Ranking my Top 10 Films of 2021: Which Movies Made The Cut?

It’s that time of year again! As we get closer and closer to approaching 2022, I thought it would be the perfect time to count down my Top 10 Films of 2021.

There are still a lot of movies that I have not seen yet, but I wanted to highlight some of my favorites of the year so far!

My Top 10 Films of 2021 are:

10

Fear Street Part Two: 1978

Image courtesy of Netflix

I really enjoyed the entire trilogy, but part two was on another level. It really channeled the slasher vibe of Friday the 13th with lots of gore and fun sprinkled in to keep the audience invested, as we turned back time in the best possible way!

9

Wrong Turn (2021)

Image courtesy of Showtime

It seems like there is a new reboot or reimagining popping up constantly, but Wrong Turn managed to really capture my attention. It’s very different from the original film and the sequels that I can really do without. It takes a creepy folk horror vibe and brings us a Final Girl worth getting excited about in a truly terrifying entry!

8

The Night House

Image courtesy of Prime Video

A very different kind of horror movie that really stirred many of my emotions and created a powerful conversation about death and grief. This movie chilled me to my core and also made me contemplate things in my own life. You need to be in the right state of mind to watch this, but if you are looking for something beyond the average haunted house film, this is one to watch!

7

Free Guy

Image courtesy of Prime Video

This movie made me smile so much the entire time! Ryan Reynolds and Jodie Comer were a dream team and I just loved everything about this movie. The humor works and it is a nice escape to truly transport you somewhere else worth going! I loved it!

6

Pig

Image courtesy of Hulu

My favorite performance by Nicolas Cage by far! I didn’t know what to expect when I started this movie, but it brought me on such an emotional journey in an unexpected way. This movie was brilliant and touching. I think it really created an important conversation about grief and loss in such a unique way.

5

Till Death

Image courtesy of Netflix

I thought I had seen this type of movie before, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this movie and it became one of my favorite guilty pleasure thrillers of all time. Megan Fox puts forth a valiant effort and really reels us in as we witness her attempt to survive her chilling and deadly circumstances.

4

Candyman (2021)

Image courtesy of Prime Video

This film managed to continue the original story of Candyman in a relevant and effective way. The visual effects were chilling and stunning, creating a new kind of terror. I loved this film from start to finish and can’t wait to watch it again, but be careful about what you say in front of the mirror…

3

Malignant

Image courtesy of HBO Max

Completely bonkers but in the best possible way! This movie was like nothing I have ever seen before and I don’t think I truly appreciated it until I watched it a few times. Visually stunning, an effective music soundtrack, and an out of this world performance! We have really gotten some solid horror entries in 2021 and Malignant is leading the pack for sure!

2

Nobody

Image courtesy of Prime Video

Jam-packed with lots of action, Bob Odenkirk delivers in this fantastic fast-paced movie. This movie is right up there along with Taken, as it lets you tune out everything in the world and just focus on pure entertaining fun. This was the first film I saw back in movie theaters and I was beyond impressed!

Drum roll please…

1

Last Night in Soho

Image courtesy of Prime Video

An elegant and consuming film from start to finish. I loved every single second of this film. The fashion and setting were breathtaking and the performances were truly fantastic. This film is twisted and dark, but it has such an artistic flair to it as well. It captivated me completely and is my number one pick by far! An exceptional film worth getting excited about!

I hope to see more films from 2021 soon, but I hope you enjoyed the list! I wish you all a happy and healthy new year and can’t wait to review more new films in 2022! Happy viewing!

Ranking my Top 20 Television Shows of 2021: Which Shows Made The Cut?

It’s that time of year again! As we get closer and closer to approaching 2022, I thought it would be the perfect time to count down my Top 20 TV Shows of 2021.

While some returning shows continued strong, others fell off slightly. Meanwhile, some other new shows completely captivated my attention, paving their way into my top 20.

Without any further delay, let’s get to my list!

My Top 20 Television Shows of 2021 are:

20

Shadow and Bone

Based on the popular book, this fantasy series packed a punch in a good way. There was a lot to keep track of in this magical world, but plenty to be excited about, making this a great binge-watch with terrific characters.

19

The Sex Lives of College Girls

This show was such a pleasant surprise. It had an unrated Mean Girls vibe and was actually really funny and charming. I am so thrilled that this show got picked up for a second season and I can’t wait to see more!

18

Kevin Can F… Himself

One of the most unique shows I have ever watched! I really thought this show was genius and it had such an interesting and dark concept. If you are looking for something new and different, give this show a whirl. It’s worth it!

17

Panic

I really loved this show so much. I thought it was going to be really gimmicky and instead it was so addicting! The dynamic between the characters was fantastic and there was a romance brewing to swoon over and then some! I’m really disappointed it wasn’t picked up for a second season, but I think things wrap up enough in the first season to satisfy fans for the most part.

16

Hawkeye

This show had the perfect mix of action and humor. This unlikely partnership was actually really sweet and I thought that the show had a nice wholesome vibe that is family friendly. Plus, the dog is awesome! What’s not to love?

15

My Name

One of the most powerful female characters I have seen on television in a long time! This revenge series was so gritty and consuming. It brought up so many emotions, but I was there for the journey and I’m really glad that I gave this show a chance!

14

Yellowjackets

Dark and twisted with a cast to die for! This series is very much LOST meets The Wilds, but it has a lot of reveals still remaining. The past and present collide in this addicting series and I’m excited to see what season two brings to the table as well!

13

Hellbound

This South Korean horror drama series may be one of the most disturbing things I have ever watched, brought to us from the director of Train to Busan. In a lot of ways, this show is about how dangerous misguided faith in the wrong hands can be, as it shows how easily humanity can fall apart when real fear comes into play.

12

Who Killed Sara? (Seasons 1 and 2)

This show is the definition of a guilty pleasure thriller. There is the perfect blend of soap-opera drama mixed in with a compelling murder mystery that will throw so many twists and turns at you, that you will completely dismiss how ridiculous some of them are and just enjoy the ride.

One of the most addicting series of the year for sure!

11

Dexter: New Blood

I didn’t really know what to expect with this new series, but wow it has been absolutely brilliant! The show managed to bring back the original vibe of the series while creating something new and relevant for Dexter without overdoing it. I’m completely hooked!

10

You (season 3)

My favorite season yet! The move to the suburbs was the right call for our favorite serial killers. The dynamic between Joe and Love really made this season exceptional and I was invested the entire time! Talk about a binge-watcher’s dream!

9

Mare of Easttown

Emotionally stirring, an out-of-this-world performance by Kate Winslet, a heartfelt partnership, and a compelling mystery. This show was so well made and really showed off Kate’s range in the best way possible.

8

Clickbait

Another really addicting show and premise! I was hooked from the opening episode and I could not stop watching this show. As soon as I thought I had figured something out about the mystery, I was thrown in another direction and the show did a really fantastic job of keeping you guessing right up until the very end!

7

The Witcher (season 2)

A fantasy adventure filled with gore, laughs, and epic moments! This season really found its way and the dynamic between the main characters really elevated this show in so many ways, making it the perfect show to binge-watch before the end of the year. I loved it!

6

Lucifer (Final Season)

It’s not easy ending a series and I thought that Lucifer managed to truly make a final season for the fans. The episodes were fantastic, the characters all got a chance to truly shine and that ending had me in tears in the best way possible! I will miss this show but I do think that it really stuck the landing, which is far from easy to do!

5

The Innocent

My favorite Harlan Coben series yet! This series was beyond addicting. It had so many moving pieces but when everything came together, I was so beyond impressed with this particular mystery.

4

Only Murders in the Building

This show was so much fun! It had a really great mystery at its core, but the interaction between the characters and the clues they uncovered kept me laughing as well. It had the perfect balance of quirky humor and murder mystery fun. This show was such a wonderful surprise and I can’t wait to watch the second season!

3

WandaVision

This show was so unique and interesting. At first, I was slightly confused by what I was watching and yet I was entertained all the same and I loved the TV nostalgia thrown in. The show quickly transformed into something so amazing over the episodes. I looked forward to every single episode and by the time I got to the end, I was so emotionally changed by what I had witnessed.

Perfection!

2

Midnight Mass

An interesting take on horror with a Stephen King vibe that just worked! This series was disturbing on so many levels, but it also brought us so many beautiful and poetic moments too. I thought that the performances were absolutely incredible, creating a chilling series worth talking about!

Drum roll please…

1

Squid Game

If you haven’t watched Squid Game yet, you are missing out! This show quickly became one of the most watched shows all over the world and with good reason! This show sucks you in right from the start. The premise may seem odd, but once you start watching, you quickly become immersed into this story with relatable characters and games that will keep you on your toes!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments about your favorite television shows of 2021. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the “Wolf Creek” Franchise: “If I tell you, I’ll have to kill you…”

“Uncle Mick won’t hurt you…”

While I had seen the original Wolf Creek movie back in 2005, I somehow missed out on the rest of the franchise and I decided to binge-watch it all to catch up with our old pal, Mick Taylor. When it comes to horror villains, we naturally think about Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers and more, but Mick Taylor may be one of the best villains I have ever watched in a horror franchise.

Part of what makes the franchise so terrifying is that it is loosely based on real events. I already have issues with watching tourists get lost into the void and Mick Taylor welcomes you to the Outback with a smile and “rain water from the top end.” John Jarratt’s portrayal of Mick is out of this world. Mick is ruthless, sadistic, and terrifying, but he also manages to charm us with his fantastic laugh and quirky humor, which almost makes you root more for the villain as the characters in each film are just along for crazy Mick’s ride.

After watching the entire franchise, I can tell you that I absolutely love every film and season and there isn’t one that I would say is lacking. For today, I am going to be ranking the Wolf Creek franchise, but this mostly comes down to preference and I am anxiously waiting for Wolf Creek 3 to be released, which seems to already be in the works for 2022. Yay!

Please note some spoilers are ahead.

Without any further delay, let’s find out exactly how I ranked the Wolf Creek films/seasons and why.

1

Wolf Creek 2 (2013)

It’s rare for me to like a sequel more than an original film, but I think that Wolf Creek truly found its way in the second movie. Mick is back and better than ever and I think everyone realized it’s better to let Mick just be Mick, as he faces off against Ryan Corr in this edge-of-your-seat film.

While the first film took a while to get going, this one starts off with a bang. I thought that Mick was even funnier in this one and there was no fluff in the way. Everything happens at a fast pace and was really brutal.

I thought that Ryan Corr was really good in the film as well and a worthy opponent, but you can’t beat Mick at his own game…

Standout Death:

Spoiler alert. Do not read if you have not seen this movie!

Poor Katarina. She just wanted to go camping with her boyfriend and witnessed a lot of horrific things before Ryan Corr’s character picked her up on the side of the road. After screaming hysterically about her circumstances, Mick ends up shooting her…accidentally. There goes Mick’s play thing for the next few months and he is not happy about it.

2 Wolf Creek: Season 2 (2017)

Whoever came up with the idea to have Mick driving a bus full of tourists through the Australian Outback is a genius. I wasn’t really sure what I was going to get with the second season of the series and wow did it deliver. I was completely addicted to this show and there were explosions, twists, and more terrifying fun with Mick Taylor.

More please!

Standout Death:

Spoiler alert. Do not read if you have not seen this season!

I can’t think of anything more terrifying than poor Ritchie having his tongue cut out only to be buried alive with a termite mound on top of him…

I am still cringing over this.

Season 2 did not hold back at all…

3 Wolf Creek (2005)

The original movie is really frightening, but it takes a while to get going. We follow Liz and her friends while they explore Wolf Creek and we are then first introduced to Mick’s character after their car won’t start.

Once Mick revealed his true sinister intentions, things really get going, but I think this film took a little while to find its footing and that’s not necessarily a bad thing at all. I just think it adjusted better with the later film and series.

Standout Death:

Spoiler alert. Do not read if you have not seen this movie!

I really think Liz deserved better. I was rooting for her during the entire movie and I thought that she had Final Girl potential. She kept a clear head and made smart decisions, but it still wasn’t enough to defeat Mick in the end as he tried out his “head on a stick” impression, stabbing her to death.

I think this is also the moment that truly made me realize how good this franchise is. I thought Liz was going to be the survivor and then I realized that the film wasn’t about the good guy winning or saving the day. It was more about Mick and what he was getting away with and how easy it can be to make someone disappear…

Either way, I kind of wished we got some Easter Eggs about Liz in the later film and series. I still don’t know how Mick knew exactly what car she would get into…

4 Wolf Creek: Season 1 (2016)

I really liked season one of the series as well, but when I look back at the entire franchise, it feels different from the rest. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing because the series should have a different vibe to make it stand out on its own and I think it accomplished that here. It was just really more of a revenge story for Eve and there was a lot of drama and romance sprinkled in, but I did really love the dog!

Standout Death:

Spoiler alert. Do not read if you have not seen season 1!

Well, we know that Mick doesn’t actually die, but Eve does defeat him and this was the huge moment on the show. Well done, Eve!

So, what’s next for Mick Taylor?

We know that a new film is already in the works and season 3 is not off the table either so it looks like we will be seeing more Mick Taylor in the future. In the meantime, you might want to re-consider those vacation plans…

Which Wolf Creek films/seasons did YOU enjoy most?

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 11 episode 12: “Father Frank, Full of Grace”

Happy Sunday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 11 episode 12, we got to say goodbye to the Gallagher family and learned that “time’s precious. Don’t f*ckin waste it.”

Images courtesy of Showtime

Please note major spoilers are ahead if you have not watched the latest episode yet.

In season 11, episode 12, “Father Frank, Full of Grace,” Frank Gallagher’s fate is finally revealed as we spend one last hour saying goodbye to the Gallagher family in the series finale.

My top 5 moments from the Shameless season 11 episode 12 series finale are:

“So now what?”

In the beginning of the episode, the Gallagher family discovers Frank and reveals that he has a very faint pulse after his overdose. No one seems to see the letter that Frank left behind except for Franny, who later decides to color all over it.

Images courtesy of Showtime

The plan is a “wait and see” approach to figure out exactly what to do with Frank, but Liam is concerned when Frank disappears. He goes out looking for him, but can’t track him down. Frank has disappointed everyone in his family, but Liam always tries to look out for him no matter what and I will miss seeing their adventures together.

“You can’t just change teams…”

Kev and V prepare to sell the Alibi, but learn that the bar will most likely be turned into a cafe or an escape room, which leads to the very important question: “What the f*ck is an escape room?”

Later on, V helps the girls with their new jerseys and Kev puts his foot down, explaining that they can’t just switch sports teams and that this is grounds for divorce.

Images courtesy of Showtime

At the end of the finale, it is unclear whether Kev and V will go with the offer or potentially sell to Tipping and Carl so they can turn the Alibi into a police bar.

“You’re the closest thing to a dad we ever had.”

One of the most touching moments of the finale was during this particular moment. Lip is feeling exhausted from being the one to make all of the decisions, but Ian explains it is because he is like a father to them.

Images courtesy of Showtime

While it is uncertain if Lip and Tami will have another baby or allow Ian and Mickey to adopt him or her, I am hoping that Lip can finally stop putting so much pressure on himself so that he can sit back and enjoy life a little more.

“I love this man.”

Ian and Mickey spend the majority of the episode trying to get new furniture for their apartment, but Ian keeps reminding Mickey that it is the 21st.

Images courtesy of Showtime

We see that Mickey is trying to secretly plan something for Ian and later on, they surprise Ian at the Alibi for their wedding anniversary, which was beyond sweet and touching.

Ian declares his love for Mickey as they celebrate and earlier we got a talk about them potentially being dads, which could be a whole new adventure for Gallavich.

Either way, I feel so incredibly lucky to have witnessed the Gallavich moments over the series. True love at its best.

“Stop worrying so damn much.”

After Frank stumbles off, he winds up in a church and the priest has him taken to the hospital. Frank tests positive for covid and the nurses discover his “do not resuscitate” tattoo.

Images courtesy of Showtime

While Frank drifts in and out of consciousness, we witness a few flashbacks that include both Fiona and Monica.

At the very end of the episode, Frank appears at the Alibi with his family and Liam stops for a moment and looks back at his stool as if he can somehow sense his presence.

Frank rises up in the sky when he dies and narrates his letter to his family, which has advice for each and every one of them.

It’s last call for Frank and he goes out for good the way he wanted to.

Overall, I thought the series finale was okay. It wasn’t bad, but I was disappointed that we did not see Emmy Rossum as Fiona during the episode. We got a brief moment of Frank looking into Patsy’s Pies along with the couple of flashbacks and he calls the nurse Fiona several times, but he doesn’t even address her in his letter, which seemed odd to me.

Images courtesy of Showtime

Debbie decides to potentially run off to Texas with her criminal girlfriend, Heidi and we don’t get the happy ending I was looking for between her and Sandy, which I felt was a much better match.

The Gallaghers are going to potentially sell the house for a lower price, but I’d like to see where each one of them ultimately end up. It would have been nice to get a reunion a year or two later with all of the characters checking in (including Fiona).

While we get a couple of mentions of possible futures for the other Gallaghers, there was a lot left open and I’m not expecting a full description for each and every one of them, but I guess I wanted a little bit more closure for the other characters.

Either way, the finale was not bad by any means and this show will remain as one of my favorites of all time. It’s tough to nail a series finale and I have seen many shows fail at this. Perhaps bringing Fiona back would have been predictable, but it also would have given fans that bit of nostalgia they were looking for, especially since Fiona was the heart and soul of the show for so many years…

Thanks for the memories, Gallagher family. I enjoyed the watch!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

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

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

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 11 episode 11: “The Fickle Lady is Calling it Quits”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 11 episode 11, we were reminded that “either you run the day or the day runs you.”

Please note major spoilers are ahead if you have not watched the latest episode yet.

In season 11, episode 11, “The Fickle Lady is Calling it Quits,” Ian and Mickey adjust to life on the West Side while Kev and V prepare for their move. Meanwhile, Liam spends the day with Frank to cheer him up and Debbie searches for love.

My top 5 moments from Shameless season 11 episode 11 are:

“Are we really doing this?”

Kev and V have received an offer on their house and start to prepare for their move to Louisville. Kev is determined to learn as much as he can about Kentucky and even takes out books from the library to brush up on his knowledge. There is a bitter sweet nostalgia throughout the episode as Kev and V take a look at a photo from when they first started working together at the Alibi.

Even though that chapter of their lives is over, they are moving on to a new adventure and as long as they are together, I’m confident they will be happy.

I’m seriously going to miss these two!

“I need a life.”

Debbie continues to mope around about her family all moving out and worries about being truly alone. V tries to tell her that she needs to love herself before she can find love, but Tami reminds her that part of her issues come directly from Frank.

Images courtesy of Showtime

Debbie punches Frank in the face and he tells her that she will only find love if she meets someone who is even more of a loser than her so that they will never leave her.

As fate would have it, Debbie meets Heidi, who was recently released from prison and certainly seems to live life on the edge.

I’m not sure if this is the perfect match and I still wish that Sandy would come back, but I guess we have one episode to find out if that’s meant to be or not.

“I can’t play this game anymore.”

Carl is asked to apologize to the jerk in the Mercedes and follows along, but he can’t sit by when the man starts saying ignorant things. Carl actually delivers a moving speech and says he wants to stand up for those who don’t have a voice, which lands him to a demotion…as a meter maid.

Carl wants to really be more of a “meter master” and does the best he can with his new job, leading to some hilarious moments but he does bump into Trish who is now extremely pregnant. Is the baby Carl’s?

I guess we’ll have to wait and see if he is also going to be a new father. Either way, I think that the character growth of Carl is worth mentioning.

“F*ckin West Side.”

Mickey is not really adjusting to life on the West Side. He hates the bright moon and the lack of street noise at night and ends up spending the night at the Gallagher home just to get some rest. Ian seems to be adjusting to his new life a little easier, but Mickey had me dying laughing during several moments.

Images courtesy of Showtime

After finding out that the apartment will not have furniture, he decides to make a scene at the pool and starts taking the chairs to Ian’s horror.

Later on, Ian tells Mickey that he will stay wherever he wants to make him happy and it looks like Gallavich is going to give this new life a try.

Maybe they can take some furniture from the Gallagher home to make it truly feel like home again!

“Let’s have some fun.”

Liam reminds Frank that he is just having a bad morning and tells him that he wants to do “Frank things” for the day to have some fun, which was really sweet…in a Gallagher way.

Images courtesy of Showtime

I think this is just what Frank needed, but at the end of the episode, Frank is shooting up and leaving a note for the Gallagher family.

So, is this it for Frank?

I really don’t want to see Frank go, but I’m also sort of wondering how else we can bring back other characters in the last episode and a funeral makes sense.

Frank told Liam that he lived his life the way he wanted to, but I’m not sure if the Gallagher family is truly ready to say goodbye and neither am I!

Only one episode left to find out how it all ends…

Stay tuned Gallagher fans!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

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

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” Season 5 Episode 10: “The Pincushion Man”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching The CW’s Riverdale season 5 episode 10, I learned that when people are dying, you sometimes need to make time for a term paper.

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

In episode, “Chapter Eighty-Six: The Pincushion Man,” Betty and Alice’s party is crashed by some familiar faces. Meanwhile, Jughead and Tabitha grow closer, but it looks like Betty may be the only one truly on his mind, and Veronica’s ex is determined to make her life a living hell.

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

“You follow the order.”

Archie is surprised to hear that his commanding officer wants to present with him with the Silver Eagle award because he doesn’t feel right about what happened on the mission. We later discover that perhaps this was a dirty mission after all and Archie doesn’t feel right about just following orders.

We know that Archie is always going to stand up for what he feels is right, but is he in over his head here?

“You don’t owe him anything.”

Chadwick rears his annoying head and Veronica decides to go out to New York for closure. She talks more about the helicopter crash and tells Archie that she initially wished for Chad to die and feels horrible about what happened. Archie reminds Veronica that she doesn’t owe Chad anything, but she feels like she needs to do this.

Meanwhile, Chadwick has a romantic dinner at home planned for her and tries to bring some nostalgia to their final date, which leads to some extremely poor decisions by Veronica. They kiss and more is implied, but what about Archie?

Also, you are the “She-Wolf” of Wall Street, but you couldn’t tell that Chadwick was playing you?

Chadwick reveals later that he made some bad investment decisions that involve Veronica’s company and that if she divorces him, he will sue her. I can’t say that I am surprised by these actions, but now Veronica is stuck staying in New York to handle things.

Chadwick is a mini Hiram, but Veronica needs to step up her game so she can truly move on with her life.

Your move, V.

“There is no curse.”

We get to witness a lovely date between Cheryl and Minerva as she takes her out to the maple groves, but we discover that they are dry and Nana Rose tells her it’s because of the curse.

Cheryl is determined to point out that there is no curse as she is finally taking ownership back of her life. Later on, Reggie and Hiram make amends and Nana Rose sells the groves to them, but apparently this deal is void because Cheryl had her declared senile years ago.

Reggie decides to light the groves on fire, but maybe the curse is real after all…

The Blossom ladies pray for wind and not all of the groves are damaged.

But, why does Hiram want to control them and what is the deal with Reggie?

As much as I like to see Cheryl happy, I also am still rooting for Choni in the end. Let’s just hope it’s not too late for them.

“Let’s just be friends.”

In the beginning of the episode we see Jughead and Tabitha dancing at Pop’s and they actually share a kiss. However, Jughead tells her that his life is complicated and wants to just be friends, which Tabitha actually seems OK with.

Meanwhile, Jughead needs to produce some pages and tells her that he needs to do some “Maple Mushrooms” so he can write something brilliant. I’m not making this stuff up…

Tabitha handcuffs Jughead to his desk so he can get some work done and checks in on him periodically, but Jughead’s trippy hallucinations reveal that he is not over Betty just yet as we actually get a steamy and passionate Bughead scene.

The hallucinations turn bloody; however, as Jughead then starts seeing the Mothman and Tabitha later finds his bloody handcuffs left on the desk and Jughead has disappeared.

So, what did Jughead see?

Was he truly taken by something or did he wander off on his drug trip?

We’ll have to wait to find out, but this mystery surrounding Jughead is getting weirder and weirder.

At least we had that Bughead scene though and I actually really feel bad for Tabitha. She has a lot of patience!

“Let’s just get through whatever this is.”

Easier said than done, Alice. We find out more about Glen as we discover that he is actually writing his dissertation on serial killers in the Cooper family. Betty is extremely upset and rightfully so and Glen gets a slap in the face.

However, that’s not all. After Hiram decides to shake things up with an intentional prison break, we start to remember just how many family members are locked up behind bars. Uncle Frank helps out Archie and Penelope is back in the fold, but Charles and Chic have some serious plans.

They break up the birthday party for the twins and want to be married by Alice and she actually begins the ceremony. You gotta love Alice.

Glen walks in with bad timing and Charles decides that he wants to play “The Pincushion man” and wants one of the twins to stab Glen.

Betty tries to get him to see reason and says that she will do it to spare the innocence of her niece and nephew. Betty actually stabs Glen, but purposely gives him a flesh wound and turns the tables on Chic and Charles.

We know that Glen and Charles both went to the hospital and Betty is still motivated to find out what happened to Polly even though the case has been re-assigned.

Is Polly still alive?

I’m thinking so and I can’t wait to follow Betty on this journey, but we’re going to have to wait a while for a new episode.

This was a jam-packed mid-season finale, but I still have so many questions that will remain unanswered for quite a while.

New episodes return August 11th!

Stay tuned, Riverdale fans!

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

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now!

Play if you dare…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 11 episode 10: “DNR”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 11 episode 10, we were reminded about the importance of family and that there’s nothing worse than being alone…

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not watched the latest episode yet.

In season 11, episode 10, “DNR,” many of the Gallaghers try to find a new place to live, but some are having a tougher time than others. Meanwhile, Liam spends the day with Frank and Kev and V test out life in the south.

My top 5 moments from Shameless season 11 episode 10 are:

“You’re going down.”

Carl and Officer Tipping respond to a call where a protest is happening with several tenants who have been kicked out of their homes. Carl gets upset when he sees the owner in his shiny Mercedes double parking.

Carl decides to make a difference and arrests him, telling him that he’s everything that is wrong with the world today, but his other officers let the man go and explain that the rich people fund the police and that they can’t just arrest them.

Carl initially thinks he is fired, but later learns that it’s going to take a lot more than that for him to lose his job so it’s safe to say that Carl will be a cop for quite some time.

“Happy to help.”

Kev and V initially seem out of place in Louisville while helping V’s mother with her move. However, V starts to realize that she feels right at home there after all and there may even be a new political job on a campaign waiting for her.

Meanwhile, Kev’s hunger leads him to the ultimate bartending gig where he gets to put his oreo drink skills to the test. Kev makes more in tips than he ever has at The Alibi and is told that there is a job waiting for him if he wants it.

It looks like Kev and V are going to move after all. As long as they are together, I’m happy with the outcome, but it looks like everything is coming to an end. Let’s hope they all still stay in touch with the Gallaghers though.

“Let’s go for a swim.”

Ian and Mickey find an apartment on the West Side, but Mickey is not sure he is ready for joggers on all sides and domestic beers that cost four bucks. However, the apartment is actually kind of perfect and Ian clearly wants to live there.

Images courtesy of Showtime

Ian reminds Mickey that maybe it’s time they “stop doing shady stuff and grow some tomatoes,” but we know that Gallavich will always be from the Southside no matter what.

It looks like it’s the start of a whole new journey for our favorite couple!

“All By Myself.”

The funniest moments of this episode featured Debbie going around with Franny looking for apartments. Debbie is clearly not ready to be without her family and the soundtrack behind her featuring the song, “All By Myself” was pure genius.

After checking out the first apartment, Debbie thinks she wants to move into a room with a big family, but when she learns that the room is all the way out back and she’d be alone, she starts to have some crazy what-if scenarios as well.

I’m curious to see where Debbie ends up and I’m still hopeful that she can work things out with Sandy in the end.

Images courtesy of Showtime

“Tough day.”

Liam spends the day with Frank and admits to him that he doesn’t really know how to do this. Liam is the only one who actually likes Frank and it’s certainly a lot for an eleven-year-old to deal with.

Images courtesy of Showtime

Frank later has “Do Not Resuscitate” tattooed onto his chest to make the decision a little easier, but I’m wondering what is actually going to happen to Frank at the end of the series and how it will truly impact the rest of the Gallagher family.

Meanwhile, Lip deals with some struggles of his own and tries to get the house ready for buyers leading to more unexpected bills and a fight with Mickey over a pair of pliers.

Later on, the painting issue is solved when Franny decides to decorate it with stickers and the Gallaghers leave it on a subway.

At least that crisis is solved, but we only have two episodes left to wrap things up.

Stay tuned Gallagher fans!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

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

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I think I’m ashamed of myself.”

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

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

“I’ll even come out of retirement.”

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

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

“Sometimes a story is just a story.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay tuned, Riverdale fans!

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

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now!

Play if you dare…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 11 episode 9: “Survivors”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 11 episode 9, we were reminded about the importance of having a true “home.” Not defined by the location or the walls, but by the people we love the most.

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not watched the latest episode yet.

In season 11, episode 9, “Survivors,” Ian and Mickey attempt to honor Terry’s last wish as they track down a woman from his past. Meanwhile, Liam worries about where he will live, Frank plans out the perfect heist, and Kev is left in charge of the girls.

My top 5 moments from Shameless season 11 episode 9 are:

“So this is the job?”

After Carl’s crash last week, he is now moving to the eviction team. He basically is there to provide support/back-up and watch people get evicted and he even has one of his former training officers back…Tipping. Tipping seems excited to be back, but is using way too many metaphors to promote his new philosophy.

Images courtesy of Showtime

I have a feeling we may get to witness Carl work with every department on the force at this rate…

“It’s time for me to step up and be a father.”

“Now?” Frank decides to pull off the perfect heist he planned years ago at the Art Institute and attempts to put back together his old crew, but this proves to be more challenging than he realized when he learns that one is in a wheelchair, one is rich, and the other is dead.

Images courtesy of Showtime

Frank’s memory continues to waver in and out, but it looks like he somehow pulled off the job. Does this mean that he is actually going to buy the Gallagher house?

I’d love to see that extra footage…

“You left Jemma and Amy with Kevin?”

I mean, he is there father as V points out, but V is busy helping her mom move to Kentucky. V is less than impressed with the new change of scenery, but it might be nice for the girls.

Images courtesy of Showtime

Speaking of the girls, Kev has his hands full when he is in charge of watching them at the bar. The girls don’t listen to him and end up getting into the edibles and then running off. Kev is certainly trying his best, but these girls are running circles around him…

Let’s hope they are OK.

“We should at least try and find the bitch.”

Mickey is dealing with some mixed emotions after his father’s death. He finds a box marked “Rachel” with some old photos and an address. Ian and Mickey decide to track down Rachel and learn that she was Terry’s first love.

Images courtesy of Showtime

The more they talk to Rachel, the more they begin to realize where Terry’s hate came from, as we learn that Rachel is Jewish and Terry was not allowed to marry her and she is now married to a black man.

Later on, Mickey decides to honor Terry’s wish to have him cremated, but they forgot to claim the body at the morgue and he’s off to a shared grave. Luckily, Ian and Mickey decide to light his remains up on fire anyway while giving us a delightful rendition of “I Will Survive.”

Seriously, these Gallavich moments have been absolutely amazing this season. They should do a spin-off! It looks like Mickey can move on, but it was nice to see a softer side of him.

“Are we selling or not?”

During the episode, Debbie continues to clash with Lip over selling the house and Liam is extremely worried that he is going to end up homeless. At the end of the episode, we witness two heartwarming moments.

Debbie reveals to Lip that she doesn’t want Franny to be alone and worries about her growing up without her family around. Lip promises that they will still have weekly dinners together, which was a nice gesture. I’d love to see that continue because the Gallagher family has to stay together in some capacity.

Meanwhile, Lip finally goes to talk to Liam about everything and tells him that he can live with him and Tami, which was a really touching moment. Liam always gets forgotten so this was really nice to see.

Although now that Frank stole that painting, I’m wondering what’s truly in store for the infamous Gallagher home…

Stay tuned Gallagher fans!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

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

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” Season 5 Episode 8: “Lock & Key”

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

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

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

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

“I lost a lot of time.”

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

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

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

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

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

“What in the actual….”

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

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

Images courtesy of The CW

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

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

“A window of light in the dark.”

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

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

“I will be fighting fire with fire.”

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

Images courtesy of The CW

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

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

Don’t say I didn’t warn you Varchie…

“She’s alive.”

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

Images courtesy of The CW

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

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

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

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

Stay tuned, Riverdale fans!

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

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now!

Play if you dare…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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