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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 8 episode 10: Fiona buys a chair

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 8 episode 10 last night, I am left contemplating the Golden Rule, which says that you should “treat others the way you want to be treated.” In other words, you need to be nice to others and do the right thing if you want the same in return. However, what happens when you live by the Golden Rule and even go out of your way to do the right thing…only to get stomped on in return and sued for six million dollars? Poor Fiona. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “Church of Gay Jesus,” Fiona is enjoying living on her own and attempts to pay it forward to a family in need. Kev and V decide to coach Svetlana on how to find a rich husband, Debbie takes a night-time welding job which sounds “sketchy,” and Lip tries to deal with his grief. Meanwhile, Ian embraces his new calling with open arms while Frank and Liam attempt to turn it into a new business scheme. My top 5 moments from Shameless season 8 episode 10 are:

Lip attempts to deal with his grief.

When Lip decides to go check in on Professor Youens in jail, he is in for a horrible shock when he learns that he died that past week. All of Lip’s emotions that had been bottled up for so long come rushing to the surface as he desperately tries to deal with his grief. When Lip goes to Professor Youens’s home, he runs into his daughter there who tells him she’s got it handled. Part of Lip’s diversion from drinking has involved his constant distractions to help those around him. He returns home and tries to come up with the words to a truly representative eulogy and even crosses out the word “professor” and replaces it with “friend.” As Lip listens to tons of students get up and tell similar stories about how Professor Youens was like a father to them or believed in them when no one else would, Lip crumples up the eulogy and walks out. He releases all of his anger and takes it out on the motorcycle he has been working so hard on, unable to control the swirl of emotions rushing around inside him. Later in the episode, Professor Youens’s daughter gives him an unfinished recommendation letter she found about Lip, revealing that he was “amazed by his mind.” She offers to give the letter to Lip, thinking it may provide him with some sense of comfort, but Lip is still too angry to take it. It seems like nothing is going right for Lip these days, but he still holds on to his sobriety in the face of everything he has had to deal with, becoming someone truly worthy of that recommendation letter.

“Hot Gay Jesus.”

Ian’s growing popularity has the Gallagher family stunned, as more and more followers come to the house just to hear Ian speak. Fiona refers to it as a cult, but Cassidy reveals that he is more like a “Hot Gay Jesus,” sparking a business scheme in Frank’s unemployed head. Frank and Liam begin selling tee-shirts to make a profit off of the “prophet” otherwise known as Ian. Ian is unsure what to make of so many people coming out to hear him speak. At the end of the episode, Fiona accompanies him to the church where seas of people are anxiously waiting for him. Ian embraces his destiny and speaks out, realizing that he is making a difference.

Cassidy and Carl get married.

After Carl’s promise ring was misinterpreted as an engagement ring, his girlfriend, Cassidy, enthusiastically accepts. She provides the Gallagher family with engagement presents and explains that she will be “the best effin wife,” cooking Carl dinner every night with an interesting dessert menu. While it seems harmless at first, Cassidy then shows off her present for Carl, which is a vile of her own blood for him to carry around. Channeling her inner Angelina Jolie, Cassidy insists that they carry each other’s blood around to be closer to one another. When their wedding is delayed by a day, Carl begins to have second thoughts and his family members warn him that Cassidy is kind of “psycho.” He reveals his doubts to her, hoping that their love can be enough for now. However, Cassidy takes this to the extreme, refusing to not get what she wants. Carl walks in to his love, Cassidy, hanging on a noose and rushes to her side. While she explains it was more of a test for Carl, she reveals that all she wants is to get married. Carl agrees and the two tie a very different kind of knot…fake ids and all. Will Carl be able to have the first successful marriage of the Gallagher family? Time will tell.

Kev and V try to coach Svetlana on how to secure a rich husband.

After setting up an online profile for Svetlana, Kev and V are horrified by her actions on her first date, which involve an outfit mostly covered in fish-net and ending in a punch in the face. Kev and V try to “coach” Svetlana on “etiquette” and how to behave on a date, suggesting smiling as an easy first step. “What is the point of smiling?” Svetlana asks, not falling for the bait. Kev and V realize that their best hope of finding Svetlana a rich husband is to have her wear a microphone and earpiece so Kev can talk her through what to say. Svetlana seems reluctant at first, but Kev reminds her that “this is spy shit. It’s in your DNA!” After the code words fail and Kev realizes he forgot to test the microphone, he is still confident that his words of wisdom will help Svetlana. However, Svetlana takes off her ear piece and goes back to what she knows best…grabbing the man’s “goods” and seeing where this will take them.

Fiona buys a chair…and then gets sued.

Fiona is finally living on her own and even purchases a chair, revealing to Irish Ford that this is the first time she bought something she didn’t actually need. When she notices the injured roofer and his wife and kids living out of a car, she wants to help them. She secures a spot for them in a family shelter, but there is a two-day waiting period. Fiona generously agrees to let the family stay in her apartment, while they wait, showing a lot of compassion and goodness. Irish Ford and her grow closer and take their relationship to the next level, as he reveals that he has asked around about her and knows that she is a good person. When Fiona returns to her apartment, she finds more family members squandering there and a stain on her brand new chair. Fiona is starting to have second thoughts about her decision but takes a deep breath and reminds herself that they will be in the shelter soon. At the end of the episode, Fiona is served and she discovers that the injured roofer is now suing her for six million dollars. Fiona is beyond angry and realizes that doing the right thing doesn’t always guarantee that those you are helping will have the same good intentions. It’s clear this man messed with the wrong Gallagher, but we will have to wait and see what Fiona does next.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Throw-back Sunday: Ranking the top 5 couples from “Beverly Hills, 90210”

Happy Sunday TV fans! This past summer, I invested quite a bit of time into re-watching all 10 seasons of the original Beverly Hills, 90210 series and I have to say it was very entertaining. I forgot how many episodes there were in some seasons especially when they had those special summer airings. I dusted off my old DVD set and watched Brandon and Brenda Walsh tough it out in Beverly Hills, California, leaving their wholesome and normal lives back in Minnesota.

It’s been at least 6 years since I have watched the series, as I used to binge-watch a lot on Soapnet, but everything came flooding back to me from the instrumental theme song to the over-the-top drama between Brenda and Kelly. Talk about paving the way for love triangles to come in later series!

After getting over the initial shock of how young everyone looked and watching them grow up all over again with drama never far behind, I started to think about some of my favorite couples on the series. There are quite a few who had an undeniable connection even though some of them did not even last for the entirety of the series. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. My top five ships from Beverly Hills, 90210 are:

Dylan & Kelly.

During the first watch of the series, I was shocked by the scandalous actions of Dylan and Kelly. Brenda went off to study abroad with Donna in Paris, leaving her best friend and her boyfriend behind for the summer. It seemed like nothing could break the bond between fan-favorites, Dylan and Brenda, but Kelly managed to come between the couple. I shouldn’t blame Kelly entirely, as Dylan was absolutely at fault here too. While the couple shares its ups and downs over time, some of their first moments together in the swimming pool and at the beach bonfire are beyond passionate. However, they lacked the friendship that Brenda and Dylan shared in my opinion.

Either way, their secret relationship caused a major rift between both the relationship of Brenda and Dylan and the friendship between Kelly and Brenda. When they finally come clean and tell Brenda the truth, her reaction is so real and heart-breaking. She trusted her two friends and is shocked at their betrayal.

Over the years, Kelly and Dylan have on and off again relations and never really end up together. However, at the end of the series they are seen gazing at each other during David and Donna’s wedding to imply that their relationship is not over. In the remake of 90210, Kelly reveals that Dylan is the father of her child, but is still not with him in this future. Guess it wasn’t meant to be after all.

Brandon & Kelly.

Yes, Kelly does earn two spots in this ranking and it’s because there is such an undeniable love between Brandon and Kelly. After my re-watch, I much preferred Brandon and Kelly together; as they seemed to balance each other out more and had more of that friendship I was looking for between Kelly and Dylan.

Kelly is familiar with betrayal and now turns the tables on Dylan to reveal her relationship with his best friend, Brandon. While the betrayal does not have the same feeling of twisting the knife like with Brenda, it does hurt Dylan to see them together. That being said, Dylan’s life is falling apart during this time and Kelly felt like she was drowning with him, descending further and further into his mess.

Brandon is very stable and charming, running for class office when they first meet. It seems like Brandon will be the man to turn Kelly’s life around. However, this couple deals with more drama and chaos than any other. It is almost impossible for them to survive a fire, a cult, a drug addiction, a shooting, and a failed attempt to get married. When you say that all out loud it seems very unlikely, but I promise this all happened to Kelly. While it doesn’t seem to be in the cards for Brandon and Kelly either, you can’t deny the love between these two characters.

Steve & Janet.

After Steve’s long-term relationship with ended with fan-favorite, Clare, viewers were wondering if he would ever find another love to provide him with the voice of reason he so desperately needed. Steve was always the “class clown” and stayed away from responsibility as if it were the plague. When he started working with Janet, he didn’t initially realize his feelings for her. They started a friendship first and eventually began dating.

Janet was perfect for Steve, almost becoming his moral compass, similar to Brandon. When Janet announced she was pregnant, Steve’s entire life changed for the better. He embraced his responsibility and married Janet to the delight of fans everywhere. This couple probably had the closest thing to a “normal relationship” on the show and continued to prove their love for one another as the series went on.

David & Donna.

This list would not be complete without including David Silver and Donna Martin. The couple began dating in high school and had a sweet and innocent quality. One of my favorite scenes is when Donna stops worrying about what others think and announces to her friends at the dance that she is dating David with confidence and love.

Over the years, this couple goes through a lot of ups and downs. Donna feels very strongly about staying a virgin to the disappointment of David. Although he tries to support her as much as possible, an affair takes place that breaks them up for a long period of time.

Even when David and Donna are not together, they keep their friendship alive. When Donna is attacked, David is the one who comes to her rescue and saves her. Toward the end of the series, Donna and David finally accept their destiny to be together and get married at the end of the show. Fans were delighted to see the happy ending between David and Donna. The high-school sweethearts have not had it easy at all, but they reunite and promise to love one another forever.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one ship are:

David & Valerie
Steve & Clare
Brandon & Emily Valentine
Noah & Donna
Dylan & Toni

Dylan & Brenda.

My number one ship has to go to Dylan and Brenda. At the beginning of the series, their blossoming relationship is beautiful and real. Brenda realizes that Dylan has a lot of baggage and a complicated life, but she doesn’t run away from it. Rather, she runs toward him with open arms, revealing her strong feelings for him. Even though they are in high school, Dylan and Brenda have a strong relationship filled with a lot of laughter and romance.

As they begin to get closer and closer, Brenda’s father attempts to intervene, fearing that his daughter is making bad decisions. While this does take a toll on Dylan and Brenda’s relationship, they continue to tough it out together. R.E.M’s song, “Losing My Religion,” is basically the anthem of Dylan and Brenda’s break-up and attempt to put the pieces back together.

After Kelly and Dylan have an affair, it seems like Brenda and Dylan will not end up together. However, once Brenda leaves the show, the writers add in that Dylan and Brenda are living together in Europe, trying to give fans the happy ending they so desperately wanted between these two.

There was something so believable and undeniable between this ship, still holding the test of time. Even when both characters were off the show, fans were still talking about them and rooting for them.

I hope you enjoyed my list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments about the ships on Beverly Hills, 90210. Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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Ranking the top 5 TV witches: “The power of 3 will set us free!”

Happy Friday TV viewers! When you think of witches, what comes to mind? Society has embraced the idea of the witch as an old hag with a wart, hooked nose, and pointy hat flying off on her broomstick, cackling across the night sky. But to be honest, witches have so much more depth and character than this common stereotype. Sure it may be fun to embrace the costume for Halloween, but what’s so great about witches is that they are a source of female empowerment.

They may possess magical abilities and can whip up a spell in the blink of an eye…or the wiggle of a nose, but what makes these women so intriguing is their humanity. Some of my favorite witches on television desperately attempt to balance a “normal human life” with their calling and magical duties. They want something more out of life and sometimes feel stifled by their magical responsibilities, feeling that it gets in the way of having true and meaningful relationships.

While they sometimes reveal their secrets to mortals, it is clear that being a witch is very complicated and not all it’s cracked up to be. However, they sure do have some very cool magical powers that could come in handy now and again. Please note some spoilers are ahead.

My top 5 TV witches are:

Bonnie Bennett from The Vampire Diaries.

When you combine being a witch with being a teenage girl, things get beyond complicated. Bonnie and her best friend, Elena, live in Mystic Falls where it seems like supernatural beings are creeping up behind every corner. While the show focuses primarily on vampires, Bonnie’s witchcraft is a key component and an influential force. When Bonnie discovers her powers as a witch and realizes that she comes from a very powerful line of witches in history, she has to confide her secret to her best friend.

One of my favorite scenes occurs when Bonnie and Elena are sitting on the bed and Bonnie closes her eyes and makes the pillow feathers float all around them. Her powers are beautiful and mysterious, but as the series goes on, she becomes more and more powerful. While she sometimes drains on magic and needs strength from those around her, Bonnie is the essence of good magic and is a great asset to Elena and the Salvatore vampires.

Zelena aka The Wicked Witch of the West from Once Upon a Time.

There is clearly a lot of unlocked magic in the quiet town of Storybrooke, ranging from evil queens to saviors. However, when something wicked comes their way, Zelena proves to be the witch you don’t want to mess with. She embraces the green skin and looks absolutely fabulous. We later learn that Zelena is Regina’s half-sister, which explains their connection and Zelena’s constant quest for revenge against her. While Zelena does transform into a powerful ally later on, her snappy one-liners and her refusal to let others get in her way make her stand out in a crowd of fairy-tale villains and heroes, absolutely stealing the show.

Fans everywhere root for Zelena and desperately want her to get her own version of a happy ending. In the most recent season, Regina goes off to find Zelena in San Francisco, when a new memory curse has been cast on our favorite characters. In Zelena’s new life, she is actually a cycling instructor and even tells her class to “fly like monkeys,” keeping her humor and character alive.

Willow Rosenberg from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

While the show focuses primarily on Buffy and her strength and powers as a vampire slayer, Willow gives up on a being a quiet nerd in the background and tries out witchcraft to help her best friend fight evil. In the beginning, her powers seem harmless and involve floating pencils, which does come in handy when she actually uses it to stake a vampire. As the series goes on, Willow becomes more and more powerful and has an unquenchable need to consume magic.

This dangerous consequence leads to her tapping into dark magic. Willow even gives up using her witchcraft, recognizing that the addiction is hurting those around her. When her love, Tara dies in her arms, there is no stopping her, however. The dark magic pours into her, making her one of the most powerful and dangerous villains Buffy and the Scoobies have ever faced. Luckily, Xander is able to bring her back to goodness, refusing to lose his best friend to evil.

Samantha Stephens from Bewitched.

This list would not be complete without including one of the most famous television witches who paved the way for the rest to come. I grew up watching re-runs of the show in black and white and was mesmerized by Samantha’s powers. With the wiggle of her nose, she used her magic to even the score, proving to be very powerful. Samantha had trouble balancing her life as a loving housewife with being a powerful witch, introducing the very concept of a witch looking for something more meaningful in life beyond magic. While she loved her husband dearly, she didn’t want to just be labeled as a housewife, still holding on to her identity as a witch. Samantha was absolutely a source of female empowerment, refusing to merely comply in a man’s world.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one pick for TV witches are:

Sabrina Spellman from “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”
Davina Claire from “The Originals”
Melisandre from “Game of Thrones”
Endora from “Bewitched”
Rowena from “Supernatural”
The Coven from “American Horror Story”
The Beauchamp family from “Witches of East End”

The Halliwell sisters from Charmed.

So my number one pick has to go to the Halliwell sisters. Prue, Piper, Phoebe, and Paige all possess amazing magical abilities and have a sisterly bond that cannot be broken by any evil that comes their way. Charmed is one of my favorite series of all time and each sister possesses their own strength, but as the “power of 3,” they are unstoppable. My favorite power belonged to Piper who could literally freeze time by putting her hands up. What makes the Halliwell sisters so great is that they didn’t always know they had powers. When their grandmother dies and they move back into their child-hood home, they release the power behind the “Book of Shadows,” reconstituting the power of 3. At

this point in their lives, they are already dealing with finding love, finding a career, and dealing with the daily pros and cons of being a sister. They are known as the most powerful witches of all time and many demons and evil beings try to defeat them. When Prue is tragically killed off at the end of season 3, Paige Matthews steps in as their long-lost half-sister and has just as much power as the rest of them. The sisterly bond continues and they deal with some really tough decisions. On more than one occasion, the sisters have the opportunity to relinquish their powers and lead normal lives, but the Halliwell sisters embrace their destiny and understand that protecting the innocent isn’t just a job…it’s who they are.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Mick” season 2 episode 11: “The Trip.”

Happy Wednesday! After watching Fox’s The Mick season 2 episode 11 last night, I am a little hesitant to ever borrow someone’s denim jacket again without truly understanding the consequences behind what lies in the pockets. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “The Trip,” Sabrina is feeling anxious and unsure about going to her Yale college interview and decides to take a “trip” to get there. This plan backfires, however; when she finds herself trapped in a closet and calls Mickey to help get her out of there. Meanwhile, Alba’s cousin visits her and she attempts to prove that she is still a maid living the American Dream and working hard in a “beautiful prison,” which causes her to enlist the unlikely help of Chip in the process. My top 5 moments from The Mick season 2 episode 11 are:

Mickey explains the importance of going to college.

In the beginning of the episode, Sabrina explains that she is thinking about ditching her Yale interview, claiming that she is a legacy and the interview is really just a formality. Mickey stresses the importance of going to the interview, as if she is invested in Sabrina’s future. She then reveals her true agenda, however; admitting that shipping Sabrina off to college is the first step in her elaborate plan to get the house all to herself. She allows Sabrina to borrow her denim jacket, hoping she will make the right decision, not realizing the consequences of this seemingly harmless gesture.

Alba pretends to be a maid again.

Ever since Mickey has moved in, Alba has pushed her duties as a maid aside, enjoying a life of leisure and relaxation. This is all about to change, however; when she gets a call that her cousin from Guatemala is planning on visiting her. Alba dusts off her maid’s uniform and attempts to prove to her cousin that she works very hard and that the American dream is not all it seems to be, desperately hoping that he won’t stay long enough to realize that this is all a lie. Alba explains that coming to America and not working is shameful and she doesn’t want her family to disown her as a result of her new lifestyle.

Sabrina takes the acid she finds in Mickey’s denim jacket.

Sabrina goes on an unexpected “trip” after she takes the acid she finds in Mickey’s old denim jacket. As a first-time user, she is having a hard time deciphering reality and locks herself in a closet in fear. She calls Mickey in a panic, as her anxiety and self-doubt have now come screaming to the surface. When Mickey tries to convince her to leave the closet and go out the door, Sabrina is horrified by this and says she would be going “through another door and another door without purpose,” unable to snap back into reality. Luckily for Sabrina, Mickey is not about to abandon her in this state.

Alba enlists the help of Chip…and then turns the tables on him.

After Alba realizes that her cousin may see through the lie and learn that she is not a maid anymore, she comes up with a plan to have Chip give him a temporary job there and treat him poorly so he will not want to stay. Alba forgets that her cousin’s work ethic is tremendous, however; accepting each new chore with eagerness. Chip even begins pouring his cereal and milk all over the counter, counting down until Alba can find a bowl in time and her cousin jumps in to make the best of the situation to the surprise of Chip. After Chip continues to go on and on about his gym story where he had to sit out because he bullied other kids, Alba sees the flaw in his story and turns the tables on him. She calls the school, goes through his room, and finds out about the “incident in the boy’s locker room,” threatening to expose Chip’s secret that he puts a “wig on his penis.” Chip backs down and fires Alba’s cousin in defeat, realizing that Alba is the one with all of the power after all.

Mickey takes acid with Sabrina to help break her out of the closet.

Once Mickey realizes that getting Sabrina out of the closet is harder than she initially anticipated, she decides that the best solution is to take acid with her so that they are both in the same state of mind. They share an interesting escape through the empty school hallway, which erupts into chaos and confusion when the bell rings for next period, separating Mickey and Sabrina. Mickey begins hearing voices and learns about the power of the school’s announcement system, coming up with a plan to leave a message for Sabrina so that they can meet up and find each other once again. Just when they are about to escape, Sabrina decides to go to her Yale interview after all. She finally comes to terms with the scary realization that she doesn’t know who she is yet but it’s the journey that is most important, now eager to take on her next adventure. While she seems to impress the admissions representative from Yale, she does confuse him with her constant need to touch his sweater after each response. Either way, Mickey has done her job as the “shepherd of self-revelation” and supports Sabrina through her uncertainty about the next chapter of her life. While Mickey’s methods are unconventional, her heart is in the right place and she ultimately helps Sabrina.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 8 episode 9: “Yes Team Fiona!”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 8 episode 9 last night, I am left with the saying that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” and that past mistakes should not be repeated. The Gallagher family quickly forgets this advice, however; when they come to the realization that they are not so great at keeping relationships and are determined to make a change. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “The Fugees,” Fiona goes out with literally a bowling team of Irish Ford’s exes, Ian uses his YouTube fame to make a difference in the church and save a life, and Debbie enlists the help of a dog named, Toto. Not the Toto you are thinking of. Although I suppose she does find her own version of the yellow brick road paved with drugs to help her pay her welding tuition bill. Meanwhile, Lip is unable to put his past feelings aside for Sierra and gets stuck in the middle of a disaster of a love triangle, while Svetlana has a blast from her past as well. My top 5 moments from Shameless season 8 episode 9 are:

Frank makes it back to the USA.

It seems like everything is going well with Frank’s new business venture to illegally transport people across the Canadian border until he gets cornered by the “Royal Canadian Mountain Police.” While he is riding in the police car, he even jokes that they actually do wear those hats and that he “thought that was only in cartoons,” to the disapproval of the police. Luckily, Frank is able to escape his dilemma and goes on an adventure of his own to make it back safe and sound to the states. He knows he has arrived home safely when he spots a Costco, thrilled to embrace discount detergent with open arms.

Kev comes to the realization that “dominance is in his DNA” while Svetlana gets an unexpected visitor.

Kev or “Sir Kev,” or wait just “Sir,” as he wants to be called is still holding on to his new-found power of dominance, refusing to back down from it now. He explains to V that it was previously in “hibernation like a baby bear,” but now there is “no more Mr. Nice Guy.” V decides that his dominance could best be used to convince Svetlana to wear a new dress code, which he enforces to her enjoyment. “Dominance…boom.” Even though Svetlana is covering up her “tatas,” she still rocks some seriously fashionable glasses. Svetlana gets an unexpected visit from a woman she had helped smuggle into the country, which she previously referred to as a “bottom feeder,” only to get a slap of reality, realizing that the “bottom feeder” now has the American Dream she so desperately wanted. Svetlana is horrified at her own circumstances, wondering if she made the right choices for herself. Something tells me that Svetlana is not about to let anyone step on her, however.

Debbie befriends a dog named, Toto.

To make some extra cash for Welding school tuition, Debbie takes on a job watching someone’s dog. The adorable dog, Toto, has a unique set of skills that Debbie was not expecting, however. At first, Debbie thinks the dog has a problem with everyone when he continues to bark randomly, as if alerting her to something. After Debbie witnesses a drug-bust and finds the product, she realizes that Toto must have been a “drug dog” in the past. She quickly enlists his help as her new “drug supplier” to obtain the money she needs to go to school. Perhaps Frank should take some advice from his youngest daughter on how to successfully pull off a business scheme, although it could back-fire as well.

Fiona goes bowling.

After getting some mixed signals from Irish Ford, Fiona is not sure what to expect from him. When he invites her to hang out, she hesitantly accepts, not sure what she is in for. She quickly discovers she is hanging out with a bunch of Ford’s exes at a bowling alley. When they ask her what she typically averages in bowling, she admits “I have no idea.” Things are looking up, when she does a decent job and screams out, “Yes Team Fiona!” No one is really paying attention, but the important thing is that Fiona is actually having a good time. Later in the episode, Fiona feels the familiar reaction of confusion and mixed signals coming her way, revealing to Ford that she is an “amazing effin catch.” Irish Ford appears to agree, kissing her at the end of the episode, putting aside Fiona’s doubts for now. Is this the start of a solid relationship for Fiona?

Carl is getting married…

Carl’s girlfriend, Cassidy, starts out the episode making a video scrapbook for her beloved, not wanting him to abandon her and ship off to military school. Seems like a sweet idea, until she begins adding in some tasteless photos of her and some interesting recordings. Carl seeks out some advice from Kev and the guys on what to do, realizing that he needs to prove his commitment to Cassidy. Unlike most girls, Cassidy has an interesting perspective on love. She thinks of their “boning” as “uniting our souls” and tells Carl that he is “mutilating her effin heart” when she is convinced there will be tons of girls at military school, even though he repeatedly explains there are literally no women at the school. Carl takes the plunge and purchases a promise ring, staging a romantic re-creation of the day they first met…handcuffs and all. The sentiment is actually quite sweet, until Cassidy mistakes it for a marriage proposal and eagerly shrieks “yes!” How is Carl going to get out of this one? Is he actually going to marry Cassidy? We’ll have to stay tuned to find out, but it’s clear the adventure is not over yet.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments on Shameless below. Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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!

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

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

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

“Ab Aeterno.” (Season 6, episode 9)

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

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

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

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

“The Constant.” (Season 4, episode 5)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the Top 5 TV Bad Boys Redeemed by Love: “I’m a Complex Guy, Sweetheart.”

Happy Friday TV viewers! When you think of your favorite male hero on television, what comes to mind? Are you thinking about the selfless actions they make to help those in need? Perhaps, they become so good at playing the “hero” that we forget about the anti-hero who has just as much charm and more intrigue. While the good guy typically saves the day and gets the girl, what about our favorite bad boys who lurk in darkness and mystery? Being a “bad boy,” isn’t enough, however; as the hero will ultimately sweep in to make things right. For today’s topic, I am specifically looking at bad boys from television who are redeemed by love and transform into a more realistic hero we can root for as a result. These “bad boys” are nowhere near perfect and continue to make mistakes along the way, but that’s why they are so entertaining to watch. While a hero may sometimes feel destined for greatness, our favorite bad boys were initially looking out for themselves and possessed their own agenda. This changes drastically, however; when they fall in love with the right person who brings out the best in them and reveals an unlikely hero in the process. Please note some spoilers are ahead. My top 5 TV Bad Boys redeemed by love are:

Cole Turner from Charmed.

“I was dead before I met you. I was born the day you loved me. And my love for you will keep me alive…forever.” (Cole’s letter to Phoebe from Charmed)

When Cole was first introduced on Charmed, he was revealed to be a demon who was half-human, posing as a lawyer. His plan was to get Phoebe to fall for him so that he could worm his way into the Halliwell house to steal their powerful spell-book, “The Book of Shadows.” Seemed like a solid plan, until Cole fell madly in love with Phoebe. Cole had the tall, dark, and handsome role down pat, as he used his charm to get what he desired. What separated him from other “bad boys,” was his vulnerability for Phoebe. Even when he was the source of all evil, his love for her still allowed him to embrace goodness inside him that he thought was long gone. Over the seasons, Cole and Phoebe’s love was epic and messy, ending in heart-break and tragedy. Even though Cole overcame his demonic side on more than one occasion and came back from the dead repeatedly, their love did not ultimately win out to the dismay of fans everywhere. Phoebe even commented that “it wasn’t meant to be,” but the uncertainty in her voices suggested otherwise. While Phoebe ended up finding several new romantic loves later on in the show, none of them compared to her passionate love for Cole.

Killian Jones aka Captain Hook from Once Upon a Time.

“When I win your heart Emma, and I will win it. It won’t be because of any trickery.” (Hook to Emma in OUAT)

When the devilishly handsome Captain Hook sailed into our hearts on OUAT, he initially was out for revenge against the “crocodile,” otherwise known as Mr. Gold/Rumpel. While Hook innocently flirted with Emma from the start, his love for her allowed him to grow as a character and to learn from his wicked past. More importantly, he transformed from a classic fairy-tale villain into one of our favorite anti-heroes. Hook was always used to taking the easy way out and making decisions based on how well it suited him. Emma changed this perspective, however; proving that he could be a selfless man. When Hook realized his strong feelings for Emma, he even backed down and explained that she should be with Neal so that Henry could have his family all together. Hook truly loved Emma at this point, but was willing to sacrifice this so that she could find happiness. Later, when they did end up together, Emma’s power became too great and evil corrupted her heart. The only thing that could bring her back to goodness was Hook’s love for her. Emma and Hook had one of the most beautiful relationships on television, but Hook’s growth into a hero is what made him truly stand out.

Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries.

“I don’t mind being the bad guy. I make all the life and death decisions while you’re busy dealing with collateral damage.” (Damon to Stefan in The Vampire Diaries)

This list would not be complete without Damon Salvatore. He embraced the role of the bad brother, refusing to apologize for what he was and how he acted. Unlike Stefan, Damon was reckless and dangerous. He also possessed a magnetic quality about him that just reeled in the ladies with barely any effort. Damon’s initial mission was to free his love Katherine from a tomb, however; he soon realized that Katherine was not the epic love he thought she was. Damon’s jealousy for Elena and Stefan’s relationship reached new heights at this point, but he quickly realized that his feelings involved more than envy. He grew fond of Elena and fell in love with her, which quickly tamed the vampire beast within. Damon didn’t lose his “bad boy” charm, but put Elena before everything else, truly learning what sacrifice means. While the love triangle between Elena and the Salvatore brothers became complicated, Elena eventually followed her heart straight to Damon, allowing her own darkness to reach the surface as well.

Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

“What can I tell you baby? I’ve always been bad.” (Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

I have to admit it was extremely difficult for me to choose between my top 1 and 2 picks for this category. After all, Spike was the very epitome of the bad boy redeemed by love. Like Damon, Spike was a soulless vampire, only interested in power and his deranged and misguided love for Drusilla. Over the seasons, Spike proved to be a worthy foe of Buffy, constantly coming up with ways to stop her while having a little bit of fun in the process. In season 4, Spike is captured by a military order experimenting on supernatural creatures and a chip is placed in his brain which prevented him from harming anyone. While this brought on quite of bit of laughs, Spike eventually became a sort of honorary member of the Scoobies, trying to bring down evil, but still holding on to his own agenda to destroy the slayer one day. Like the other bad boys on this list, Spike was redeemed by his love for Buffy. What makes this love so special, however; was the fact that Spike still did not have a soul when he fell in love with Buffy. Sure he had the chip in his brain, but his thoughts and desires were the same as they had always been. Spike grew into an anti-hero that we rooted for above others because he learned how to get in touch with his humanity, with having literally no humanity within him. In season 5, he sets off to kill Buffy and finds her crying on the porch after she has learned about her mother’s illness. Spike puts aside his anger and sits on the porch next to her, offering his support without any hidden agenda. He revealed how much he truly cared for Buffy, as his feelings only grew stronger and stronger. Spike eventually came to realize that Buffy may never love him the way he wanted her to, but accepted this, realizing his destiny to be an unlikely hero for good.

James Ford…aka Sawyer from Lost.

“I’m a complex guy, sweetheart.” (Sawyer to Kate in Lost)

So my number one pick for best TV bad boy redeemed by love has to go to the charismatic and hilarious, Sawyer. When the survivors of Flight 815 crash on the island, Sawyer was revealed to be a con-man with a jaded past. He quickly shifted into survival mode, hoarding many of the supplies for himself. Sawyer wanted everyone to hate him, mostly because he didn’t feel like he was worthy of the love and compassion of others. He even put together several schemes, putting the Losties against each other and making deals that only benefited him. While Jack represented the good hero we came to know and adore, Sawyer proved to be an unlikely hero as well. In season 3, Sawyer returned to the Losties after being captured by the others and the survivors looked to him as their leader. Sawyer showed some promising signs of change, attempting to help out and to protect his love, Kate in the process. He also began to reveal signs of selfless behavior, jumping off the chopper so that Kate and the others could be rescued. While this seemed like a heroic gesture, Sawyer was still running away from his destiny. When Kate and the oceanic six said goodbye to the island, Sawyer was left behind with Juliet, Jin, and Miles. In episode, “LaFleur,” Sawyer put his con-man skills to good use and saved the day, convincing the Dharma Initiative to let them stay with them for a while. Juliet wanted to get on the sub and leave, but he asked her to stay with him. “Who’s going to get my back?” he asked, revealing the first real spark between them. It took traveling back in time for Sawyer to finally embrace the goodness that was there all along. His love for Juliet was pure and selfless, but he was no longer running away from himself or his feelings. Sawyer was finally ready to settle down and lead a simple life with the love of his life. The bad boy was truly redeemed, proving that love can help point our moral compass in the right direction.

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post your thoughts and comments below on some of your favorite TV bad boys redeemed by love. Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Mick” season 2 episode 10: “The Climb.”

Happy Wednesday! After watching Fox’s The Mick season 2 episode 10 last night, I am left with the urge to start Beverly Hills, 90210 over again…even though I literally just re-watched the entire series a few months ago. Why, you might ask? Keep reading to find out! Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “The Climb,” Sabrina is hosting a party for her socialite art-friends. Mickey seems uninterested in “social climbing” until she bumps into a fabulous celebrity mother from our favorite zip code. Meanwhile, Chip goes camping with Mr. Buckley to share some father and son precious moments and Ben takes matters into his own hands when he realizes that being cool isn’t everything. My top 5 moments from The Mick season 2 episode 10 are:

“Being cool is very important.”

Ben has a new friend named Totsi who is very interested in new-age meditation and abhors instant coffee. Mickey is ready to tell Ben’s new friend to take a hike, but Ben pleads with her to be nice and to do what he asks because he thinks he is cool. Mickey tries to explain that being cool isn’t everything, but can’t come up with a compelling argument to support this and agrees that “being cool is VERY important.”

“Social Climbing” via the salon.

In the beginning of the episode, Sabrina explains that she is throwing a “salon” for her art-friends and that it will be very classy and exclusive. Mickey initially wants nothing to do with this and mistakes a salon for a hair-salon. She quickly recovers from this naïve error, ripping on Sabrina for “social climbing.” Mickey claims that she is above this and is content with who she is, but an unexpected new friend will quickly change her tune.

Chip bonds with his father.

After it is revealed that Chip has a different father from his siblings, he tracks down his biological father, Mr. Buckley, desperately looking for a sense of belonging. In a previous episode, this goes horribly wrong when Chip takes out his sister on a date trying to keep up his cover story as an intern at Mr. Buckley’s job. Mr. Buckley is willing to give him a second chance; however, as he takes Chip camping. Chip tries to convince his dad that he is up to the challenge, but it is clear that Chip has never had to do anything on his own, let alone camping in the wilderness. Just as they begin to set up the camp, Chip knocks over a stack of boats and Mr. Buckley’s leg is severely injured as a result. Chip panics when he realizes that he has no cell-phone reception, shrieking in defeat. Mr. Buckley attempts to talk him through sterilizing the wound, when Chip vomits all over it in response. Just when things can’t get any worse, Mr. Buckley instructs him to pull his leg so he can snap it back into place and Chip pushes instead, making the injury even worse. At the end of the episode, Chip is in the hospital with Mr. Buckley and his “dad” reveals that he had a DNA test completed and that he is not Chip’s real father. Chip is disappointed to discover this and opens up a criminal file to reveal his real dad. If he does track down his real dad, perhaps camping should be off the table as a form of bonding.

Ben plays “Cowboys and Indians” with Totsi.

After Ben comes to the realization that he no longer wants to play with Totsi or listen to his new-age babble, he slaps him across the face, hoping to get the message across. Mickey scolds him and explains that there is no hitting in their house…opting to then tie him up as an alternative. Ben takes this to an extreme, however; when he begins to shave off Totsi’s dreads, leaving even Mickey speechless about how to explain this to his celebrity mom. While it’s important that Ben embraces who he is and learns that he doesn’t need to compromise to be cool, perhaps some ground rules need to be set.

Jennie Garth!

When Mickey has had enough of Totsi’s nonsense, she brings him home and the door opens to reveal his celebrity mom…Jennie freakin Garth! My reaction mirrored that of Mickey’s and Alba’s who were thrilled to meet Jennie Garth, aka Kelly Taylor. Sabrina, however; reveals the generation gap, claiming to not know who she is. Alba is horrified by this and chimes in with “what a Brenda!” Mickey and Alba begin social climbing as well, but it doesn’t really turn out the way they hope. Alba’s goal is to get Jennie to sign her 90210 lunch box and thermos, while Mickey is looking to get the ultimate invitation to Mario Lopez’s birthday party. After all, “he has access to all of Hollywood.” Things don’t go as planned, however; when Jennie reveals to have the same new-age philosophy as her son, Totsi, boring Mickey. Jennie also has trouble remembering who Mickey is, explaining that she meets so many people. She comes up with interesting ways to remember everyone’s name. Mickey is not so thrilled with hers: rhyming Mick with Sick and then yelling cancer to recall her new friend. Mickey is still focused on the goal of getting the invitation to Mario Lopez’s party so she puts her feelings aside, however; there is no coming back from Jennie walking in on Totsi being tied to a chair, missing most of his hair. It’s safe to say that Mickey will not be joining Mario Lopez for his birthday.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “SMILF” season 1 episode 8 season finale: “The Heart Wants What it Wants.”

Greetings TV viewers! After watching Showtime’s SMILF season 1 episode 8 season finale last night, I am left with a clutter of emotions ranging from sadness to heart-warming. While season one has come to a close, Bridgette explored what’s been locked away for so long, relying on the support and love of her family and friends around her. She demonstrates vulnerability and extreme courage simultaneously, making us adore her and root for her that much more. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “Mark’s Lunch & Two Cups of Coffee,” Bridgette tries out a new job and a new hair-cut. Her lack of interest in finding a match on Tinder leads to an unexpected match with her long-lost father. Meanwhile, Rafi graduates from “sober living” and Tutu takes the big step of leaving the house to be there for her daughter when she needs it the most. My top 5 moments from the SMILF season 1 episode 8 season finale are:

Bridgette gets a job at Account Collect Management.

Bridgette seems to be taking a step in the right direction finding a suitable 9-5 job that can still allow her to be there for Larry. However, the world of account collect management is not as glamorous as one might guess. Bridgette desperately tries to get through her page of calls, but finds herself empathizing with the callers on the list. She tells one customer that “it sucks” and tells her not to worry about paying them right now. While it’s difficult for Bridgette to separate her personal feelings from her job responsibilities, she is ready to at least try, which says something. Bridgette gets an A for effort for now, but something greater is out there for her.

Bridgette gets a new hair-cut.

Now that Bridgette has entered the work-force, she is ready for a change in her appearance as well. Her friend convinces her to get a “lob” like Khloe Kardashian, but Bridgette comically makes the mistake of calling it a “ball cut.” Tutu’s hair-dresser goes with it and assumes she means a “bowl cut” which is not so flattering on Bridgette. Either way, she is happy to make a change and owns her new look with confidence.

Bridgette eats cupcakes in the bathroom.

As the pressure becomes a little bit too much to handle at her job, Bridgette takes a time out to find out what’s for lunch in the fridge. She begins sampling other people’s lunches that are not labeled, assuming they are there for everyone. A delightful box of cupcakes catches her eyes, as she grabs the entire box and hides out in the bathroom stall, away from the claustrophobic feel of the cubicles. Bridgette dives into the cupcakes, literally eating her feelings, when her boss comes to find her to see why she hasn’t gotten to her list of calls yet. Bridgette exits the stall in shame with chocolate caked all over her face and explains that she’s not feeling well, but promises to make the calls the next day. Lucky for Bridgette, her boss is willing to give her another chance, but her friend points out those cupcakes were for Molly’s birthday in shock. Perhaps she should give labeling a try as Bridgette suggested.

Rafi graduates from “sober living.”

Rafi reveals that he has indeed “graduated” and is ready to move in with his girl-friend to the surprise of Bridgette. Bridgette shows concern, as she worries about Larry’s well-being when he stays with Rafi. Rafi assures her that he is alright and is ready to embrace the responsibilities of sober-life, but Bridgette is not so sure. While I am hoping that Rafi is better and recognize his accomplishment, we will have to see what next season holds for him.

Bridgette matches with her father on Tinder.

Earlier in the episode, Bridgette absent-mindedly scrolls through unworthy candidates on Tinder repeating “no” over and over, even getting Larry to agree. However, she panics when she finds a man that looks very much like her father. It is revealed that Bridgette was abused when she was younger and hasn’t seen her father since she was a little girl, but she is convinced that it is him and even digs out some old photos for evidence. Tutu is concerned about Bridgette’s plan to “go on a date with her dad” to get him to admit what he did so she can find some sense of closure. After Bridgette tries on an array of outfits, she is ready to come face to face with her dad. Tutu and her friends stay at the restaurant to support her and Tutu gives her a letter that Bridgette wrote to her dad so many years ago. When Bridgette sits down at the table, she is trembling with uneasiness, but confidently reads the letter aloud, which is absolutely heart-breaking. The man cuts her off to say that she has made some kind of mistake and Tutu rushes over to let Bridgette know that the man across the table from her is not her father. They apologize to the man for the mistake and he does tell Bridgette that for what it’s worth, he would “murder her father” if he ever saw him. Bridgette was initially disappointed to not get the closure she was looking for, but has her friends and family there around her to support her, proving that she is loved and worth something. While Bridgette may never be truly ok from what happened to her in the past, she has the unconditional love of her family to pick her up when she falls down. Overall, the first season of SMILF gave viewers the chance to laugh, connect with characters on a deep level, and find meaning in life, re-defining the parameters of how to be the “perfect parent.”

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Shameless” season 8 episode 8: “Now who’s complicated?”

Happy New Year TV fans! After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 8 episode 8 last night, I am left with Justin Bieber’s “Baby” song stuck in my head along with “My Heart will Go On.” Seems like a strange mix, right? Well not if you are boarding “Frank’s Northern Shuttle Express.” Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, Fiona contemplates moving out on her own to find her independence, while Kev explores “full on domination mode.” Meanwhile, Lip tries to find a new sponsor, Debbie puts out an interesting Craig’s list ad, Ian shows off his skills in a “bible quoting contest,” and Frank continues with his “entrepreneurship” talents to illegally help people cross the Canadian border. If you get into trouble, just remember “my name is Frank, I’m from the US of A, and I like apples.” My top 5 moments from Shameless season 8 episode 8 are:

“All Carl’s.”

In episode 7, we were introduced to Carl’s new love interest, Cassidy who proved that she was not afraid to record a ransom video to black-mail her parents. Seems like this could be an indicator of her emotional well-being, right? Unfortunately, Carl is distracted by her other “charms” and is very welcoming to her as his new girl-friend.

The family seems to approve as well, when she orders KFC after Deb’s failed attempt to get dinner. She even sports off some new panties with…you guessed it, “All Carl’s” written across the front. Perhaps she is just really enthusiastic about her new-found love for Carl. Everything seems to be going well until Cassidy gets in the way of Carl’s Uber or “Ubber” business, however.

After Cassidy tells of a customer, Carl begins to have second thoughts about how fast their relationship is moving, but continues on with it for now, desperately trying to avoid another melodramatic melt-down.

Lip tries out speed-sponsoring.

It seems like nothing is going right for Lip these days. In episode 8, Lip tries out his own version of speed dating to find a new sponsor. He is surprised that his first candidate is a woman, portrayed by the hilarious Lea DeLaria who also plays “Big Boo” on Orange is the New Black. I was thrilled to see her in this role and her tell-it-like-it is humor did not disappoint.

Lip is already on edge after seeing Sierra’s boyfriend at Planned Parenthood with another woman who is very pregnant. He tries to do the right thing and have him tell her the truth, but is discovering that other people just don’t have the same good conscience he possesses. Just as Lip thinks he is getting somewhere, his sponsor candidate cuts him off and asks “did I just walk into some episode of Gossip Girl?”

Lip tries out a few more sponsors, only to go back to the original one and to try and finally learn about how to talk about himself, rather than focusing on the drama around him. After everything Lip has done for others, it’s about time he takes some much needed “me” time.

“Sexy Welder Girl Looking for Work.”

It’s no secret that Debbie is now out of a job after her stunt with Dr. Dick’s car. Debbie is freaking out the entire episode, fearing she might be pregnant. After taking several pregnancy tests, Lip takes her to the Planned Parenthood clinic to put her at ease. In the waiting room, Debbie reveals her panicked fear to Lip: “I can feel the fetus growing inside me as I sit here!”

Debbie continues to wait for the results, but is not about to put her job-hunt on pause. She convinces Liam to take “sexy” photos of her for her Craig’s List ad: “Sexy welder girl looking for work. No job is too small or too big.” When she gets an immediate call-back, I was slightly concerned about what this job would entail, however; it did seem to be a legitimate welding job and Debbie was thrilled to find out she was not pregnant as an added bonus.

Kev is in “full on domination mode.”

After V discovers that she has a need to be dominated, Kev unleashes his frustrations about house-hold chores on his wife, to his and her delight. Kev begins to realize that he likes being in domination mode, as V even serves him breakfast in an unconventional way: “More scrambled eggs, my king?” While this initially seems to just take place between the couple behind closed doors, Kev decides that his domination mode can help out at his job too.

When Svetlana breaks a bottle and demands for Kev to clean out the ice tray, Kev has a sudden epiphany. “The ice will not be cleaned out by me,” he says firmly to V and Svetlana’s surprise. Kev has a rush of power and refuses to let Svetlana or anyone else talk down to him. He still can’t perform basic math skills, but stands up to Svetlana to prove his worth. Go Kev!

Fiona goes on a field trip and learns that she’s “complicated.”

Fiona has been beyond frustrated at her current living situation especially when she finds an unwanted shower guest sleeping in her tub at home. After confiding to her neighbors at the apartment building, Fiona decides to try out living on her own. She takes a long shower in the vacant apartment and even dances around in her underwear, feeling free of obligation and time constraints.

However, Irish Ford walks in on her to her embarrassment, which leads to an interesting proposition. Irish Ford takes Fiona on a field trip of sorts to view some of the buildings he is restoring. When she lies down next to him on a mattress and stairs up at beautiful art-work on the ceiling, Fiona thinks she is reading the signs correctly. However, she is shocked when Irish Ford does not kiss her back, turning down her advance because she is “complicated.” Fiona unconvincingly replies that “being called complicated feels awesome” and returns home in shock and disappointment.

After her family gives her numerous examples of how very complicated she is, she accepts it and is ok with being complicated. Later, Fiona attends her neighbor’s party and learns that Irish Ford is the father of their unborn children, along with several others.

A look of instant satisfaction flashes across Fiona’s face when she challenges Irish Ford with “now who’s complicated?” While we are not sure what is in store for Fiona and Irish Ford, it’s a safe bet that a romantic relationship is not out of the question.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments on Shameless below. Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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

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

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