Spoiler-Free Review of “OBSESSION” in Theaters: A Distressing and Consuming Watch

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

“I would choose you over everything…”

OBSESSION releases in theaters on May 15th 2026. The supernatural horror film stars Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson and Megan Lawless. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-eight minutes.

Bear has been in love with his friend, Nikki for years, but has never found the courage to tell her how he truly feels about her. After purchasing a mysterious “One Wish Willow,” he makes a wish for her to love him more than anyone in the world. To his surprise, the wish comes true, but it comes with devastating consequences.

Here is the trailer:

OBSESSION is a terrifying watch that transcends past the supernatural with its fresh take on infatuation, lingering with the viewer after the credits roll. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Inde Navarrette gives an unhinged performance worth talking about.

I wasn’t too familiar with her before this film, but wow is she on my radar now. She went all out with this portrayal in such a chilling way. I’d rank her right up there with Mia Goth in Pearl and Naomi Scott in Smile 2. She was that good!

There were so many tense moments in this and others that broke me emotionally. Navarrette never skipped a beat. She poured every ounce of crazy into the character of Nikki and it worked brilliantly.

A new take on the infatuation/obsession genre.

It’s already one of my favorite genres, but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by how unique this entry was. It still fit nicely into the infatuation/thriller genre, but it also took a stab at some other themes without hitting the audience over the head with its message.

The raw and unfiltered moments were so well done. There can be so much said about this movie and I think it tackled loneliness, heartbreak, and the need for acceptance in such a thought-provoking way while still managing to cause goosebumps to appear on my flesh every single time Nikki appeared on screen.

The ending was also exceptionally well done. It refused to sugarcoat things and really left me in such a state after I walked out of the theater. That’s when I know I’ve just witnessed something truly brilliant.

The Cons:

I don’t have many…

While it may not be for everyone, this film checked off a lot of boxes for me. My only con would be that it was emotionally upsetting at times and maybe the lore could have been explained a little bit more.

I also felt like I needed to be in the right state of mind to watch this. I’m not sure that I would watch this one multiple times because it had such a profound impact on me with my initial viewing.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

(5/5 stars)

OBSESSION is a tense and disturbing film that flips the infatuation genre upside down with its fresh and unhinged take.

Inde Navarrette is definitely a Scream Queen after that chilling performance!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

CHECKING OUT WAS NEVER AN OPTION…

A weekend getaway goes horribly wrong when Charlotte suspects that a guest at her bed-and-breakfast has gone missing. A heart-pounding thriller that will keep you guessing until the end. We Hope You Enjoy Your Stay is available below! I hope you enjoy!

We Hope You Enjoy Your Stay is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Borderline” on Demand: Deranged Rom-Com Thriller Delivers

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

“Tonight is the night…”

Borderline released on Demand on March 14th 2025. The comedy thriller film stars Samara Weaving, Ray Nicholson, Alba Baptista, Jimmie Fails, and Eric Dane. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-four minutes.

A sociopath obsessed with a pop star in the 1990’s escapes a mental institution to track her down so they can live happily ever after together.

Here is the trailer:

Borderline is an entertaining thriller that holds your attention until the very end. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

A twisted thriller with plenty of outrageous moments.

When I first saw the trailer for this film, I knew it was right up my alley. I love guilty pleasure thrillers about obsession and I appreciated that this film added in some elements of comedy as well. The blending of genres here was terrific, making this a fun popcorn watch perfect for the weekend.

Brilliant performances.

I’m pretty much seated for any film starring Samara Weaving (especially with the possibility of her getting covered in blood) and she did a good job here. I did want a little bit more from her character, but I wasn’t disappointed. It was also fun seeing Grey’s Anatomy and Charmed star Eric Dane in this.

But, I have to give it up to Ray Nicholson (Panic) and Alba Batista (Warrior Nun). They were bloody fantastic and stole the show for me. They really went all out with their performances and elevated this film in lot of ways.

The music in this one was fantastic as well.

The Cons:

Pacing issues.

The second half of this film was a lot stronger than the first half. Once we got to the core plot, I was much more invested. There was some fluff to deal with in the beginning and I thought we spent too much time jumping around to other plot-lines, which took away from the intensity going on at the house.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Borderline is twisted, outrageous, and a lot of fun.

This was my kind of thriller and a solid watch overall.

More rom-com thrillers, please!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rule…they can’t miss their ferry at midnight or they’ll have to wait until morning to leave the island. Only they didn’t realize that breaking this rule meant they would be hunted down on the island one by one.

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Influencer” on Shudder: Wickedly Fun Thriller

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

“Traveling is all about experiencing new things…”

Influencer premiered on Shudder on May 26th 2023. The horror-thriller film stars Emily Tennant, Cassandra Naud, and Rory J. Saper. It runs for approximately 92 minutes.

A social media influencer seeks inspiration in Thailand when she befriends a woman named CW, who offers to show her the local hot spots. But CW’s interest in the woman takes an unexpected and dark turn.

Here is the trailer:

Influencer takes a stab at the dangers of “becoming famous” on social media, exploring a disturbing take on obsession and the desire to be known. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Fresh take on the social media genre…

I’ve seen way too many films about this lately, but I have to say that Influencer presented the audience with a unique take on things. It crafted the perfect balance of a Single White Female-esque obsession in today’s world without overthinking things. The idea may not be new, but I thought the execution was really entertaining and twisted, making this an interesting watch overall.

Super strong start and finish!

Wow, I was completely hooked by the opening of this movie. It took me for surprise in such a gut-wrenching way. The ending was FANTASTIC and so bad-ass. I absolutely loved it.

The Cons:

Goes off course in the middle…

While this film started off with a bang and stuck the landing, the middle was a little murky and confusing. It was still interesting enough and it held my attention, but I was worried about where the film was going and I think it lost its way a little bit. The pacing also slowed down as well, but luckily things picked up.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Deranged and disturbing with plenty of shocking moments sprinkled in.

I thoroughly enjoyed my watch and recommend this one…especially if you enjoy films like Single White Female, The Roomate, and Swimfan.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

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

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

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

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Obsession” on Netflix: An Erotic Thriller with a lot of intense staring…

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

“I’d love for you both to get to know each other…”

Obsession premiered on Netflix on April 13th 2023. The UK erotic thriller series features four episodes available to stream now. It stars Richard Armitage, Charlie Murphy, and Indira Varma. Each episode runs for approximately 38-42 minutes.

A surgeon’s affair with his son’s fiancée turns into an infatuation with irreversible consequences.

Here is the trailer:

Obsession has a promising premise with a familiar leading man, but does it do enough to set itself from other erotic thrillers that have followed a similar formula? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A quick watch.

The limited series only has four episodes, which made it very easy to binge-watch in one sitting. The episodes were on the shorter side as well and the pacing was decent enough. There’s a lot of fluff to sit through, but at least it didn’t drag things out for too long…

Richard Armitage.

He’s the only reason why I tuned into this one and I love him in the Harlan Coben thrillers so I was hoping for the best here, but I’m not sure he got to reach his full potential in this particular series. That being said, his presence alone made this watch a little more bearable.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Weird/crazy laughable moments…

This series isn’t meant to be a comedy and yet I found myself laughing out loud at some of these manic looks between our two main characters. I get that the series was trying to create an erotic thriller based on the balance of control but this was just too over-the-top.

The series didn’t really have many “thrilling” moments either. Sure, we eventually get to a shocking moment, but by that time I was completely bored out of my skull.

There’s sex galore in this one, but the plot just felt really dry and bland. I just couldn’t get into it, which was disappointing.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

Obsession doesn’t take as many risks as it should have with the plot, which made this a disappointing and boring watch overall.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

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

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

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Killing Eve” season 3 episode 3: “Meetings Have Biscuits”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching BBC America’s Killing Eve season 3 episode 3, I learned that when you wear power, you want to keep it, and the only way to do that is with knowledge.

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

In last night’s episode, “Meetings Have Biscuits,” Villanelle gets in touch with her motherly instincts. Meanwhile, Eve continues to try and get to the bottom of Kenny’s murder while Carolyn gets a lead on an asset of The Twelve.

My top 5 moments from Killing Eve season 3 episode 3 are:

“I’m just having some fun.”

After her most recent killing spree, Villanelle is intrigued by a baby left behind. In fact, she is so intrigued that she decides to take the baby to lunch. Only that baby better stop crying because Villanelle doesn’t like it.

Killing Eve 3 3 BBC America — Images courtesy of BBC America

It looks like Villanelle has made a tiny new friend, but Dasha is not amused and decides to put the baby in a trash can. Luckily, it is revealed later on the news that the baby is all right, but perhaps Villanelle should hold off on motherhood for a little while…

“This place is psychopathic…”

The moment I have been waiting for finally arrived! Villanelle finds herself walking through a shop filled with stuffed animals. She is clearly overwhelmed by all the cuteness stuffed with fluff, but decides to try out making her very own talking toy.

Killing Eve 3 3 1 BBC America — Images courtesy of BBC America

Her recordings were certainly unique as she starts off her first attempt with, “I should have shot you in the head.”

Villanelle begins several recordings about her mixed feelings on Eve and at least she has a new active listener. That bear was certainly made with care and Villanelle even sports her very own teddy bear T-shirt later on with pride.

“Hi Eve!”

Villanelle doesn’t exactly get the reaction she was looking for when she shows up in London and surprises Eve on the bus. Eve begins screaming and we get this entertaining fight between the two of them.

Villanelle tries to explain that she is not there for her, but Villaneve fans do get this passionate kiss between the two of them before Eve knocks her over the head.

After Eve gets over the shock of everything, she realizes that Villanelle is going to try and assassinate someone else and immediately tries to warn Carolyn.

Killing Eve 3 3 2 BBC America — Images courtesy of BBC America

Only we find out that the target was actually the boring accountant from The Twelve. Now that Villanelle is back in town, the drama will certainly continue, but I hope that we can continue to get some more answers about The Twelve and Kenny’s murder as well.

“I want to find my family.”

Later in the episode, we get this laugh out loud hysterical moment when Konstantin comes home and finds Villanelle hiding in his bed. She certainly gets quite the scare out of him and I almost fell off my couch from laughing so hard. Seriously, she’s the best.

Villanelle reveals that she killed the accountant and then starts talking about wanting to find her own family. I’m glad that we are going to finally explore Villanelle’s roots and past. It’s about time!

“Admit it, Eve. You wish I was here.”

At the very end of the episode, Eve finds the stuffed animal that Villanelle made with love, care and obsession. Eve is not amused and rips out the heart recording. I was not really pleased with Eve ripping open the stuffed animal, but it’s safe to say that the obsession is back on.

Killing Eve 3 3 3 BBC America — Images courtesy of BBC America

Perhaps Eve should have just smelled Villanelle like she asked. After all, she put quite a lot of effort into her new power scent, but has anything actually changed between these two? We’ll have to wait and see, but I just don’t want to lose the independent Villanelle that I have been loving so much.

Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Killing Eve 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 comes out April 28th!

Dash and Seek is available here!

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My performance of the week ending 4/25/20 on TV goes to…

Jodie Comer as Villanelle on BBC America’s Killing Eve.

Villanelle is back and better than ever!

I don’t know about you, but I have been counting the days until Villanelle’s return. Jodie Comer is perfection and I was so excited to see her channel that dark Villanelle humor in season 3, episode 2. Send in the clowns!

Please note some spoilers are ahead.

From her killer fashion to her eccentric characters, Jodie Comer pours her heart and soul into this role and Villanelle is the most unique and interesting character on television. It’s no surprise that Comer won the Emmy award last year and she should just get this award automatically because she brings such a fresh and unique take to the role.

Killing Eve BBC America 3 2 3 — Images courtesy of BBC America

It’s not easy playing a female assassin and somehow Jodie Comer makes you actually root for Villanelle. Sure, she is committing some pretty violent and brutal crimes along the way, but she’s also trying to find her own path and identity, which gives her character so many layers.

Previously, we have seen glimmers of Villanelle’s humanity shining through, but her love/obsession with Eve took up most of her time. Villanelle is finally trying to branch out and discover something that makes her happy, even exploring management, which is no easy task.

Killing Eve BBC America 3 2 — Images courtesy of BBC America

However, now that she has discovered that Eve is alive, that obsession may return, but I’m confident that Villanelle will continue to surprise and shock us. The dynamic between these two is always fantastic, but Villanelle has grown into such a fantastic character on her own and I’m really hoping that we can finally devote some more time to her actual development.

Killing Eve BBC America 3 2 2 — Images courtesy of BBC America

What happened in her childhood? How did she first become an assassin?

I have endless questions and I’m really hoping that we can explore some more layers behind Villanelle while enjoying some outrageous and hilarious moments with her.

What’s next for Villanelle? Well, she now has to deal with Eve being alive while trying out her new role for The Twelve. A life/work balance can be difficult to manage, but when you throw killing in there as well, all bets are off. I’m looking forward to more hilarious moments from Villanelle and the teaser for the stuffed animal scene looks like it can be a lot of fun.

As Villanelle reminded Felix, she’s kind of a big deal in this business, but anybody can fight…“it takes a special kind of person to kill.” Villanelle is definitely a special kind of person, but let’s hope that we can find out what really makes her tick and allow her to shine even more for us.

Either way, I am so beyond excited that Jomie Comer is back in this role and I can’t wait to see what she does next! You can never really guess with her…

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

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 comes out April 28th!

Dash and Seek is available here!

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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

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The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural? Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery? Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon! Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well. I really hope you enjoy!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “You” Season 2 on Netflix: Lifetime Dexter Does It Again

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

Obsession looks good on Joe Goldberg, played brilliantly by Penn Badgley. After season one became a streaming sensation on Netflix, I was slightly worried that season two would not be able to deliver, but starting over in a new town gave us plenty of opportunities to witness Joe’s dark narrative come alive once again.

You (season two) began streaming new episodes on December 26th 2019 on Netflix. Season two features ten episodes (about 50 minutes in length). It stars Penn Badgley, Victoria Pedretti, James Scully, Ambyr Childers, Carmela Zumbado, and Jenna Ortega.

In season two, Joe moves from New York to L.A. and is determined to get a fresh start as “Will,” but things get complicated when he falls in love with his new romantic interest, Love. He quickly becomes entangled in her family drama, which mostly involves her twin brother, Forty. Joe tries to be a better person, but the darkness within him continues to stir, as he starts to lose self-control once again.

If you loved season one, you are probably wondering if season two lives up to it? Let’s find out!

The Pros:

You Netflix 6 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Strong supporting characters that steal the show.

As much as I love listening to Joe’s moody narrative, it can get a bit stale if we don’t shake things up with some interesting characters. My biggest issue with season one was that I actually really didn’t like Beck as a character. In season two, I really thought that Love had a lot of potential, but I was also intrigued by her twin brother, Forty, who is absolutely hilarious.

Joe’s new neighbors, Delilah and Ellie, are also both fantastic. You care about their stories and they really allowed us to see Joe/Will’s struggle to be a hero you can count on. Being a serial killer can get in the way of this; however, but these characters spark a lot of goodness within him, which really helps him grow as a person despite all of his past inner demons.

Joe’s backstory is revealed and seamless connections to season one questions.

We get a lot of flashbacks sprinkled in during the episodes about Joe’s childhood, which help us understand him a bit more. Even though we get a new setting and characters for season two, I thought the connections to season one worked perfectly. They weren’t forced or excessive and they really answered a lot of questions that I had without hitting us over the head with unnecessary cameos.

Really great twists.

I did not see the ultimate twist coming and I was very impressed with it, bringing me in that much more. This show is addicting and I tend to watch it all in one sitting because I don’t want anyone to spoil it for me. Each reveal was well timed and I actually thought this season was even better than the first.

The Cons:

You Netflix 4 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Less kills than season one.

I mean, I guess that shows growth in Joe’s character, but I kind of missed seeing all of the Dexter-like kills from season one, but the ones we do get are rewarding enough. That being said, it’s hard to continue listening to Joe’s conflicted narrative when we don’t get some surprising kills thrown into the mix to balance that out.

Can’t escape that Lifetime feel.

The show actually did originally air on Lifetime and Netflix ended up picking it up, but there are a lot of scenes that just scream Lifetime with so many over dramatic moments. But to be honest, that’s why we are watching this. I can’t say that this surprised me and we witness so many real and honest performances to balance this out, but there were some scenes that were just a little bit too outrageous.

So am I in or out?

You Netflix 5 — Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent! I really enjoyed season one of the show, but I loved season two even more. “I wolf you season two!”

This show is beyond addicting. It’s dark and obsessive, but it also has so many genuine moments of compassion and humor.

Stand out character: Forty, who basically stole the show for me.

Season two was also not afraid to make fun of itself, even having one of the characters comparing Joe’s actions to Dexter, which I appreciated.

The twists were so great and the pacing worked so well, making this show the perfect one to binge-watch. I hope that we get a season three because this show is fantastic!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” Season 4 Episode 8: “I’m One Elizabeth Away From Exploding”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching The CW’s Riverdale season 4 episode 8, I learned that sometimes it’s easier to open up to a stranger about our problems, but when those problems include haunted ghosts, daddy issues, and a hero complex, Mrs. Burble certainly has a lot of work to do. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, “Chapter Sixty-Five: In Therapy,” The Watcher returns and continues to send creepy VHS tapes to the residents of Riverdale. Meanwhile, our main characters take time to meet with the new counselor, Mrs. Burble, learning quite a bit about themselves in the process.

My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 4 episode 8 are:

“Someone needs to step up.”

When Archie meets with Mrs. Burble, he explains that he doesn’t have any interest in going to college, focusing all of his attention on cleaning up the town of Riverdale. Mrs. Burble tries to get Archie to open up about his father and it’s clear that Archie is embracing this hero complex a little too much, as Mrs. Burble warns him about the dangers of becoming a vigilante.

Mrs. Burble suggests that Archie come up with an anonymous hotline so that he can help others without getting directly involved, but as soon as a call comes through, Archie grabs his mask once again, so it doesn’t look like he is ready to step down from his vigilante role anytime soon.

We know that Archie is desperate to fix things and has the tendency to carry the burden for everyone else, but he needs to watch out before he gets himself, or someone he loves, hurt.

“I love you most too.”

The Cooper ladies are in desperate need of some therapy, although Alice is now embracing her maiden name. Alice basically crashes Betty’s therapy session, as these two ladies try to air out their issues. Alice says that Betty is a little girl, but once they keep talking, she blurts out that she loves Betty most of all and she doesn’t want to lose her.

At the end of the episode, Alice leaves a check for Betty to make up for taking her college fund and Betty tells her that she loves her most too, which was a sweet moment.

Betty and Alice have been through their fair share of trauma, but I hope this is enough to repair some of the damage between them.

Although next week’s episode looks really frightening with Alice holding a knife, so we’ll have to see how this plays out for Betty and Alice.

“Pause…you’re taking my Vixens away?”

Mr. Honey continues to be Cheryl’s nemesis, explaining that she will need to be cleared through a therapy session before he will reconsider giving her back her duties on the cheerleading squad. Cheryl starts out with a guard around her, but actually opens up to Mrs. Burble quite a bit, as we start to realize how much trauma poor Cheryl has actually gone through.

Mrs. Burble tells Cheryl that she is “remarkably resilient” and I have to agree, but Cheryl finally starts to open up about talking to dead Jason and her feelings on Julian, suddenly realizing how crazy this seems.

Mrs. Burble has Cheryl take a test that determines that she does not have shared DNA, which means she actually didn’t consume Julian in the womb.

Cheryl may not be haunted anymore, but she shares Mrs. Burble’s theory with Toni, explaining that perhaps someone is messing with her.

Toni is hilariously catching up on some reading with The Amityville Horror, which certainly seems fitting, but now we have to wonder who is messing with Cheryl?

I can’t imagine that Nana Rose or Toni would do this and Cheryl already chased her relatives out the door, so is it possible that Mr. Honey is up to no good here? Polly? Penelope Blossom?

We’ll have to see how this plays out, but they better watch out. Cheryl Blossom is not someone you want to mess with!

“You should try seeing him through your father’s eyes.”

Even though Jughead is at Stonewall Prep, he gets a session with Mrs. Burble when he is waiting for a transcript. Jughead opens up about the mystery and scandal behind the Baxter Brothers, but Mrs. Burble suggests that perhaps he should focus more on his homework rather than this conspiracy theory.

Jughead is very guarded as well, but starts to think twice when Mrs. Burble explains that he should try to see things through FP’s eyes, reminding him how much FP has sacrificed for Jughead to try and do right by him.

This leads to a very nice moment between Jughead and his father, but will Jughead completely abandon his investigation?

Probably not, but at least he is getting back on track with his writing now.

“Veronica Luna is no one’s Cordelia!”

A shining moment for Veronica (formerly known as Lodge) Luna, who is beyond excited when she finds out that she received early admission into Harvard, which is her dream school. However, this dream quickly becomes a nightmare when she realizes that her father got involved, now not knowing if she received admission based on her own merit or not.

Veronica has always seen her family as rather Shakespearean, but Mrs. Burble explains that perhaps it really is more of a Greek Tragedy. She talks about Veronica’s relationship with her father being somewhat obsessive, as perhaps Hiram sees a lot of himself in Veronica and Veronica’s drive for business and success stems from her father.

Mrs. Burble explains that the only way Veronica can be free is to “kill her father,” although not with actual murder. Veronica turns down Harvard and stands up to her father, saying that she is going to win in terms of business, so I guess that means she will be making rum now?

Either way, this was a very important moment for Veronica. We have seen her stand up to her father again and again, but it looks like she is finally going to take a stand away from him to find her own purpose and identity. Go V!

Overall, this episode felt slightly transitional, although I think these moments gave us a chance to reflect on each character and their development over the seasons. However, we did get some plot advancing moments, as we still don’t know who The Watcher is and we later discover that in the future, Donna and Bret are the ones who claim that they saw Archie, Betty, and Veronica killing Jughead, so it looks like we still have more to uncover with this mystery.

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

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” season 3 episode 5: “Let the Game Begin”

Happy Wednesday TV fans! After watching the CW’s Riverdale season 3 episode 5, we learned that the apple really doesn’t fall that far from the tree, as some of our favorite characters repeated the same mistakes as their parents. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In tonight’s episode, “Chapter Forty: The Great Escape,” Jughead continues to immerse himself into “Griffins and Gargoyles” and is finally ready to bring the game “off board.” Meanwhile, Veronica works on a plan of her very own to help Archie break out of prison and Cheryl shows off her impressive archery skills. My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 3 episode 5 are:

“There’s something we should discuss.”

After realizing Jughead’s involvement in the game, Betty decides to continue investigating on her own and looks to her friends for help. Betty is convinced that one of their parents could be responsible for the murder of Principal Featherhead and suggests that they each try and talk to their parents to see what they know. While Reggie’s father responds with unnecessary violence, Kevin and Josie get more information than they bargained for when they find out that their parents are getting married. Congrats?

“You can’t fight your destiny.”

In the beginning of the episode, Archie and the others try to execute their escape plan, but fail. Archie is branded by the warden, which is beyond brutal, but is also rewarded with a last supper of sorts. Archie recognizes that the warden no longer needs him and realizes that something big is about to go down. He asks the warden how Hiram Lodge framed him and learns that Hiram paid the witnesses $10,000 each to lie while under oath. Archie’s life is worth $30,000 according to the warden, but we know that Veronica and his friends see his true value and will stop at nothing to help him.

“I’m a Lodge. I know how this goes.”

Veronica continues to clash with her father, but refuses to just sit on the sidelines. She enlists the help of Elio and his mob connections to get into the prison. Veronica sports a blonde wig and some classy sunglasses, but Hiram quickly spots her. Veronica and her friends are ready to help Archie break out of prison, as they follow her plan and instructions. Only we quickly learn that Jughead’s game of “Griffins and Gargoyles” is directly connected to the plan, but how far does this link go?

“I’m Game Master!”

Jughead tries to explain that “we have been playing this game for a lot longer than we know.” The game apparently relates to everything and every decision has a direct consequence in real life. We also learn that the game only takes place in Riverdale, which is why no one else has ever heard of it. Betty desperately tries to get Jughead to snap out of it, but his obsession has elevated to a new level. Jughead may be the “Game Master,” but it’s only a matter of time before this game turns deadly, but for whom?

“To the grave.”

In a confusing moment, Joaquin kisses Archie and then stabs him. Archie does not understand this betrayal and Joaquin says, “The warden said if I’d do this, I’d ascend.” Joaquin is somehow directly involved in the game along with the warden, which has us all wondering who is the Gargoyle King? Archie is able to successfully break out of prison with the help of Mad Dog and his friends and he will remain in the bunker until it is safe. Veronica tells everyone in the room that they are all in a pact and that they will need to take this to the grave, as history now repeats itself for our favorite characters. When Betty detects Archie’s brand, we learn that the symbol is from the game, which is not surprising. After seeing the preview for the upcoming episode on November 28^th, we know that it means sacrifice. At the end of the episode, the warden ends his own game by taking the cyanide after failing to bring down the “Red Paladin.” While Jughead initially suspects that the warden may be the Gargoyle King, I am now wondering if it is Hiram Lodge. Perhaps this is too obvious; however, but we know that Hiram is sort of like the king of Riverdale and is performing evil acts left and right. Part of me also thinks that it could be Hermione Lodge, which would be an interesting twist. Hermione was on her way to see the warden right before he killed himself so is it possible that our Gargoyle King is really a queen? 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. Happy viewing!

**I would love it if you would take a moment to check out my Whizbuzz Book page via the link below for everything you need to know about my new book, The Search for Alice, including my author bio page and links to my website and social media sites! Thank you!

My Whizbuzz Book Page

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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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!

I am so excited to announce that my book, The Search for Alice, is now available! If you enjoy fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery, then this might be the book for you or someone you know! Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well. I hope you enjoy!

When Kallie Bennett, a jaded teenage girl plagued by her alcoholic mother and her peers molded out of sheer bubble gum perfection, chases after Alice in Wonderland herself, she ends up lost in her own version of Wonderland, which forces her to face her utmost fears and introduces her to familiar characters with a dark twist. Among these characters is Ches, a gorgeous vampire with a conflicted conscience, who becomes Kallie’s guide and blossoming love interest. She also crosses paths with Queen Hartley, a manipulative witch who has the power to strip away one’s memories and imagination, which brings a bone chilling new meaning to “off with their heads.” In The Search for Alice, Kallie starts to realize that her Wonderland is just as frightening as her own reality and that she cannot always run away from her problems. She must figure out a way to defeat Queen Hartley and return home before it is too late, but she soon learns that escaping Wonderland means leaving Ches behind forever.

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

The Search for Alice is available here!