Tag: spoilers

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” season 13 episode 8: What’s in the vault?

Don’t fret TV fans, it’s almost the weekend and there are plenty of shows to catch up on.  After watching the CW’s Supernatural season 13 episode 8 last night, I am reminded of that well-known question “what’s in the box?,” although in this case it’s more like what’s in the vault protected by Indiana Jones like booby-traps?  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, Dean takes a chance and opens up, reminding himself why they became hunters in the first place and that saving lives does matter, all while enjoying some well-deserved cherry pie.  A new cross-roads demon introduces himself, but he’s surely got something up his sleeve, and Jack is still nowhere to be found.  Meanwhile, Sam and Dean decide to embark on a heist filled with unexpected twists and dangers.  My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 13 episode 8 are:

5) The new cross-roads demon tries to make an impression.  Dean receives a cryptic phone call from this demon that he has something Sam and him will need to find Jack.  They take the bait and meet him at a diner where there is a freshly baked slice of heavenly cherry pie waiting for Dean.  This demon has done his homework for sure as he convinces the brothers to work for him to retrieve a vault that he desperately needs.  Dean demonstrates a lot of self-control and hilariously waits for the demon to leave before digging in to his favorite food.  Sam and Dean haven’t trusted a demon since Crowley and they are not about to start now but need to figure out a way to still get what they need to find Jack.

4) “Hey Winona, the 90s called and they want their shoes back.”  After much discussion, Sam and Dean decide to go on the heist with the help of a mortal we later find out is named Alice and another demon.  Alice is able to break into safes but it is unsure what her motive is at this point.  Dean decides to break the ice by teasing her about her fashion sense, but the two then bond over his favorite old caffeinated drink, “nerve damage.”  While Alice is weird and awkward, she seems to appreciate the company of Dean and it makes us wonder if Dean does really care about others after all.  He has been extremely negative lately about their purpose and all they have had to deal with along the way.  It’s nice to see him smile and take a moment to connect with someone even if it is on a minor level.

3) Dean is a “vault compass.”  Dean is needed on this heist because he has been to hell and back and his blood is the key to opening up where the vault is held.  The demon begins chanting and Dean rolls his eyes at the thought of something magical happening here, but he begins being dragged off as if by a magnet while gripping his flash-light tightly.  Alice and the demon follow Dean as he treks through the property against his will, but adds for some laughs along the way.  Dean’s reaction to opening up the vault later is very amusing as well, as he cringes and squirms through the one small prick on his finger.  Sure he can fight the most terrifying forces of heaven and hell, but gets queasy at the idea of giving some blood.  It reminds us why we have come to adore Dean over the years, keeping the episode light and fluffy with just the right amount of mystery.

2) Sam has a good idea on how to get through the Indiana Jones like booby-trap.  The immortal guarding the vault is not about to give up any secrets to the brothers and it is clear that the algorithms and design of the vault will lead to an unwanted arrow to the head.  Dean seems confident they can just “wing it” but Sam reminds us why he is the logical one in the family.  They strap the immortal to a chair and push him through so that he takes the hits from all of the arrows.  Good thinking Sam!

1) Sam, Dean, and Alice do the right thing and break the deal.  Alice has revealed that she sold her soul and made a deal with the cross-roads demon, but she is not a lost hope.  Once it is revealed that the cross-road’s demons bones are inside the trunk, they realize that it is not the greatest idea to just turn this over to him.  He holds Alice at knife-point and Dean trusts her enough to grab the lighter and set the bones on fire to rid the world of the cross-roads demon.  Dean later tells Sam that it felt good to save someone again and Alice is freed from her deal to start a new life.  Dean tells her to “stay weird” revealing that he is ready to make friends and embrace his destiny again.  Saving innocents and helping people does truly make a difference.  Welcome back Dean!

 

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

My top 5 questions from “Riverdale” season 2 episode 7. Theories and spoilers ahead. Bobby pins required.

Greetings TV Fans!  I have to say I am absolutely thrilled to have a new episode of the CW’s Riverdale back after the break from last week.  After last night’s episode, so many new questions and mysteries have emerged.  Secrets and lies are creeping to the surface, Archie is at a crossroads…literally, and Betty might be pushing things out into the open too far.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  The episode is split into three parts from the perspectives of Archie & Jughead, Josie, and Betty & Veronica.  All three parts are occurring at the same time and intertwine along the way.  My biggest takeaway is to always have a bobby pin handy!  You never know what locked doors need opening, but will you like what you discover?  My top 5 questions from Riverdale season 2 episode 7 are:

5) Has Chuck truly turned over a new leaf?  When we get to Josie’s storyline, we find out that she has a secret admirer, which sounds harmless enough, but starts escalating into stalker territory.  Chuck is introduced back into the mix and Josie questions whether or not he has changed.  He offers to give her a ride home and they grab a quick bite at Pop’s diner.  Not only does Chuck reveal that he goes to church, but he is not a bad dancer either.  Just as we are starting to think that perhaps he really has changed, Josie’s mother bursts in and Josie receives a threatening note the next day.  She accuses Chuck of being her stalker, but this seems farfetched.  Is Chuck a good guy now?  I’m not sure I am buying the charming act either especially because we know the black hood targets sinners.  Is his new found religion a clue that he could be the black hood?  You never know but I’ve got my eye on Chuck for now.

4) Is Sheriff Keller off the hook?  When we get to Betty and Veronica’s storyline, both girls are anxious to get to the truth about Sheriff Keller.  Betty is convinced that he is the black hood and Veronica thinks that he is having an affair.  Veronica strategically plans a sleep over at Kevin’s but only ends up discovering Sheriff Keller’s secret of working out in the basement.  Betty has a little more luck when she breaks into his office, but he catches her in the act.  All of the information he has on the black hood relates to the case, which makes sense, but perhaps that is so he could easily be ruled out.  Betty is not buying it and spies on him with Veronica outside a motel.  They discover that he is in fact having an affair with…Josie’s mom!  It seems that we have discovered his scandalous secret, but is he hiding anything else?

3) Is the black hood connected to the Riverdale reaper?  When we are involved in Archie & Jughead’s story, Jughead leaves his better judgment behind and takes a ride from a stranger so he can move his illegal crate to his destination in time.  The stranger is certainly mysterious and has a creepy vibe going for him with his hidden dead animals in his truck, but does reveal some important information.  He informs Jughead that Riverdale once saw a killer like the black hood before and talks about what happened with the Riverdale reaper.  However, how has no one in the town heard about this before?  What are they covering up?  What else does this stranger know?  The questions are endless, but it looks like the boys will need to get caught up their town’s history pretty fast if they want to stop the black hood.

2) Is Cheryl Josie’s stalker?  When the stalker threatens Josie and sends her a portrait, we can quickly rule Chuck out.  It just seems too easy that it is him so who else could it be?  Cheryl has been clinging to Josie lately and is clearly very thankful that she helped stop her attacker, but has this gratitude gone too far?  Cheryl is shown drawing a very similar sketch of her and Josie, which seems like all signs are pointing to yes that she is the one threatening Josie.  Has Cheryl hit a breaking point?  Is there any chance it’s not her?  Just as Cheryl has been starting to display some redeeming qualities, she is being dragged back down by obsession.

1) What are the consequences of failing the black hood’s test?  At the end of the episode, all of the intertwining stories have caught up to one another and all parties are present at Pop’s diner.  Pop receives a phone call and reveals that it is the black hood and he said that they all failed his test and that the day of reckoning is upon them.  What exactly was the test and what is going to happen now as a result?  We know that the black hood is capable of murder, but does he or she have something else in mind?  We will have to stay tuned for more answers, but it doesn’t look like the black hood is finished with Riverdale just yet.

I hope you enjoyed my top 5 questions and please feel free to post your own theories and questions from Riverdale below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

“Supernatural” Season 13 episode 7 ranking the top 5 moments: Dead is dead…or is it?

Happy Friday TV Fans!  I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday spent with family and friends.  Thankfully, we were given a new episode of the CW’s Supernatural to enjoy.  After watching Season 13 episode 7, it feels like everyone is coming back from the dead.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  Our old prophet friend, Kevin has returned along with some enemies sprinkled into the mix.  Lucifer walks the mean streets of earth and gets a harsh slap of reality while seeking help from any unlikely source.  Fans are left with an open question as to Rowena’s whereabouts.  Sure we thought she was toast, but Supernatural doesn’t let any character rest for too long.  My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 13 episode 7 are:

5) Lucifer returns to earth and a woman mistakes him as a homeless man.  So Lucifer has once again figured out a clever way to escape the portal he was in and is making friends everywhere he goes.  His powers are severely weakened which makes this moment even funnier.  There is nothing Lucifer can do about it except to come up with a snappy one liner to satisfy his need for revenge.  Who would have thought that a mortal could put Satan himself in his place?

4) Kevin is back!  Or maybe a version of Kevin…I was a little unclear on this but either way it was great to see our old friend Kevin back in the mix.  He is still utilizing his gift as a prophet but is now working for the angel, Michael, and could be a threat to humanity.  Will Sam and Dean be reunited with him?  Is he back for more episodes?  It’s uncertain, but it was nice to see a familiar face amongst all of the villains coming to the surface.

3) Is Rowena alive?  Other characters are creeping to the surface so it would make sense that an all powerful witch like Rowena may be alive somewhere in another world or dimension.  I have to admit I do miss the way her accent pronounces Winchester every time she is trying to thwart an effort of the brothers.  With Crowley gone, we need a villain with a good sense of humor to work with or against Lucifer.  We know that Mr. Ketch is after witches searching for her, which makes one think she is more than likely alive.  I for one hope that she is and would love to see a bewitching come-back.

2) Lucifer turns to an unlikely friend for help.  Lucifer is back on earth and is threatened by Kevin and Michael so who does he go to?  Naturally, he teams up with our favorite angel, Castiel.  Lucifer’s pep talk to Castiel is hilarious as he underplays the severity of the situation saying “we’re sorta all going to die” with a playful shrug.  He is looking to recruit Castiel but is trying to use him at the same time to find out where Jack is in all of this.  I have to admit I also enjoyed the proud father moment from Lucifer even though it is twisted and centered on how much pain his son caused.  Lucifer listened like a giddy school girl, but clearly does have some connection to his son.  It will be interesting to see what happens when they meet for the first time.

1) Ketch is not a twin, but Ketch himself!  Dean knew that something was not adding up with Ketch’s story.  There was even documentation about this claim that he was a twin, but Dean still wasn’t buying it and I don’t blame him.  He noticed the look in Ketch’s eyes when he mentioned his mother, Mary, signaling to Dean that he is the real Ketch and somehow Rowena is the key to him surviving longer in this world.  Ketch was a worthy opponent mostly because he tugs at Dean’s emotions and vulnerability.  Will Dean be able to put his own personal vendetta against Ketch aside to do right by the greater good?  Good thing he has Sam there to keep him grounded.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

“Dancing with the Stars” winners revealed: Your vote mattered! Spoilers ahead.

Happy Winning Wednesday TV Fans!  I am in the spirit of winning after last night’s finale of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  A few weeks back, I predicted the top 3 and I am very excited that I got that correct, just a little out of order. 🙂 But that’s what is so great about this show.  You may think you know who the winner is or you may think the judges and audience is going in another direction, but it’s anyone’s game really.

For the first time in a while, I was truly invested in who won and I even found myself scrounging up my ABC account so that I could cast my 5 votes.  Through several efforts at remembering my password and going through about a million confirmation emails, I was on and ready to vote!  What was really great about last night’s show, is that they allowed the viewers in the Eastern and Central time zones to case votes after the traditional 24 hour fusion dance which I thought was another way to get the audience and voter really involved in the process.  In years past, they just combined the judges’ scores into the overall vote, which made the voter feel not as important in my opinion.  We only got 5 minutes to vote during the last commercial break and I found myself refreshing the DWTS voting page like an insane person, but it added to the suspense and fun of the show.  This was a great idea.

Although my personal favorites, Frankie and Witney did not win, they ended up in third place and provided the audience with entertainment and magic.  Judge, Len Goodman got it right when he said that although Frankie “may not have been the judges’ champion, he was the people’s champion.”  I’ve stated previously that Frankie was not the best dancer by far, however; he improved so much and displayed so much heart and joy when he danced, which is what the show is all about.  I am very excited to know that Frankie will also be going on tour with Jordan and the DWTS dancers which makes me want to reserve my tickets now!

Lindsey and Mark came up short in 2nd place, but I was inspired by her package, which I typically find myself fast-forwarding through.  They even showed a previous clip when America’s Got Talent told her the act was too different and passed on her.  This inspired her to not give up and to continue to pursue her talent and dreams which did pay off in the end.  Talk about an inspiration for everyone watching.  Lindsey’s fluidity and graceful abilities didn’t earn her the mirror ball, but I was impressed with her performances and her humility.

So our winners are…Jordan and Lindsay!  I had mentioned a few weeks back that Jordan was the best celebrity dancer on the show and perhaps one of the best dancers of all time.  Although his technique and high performance level did not really transform for me like the other celebs, his connection with his partner, Lindsay did grow and I think that is one of the main reasons why he won.  He spoke about how much she has helped him with his own performance, not even just with dance, but in everything he does as a creator and artist and I thought that was really wonderful to hear.  I am a big fan of Lindsay ever since she debuted on So You Think You Can Dance and was thrilled for her to win the coveted mirror ball trophy.  Congrats Jordan and Lindsay!  I am sad to take a break from the show, but am looking forward to see who the contestants will be in the spring.

Do you agree with the winners?  Feel free to post your thoughts and comments below.  Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

“Shameless” Season 8 episode 3 ranking the top 5 moments: Fiona was right

Happy Monday TV fans!  After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 8 episode 3 last night, I am left with the familiar saying “the family who prays together stays together,” although in this case it’s more like the family who pays together stays together.  Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.  In last night’s episode, Fiona proves she is right once again to her family and lets the new neighbor know that she is not one to step on.  Kev embraces his new commitment in life to ask every woman he sees about how often she does a self-exam while V sets everything right with Svetlana and makes a deal.  It’s good to see Svetlana back in her heels again ready to stomp over anyone who gets in her way of living the American dream.  Sure her dream may be to open up a Quiznos in the mid-west, but who are we to judge.  Meanwhile, Lip pays it forward and tries to help his former professor while Frank embraces a new identity.  My top 5 moments from Shameless season 8 episode 3 are:

5) Kev shows Fiona how to do a self breast exam and expands his vocabulary in the process.  Kev is proving that he is ready to spread the news to anyone who will listen on the importance of checking your breasts.  You would think that just talking about the importance would be enough, but he is not done until he actually demonstrates this on you.  Kev also shows off his sharp new vocab utilizing words like “malignant” and he is very proud of this.  It is something really important so as long as Kev is helping others become more aware, more power to him.

4) Frank proves his worth as “Francis.”  It may seem like Frank is making another sad attempt to turn over a new leaf and embrace the origins of his name.  He even brings over a dead squirrel in the process.  While he may not be Saint Francis, Frank tells the meth dealer after his family that he is not going to threaten them anymore and that they paid him what they owed.  There is a glimmer of real father here protecting his family which even makes Fiona happy, finally saying “thanks Francis.”  Is Frank changing for good?  Probably not, but it’s nice to see him stepping up to help his family.

3) Fiona tells Mel she can “be ghetto.”  Fiona is really taking pride in the apartment building she owns and is dedicated to turning it into a suitable place to live.  After she meets with a candidate to rent the apartment, neighbor Mel lies to him and says that it is infested with bed bugs just so she can have her friends move in for a cheaper rate.  Fiona confronts Mel and tells her that she does not have time for her petty games.  She gets inches away from her face and doesn’t break in the slightest, showing her neighbor that she is not one to mess with.  She even goes as far to tell Mel that if she thinks she knows what bed bugs are, she will pour them all over her bed just so she has an excuse to burn every last possession of hers.

2) Fiona was right.  When the kids come to Fiona about what to do about the angry meth dealer, Fiona is more than willing to help set it right.  But not before she has each and every member of the family say “I was wrong, you were right Fiona.”  Fiona has been telling them the entire time that this was a bad idea, but the kids continued on anyway and she wants them to learn a valuable lesson.

1) The Gallagher family digs up Monica.  So it happens that Fiona buried the rest of the Meth with their dead mother, Monica which leads to an interesting bonding moment between the siblings.  They are covered in dirt, digging for an eternity, and you would think this would be bad enough.  Carl then uses a forklift to speed up the process, only to drop the coffin, which opens suddenly as their dead Mother falls out.  Their screams of horror are hilarious, but they work together as a team while they continue to tell Fiona that she was right all along.

 

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

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“Breaking Bad” ranking the top 5 episodes of the series

After re-watching AMC’s Breaking Bad all the way through for the second time, this series maintained a comfortable spot in my top 5 television series of all time.  The characters of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, played brilliantly by Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, have so much depth.

They both possess flaws but as viewers, we accept them for it, and they transform into even more complex characters throughout the series. Their partnership is heartfelt and tragic at the same time, remaining constant among a whirlwind of dangerous challenges and foes along the way.

After re-watching the series for a second time, I was eager to rank my top 5 episodes from the show.  Please note that spoilers are below if you have not gotten the chance to watch and if you haven’t, I strongly recommend that you get to cooking!  My top 5 episodes from Breaking Bad are:

5

“One Minute” (season 3, episode 7)

For starters, the flashback to “The Cousins” as young boys guided by Hector Salamanca is haunting on its own.  The two boys are fighting and one wishes the other was dead.  Hector proceeds to drown the boy, asking the other one how much longer he has down there.  When the boy comes up for air, Hector reminds the brothers that family is everything. 

In present time, Jesse is recovering from the horrific beat-down that Hank gave him, after Walt had someone prank his cell to claim that his wife was in the hospital.  The end of the episode had me on the edge of my seat, as Hank is seen entering his car in a shopping plaza with flowers for his wife.  Everything seems to be going fine until he gets an anonymous call that two men are coming to kill him.

Even before we see “The Cousins” approach the vehicle, Hank’s reaction to every little sound and flash that goes by almost makes time stand still, which makes this episode that much more haunting.

4

“Dead Freight” (season 5, episode 5)

The opening of this episode is so innocent and tranquil.  A young boy is riding his dirt bike in the desert when he comes across a tarantula, which he captures in a jar.  The sound of a freight train echoes in the distance.  As the episode continues, I almost forgot about this opening scene.  The episode is jam-packed with so much action and drama.

Even after watching a second time, my heart was beating out of my chest when Jesse and Todd were pulling off a heist to replace the Methylamine with water, while Walter monitored it.  Meanwhile, Mike and the rest of the gang kept watch and distracted the drivers.  Everyone played a major part in this heist and I worried about it unraveling with each new obstacle.  The heist is successful and everyone is celebrating when the young boy from the opening of the episode is standing in front of them and innocently waves.

The unthinkable happens when Todd waves back and then shoots him, as Jesse screams “No” in so much agony, that it almost echoes through the television.  In a fleeting moment, the innocence is destroyed and reality sets in that everything is not without consequences.

3

“Face off” (season 4, episode 13)

This is probably one of the most intense season finales of a show I have ever seen.  The previous episode revealed Walter’s failed attempt to take out his nemesis, Gustavo Fring, with a car bomb.  The viewers know by now that although Fring is a worthy opponent, one should never underestimate Walter White, Heisenberg himself.  W

alter calculates every moment of revenge, involving Fring’s former enemy, Hector Salamanca, keeping the phrase, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend” true.  Who would have thought that Hector could still be so dangerous in his condition?  The ominous ringing of his bell returned and ended with an explosion.  Perhaps what was most eerie about this, was that Gus adjusted his tie and walked out of the room, keeping up his polished appearance per usual, only to collapse, revealing that half of his face had been completely torn off.

The writers don’t stop here, however.  At the end of the episode, we get a shot of the Lily of the Valley berries that we know poisoned Brock, the child that Jesse had grown so close to.  Walter will stop at nothing to remain on top, but clearly has gone too far this time.

2

“Grilled” (season 2, episode 2)

This is the episode that completely hooked me on the show.  While I enjoyed the short first season, this episode elevated the show to an entirely new level.  Walter and Jesse had been kidnapped by their insane opponent, Tuco.  You may think that is crazy enough, but Hector Salamanca steals the show with his incessant ringing of the bell, which ultimately brings Fring to his demise later in the series.

Tuco explains that the ringing of the bell means “yes”and no ring means “no.”  Walter and Jesse had been trying to poison Tuco, but Hector is not going to let them get away with it that easy.  They try to convince Tuco that Hector was mad because they changed the TV station, but with each threatening ring, Tuco becomes more and more suspicious of the beloved duo.  The episode even ends with the bell ringing throughout the credits to leave the viewer with that sound to remain in their senses for just a few minutes more.  Talk about intense!

1

“Salud” (season 4, episode 10)

After watching the series through for a second time, this episode still remains my absolute favorite.  Any true Breaking Bad fan will take just a glimpse at the infamous pool and be transported back to this intense episode.  Part of what makes this episode stand out so much to me is that Walter is not involved in the action-packed scene, which leads to Gus Fring poisoning the entire cartel.  Jesse, Mike, and Gus meet the powerful, Don Eladio.

After Jesse comes to teach the cartel how cook successfully, the cartel now insists that they “own” Jesse.  Don Eladio is in for an unfortunate turn of events; however, when Gus presents him with his favorite bottle of tequila and proposes a toast.  Gus even takes a sip himself after insisting that Jesse does not have any because he is an addict.  As the cartel begins dropping like flies, Gus is shown puking in the bathroom to get rid of as much poison as possible.

It shows the viewer just how far he will go to bring his enemy down, which is what makes his later demise so extreme.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your comments along with your own favorite episodes below.  Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl