and unforgettable for me, leaving me in tears every time I watch, sympathizing with Desmond. This is the moment that made me realize that Lost was truly the greatest show I would ever watch, impacting me on an emotional level and reminding me about what’s important in life.

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post some of your own favorite episodes from Lost below. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

The 2018 Mid-Season TV Premieres I am most looking forward to: Bring on the new episodes!

Since I covered my favorite shows from 2017 for all networks in previous posts, I wanted to also explore the television premieres that have not yet aired yet. The holidays are over and the New Year is quickly approaching, which will bring an end to re-runs and the return of new episodes from some of our favorite shows. However, I am most looking forward to television shows that have not had an official premiere yet. While some of these shows already have 2018 premiere dates announced, others are still giving out an “early 2018” vague response, as I desperately keep refreshing the internet to see when they will be returning. Please note some spoilers are ahead if you have not caught up yet on previous seasons. Without further delay, the 2018 Mid-season TV premieres I am most looking forward to in no particular order are:

The 100

The Affair

Homeland

Ash vs Evil Dead

Jessica Jones

The 100 ended on a major cliff-hanger last season and I am counting the days until I can see Clark and my other favorite characters from Sky Crew return. Did “Praimfaya” destroy everything? Who else has survived? Will Clark and Bellamy finally get together or will we be forced to endure their unspoken tension between each other for another season? The questions are endless and I need some serious answers as we move into the new season and this new future world. Either way, I know that The 100 is up to the challenge and will provide fans with non-stop action and drama.

The Affair had me slightly confused on where it would go after the end of season 3. While seasons 1 and 2 continued to unravel mysteries and kept audiences guessing who would end up with who, season 3 ended on a different note. At the end of last season, Noah is left outside staring into his family’s house on Christmas. They are all clearly happy and at peace and he gets back in the cab not knowing where to go next. Does he go after Alison or somewhere completely new? It is very open-ended, but I am looking forward to The Affair getting back to its roots. Perhaps this means introducing some more new characters into the mix and saying goodbye to others, but the show still has a story left to tell and I’m ready for more.

Homeland is another show that left fans with a jam-packed finale, finally saying goodbye to a main character we have come to trust and rely on in previous seasons. At the end of the season, Carrie had been shut out of the White House, which has us wondering what threats will she have to deal with next? Will she be able to trust anyone? What will happen to Saul? The unanswered questions will soon be revealed, as the show is set to premiere in mid-February.

Ash vs Evil Dead is coming back in February as well. After a long hiatus from season 2, I am looking forward to the return of “ashy slashy” and friends. Our favorite characters were left celebrating in season 2 and it seems like life may return to normal, but we know that evil is lurking somewhere close. Ash cannot put his chain-saw arm into retirement just yet. What kind of demons will he face? Will the gang be reunited? While we are unsure of the threats and set-up, we know we can count on Ash for hilarious over-the-top humor and campy horror.

Jessica Jones is scheduled to return to Netflix in early March 2018 along with Jessica’s quick wit and jaded past. After defeating her enemy, Kilgrave in season 1, will she be able to put her life back together again? Is he truly gone and if so, who will she be facing in the upcoming season? Will we find out more about her past and explore her super-powers further? While I am not sure where we will be going in season 2, I am along for the ride. Jessica Jones may not be a hero we typically think of in the spotlight, but her character is deep and complicated and she has a way of showing the bad guy who’s boss while remaining true to herself.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post the shows you are looking forward to premiering in 2018 in the comments below. Happy viewing and the countdown to 2018 is here!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

My top television shows of 2017 on Netflix: Binge-watching throughout the year!

Since I covered my top favorite television shows that aired in 2017 on local and cable networks, I thought it would only be right to discuss my favorite shows that aired on Netflix as well. While Netflix has been slowly taking away some of my old favorites series to make room for the new ones, I have been pleased with a lot of their new shows. Don’t get me wrong, I desperately want them to bring back shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and One Tree Hill and to consider not taking Lost off. Either way I will still dust off my old DVD sets and settle for some quality shows on Netflix as a compromise. Netflix has done a good job of successfully providing me with the binge-watching we all crave once in a while with its lineup. Who am I kidding…all the time! Please note some spoilers are ahead.

The Best of the Best of television shows streaming on Netflix for 2017 are:

13 Reasons Why
Stranger Things (season 2)
The Punisher
Ozark
Orange is the New Black (season 5)

Orange is the New Black is a favorite guilty pleasure of mine and I admit that I look forward to every June for the premiere. I tend to watch these episodes in just under a week because I am always sad when it is over to soon. Season 4 ended with a cliff-hanger of Daya pointing a gun at a guard, leaving fans wondering what would happen next. A lot of the season focused on the inmates refusing to be treated poorly anymore, leading to a riot that allowed the tables to be turned and the inmates to take control of the prison. Each episode was jam-packed with drama and action, which had me contemplating when to start up the next episode. I have to admit that it took a lot of self-control to watch everything over the course of the week, as it would have been very easy to finish this within a day or two.

When my friends told me about Ozark, they said it was sort of like Breaking Bad but not really. Not really that specific of a review, but it did get my attention and I checked out the show featuring the wonderful and brilliant Jason Bateman. Bateman plays Marty who gets caught up in a money-laundering scheme and is forced to leave his home with his family and set up shop in the small town of Ozark so that the head of the Mexican cartel doesn’t kill him and everyone he cares about. Marty has a set of skills that are unlike many others and thinks on his feet quickly to come up with a business scheme that can work, all while trying to deal with the fact that his marriage is coming to an end and to keep his children happy. Sounds like a tall order and it is. While the series is no Breaking Bad, at least not yet anyway, it was entertaining and absolutely worth a watch.

I am a big fan of Marvel in general and The Punisher is one of my favorite heroes or maybe anti-heroes of all time. Usually when I say this, fans question this and say why not Wolverine or Captain America? The Punisher is so powerful to me because he has no super powers and his quest for revenge is sympathetic and tragic. When Netflix’s Daredevil season 2 came out, the best part of it was the introduction of The Punisher. I was ecstatic when I heard that the character would be getting his own series. I am happy to say that I successfully binge-watched this show over the weekend and it is everything I could have hoped for. Jon Bernthal is so believable as Frank Castle that you would think the comic series was based off of him. He is someone to root for and although the violence may be extreme, the enemies get what is coming to them. I also found myself investing time and energy into the supporting cast as well which is rare for me. The villains are also so intense and heart-breaking, as Frank Castle finds himself being betrayed left and right while he is trying to make amends and bring those who deserve it to justice.

Stranger Things season 2 is absolutely worth a binge-watch and perhaps a second or third time through. That’s how good it is. The music alone sparked new life into this season, the characters and friendships were bonded further, and the quest to find out where one comes from and what “home” truly means is touching and beautiful. Once again, this season blended the perfect amount of comedy with sci-fi mystery. New friends and characters are introduced and the adventures don’t stop. I don’t want to give away too much in case you haven’t gotten a chance to watch yet, but remember “friends don’t lie.” So please watch and enjoy!

When 13 Reasons Why streamed on Netflix earlier in the year, it was considered to be very controversial because of the subject matter and targeted audience. As a result, it got mixed reviews. After watching the first episode for myself, I found myself binge-watching the season all in one day. While I am sure many of you have done the same, the show did an excellent job of drawing the viewer in wanting to unlock the real reasons why Hannah Baker decided to end her life and how her friend, Clay Jensen is involved. Rather than leave a suicide note, Hannah records everything on 13 audio cassette tapes and has them delivered to the different people responsible so that they can hear the whole story. While the show makes you want to dive deeper into truth, there is something very raw and painful about the emotions that are revealed along the way from each character who wronged Hannah and how they are dealing with the aftermath of her death along with issues in their own lives that they are facing. You connect with the characters so much which makes the ultimate fate of Hannah that more tragic and heart-breaking. While the show is emotionally difficult to handle sometimes, it is worth a watch and reminds us about what is truly important in life.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post some of your favorite television shows from 2017 that streamed on Netflix below. Happy viewing and the countdown to 2018 is here!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 television series with numbers in the title: What’s your favorite zip code?

Happy Wednesday TV Fans! As I am counting the days until the weekend and I am sure you are too, it got me thinking about numbers in particular on television. I started to create a list of television series with numbers in the title and couldn’t believe how many there were over the years. If you are bored at all throughout the day, I challenge you to create a list of as many number TV shows as you can without using the internet of course. 🙂 It’s actually really fun and you can post how many you were able to come up with in the comments. Naturally, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to rank my top TV shows that fit into this category. My top 5 TV shows containing numbers in the title are:

5) One Tree Hill. One Tree Hill has always been a guilty pleasure of mine. I used to watch Soapnet all day when I worked from home and this show came on quite a bit. I was actually really disappointed that they took the show off of Netflix streaming because it is really addicting to watch. While it may seem like your typical teenage soap centered on high school drama, the show does a good job of involving real issues as well. There is a strong emphasis on family in the show and the narrator and main character, Lucas Scott, has a romantic view of the world, which elevates the show for me and ties in epic works of literature along with a lot of important thoughts that may have crossed our minds in different points in our lives.

4) 24. While I have to admit, I have not gotten a chance to watch through this show recently, it is my mother’s absolute favorite and I thought very deserving of a spot in the top 5 even though it is not necessarily my top choice. When this show aired on television, it had a quality that hooked the audience to watch the show live similar to The Walking Dead or Game of Thrones now. You didn’t want to merely record 24 because you could miss something crucial or you didn’t want someone around you to spoil what happened. The number 24 is significant in the series and not just merely in the title, as each season contained 24 episodes covering the 24 hours in Jack Bauer’s life. All of the events happen in real time, which keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat seeing everything from Agent Bauer’s point of view.

3) 13 Reasons Why. When this series streamed on Netflix earlier in the year, it was considered to be very controversial because of the subject matter and targeted audience. As a result, it got mixed reviews. After watching the first episode for myself, I found myself binge-watching the season all in one day. While I am sure many of you have done the same, the show did an excellent job of drawing the viewer in wanting to unlock the real reasons why Hannah Baker decided to end her life and how her friend, Clay Jensen is involved. Rather than leave a suicide note, Hannah records everything on 13 audio cassette tapes and has them delivered to the different people responsible so that they can hear the whole story. While the show makes you want to dive deeper into truth, there is something very raw and painful about the emotions that are revealed along the way from each character who wronged Hannah and how they are dealing with the aftermath of her death along with issues in their own lives that they are facing.

2) The 100. I have to admit that this is one of my favorite shows on television right now and I am counting the days until new episodes are aired. The 100 reminds me of a futuristic version of Lost, revealing mystery after mystery where you truly can’t guess what is coming next. The series starts off after earth has been destroyed by the nuclear war and the remaining survivors are living in a space station called the Ark. However, air and supplies are running low and the leaders of the Ark make the decision to send 100 juvenile prisoners down to earth. While it seemed initially that they were sending them off to die to sacrifice the few to save the many, earth is in fact livable again. The prisoners are all trying to exist in a world without adults and laws, but find out that earth has many dangers, including other people who were already living there, “Grounders,” who are not looking forward to sharing their land with these invaders. While each threat is dealt with, a new one emerges, forcing the Sky survivors to deal with betrayal, love, death, and war.

1) Beverly Hills, 90210. It should be no surprise that my top choice takes place in our favorite zip code. The show lasted for 10 years and even had a revival series done years later. Many of us have grown up watching our favorite twins, Brandon and Brenda Walsh move from Minnesota to the very different and superficial Beverly Hills, California. The soap-drama is a guilty pleasure of many and I recently watched through the entire series again over the summer. Through all of the drama, this group of friends sticks together and grows up fast in a materialistic world only to realize that things don’t come as easily as they did in high school and that you can’t always buy your way out of everything. While many of the plots are outrageous and over the top, there is a lesson in all of them, and we find ourselves rooting for each character who we have come to know well from years of watching them.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your comments below about any of these shows or some of your own favorites. If you do complete the challenge, feel free to post how many shows you were able to come up with that do have a number in the title. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 Binge-Watching worthy shows for the end of 2017: Filling the void of holiday reruns and specials

Happy Tuesday TV Fans! As we approach the holidays, you may be preoccupied with your never-ending to do list, shopping, cooking, and spending some quality time at home with your family. There is also that troublesome fear setting in that your favorite shows will be taking a break from new episodes and you will be left with a void of reruns and holiday specials. So what’s a TV viewer to do? Fear not, for there are plenty of binge-watching worthy shows to choose from when you may need a break from all of the holiday chaos surrounding you. My top 5 binge-watching worthy shows to choose from for the end of 2017 are:

5) Fox’s The Mick. I have been watching The Mick for two seasons now mostly because it stars the wonderfully funny Kaitlin Olson from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Since the show is on Fox, the humor is not as crude and extreme, but it is just as funny. Olson pretty much plays a similar version of Dee from It’s Always Sunny, which is hilarious enough, but supporting characters like Alba and Jimmy steal the show. They are laugh out loud funny. There are a lot of sitcom-like shows that don’t make me laugh out loud and I find this is hard to come by now. Here and there I’ll chuckle, but it’s not the same as with Friends and Seinfeld from years ago. The Mick has the perfect balance of value, or maybe lack of family values is more accurate similar to Shameless, with over-the-top hilarious moments. I absolutely recommend that you binge-watch this show and check out the Halloween episode from a few weeks ago which is one of my personal favorites.

4) Netflix’s Slasher. So one of my favorite series of scary movies of all time is Scream and I was somewhat disappointed in MTV’s version of the show they produced. Don’t get me wrong, I did watch and see it through, but there was something lacking for me. The characters weren’t believable and there wasn’t that underlying fear gnawing at me. Netflix got it right with two seasons of Slasher. Each season is different, very similar to American Horror Story with familiar actors but a different premise, plot, and murderer. There were moments I had to close my eyes because I was so scared in the first season and the main character is someone you desperately want to root for. Having characters present that you actually want to see make it out alive does carry weight. The second season has more of an Agatha Christie like vibe mixed with the movie, Heathers which I found to be very addicting once I got past the first few episodes filled with back story and flashbacks. No one is safe and it provides some edge of your seat moments as a result.

3) Netflix’s The Punisher. I am a big fan of Marvel in general and The Punisher is one of my favorite heroes or maybe anti-heroes of all time. Usually when I say this, fans question this and say why not Wolverine or Captain America? The Punisher is so powerful to me because he has no super powers and his quest for revenge is sympathetic and tragic. When Netflix’s Daredevil season 2 came out, the best part of it was the introduction of The Punisher. I was ecstatic when I heard that the character would be getting his own series. I am happy to say that I successfully binge-watched this show over the weekend and it is everything I could have hoped for. Jon Bernthal is so believable as Frank Castle that you would think the comic series was based off of him. He is someone to root for and although the violence may be extreme, the enemies get what is coming to them. I also found myself investing time and energy into the supporting cast as well which is rare for me. The villains are also so intense and heart-breaking, as Frank Castle finds himself being betrayed left and right while he is trying to make amends and bring those who deserve it to justice.

2) Showtime’s SMILF. There are only a few episodes that have come out so far so you have plenty of time to catch up and binge-watch this hilarious new show starring and created by the brilliant and lovable Frankie Shaw. The show has you laughing, crying, and cheering for single mother, Bridgette who is trying to find her way and pursue her dreams while maintaining a strong bond with her son. Bridgette is far from the perfect mother for sure, but she truly loves her son and is doing the best she can. You find yourself truly invested in Bridgette and root for her through every moment no matter how ridiculous some of them are.

1) Netflix’s Stranger Things season 2. This show and season is absolutely worth a binge-watch and perhaps a second or third time through. That’s how good it is. The music alone sparked new life into this season, the characters and friendships were bonded further, and the quest to find out where one comes from and what “home” truly means is touching and beautiful. Once again, this season blended the perfect amount of comedy with sci-fi mystery. New friends and characters are introduced and the adventures don’t stop. I don’t want to give away too much in case you haven’t gotten a chance to watch yet, but remember “friends don’t lie.” So please watch and enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your thoughts and comments below. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

“Riverdale” Review Season 2 Episode 5: Lollipop, lollipop…sweet or sour?

“Lollipop, lollipop, oh lolli lolli lolli, lollipop.” Not sure about the rest of you, but I had this song stuck in my head after watching yesterday’s episode of the CW’s Riverdale (season 2, episode 5). Betty’s ringtone played over and over with this song while the black hood toyed with her, threatening her image of kindness and perfection. I’m not sure if I was left with a sweet or sour taste in my mouth at the conclusion, however. I have become a fan of Riverdale after binge-watching the first season on Netflix and have been really excited to see where the show is going after solving the first major mystery from season one. Growing up, I loved reading the Archie comics and I enjoy how Riverdale has transformed into a saucier, more mysterious version of the comic series. It has just the right balance of bubble gum pop with a hint of Gossip Girl nostalgia along with a Nancy Drew like quality.

Episode 5 had a vortex of story-lines going on, however; which split my attention a little too much. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode. We had the mysterious black hood calling Betty and testing her left and right, threatening her sister’s life is she would not comply. Who is the mysterious villain on the other end? So far he or she has been outsmarting Betty with every move, convincing her to bring her mother’s secrets to life, spoiling her friendship with Veronica, and destroying her relationship with Jughead. As I started to think about who the black hood might be, their motives seem focused completely on shattering Betty’s world, unleashing her own darkness in the process. The black hood even leads her on a wild goose chase only for her to end up looking at her own reflection so that she would understand that they are very much alike.

While this story-line has my full attention, episode 5 also sprinkled in Jughead’s tests to become part of the Serpent gang, leading him to kiss Toni in the very same day Betty sent Archie to break up with him, which begs the question: is the love between Jughead and Betty really that epic? Will Betty and Archie get together instead? They have been growing closer and closer trying to decipher the black hood’s clues, while Veronica has been distracted by her old lifestyle, desperately trying to win the approval of her father. Speaking of Veronica, her old friend visiting only to bring havoc onto the small town of Riverdale and ultimately trying to attack Cheryl seemed forced. While my heart goes out to Cheryl, was this necessary for the episode? Was this only to set up a convenient bad guy for Betty to target, rather than the black hood going after her family? Either way, the secrets and lies beneath the surface of Riverdale have not all reached the surface, so I will continue to watch to see them unravel. Will you?

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl