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

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” season 9 episode 5: “I Found Them”

Happy Monday TV fans!  After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 9 episode 5, the moment we have all been waiting for has finally arrived, but it’s not the moment we truly expected.  Please note major spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “What Comes After,” Rick is severely wounded and desperately tries to get away from the persistent walker horde following him, as he slips in and out of consciousness, crossing paths with his friends in the afterlife.  Meanwhile, Maggie finally faces Negan and Jadis continues to talk to the mysterious man on the helicopter.  Please note that my top moments will all feature Rick, although I would like to point out that Maggie’s conversation with Negan was truly significant.  My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 9 episode 5 are:

5

“Goddamn cowboy, you look like shit!”

Rick is still holding on, but is in immediate danger.  He desperately tries to stay awake, but his mind continues to slip somewhere else, allowing us the chance to catch up with some of our favorite old characters who are no longer with us.  First up…Shane!  Shane is my absolute favorite character of the entire series and I was devastated after his exit.  That being said, perhaps he knew that he was going to kick some serious ass as “The Punisher” so I guess it all worked out in the end.  Rick and Shane have always been like brothers and their reunion picks up right where they left off.  Shane even brings up Judith and asks, “How is my baby girl by the way?”  Shane has always been the “asshole,” but somehow their friendship is still natural and real despite all of the ugliness and drama between these two.  Rick is “looking for his family” and answers, but Shane reminds him to dig down and find the rage within him.  He tells Rick to wake up, as Rick continues to fight and try and escape the walkers that keep coming.  In a way, Shane represents that anger and rage that Rick has had to release on multiple occasions to stay alive.  While Rick has not always made the best decisions because of it, it allowed him to survive.  Perhaps he needed a reminder about that now.

4

“My girl, she’s strong and my grandson…he’ll only make her stronger.”

After scraping by the next obstacle, Rick continues on with his vision quest of sorts and is with Hershel on the farm.  The sun is absolutely breathtaking in the sky and everything seems so calm and peaceful here.  This scene was difficult to watch, especially since Scott Wilson recently passed away, but Rick has always looked to Hershel as his own kind of personal moral compass.  Hershel has always been wise and reminds Rick that Maggie will be OK on her own and tries to tell Rick that he only thinks he needs to find his family.  Hershel clearly represents loyalty and family to Rick, inspiring him with goodness and faith to keep going.

3

“You did your part like I did mine.”

After Rick flashes to some kind of afterlife, surrounded by corpses, he crosses paths with Sasha.  Sasha tries to remind Rick that he did his part and that every single one of them gives us strength.  Sasha further explains, “We help each other.  We make each other better and it never ends.”  Rick is still confused and says that it feels like the end to him, but Sasha reveals, “Little things do end, but it’s never the end of everything.  It’s about all of us.  Your family, they’re not lost.  And you are not lost.”  This part really resonated with me, as Sasha tries to get through to Rick about what it’s all about.  Life is about the people we care about and our actions do matter.  We can all continue to inspire one another and even when we’re gone, we can live on in memories and in the lives of those we have touched.

2

“Because you’re a fighter and you never give up.  Fight for me.”

After Rick’s horse finally abandons him, Rick continues on foot and tries to make it to the bridge.  He imagines all of his friends coming to his rescue, but he is there alone.  Rick creates a conversation with Michonne in his mind, who tells him that she loves him because he is a fighter and never gives up.  Michonne keeps Rick’s love and hope alive here, as he continues to stay true to himself and fight.  I was surprised that we did not see Carl, Glenn, or Lori at all, but I do think that each character we did see represented a part of Rick, reminding him about who he is and what he can still do.

1

“I found them.”

As Rick makes his way to the bridge, his friends now finally catch up to him and try to help him.  Daryl continues to keep the walkers away from Rick, one arrow at a time, and Michonne tries to run toward him, but Rick tries to tell them to stay away.  Rick spots the dynamite and knows what he must do to protect his family.  He lures the walkers on to the bridge and takes out his gun, staying true to who he is…a hero.  Rick blows up the bridge to save his friends and should have gone out in a blaze of glory.  Michonne and Daryl’s reactions were truly heartbreaking, as my own heart shattered as well.  However, there is always some kind of twist on TWD. Rick is somehow OK and washes up to Jadis, formerly known as Anne.  Jadis wants to help Rick because he has helped her in the past and tells the man in the helicopter that she has a “B.”  Again, what makes an “A” or a “B?”  I have no idea, but Rick is taken away on the helicopter and actually makes it out alive!

I don’t know about you, but I was actually really disappointed with this.  As much as I love Rick Grimes and want to see him alive, this sort of felt like a cop-out to me.  Rick had the chance to save all of his friends and leave this world as a true hero.  We know that Andrew Lincoln is leaving the show and will now appear in some Walking Dead movies so I guess that’s a positive, but where does that leave the series?  To make matters even more confusing, we get a time jump that shows bad-ass Judith saving people from walkers while wearing Carl’s hat.  While it’s great to see that she takes after her father and brother, I’m not sure I’m ready to invest in another time jump.  I kind of just want to follow that helicopter and see what’s going on with Rick.  Either way, the episode was done brilliantly and I appreciated the seamless transitions into Rick’s mind.  Rick will always be the very essence of this show for me.  We will all miss you Rick Grimes, but I guess we’ll see you soon in your movies!  Stay tuned!

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

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Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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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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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Fear the Walking Dead” season 4 episode 8 Mid-Season Finale: “No One’s Gone”

Happy Monday TV fans!  After watching AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead season 4 episode 8, I learned that we really are all “connected by this single screwed up world,” as Al suggested.  The truth is important and the stories and memories we leave behind are sometimes all we have left to cling to.  We may not always find what we are looking for, but we touch the lives of so many without even realizing it.  Words and actions matter and more importantly, the truth can bring us some much needed comfort, reminding us that it’s never too late to become the person we are meant to be.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.  In last night’s episode, “No One’s Gone,” we learn that Madison and Al crossed paths in the past; making a much bigger impact on each other than anyone might have guessed.  Meanwhile, Morgan and Naomi try to make it to the infirmary to help save John Dorie’s life, Alicia shows up to finish things once and for all, and Madison’s fate is finally revealed.  My top 5 moments from Fear the Walking Dead season 4 episode 8 Mid-Season Finale are:

5

“Thought I’d mix it up today.”

When Al and the others show up at the stadium, the tank is surrounded by an overwhelming amount of walkers, but they are ready to cause a distraction that will allow Morgan and Naomi to get inside to help John.  The plan seems to be working, but Alicia, Victor, and Luciana show up with an RPG, refusing to make this go seamlessly.  Alicia and Al share some choice words over the walkie-talkie, while Al reminds her that she’s now definitely supporting the other side.  It’s great to see Al finally step into the action, as she trusts Charlie to record what goes on, not wanting to lose out on a chance to document their story further.  Alicia and Al get into quite the fight when Alicia shows up at the tank.  Al comes pretty close to being the main course meal for the walkers, but is able to get out of this without a scratch.

4

“We’re connected by this single screwed up world.”

During the episode, we flash back to the past before Madison found the stadium and learn that she crossed paths with Al.  While they initially start off not trusting each other, Madison eventually lets her guard down after aimlessly searching for a tape from one of her kids.  Al talks to Madison about the truth and tells her how it can change things.  She empathizes with Madison and explains that even though she didn’t find the story she was looking for, someone might be interested in her story one day.  Madison explains that she broke her promise to her kids and that “you don’t need a camera cus it just sticks.”  She tells a heartwarming story about her kids trying to help a wounded bird and nurse it back to health.  They named the bird “Amina” for short and took care of her, giving her a chance when no one else would.  Madison would open the box each day, fearing what she might find, but was shocked to see the bird flying around in their living room.  Madison was so touched by the actions of her children who refused to give up on this bird that anyone else might have turned their back on.  She explains that there is not a lot of that left in the world now and she never wants her kids to lose that.  When Madison and Al part ways, Al gives her some Ramen noodles and tells her that maybe they will meet again.  Later on, when Madison reunites with her kids at the motel, she reveals to them that someone helped her when they didn’t have to and that “It’s time for us to do the same.”  Her interaction with Al inspires her to build the stadium into a place where others can go to find a sense of belonging, protection, and people who will stand by them.  Madison’s words are absolutely beautiful and remind us that there is still good in the world.  Even though she and Al were strangers, they ended up helping each other, reinforcing the belief that there are still good people existing in this world.

3

“June, well that’s my favorite month.”

When Naomi goes into the infirmary with Morgan, John is holding on by a thread.  He asks Charlie to record him, but Al tries to get him to stay positive.  John explains that “it’s for her,” as he speaks openly to Naomi on camera and tells her to stop running and to help Morgan do the same.  Luckily, Naomi is able to stabilize John and it looks like he is going to be OK.  Naomi tells John that her real name is June, finally wanting to tell him something real and meaningful.  John’s reaction is beyond heartwarming when he tells her that June is his favorite month.  June touches John’s hand and the spark between these two is burning brightly again, allowing us John Dorie fans to cheer.  It looks like these two might get the chance they deserve after all, inspiring some hope in this distressing world.  I am absolutely thrilled that John is going to be OK because his character elevates the show, opening up possibilities for a new chapter.

2

“I’m not that person anymore.”

When Alicia is in the tank, she spots the Ramen noodles and demands to know where Al got them.  Everything clicks in her head when she frantically searches through the tapes and finds one titled, “Amina.”  Alicia watches the recording of her mother, Madison, carefully listening to each and every word, displaying her grief across her face.  Alicia still wants to take revenge on Naomi, however; and demands that Al convinces her to come out.  Al strategically leaves on the walkie-talkie to warn Morgan and Naomi.  Morgan offers to go first because he doesn’t want anything to happen to Naomi.  When Alicia comes out, he stands in front of Naomi and she is shocked that is willing to give his life for a stranger.  Alicia’s rage is almost uncontrollable now, as she points the gun at them and screams, “My Mom’s dead because of what you did!”  Morgan doesn’t give up on Alicia and even when she says that she’s not that person anymore, Morgan tries to get her to realize that it’s not too late and that things can change.  Morgan explains that they did for him and they still can for Alicia.  He ultimately gets through to her when he tells her that they already have because he’s not dead.  Alicia breaks down crying and the immediate threat is over, as she finally allows her emotions to break through.  This moment is absolutely heartbreaking, as Alicia shows her own vulnerability.  It’s shocking that she waited this long to cry, but her actions are understandable and I just hope that she can take comfort in knowing how much her family cared about her and how she still has the opportunity to become who she is meant to and to help others in need.

1

“It was never about the stadium.  It was about the people.  It was about us.”

Al asks Alicia what happened to her mother, as she made quite an impact on her as well and Alicia replies with, “You want the rest of my Mom’s story?  Pull over.”  All of the pieces finally come together, as we learn about the last moments for everyone in the stadium.  Charlie explains that Mel saved her life and got her out of there in the car.  Naomi reveals that she tried to talk everyone out of leaving, but they had already made up their minds.  She explains that she was then surrounded by walkers and made a run for it, thinking that everyone was already dead.  She was then later picked up by the Vultures, but it’s clear that Naomi was just trying to survive like everyone else.  We learn that Victor got burned when he saved Alicia from running after her mother and then we finally learn the fate of Madison.  Madison recognized that her friends and family were in danger and lured the walkers away from them with a flare, trusting that the walls would hold.  No one else believed her and the other people died trying to escape, but Madison knew that she was right.  Once she saw that her family would be able to get away safely, she tried to make it to the tunnels but was trapped with nowhere to go.  As the walkers surrounded her, Madison threw the flare into the hoard and a bright glow reflected off her face before the explosion hit.  Madison gave up her life so that her family and friends could live.  After the story is recorded, Al labels this one “Madison,” reminding us that her story is never gone.  Madison will live on through her family and her actions will hopefully inspire them to continue to try and do the right thing.  We will need to wait until August 2018 for new episodes, but we have now lost two main characters and I’m interested to see where we are going now.  While we know that new threats are always right around the corner, it will be interesting to see how the dynamic of the show shifts now that we are focusing on different characters and story-lines.  I’m absolutely open to the change, but I will miss Madison, as Kim Dickens did a phenomenal job as the main protagonist on the show.  RIP Madison.  Stay tuned!

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

Stay up to date on upcoming premieres of horror TV series 12nightsofhorror.com/horror-series-coming-soon

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!