Tag: Riverdale

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” season 2 episode 15: “There Will Be Blood”

Happy Thursday TV fans!  After watching the CW’s Riverdale season 2 episode 15 last night, I am pondering whether or not blood really is thicker than water?  On the surface, it seems like familial bonds are the strongest there are, but it’s more than just sharing blood.  It’s about love, trust, and unconditional support.  While some characters manipulate the need for this bond to get what they want, others go in a completely different direction and swear allegiance to what could be their greatest enemy in an attempt to do the right thing.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “Chapter Twenty-Eight:  There Will Be Blood,” Jughead gets closer and closer to finding out the truth, tracking down every lead he comes across.  Meanwhile, Betty enlists Kevin to help her find out what Chic is hiding, Hal wants a divorce, and a secret will from Mr. Blossom brings new and familiar faces to town.  My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 2 episode 15 are:

5

Cheryl and Toni continue to bond.

Choni is back for this episode and it’s about time Cheryl has someone in her corner.  When Cheryl learns about the secret will, she invites Toni to attend the reading and even helps her try on some of her clothes.  Cheryl’s mother is clearly not happy with her presence, but Cheryl is not about to let her ruin this.  Toni points out that Cheryl’s mother “is a nightmare” and Cheryl agrees with “isn’t she though?”  While this seems like a harmless observation, Toni is spot on when Cheryl eavesdrops on a private conversation between her mother and her long-lost Uncle Claudius, who seem to be hinting at getting rid of Nana Blossom and then Cheryl.  Is Cheryl’s life in immediate danger?  Who can she turn to for help?  Hopefully, Toni will continue to be there for Cheryl, as it looks like she may be in the need of some serious rescuing.

4

Jughead tries to uncover the truth behind Mr. Lodge’s master plan.

In the beginning of the episode, Jughead is hard at work, desperately trying to put together the pieces of the puzzle staring in front of him.  When Archie approaches him and tells him that Mr. Lodge bought Pop’s diner without anyone knowing, Jughead feels the need to get to the bottom of this because he thinks that Riverdale is in great danger.  After interviewing Pop and learning that Pop wants to keep this from getting out because he is trying to protect his family, Jughead obliges but not before he gets a mysterious phone call from a bus driver that has some information.  After learning that Mr. Lodge has a connection to “Shankshaw Prison,” he turns to his father, FP for some much needed assistance.  FP pays one of his former connections a visit in prison and they get some seriously helpful intel.  Intel so helpful, that it prompts Mr. Lodge to make some serious moves to avoid Jughead releasing a story that will hurt his plan.  Jughead is quickly becoming a dangerous threat to Mr. Lodge, but will Mr. Lodge take action against Jughead and FP or keep his plan moving quietly?

3

Cheryl’s father has a secret will.

Cheryl is surprised to find out about her father’s secret will, especially when she learns that a public reading will be held.  Everyone quickly discovers that half of Mr. Blossom’s assets will go to Cheryl and the other half will be split among anyone who can prove they have Blossom blood running through their veins.  Alice Cooper is beyond angry, when she realizes that this is the reason why Hal has now asked her for a divorce.  It also explains why Polly has decided to pay her family a visit as well, finally introducing them to her adorable twin babies.  While it’s clear that everyone wants their fair share of the money, Betty is surprised to find out that Chic does not want to have his blood tested, which immediately gets her spidey senses tingling.  After Cheryl delivers a heart-warming speech and tells the public that she wants “no more blood, no more madness, no more horror,” it’s like she unknowingly opened up a door to a new dangerous threat.  The spitting image of her father walks in the room, causing her to faint.  Don’t fret, Mr. Blossom is not back from the dead, but his identical twin brother, Uncle Claudius is here to claim his fortune as well.  While it initially seems like Uncle Claudius has good intentions and was merely trying to outrun the Blossom curse previously, he clearly has other motives, as he seems more than willing to comply with Penelope Blossom’s plan, putting our beloved Cheryl in great danger.

2

“CSI Nancy Drew.”

Betty has been having her suspicions about Chic for quite a while now, but has no solid evidence against him.  She enlists the help of Kevin to “webcam” with Chic and to probe him for information.  It seems like they are getting somewhere, but Kevin has second thoughts and feels bad about lying to Chic.  Even though Kevin is out, Betty takes matters into her own hands after hearing about Chic’s refusal to get his blood tested.  His suspicious actions continue when he makes side comments about wishing it was just him, Betty, and Alice again, after Polly has arrived with the twins, making Chic feel unwanted and overcrowded.  Chic gets what he wants after taking the twins out for a night stroll, when Polly announces that she is going to move to San Francisco.  While Polly may be out of the picture…literally, as he cuts her out of a photo, Betty is still on the case.  She sneaks into Chic’s bathroom and takes his dental floss to have it tested behind his back.  Betty is done with the lies and deception, as she confronts Chic and throws the results in his face.  She looks him straight in the eyes and convincingly says, “you’re not who you say you are so who are you?”  This is a question that we are all pondering right now for sure.  Since Chic is not Betty’s biological brother, what does he want with the Cooper family?  Is Betty in danger now that she has confronted Chic about his lie?

1

Archie and Veronica blur the lines between family and friendship.

When Mr. Lodge strategically suggests that Archie’s dad, Fred run for mayor, it seems like he is making Fred’s childhood dream into a reality.  However, Archie knows that being the mayor means becoming a “dog on a leash,” and he is not about to let his father get mixed up with this.  Veronica faces a difficult choice when her family asks her to convince Archie to get on board with this, which she clearly has mixed feelings about.  While both Archie and Veronica have trouble knowing which side to choose, Veronica jumps in to protect Archie from her father’s “apocalyptic wrath” and takes the blame for telling Jughead about Pop’s diner.  It’s apparent that Veronica loves Archie and will protect him, but will her father learn about her betrayal?  This is not the first time that Veronica has chosen to do the right thing over what her family wants.  After Mr. Lodge learns that Jughead is uncovering his plans to turn South Side High School into a prison, he quickly reveals this to Fred, hoping to keep him on their side.  The plan back-fires, however; when Fred announces he is out and wants no part of this.  This is not the future he wants for his town and for his son.  When he asks Archie to leave with him, Archie makes the bold decision to stay behind and hear what Mr. Lodge has to say.  He goes even further with his loyalty, when he signs a blood oath with Mr. Lodge and throws his notebook into the fire, destroying all of the secrets he has learned along the way.  Is Archie making the right choice or are his feelings for Veronica blinding him from the truth?  Mr. Lodge keeps things moving without showing any weakness, however; and Hermione Lodge announces that she is running for mayor with confidence and poise.  Now that all of the chess pieces appear to be in place, it looks like there is only one thing standing in Mr. Lodge’s way….Jughead Jones. 

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Riverdale below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” season 2 episode 14: “The Last House on the Left”

Happy Thursday TV fans!  After watching the CW’s Riverdale season 2 episode 14 last night, I am left with Mr. Lodge’s words of wisdom:  “you never ever hesitate” when it comes to protecting the ones you love.  While his words hold true for Archie especially, it’s often difficult for some of our other favorite characters to let their walls down and open up to one another, especially if they have a “ponytail and a secret.”  A dangerous combination for sure of sweetness and scandal, but what happens when we finally let others into our inner most thoughts?  Can we really trust them or are we in for a dangerous road of lies and deception?  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “Chapter Twenty-Seven:  The Hills Have Eyes,” Veronica, Archie, Betty, and Jughead are off to a weekend getaway at Veroncia’s family cabin on the lake, which leads to an eventful night where buried secrets reach the surface and dangerous threats lurk behind the corner.  Meanwhile, Cheryl deals with her own feelings of insecurity and leans on an unexpected new friend, Josie learns the truth about her mother, and Jughead gets a weird vibe from Chic.  My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 2 episode 14 are:

5

Weekend getaway.

Veronica is absolutely thrilled when her father suggests that she go to their family cabin for a relaxing weekend with her boyfriend and friends.  However, what Veronica doesn’t know is that her father, Mr. Lodge is trying to keep her away from Riverdale, as he begins some important business transactions.  Mr. Lodge does fill Archie in on the plan and lets him know that his right hand man, Andre will be there in case anything goes wrong.  Mr. Lodge is trusting Archie not to spill the beans to Veronica, which shows that Archie really has passed the test of loyalty with flying colors.  Is he up for lying to Veronica to win Mr. Lodge’s approval, however?  Our favorite couple, Bughead happily joins in on the fun and poor Cheryl is left out, as they aren’t really looking for a fifth wheel to spoil the weekend.  It seems like romance and relaxation is in the air, but not for long, as Mr. Lodge’s plan backfires when Veronica catches Archie talking to Andre in the woods.  Veronica is clearly hurt and angered by this betrayal, expecting much more from her boyfriend and father.

4

Josie learns about her mother’s relationship with Sheriff Keller.

After the Lodge family threatened to expose Mayor McCoy, she needed to make quick and sudden moves to protect her reputation and her family.  She comes clean to her daughter, Josie about her relationship with Kevin’s father, Sheriff Keller and gently explains that she will be getting a divorce.  Josie is completely crushed by this news and feels hurt and betrayed by her mother’s actions.  Not thinking clearly about consequences, Josie shares the news with Kevin who doesn’t know anything about his father’s affair.  Josie’s mother is upset by Josie’s cruelty as it was not her news to spread, but they come to an understanding when Josie reveals how hurt she was by this revelation.  At the end of the episode, the four sit down at Pop’s diner and it looks like they will be able to get through this after all, with some heartache along the way for sure, but at least it’s all out in the open now.

3

Jalapeno margaritas and hot tubs.

Veronica realizes that their weekend getaway will need some spicing up, especially after some dangerous secrets are revealed.  She whips up a batch of her margaritas and suggests “step 1:  clothes off, swimsuits on.”  While it seems like this love rhombus can relax somewhat, Veronica suggests that her and Jughead kiss to “level the playing field.”  While Archie and Betty are clearly not thrilled with this idea, they sit by quietly and let it happen because they do still feel guilty about their own secret kiss.  Even though Betty initially kept the kiss from Jughead, he is willing to forgive her and explains that he’s “not intimidated by a black hood prompted kiss.”  Betty shows her gratitude later on by bringing out her favorite black wig and her sexy side as a distraction, leading to some “aggressive hand holding” as Veronica would say.  While it seems like Bughead is ok for now, will the couple be able to survive more secrets and betrayal?  After all, Jughead still doesn’t know about Betty’s new and dangerous obsession with “webcamming.”

2

“Cheryl Bombshell.”

Cheryl is clearly disappointed and feeling left out when she is not invited along to the weekend getaway and is desperately trying to avoid her own home that her mother has “turned into a sex playground.”  While Cheryl makes some rash decisions as a result of this, it’s hard not to feel sympathetic towards her.  Cheryl calls Jughead and reveals the truth about Betty’s kiss with Archie that she thought was “like with tongue serious,” desperately trying to spoil their weekend since she is hurt.  Toni walks in on this and calls her out on it, but Cheryl puts her guard up immediately and reminds her exactly who she is:  “Hi I’m Cheryl Blossom, aka Cheryl Bombshell which means I need no reasons.  Feel free to tremble.”  Toni is not scared off by this, however; and continues to reach out to her, recognizing that she is in pain and in need of a friend.  After seeing Cheryl alone at the movies, Toni offers to sit with her.  Cheryl later admits to Toni that she “never cries at movies because real life is tragic enough.”  In this moment, Cheryl finally lets her guard down, revealing her vulnerability and past secrets to Toni.  Toni sympathetically listens to her and a budding friendship or relationship is forming at this point for sure.  In a beautiful moment, Toni simply tells Cheryl:  “you’re not loveless.  You’re not deviant.  You’re sensational.”  Toni’s uncomplicated honesty is getting through to Cheryl and it looks like their relationship will grow even further based on the previews revealed for next week’s episode.  Will Cheryl’s mother come between their relationship, however?

1

“It really was the last house on the left.”

While I initially caught the film reference from Jughead, I never guessed that this comparison would actually not be far off by the end of the episode.  Tensions begin to run high when Archie, Veronica, Betty, and Jughead learn that Mr. Lodge has bought Sunnyside Trailer Park, clearing the debt and evictions of everyone who lives there along with the Riverdale Register.  Jughead initially jumps to the conclusion that Mr. Lodge is buying their silence along with the free press in this action and underlying animosity comes screeching to the surface, as this puts a clear divide between Archie and Veronica and Betty and Jughead.  This argument is put on hold, however; when armed robbers break into the cabin, putting their lives in immediate danger.  Veronica doesn’t lose her cool and carefully presses the panic button when she reaches for her purse, signaling to Andre and the rest of her father’s security company that they are in desperate need of some assistance.  The robbers run off, but not before grabbing Veronica’s necklace, which prompts Archie to irrationally run after them.  Andre lets him know that he’ll take it from there and Archie walks away, but not before hearing a deafening gun shot that lets him know the threat is over for good.  While Archie clearly has mixed feelings about what happened because of his moral compass, Mr. Lodge reminds him that “you never ever hesitate,” which causes the memories of the Black Hood to come flooding back, invading his conscience and pulling at his unresolved guilt.  Will Archie be able to come to terms with what happened?  It looks like he will need to put his own feelings on hold for now, while Mr. Lodge continues to make strategic moves in Riverdale.   Of course this begs the question, what is his end game in all of this?

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Riverdale below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

You can now follow me on Twitter as well! https://twitter.com/TV_Fanatic_Girl

 

Ranking the top 5 Most Fashionable Female Characters on TV: “Fashion is art and culture and history and everything I love combined!”

Happy Friday TV fans!  The weekend is almost here and these drastic changes in weather here in New York have brought out all sorts of clothing changes.  Heavy coats were swapped out for chic leather jackets, giving each one of us the chance to shine on our own runway.  Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl got it right when she said “fashion is art and culture and history and everything I love combined.” 

Whether you are channeling a certain era in time or embracing a new trend you spotted in a magazine, fashion is all about expression and creation.  You can change up your style with each new outfit, depending on your mood or destination, which makes it so truly wonderful.  For today, I am going to be looking at female TV characters with some serious style.  Whether they are trying to rule the world…or their high school or looking for an escape from the mundane world of suburbia, these ladies are beyond well-dressed.  They’ve become my inspiration when plotting my own next ensemble.

My top 5 most fashionable female characters on TV are:

5

Veronica Lodge from Riverdale.

Veronica 2 23

I’ve been quite impressed with the fashion on Riverdale.  Every character really embraces it and is not afraid to try out new trends, but I have to give the top spot from the show to Miss Veronica Lodge.  When she arrives from the big city, she brings her expensive wardrobe with her and is not afraid to show it off.  Veronica truly has an Audrey Hepburn inspired look, carefully completing each ensemble with simple but classic accessories, such as her pearl necklace.  Veronica always looks flawless and ready for anything.  It’s no wonder she is able to stand up to her parents and the other adults in this town.  She’s dressing the part and means business.

4

Emily Thorne from Revenge.

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You can’t help not rooting for Emily on her quest for revenge against the Grayson family who she believes is responsible for the downfall of her father.  Emily takes on her new identity and plans to step into the elite world of the Hamptons, Long Island.  You would never doubt for a second that she doesn’t belong, as she makes an entrance with poise and confidence.  Emily’s wardrobe is beyond beautiful.  She tends to favor reds and floral patterns, typically leaving her long blonde hair down in soft waves, giving her a certain Veronica Lake vibe.  Emily even challenges the notorious Victoria Grayson without batting an eyelash.  Even her casual wardrobe screams The Hamptons, embracing simple cardigans and nautical sweaters with fitted jeans.  No matter where the social event is, Emily Thorne is there to make a statement and her wardrobe absolutely helps her accomplish this.

3

Gabrielle Solis from Desperate Housewives.

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When ex-model, Gabrielle moves to Wisteria Lane with her rich husband, Carlos, she has traded in her runway days for the quiet life of suburbia.  However, that doesn’t mean Gabrielle is about to sacrifice her wardrobe in the process.  Even though most of the other women on the block dress casual and simple, Gabrielle looks fabulous in brightly colored ensembles.  Even when she does her Yoga, she has on brightly colored matching velour sweats.  Gabrielle’s dresses are her trademark, however.  She absolutely adores anything that is couture.  In a hilarious moment on the show, Gabrielle’s entire walk-in closet is destroyed by a horrible leak in the ceiling and her screams of distress are absolutely sympathetic.  When Gabrielle begins dating her second husband, Victor, she seems to have more fun going through his ex-wife’s closet, even borrowing a few outfits.  Unfortunately for Gabrielle, the ex spots her in the outfit and Gabrielle is forced to strip in the bathroom and hand over the goods.  Luckily, Gabrielle can pull off any outfit…or lack of one in this case, so she was in the clear.

2

Buffy Summers from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Buffy 2 23

I was a teenager myself when watching Buffy and I have to say that she was my inspiration for my own style.  I remember trying to find the perfect prom dress that looked like hers because I adored it that much.  Whether Buffy was rocking a pair of cute leather boots with a short dress or skirt or wearing one of her beautiful statement coats, she always looked fierce while defeating the many threats in Sunnydale.  While she was great at accessorizing, perhaps her best accessory was her cross-bow which really went with every outfit.  Later in the series, Buffy traded out many of her short dresses for cute leather pants and soft sweaters, embracing hoop earrings and cute hairstyles.  No matter what outfit she wore, she always looked comfortable and cute, which is sometimes really hard to do!  Either way, Buffy still remains an absolute influence on my own fashion and style.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one pick are:

  • Hanna Marin from “Pretty Little Liars”
  • Cheryl Blossom from “Riverdale”
  • Serena van der Woodsen from “Gossip Girl”
  • Olivia Pope from “Scandal”
  • Victoria Grayson from “Revenge”
  • Aria Montgomery from “Pretty Little Liars”
  • Felicity Smoak from “Arrow”
  • Joan Watson from “Elementary”

1

Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl.

Blair 2 23

So if the quote at the beginning didn’t give me away, my number one pick for most fashionable female TV character has to be awarded to Blair Waldorf.  The Queen B herself, Blair embodies fashion and style.  Her number one accessory is always her headband, which basically represents a crown, but she wears it so well.  Blair, like Veronica Lodge, has an Audrey Hepburn vibe going on, but takes it to an entirely new level.  Whether she is rocking a preppy outfit with knee-socks or a breathtaking gown, Blair plans every single detail of her outfit.  Her endless amounts of coats are to die for and her handbags are elegant and the perfect pop of color.  I’m sure fans around the world (including me) would love to go through her closet just to be that close to a work of art that will never go out of style.  Blair’s love for fashion is absolutely apparent and even when she is scolding her minions; it’s hard not to root for her because she looks absolutely fabulous in every scene.

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post your thoughts and comments below on some of your picks for the most fashionable female TV characters.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” season 2 episode 13: “Norman Bates made it look so easy.”

Happy Thursday TV fans!  After watching the CW’s Riverdale season 2 episode 13 last night, I have to admit that even I did not see some of these twists and turns unraveling.  While we will need to wait until early March for a new episode to air, let’s focus on what we know and what we still don’t know for today.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “Chapter Twenty-Six:  The Tell-Tale Heart,” Betty goes down a dangerous path and makes the decision to help her mother and Chic clean up a mess that won’t make her guilt disappear along with it.  Archie makes the brave decision to stand up to Agent Adams and Veronica chooses to do the right thing, weighing it above her family loyalty.  Meanwhile, Cheryl refuses to let her mother ruin another family and Jughead decides to take on the big boss, Mr. Lodge to strike up a deal.  My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 2 episode 13 are:

5

Jughead has a meeting with Mr. Lodge.

Jughead refuses to sit by quietly and enlists the help of his father, FP to sit down for negotiations with Mr. Lodge.  Veronica happily mediates the discussion which seems to be full of all of the niceties one would expect at a legitimate business meeting.  Mr. Lodge and the Jones family agree that they want peace in the land.  After Mr. Lodge offers to meet them half-way, Jughead refuses to keep his name out of the expose he is writing and tells him “no deal.”  FP is proud of his son and supports him completely.  It’s good to see the Jones family making the right decisions.  After all, making a deal with the devil deserves some much needed contemplation.

4

Cheryl does the right thing.

When Cheryl learns that her mother is having an affair with Hal Cooper, she argues that she is “destroying families with her courtesan ways.”  Her mother shocks her by telling her that it’s the real deal with Hal and she doesn’t even blink an eye at the thought of shattering Alice Cooper’s family.  Cheryl refuses to accept this especially after witnessing Betty sick to her stomach at school.  Assuming it must be directly related to her family breaking apart; Cheryl confronts Hal and warns him to stay away from her “harlot mother.”  Even though she offers to keep things quiet from Betty, Cheryl makes the decision to tell her what’s going on anyway because she feels it is the right thing to do.  It looks like Cheryl is finally going down the right path.  There doesn’t seem to be any ulterior motives here, but will her mother cross her once she finds out about her betrayal?

3

Veronica visits Mayor McCoy.

Even though Veronica has accepted her new role in the family business with open arms, it’s clear that she is not about to let her conscience be corrupted in the process.  When she finds out that her parents intend to blackmail Mayor McCoy with information on the affair she is having with Kevin’s dad, Veronica makes the brave the decision to tell the Mayor what is going on.  In an effort to protect her reputation, she admits to her what her parents know and Mayor McCoy asks “how much time do I have?”  She steps down from her position as Mayor and Veronica reminds her parents that she is no longer a threat and exposing her now would only be cruel.  Will her parents find out that she has put the Mayor over her responsibility to her family?  Will Veronica be able to get out of this with a clean conscience?  Time will tell but it’s great to see that she still has her morals intact.

2

Betty comes clean to Jughead.

While still withholding some very pertinent information from her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Jughead, Betty cannot keep her latest secret to herself.  In the beginning of the episode, “the lives of the Cooper women were forever changed,” as Betty decides to help her mother cover up the murder of the shady man who came to see Chic.  When Betty comes down for breakfast the next day, she is appalled that Chic and her mother are sitting there bright eyed and bushy tailed without any hint of remorse.  Her anger leaks out when she says “I don’t like chocolate chip pancakes” in disgust.  The doorbell rings and Betty shatters the plate in her hand, revealing her own guilt and nerves about what took place the night before.  She is unable to let her guilt go as she goes back to the body and takes the man’s phone, going through each number to provide her with some sense of truth or closure.  Betty learns that Chic is lying to the family as his info appears in the shady man’s phone, but Alice refuses to let Betty start a fight and divide the family.  Not knowing where else to turn, Betty confides in Jughead about what has taken place and they sink the shady man’s car that has been parked on Betty’s block for two days.  Not wanting for Betty to make the same mistake his family has, they bring in FP who helps dispose of the body and keeps their secret, understanding full well what a cover up can do to a family.  Even though everything seems to be safely hidden under the surface, we know that things don’t always stay buried for long.  Will someone come looking for the shady man?  What else is Chic keeping from the family?  How will Betty and Jughead cope with such a dark secret?

1

Archie meets “the boss.”

Archie is facing quite the dilemma when he has second thoughts about spying on the Lodge family.  He loves Veronica very much and feels awful about what Agent Adams is asking him to do.  Agent Adams pays his father a visit, reminding Archie what’s at stake here, but Archie holds his ground, risking everything to protect the Lodge family.  He goes to Mr. Lodge and tells him everything, putting all his cards on the table.  Later in the episode, Archie is escorted off to see “the boss.”  Not knowing what to expect, the car pulls up to a secluded spot to reveal Veronica’s mother, Hermione Lodge as the HBIC. She reveals to Archie that Agent Adams isn’t real and this was all a test.  Archie is completely shocked by this revelation.  Luckily for Archie, he made the right decision, but what else is the Lodge family capable of?  Now that he has been accepted into their family, what will they expect from him in return?  We will need to wait until March 7th 2018 for new episodes to air, but there are still a lot of mysteries to be solved.  Stay tuned to find out!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Riverdale below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” season 2 episode 12: “Bitter Sweet Symphony”

Happy Thursday TV fans!  After watching the CW’s Riverdale season 2 episode 12 last night, I’ve realized how dangerous it can be to live in the moment.  Decisions have consequences but it can be tempting to push them aside and worry about them later.  That is until they show up again, threatening everything that matters most to you.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “Chapter Twenty-Five:  The Wicked and the Divine,” Veronica announces her Catholic confirmation, which seems to be more of a substitute for the spotlight to be on her in front of an adoring crowd.  Penny is back and is looking to seek revenge on Jughead for how he treated her and Archie gets an exclusive invite to Mr. Lodge’s poker game.   Meanwhile, Betty tries out “webcamming,” Jughead comes clean to her about the past, and Alice begins cleaning…literally, to cover up something beyond appalling.  My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 2 episode 12 are:

5

Jughead comes clean to Betty about his past with Toni.

Jughead and Betty have pretty much avoided having a serious conversation since their breakup until now.  Whether it was too hard to talk about or they were concerned with hurting each other in the process, their breakup has been somewhat of a smooth ride.  However, when Jughead and Betty are face to face in the beginning of the episode, Jughead feels the need to tell her the truth about what happened with Toni.  He reveals that they did have a fleeting moment but that’s all it was.  Betty is offered the chance to reveal any secrets she may be keeping, but decides not to tell Jughead about her kiss with Archie or her new scandalous life of “webcamming.”  Jughead offers to “shield her from darkness,” but Betty has already gotten a taste for it and is spinning a complicated web of deception without realizing the consequences just yet.

4

Veronica’s Confirmation.

Veronica really knows how to do absolutely everything in style.  She turns her Catholic Confirmation into more of a Debutante ball.  Veronica wants to sing The Verve’s “Bitter Sweet Symphony,” at the event with Josie because it was from the film, “Cruel Intentions.”  I was excited for the reference but also a little saddened that this is the only way Veronica knows this epic song.  Either way, her performance with Josie is beautiful as Veronica walks down the aisle of the church in style, rejecting Satan and making her family proud.

3

Penny is back and seeks revenge on Jughead.

After Jughead turned Penny away from the Serpent’s gang and had her tattoo carved off her arm in a brutal way, it was no surprise that Penny would be back at some point.  She wants “blood for blood” and demands that Jughead be kicked out of the gang and that she be able to remove his own tattoo.  Jughead continues to make excuses but his father ominously reveals to him that he “will be the death of us.”  Jughead is always reacting and needs to take the time and patience he puts into his writing and apply it to everyday life.  Without realizing it, Jughead is taking a turn down a very dark path and it may be too late for him to find his way back unscathed.

2

Archie is invited to Mr. Lodge’s poker game.

Archie is thrilled when Mr. Lodge begins to take notice of him and actually commends him on what he did to Nick Sinclair.  He invites him to his poker game which Archie ambitiously accepts, knowing that some major players will be in town and it will be a great time to provide Agent Adams with the inside scoop.  However, when Archie learns that one of the players was found dead, he has second thoughts about coming clean about what he found out.  He lies to Agent Adams, which begs the question, is Archie in over his head?  Have his feelings for Veronica complicated his mission to bring down Mr. Lodge?

1

Betty and Alice Cooper embrace the darkness.

In the beginning of the episode, Betty is sporting her femme fatale black wig, turning away from the computer with newfound passion and excitement.  While her deception may initially seem harmless, Betty is not ready to abandon it just yet.  She begins keeping secrets from those she loves without even the slightest hesitation to suggest that she has no guilt or second thoughts about her actions.  While Chic opened the door to the darkness, inviting Betty in, she is making her own decisions.  Later in the episode, Betty and Jughead reunite and share a passionate kiss as Jughead tells her that “he wants all of her,” but what will he do when he finds out that he needs to share Betty with the rest of the cyber world?  Whether intentional or not, Chic has also brought out the darkness in his biological mother, Alice as well.  At the end of the episode, a man appears at the door looking for Chic and Betty walks into her mother cleaning up a mess of blood with the lifeless body spread across the floor.  Alice quickly tells her daughter to close the door, implying that she is not about to let her actions reach the surface either.  Who is responsible for the death of this stranger?  Is Alice covering up for Chic or did she do the unthinkable?

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Riverdale below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” season 2 episode 11: “The Dark Education of Betty Cooper.”

Happy Thursday TV fans!  After watching the CW’s Riverdale season 2 episode 11 last night, I’ve realized that there is a very thin line between heroism and villainy.  Whether it stems from the need to dive deeper into what lurks beneath the surface or to protect someone we love, our decisions can get us caught up in a web of deception that may not be so easily unraveled.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “Chapter Twenty-Four:  The Wrestler,” Betty and Archie fall further and further away from grace, clinging to the hope that they can discover the truth no matter what the cost is.  Veronica and Jughead become immersed and blinded by their new worlds, sugarcoating the consequences, and Cheryl learns the wretched truth about her ancestors.   Meanwhile, Pickens Day inherits a new tradition, Josie takes a stand against Veronica, and Hal Cooper’s anger gets the best of him. My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 2 episode 11 are:

5

Hal Cooper is pushed to the limit.

Even though Hal helped an injured Chic, he is having second thoughts about letting Betty’s brother stay with them, especially since he is sleeping in Polly’s old room, bringing up some unhealed wounds for Hal.  His concerns are dismissed by Alice and Betty who tell Chic that he can stay there as long as he likes.  Alice’s need to connect with Chic is the most important thing to her right now and she refuses to let her husband ruin it for her.  Hal snoops around the house and discovers that Chic is into “webcamming” and has a unique set of clients, infuriating him beyond reason.  He confronts his family at Pickens Day, which Cheryl’s mother takes note of.  Does Cheryl’s mother view this as a possible new business opportunity?  All signs point to “yes” as she strategically offers to take Hal out for a better dessert, hinting at her intentions.  Will Hal throw away his marriage over Chic’s arrival?  It’s no secret that Alice and Hal have had their problems in the past, but this may be what ultimately pushes him over the edge to no return.

4

Cheryl learns the truth about her ancestors.

In the beginning of the episode, Cheryl gives a history presentation about Pickens Day and talks about the important part the Blossom family played, even suggesting that they rename the day in history to include the name, Blossom.  When the truth comes out that General Pickens was responsible for the massacre of innocent people and stole land, Cheryl is unable to maintain the cool front that her mother does.  She sheds a tear, horrified by this revelation.  Is this enough to turn her to action, however?  At the end of the episode, we learn that someone beheaded the statue of General Pickens and everyone is ready to point fingers at the Serpents, but could this actually be the handy work of Cheryl?

3

Jughead uncovers the real story about General Pickens.

When Jughead is researching his own history presentation, he learns a lot from Toni’s grandfather who is the oldest Serpent still living in Riverdale.  Jughead is horrified that the town is honoring General Pickens rather than trying to make amends.  While it is clear that Jughead is angry by this, does he cross a line?  Toni is clearly upset about his article and explains to Jughead that “it’s not his story to tell.”  It certainly gave Jughead the ammunition he was looking for against the town, but he recognizes that Toni is right and the Serpents take on a different approach on Pickens Day to truly make a point.  The Serpents show up with protest signs and some have tape over their mouths, representing the dead and silent from that massacre.  Toni courageously gets up on stage to talk about the importance of them being honored and remembered, but Mr. Lodge deflects the issue and takes over the microphone with his empty promises.  While this may temporarily prevent the town from erupting into chaos, it’s clear that this is not the only secret being covered up.

2

Betty tries to make it right with Chic.

Betty is thrilled that her brother is staying with her family, but he does not warm up to her instantly as she had hoped.  Chic is unsure of her motives and Betty tries to win his trust.  After Chic is upset that his laptop and web-cam equipment were taken by his landlord/pimp, Betty gives him her old laptop as a peace offering.  Chic lets his guard down and begins providing some answers as the two start a real connection.  Betty admits that she has a darkness brewing inside her and she desperately wants to get to the root cause.  She is hoping that they can both connect to this on some level and she is right.  Chic admits that he did spy on her that first night and that “webcamming” provides him with an escape.  It’s a way to get away from the darkness, sparking Betty’s immediate interest.  Chic is clearly winning Betty’s trust but is she ready for what’s to come next?  Sure Betty can put on a wig and pretend to be someone else, but is she really going to be able to compromise her image of goodness and perfection in the process?   Is Chic actually manipulating Betty into getting exactly what he wants?  Could she become the accomplice to the real Black Hood?  Time will tell.

1

Archie vs. Mr. Lodge.

Archie realizes that he needs to get closer to Mr. Lodge if he is going to truly help Agent Adams with his investigation.  Veronica explains that her father loves wrestling and was even on the team when he attended Riverdale high.  Archie tries out for the team, expecting for it to be a cake-walk since he is somewhat of a jock, but is in for a rude awakening.  During the first try-out, Kevin schools him and Archie realizes that this is going to be harder than he thought.  Mr. Lodge makes some unnecessary comments about how it is OK to just be a musician, clearly testing Archie’s limits and mocking his manliness.  Archie reacts by kissing Veronica in front of her father, which is not the best approach.  In the next try out, Mr. Lodge decides to try out his famous wrestling headlock move on a volunteer, however; he ignores all of the volunteers and picks Archie to prove a point that he will always win.  He later reveals to Archie that wrestling is about “knowing your opponent.”  He tells Archie that he will tolerate him and that “boyfriends come and go while Fathers are forever.”  Archie is up to the challenge and does extremely well in his next try-out, but pushes the limits when he asks Mr. Lodge to be his mentor in terms of getting into business.  After ignoring a call from Agent Adams, is Archie in over his head or is he initiating a plan to truly outsmart his opponent?

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Riverdale below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” season 2 episode 10 mid-season premiere: Dangerous Liaisons

Happy Thursday TV fans!  After watching the CW’s Riverdale season 2 episode 10 last night, I am so beyond thrilled that one of my favorite shows on television is back with new episodes.  The episode did a great job of tying up some of the loose ends and unanswered questions from the mid-season finale.  Worlds collided and new characters and agendas were introduced, proving that the drama is nowhere near over for Riverdale.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, “Chapter Twenty-Three:  The Blackboard Jungle,” Veronica happily embraces her new productive role within the Lodge family business.  Archie is approached by an FBI agent and Cheryl learns that her mother is happy being a “woman of the night.”  Meanwhile, South Side High is officially closed; bringing everyone together for a happy reunion at Riverdale High, but Jughead is not ready to conform just yet.  Betty decides to track down her last chance at family after a disappointing visit from Polly, which could be the most dangerous decision of all.  My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 2 episode 10 are:

5

South Side & Riverdale High Schools collide.

In the beginning of the episode, it is revealed that the mayor is shutting down South Side High School because of dangerous fumes from a meth lab in the basement along with other issues involving drug trafficking.  Where will Jughead and the Serpents go to school?  You guessed it…Riverdale High School.  While some students don’t seem to care very much about the change, others take a stand on both sides, refusing to share their space with their enemies.  While this decision to bring all the students together created its own sense of drama and chaos, the real question still remains as to what the Lodge family has to gain from this?  Mr. and Mrs. Lodge clearly desire the land underneath South Side High School but why?  Are they making a play to take over the entire town?  Who will get stepped on in the process?

4

Cheryl crashes the Welcoming Committee.

Veronica eagerly steps up to lead the Welcoming Committee, hoping to make a good impression on her parents and the entire student body.  She even convinces Archie to help with it as well to keep the peace.  Everything seems to be going well until Cheryl and some other angry students storm in, refusing to welcome the South Side students with open arms.  Veronica comically refers to Cheryl as “Facist Barbie,” but Cheryl is unaffected by this, labeling the South Side students as “ragamuffins.”  She tells Archie that he is on the wrong side and even attempts to black-mail him, revealing that she witnessed the secret kiss he shared with Betty.  Cheryl proves once again to be the classic mean girl we adore, refusing to sit by on the sidelines.

3

“A Serpent never sheds his skin.”

You would think that Jughead would be excited to return to Riverdale High School.  Even though he and Betty broke up, all of his friends are there and it’s not like he has been gone that long.  When the Serpents cross paths with Cheryl and the jocks, Jughead is beyond frustrated.  After a student paints graffiti on the school emblem, the principal makes the quick and rash decision to ban the Serpent jackets from school.  Toni and some of the others are fine with the decision, happy to have new computer labs and a legitimate chance at a good education, but Jughead becomes more and more angry, refusing to comply.  After he refuses to take off his jacket, he gets in a fight and is suspended.  Jughead eventually comes around and decides to form a club so that they can still get together on campus, without revealing that they are a gang.  He explains that it will be their “safe haven” and that they will be “lying low in the tall grass.”  What exactly is Jughead planning?  Has he gotten in too deep with the Serpents?

2

Betty finds her brother.

Betty is surprised to find Polly in her bedroom, picking up a few things and nonchalantly sharing the news that she had the twins already.  When Polly goes back to the farm without even staying to say hello to their parents, Betty is feeling hurt and abandoned by her sister, causing her to put her Nancy Drew skills to the test once more.  Betty is not good at sitting still, always diving into a new mystery to solve, refusing to take a minute to actually deal with her feelings.  She tracks down the address of her brother, Charles Smith and lets her parents know that she wants to go and meet him.  While Betty’s father wants no part of this, Mrs. Cooper visits Betty later that night and confides to her that she does want to meet her son.  When they walk through the seedy motel to find him, Mrs. Cooper latches onto Betty’s arm, as if the infestation and filth will seep through their bubble of perfection.  After meeting Charles or “Chic” as he likes to be called, Betty and Mrs. Cooper are horrified by his lifestyle and surroundings, feeling somewhat responsible for his current conditions.  After Betty returns to check in on Chic, she finds him being attacked and stabbed.  Betty saves the day with Pepper Spray, proving once again that she is not one to mess with.  After taking Chic home, the Cooper family helps stitch him up and gives him a place to stay, but did they just “let another monster in?”  Clearly there is something not right with Chic, especially after we see him standing over Betty’s bed in a beyond creepy way.  Archie is not so sure they got the right bad guy…so is it possible that Chic is the real Black Hood?  I’m thinking yes, but we will have to wait and see what this new character has in store for Riverdale.

1

Archie begins spying for the FBI.

At the end of the mid-season finale, Archie was clearly being watched, as someone took secret photos of him.  We now learn that this was Agent Adams who works for the FBI and is seeking Archie’s help to be the inside man spying on the Lodge family.  While Archie is hesitant about this at first, he soon realizes the importance of protecting his father and his girlfriend, Veronica.  His first mission is to find out what really happened to Nick St. Clair, as the FBI has reason to believe that Mr. Lodge is responsible for his “accident” and is heavily involved in “organized crime.”  After Archie learns that Nick also tried to attack Veronica, he is beyond angry.  Archie proves to be the white knight coming to the rescue of both Veronica and Cheryl, paying Nick a surprise visit to get the check that Cheryl deserved.  Archie lets his emotions get in the way, however; punching and attacking the already injured Nick several times before leaving.  Archie is warned about this and realizes that he cannot let his emotions get in the way again if he is going to be successful with his mission.  He now feels ready to do what needs to be done:  to take down the Lodge family and assist the FBI.  Archie even comes clean with Veronica and tells her about the kiss he shared with Betty, truly wanting a fresh and honest start with his girlfriend and reminding himself that he will do anything to protect her…even if means bringing down her own family in the process.  Is Archie in over his head?  Most likely, but I’m rooting for him just the same.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Riverdale below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

My top television shows of 2017 on Local Networks: Cheers to the CW!

Greetings TV Fans!  For today, I am going to be listing my top favorite television shows that aired in 2017 on local networks.  While some shows near the top of my list were no surprise for me, there were others that were a pleasant revelation, providing just the right amount of entertainment.  There were also some shows that I used to enjoy a lot which fell short this past year and are in need of something earth-shattering to happen in 2018 to get them back to the top of the pack.  While I haven’t gotten a chance to view all shows that aired new episodes in 2017, I did get to more than I initially anticipated.  Please feel free to include some of your favorites below as well.  Once again, I will be breaking the shows into 3 categories:  the best of the best, honorable mentions, and shows that have lost some steam.  Please note some spoilers are ahead.

The Best of the Best of television shows airing on local networks for 2017 in no particular order are:

Riverdale

Supernatural

The 100

The Mick

Prison Break Revival

The CW network had some real contenders for 2017 and proved that they are not just a network holding on to a few fan favorites to survive.  It is no secret that Supernatural has been the longest running show on their network, but I was pleased to see so much content in the episodes airing in 2017.  Sam and Dean continued to keep fans hooked with their charm and humor while dealing with the British Men of Letters and understanding why their mother is back from the dead.  The boys encountered new enemies and dealt with their own inner demons along the way, reminding us that they can be just as vulnerable as we are deep down.  The 100 proved to have another addicting season, which has been the perfect mid-season show in my opinion.  Clark and the others left us with a cliff-hanger, where they end up going back into space because the world is no longer habitable.  Will they survive?  Seems likely since we should have another season premiering soon, but all bets are off.  The most pleasant introduction for me on the CW was Riverdale, based on the Archie comic series.  While the series has just the right amount of bubble gum pop providing fans with a nostalgic feel from the comic series, it takes on a life of its own.  Riverdale gives fans the perfect blend of romance and mystery, providing more depth for some of our beloved characters.  Fox also had some great shows airing in 2017, including The Mick and Prison Break Revival.  Kaitlin Olson proved that she can be a starring lady for sure, stepping out from the shadow of her stars on It’s Always Sunny to provide fans with a raw and edgy new comedy balanced with some family values in-between.  Since I am a big fan of Prison Break, I was excited to see the revival air this year, providing fans with a solution to the ending that left so many of us wondering what went wrong.  Michael and Lincoln were back with a new prison to escape from, bringing some new and old friends along for the ride.  The series still had that same amount of edge-of-your-seat action that hooked us initially, allowing us to root for the brothers once again.

Honorable mentions for television shows airing on local networks for 2017 in no particular order:

Grimm

Hawaii Five-0

Once Upon a Time

Modern Family

Grimm aired its last season in 2017 which was actually entertaining and brought everything full circle for fans.  While the series had lost some of its edge from earlier seasons, this last one proved that it would not go out without a fight.  While one fairy-tale show came to an end, Once Upon a Time started fresh introducing some new characters and story-lines along the way.  While some of our favorite characters are no longer around, it made sense to give the show a fresh chance.  Some of the newcomers have actually been quite entertaining, working nicely with fan-favorites, Regina and Hook.  Will they be able to keep the momentum going?  Time will tell.  Hawaii Five-0 and Modern Family are shows that I consistently watch that gave us just the right amount of consistent entertainment to satisfy fans.  While both shows have been on the air for a while now, they are still giving viewers what they are looking for, but may need to refresh every once in a while.

Television shows airing on local networks for 2017 that are running out of steam in no particular order are:

Arrow

Elementary

Lethal Weapon

I have watched all of the episodes from the three shows above and was somewhat disappointed overall in the seasons from 2017.  While Lethal Weapon started out promising, it has not had the same punch it initially gave us when it premiered.  Perhaps the show has run its course, but I am confident it still has a spark left to give us the action and laughs we enjoyed originally.  Elementary had very low ratings in 2017 and fans are still waiting for a new season.  While it looks like this may happen, it will have to be something so over-the-top and different to bring fans back.  Arrow has been slipping with each new year which is very disappointing for me.  While the CW has had some great success with its super-hero shows, Arrow keeps slipping and forcing story-lines.  I am still rooting for Oliver Queen, but perhaps we need to shake things up and keep a character that has been killed off actually dead.   I will keep watching, but Arrow is losing steam for sure.  Let’s make it a great 2018 for shows everywhere and hope these shows ignite a spark that will keep viewers coming back for more and more.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 TV Mean Girls of all time: “Stop trying to make Fetch happen!”

“On Wednesdays we wear Pink!” (Mean Girls) Well it is Wednesday, but I am sorry to say I am not wearing anything pink.  Due to the lack of new shows airing because of the holiday season, I thought it would be a good time to start diving deeper into the roles of some of my favorite characters on television.  While the good girl typically saves the day or solves the mystery in the nick of time, it got me thinking about the mean girls who sometimes end up in the background, no matter how much they try to hog the spotlight.

While the Mean Girls film is one of my absolute favorites, I started to think about some characters from television shows who could have easily been invited to sit at their table.  While these female characters put their best effort forward to look amazing and act fierce, they each have a likable quality as well, which goes to show that there is a lot more to them than initially meets the eye.  My top 5 TV Mean Girls of all time are:

5

Alison DiLaurentis from Pretty Little Liars.

“Friends share secrets.  That’s what keeps us close.” (Alison from Pretty Little Liars)

If you haven’t gotten a chance to binge-watch Pretty Little Liars yet, I absolutely recommend it.  Just when you think you have it figured out, there is a new twist or turn.  Please note spoilers are ahead as a warning.  In the beginning of the series, four friends are trying to figure out the mystery behind Alison’s disappearance and presumed death.  There are flashbacks from the past along the way which showcase how mean Alison was to those around her.

Alison had the gift of manipulation and spoke to others in such a condescending manner, that even adults feared her.  At this point in the show, it didn’t seem like Alison had any redeeming qualities.  She made Hanna feel bad about her weight and led Emily on, realizing that she was a lesbian without a care in the world.  She also strategically used the secrets of her friends against them and played them to her advantage.  However, later we learn that Alison is actually alive and the mysterious A is out to punish her along with her friends.

While Alison never really leaves her mean girl card behind, she does start to show signs of truly caring for others, especially Emily, as she does have romantic feelings for her.  When the series goes five years into the future, Alison is actually a school teacher and tries to pay it forward, but still refuses to allow anyone to step on her or get in her way.

4

Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl.

“Ladies you can give your tiny brains a rest.  Once again the world has proven that anything you can do, I can do better.” (Blair from Gossip Girl)

Blair is the image of perfection in Gossip Girl.  Her ensembles and make-up are always flawless and she even has minions who follow her around and follow her every demand, as if they were truly serving a queen.  Blair even refers to herself as the “Queen Bee” and her loyal subjects at her prep high-school in New York City don’t really challenge her on this.  Blair is infamous for her schemes and frequently feuds with her best friend, Serena.

While Blair is not afraid to fight dirty, she refuses to shatter her image of perfection in the process.  She is typically the master-mind behind the scheme and has others do her bidding, refusing to apologize for her actions.  While it seems that this mean girl is cold and heartless, Blair does have a loving side.  Her on and off again romance with Chuck Bass reveals her vulnerability, as she finds herself thinking with her heart before her head here, exposing that she does have goodness within.  Nevertheless, you certainly do not want to ever cross Blair because she will do whatever it takes to win.

3

Cheryl Blossom from Riverdale.

“You catatonic bimbos didn’t vote for me!” (Cheryl from Riverdale)

Cheryl has the mean girl act down pat for sure.  She doesn’t enter a room unless she has her perfect shade of dark crimson lip-stick flawless in order to match her hair.  Much like her hair, Cheryl is fiery and passionate.  She is not afraid to speak her mind and often says insensitive things without realizing it.  Cheryl is the head of the cheer-leading squad and treats the other girls like her subjects, completely appalled when she is voted out and Veronica becomes captain.

Cheryl is not just talk however; as her actions have proven to be very dangerous.  She even sets her house on fire with her mother still inside without thinking twice about it.  Cheryl does reveal glimmers of goodness along the way.  She was truly impacted by the loss of her twin brother, Jason and she does try to help Betty and the gang here and there to prove that she can be useful.  However, Cheryl is damaged by the deceit and betrayal of her family and it’s not so easy to turn off the mean girl vibe.  While I have hope for Cheryl, she is still a girl to watch out for.

2

Valerie Malone from Beverly Hills, 90210.

“I’m not Brenda.  I’m never going to be Brenda.  Don’t talk to me about Brenda!” (Val to Dylan in Beverly Hills, 90210)

Valerie Malone still deserves a spot toward the top of this list even after all this time.  Known for being a scheming femme fatale, she fools everyone when she arrives to town, appearing to be a sweet and innocent girl from the mid-west.  However, the characters from our favorite zip code are in for a rude awakening, as Val unleashes her street smarts and uses her powers of persuasion and manipulation to break apart this happy group of friends.

Val has romantic relationships with pretty much all of the main characters including Dylan, Brandon, David, and Steve.  As a result, she burns bridges fairly quickly with Kelly who becomes her main rival.  Val’s snappy one-liners and sneaky maneuvers prove that she is one to watch.  She has grown past the high school drama, however; and moves on to blackmailing and dangerous negotiations to help her become a successful business woman.  Talk about making a deal with the devil, Val doesn’t allow anyone to double-cross her.

Val is not all bad, however; as she has a very troubled past and does truly care for Brandon as if he were her own family.  Val tries to be a good person, but when the task becomes too difficult, she finds it easier to hide behind her bad girl image.

1

Cordelia Chase from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

“God! What is your childhood trauma? Excuse me, I have to call everyone I have ever met, right now.” (Cordelia to Buffy when she attacks her by accident)

So my number one pick for best TV mean girl has to go to the beautiful and hilarious, Cordelia Chase.  While Buffy and Willow tend to have most of the fan-base and get a lot of air time, one should not discount Cordelia.  She started out in a supporting role, playing the mean girl role to a tee, as if it was her calling in life to be unpleasant to those around her.  However, later in the series, Cordelia becomes a member of the Scoobies and does try to lend a helping hand…when it’s convenient for her.

One of my favorite episodes is when her and Buffy compete for Homecoming queen.  Cordelia is not about to just hand over the crown to Buffy and goes through great lengths to defeat her.  The two end up caught in a trap cleverly called “Slayerfest 98” where the vampires mistake Cordelia for Faith.  Nonetheless, the two have to make amends and put differences aside to stay alive, even if it means using a spatula as a weapon.

Cordelia does eventually grow into a caring person especially when she joins Angel in LA, but one cannot forget her witty come-backs and her unforgiving attitude.  She even tells a ghost off in Angel, proving that she is not going to let anyone step on her, supernatural or not.  Cordelia would probably end up leading the “Plastics” if she were in the Mean Girls film, proving to be a timeless mean girl that we still root for.

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post your thoughts and comments below on some of your favorite TV mean girls.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” season 2 episode 9 mid-season finale: Is the Black Hood truly revealed?

Happy Thursday TV fans!  After watching the CW’s Riverdale season 2 episode 9 last night, I am left wondering if the mystery of the Black Hood’s identity has actually been solved?  While it all adds up and makes sense, there was something almost anticlimactic about the reveal.  The end of the episode suggests that Betty’s not entirely sure it’s all over either.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, Betty and Archie once again take matters into their own hands to track down Mr. Svenson and deal with the Black Hood’s threats.  Meanwhile, Veronica makes a bold decision and Cheryl refuses to give up on the fancy Christmas tradition she has become accustomed to.  The group participates in secret Santa and more than just gifts are exchanged, as unresolved feelings re-surface.  My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 2 episode 9 are:

5

The group participates in Secret Santa.

Even though there is a killer running loose, that doesn’t stop our Riverdale favorites from participating in some Christmas traditions.  However, gift giving becomes slightly complicated when recent exes are involved.  For example, Veronica receives a “couple’s massage” gift certificate and Betty obtains the “Swiss Family Robinson” album that she and Archie used to sing to as children.  Later, Veronica and Betty present their gifts to their exes, revealing how much they still care.  As if this couldn’t get any more confusing, the Black Hood decides to get in on the Secret Santa action and leaves Betty a gift-wrapped finger.  I guess it’s the thought that counts.

4

No Serpent stands alone.

What is the first law?  “No Serpent stands alone!” Jughead refuses to let his father deal with the consequences of his actions and enlists the help of his fellow Serpents to go after Penny and drive her out of Riverdale.  This might backfire, however; as Penny doesn’t seem like the type to give up so easily.  Jughead means business when he takes out a knife to get his pound of flesh…literally.  While it’s nice to see Jughead boost morale and try and help out his father, it seems like he keeps involving himself deeper and deeper, jeopardizing his own future in the process.  Time will tell if Penny attempts to take revenge on him but all signs point to yes.

3

Cheryl saves Christmas.

When Cheryl’s mother explains they will need to cut back around the holidays because they are broke, Cheryl refuses to accept this.  She marches off to purchase the grandest Christmas tree and decorates her house with glitz and glamour galore.  She demands that her mother figure out a way to make ends meet, refusing to apologize for her actions.  Nana Rose comically adds in to Cheryl’s mother that “she should have drowned them at birth like a basket of kittens.”  Later in the episode, Cheryl walks in on her mother kissing a stranger with a Santa hat.  Is this a new boyfriend or has her mother lowered herself to a new profession?

2

Veronica is no longer Daddy’s little girl.

Veronica desperately wants to help Archie and Fred.  When she learns that Fred is facing a medical bill of 86,000 dollars she asks her family for help but is turned down.  Much like Cheryl, Veronica refuses to back down.  She breaks into her father’s office and finds out that he owns Pop’s diner.  As if her actions weren’t bad enough, she then uses her mother’s black amex card to pay off Fred’s bill.  When her parents later confront her about this, she proves that she is ready to grow up quickly and learn all there is to know about the Lodge family business.  Veronica has some ground rules which include keeping the charge to help Fred and staying away from doing anything illegal.  Veronica liked the way it felt to sit in her father’s chair and is ready to play boss.  But can she handle it?

1

The Black Hood is revealed.

Betty and Archie are not giving up until they discover the truth and they do just that in this mid-season finale.  When Mr. Svenson hasn’t shown up to work, Betty and Archie head over to his house, but all they find is a lonely bowl of soup left on the front porch.  They visit the Sisters of Quiet Mercy to find out more about Mr. Svenson’s involvement and learn what his sin is.  After his family was brutally murdered, he took a group of people to punish the culprit, only to kill an innocent man by mistake.  Betty and Archie discover that Nana Rose Blossom was around for this and that Betty’s grandfather was involved as well.  They are horrified to learn that the innocent man was buried alive, bringing them that much closer to discovering the sin that the Black Hood wants them to.  Before they go any further, Archie confesses “I need you with me” to Betty and they share a kiss.  This seems like a fleeting moment in the midst of all of this chaos and danger, but what if it’s not?  Cheryl has witnessed the kiss and later Veronica tells Archie that she does love him as a mysterious photographer captures their embrace on camera, which has fans wondering when this will all unravel.  Will Betty and Veronica’s friendship be able to survive this? Who will Archie ultimately choose?

Archie and Betty’s feelings are forced to be put on hold, however; when they dig up the coffin in Pickens Park.  They find that it’s empty, but the Black Hood shows up and forces Archie inside.  Betty turns the tables on him and Archie makes a bold decision to shoot him, killing him instantly.  Sheriff Keller shows up just in the nick of time which seems suspicious, but Betty and Archie are happy to have some back-up.  Mr. Svenson is revealed as the Black Hood, down one finger and his life.  It seems like the mystery has been solved, but the gang is later sitting in the diner trying to find the words to uncover the why to no avail.  At the end of the episode, Betty is unable to burn her black hood, which shows that her own darkness is still lurking inside her and that this isn’t over just yet.  Is Mr. Svenson the only Black Hood killer or was this a set up?  We will have to wait for new episodes to find out, but I’m not closing the book on the Black Hood mystery just yet.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Riverdale below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl