Spoiler-Free Review of “Harlan Coben’s Shelter” on Prime Video: An Addicting Mystery with Layers!

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“I just want answers…”

Harlan Coben’s Shelter premiered on Prime Video on August 18th 2023 with the first three episodes available now. There will be eight episodes in total that will air weekly. The YA mystery thriller series stars Jaden Michael, Constance Zimmer, Sage Linder, and Adrian Greensmith. Each episode runs for approximately 45-55 minutes.

After undergoing a family trauma, Mickey moves in with his aunt in New Jersey and adjusts to his new life. Only things get complicated when he passes by a creepy house and an old woman tells him a secret that will alter his life forever, as he tries to piece together the truth with his new group of friends.

Here is the trailer:

Shelter is Harlan Coben’s first YA series adapted for television, featuring an intriguing mystery with enough moving pieces to keep you coming back for more. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Characters to root for!

I really like all of the characters so far, but especially this group shown above. In a way, this show has similar vibes to School Spirits and Stranger Things, but it’s got its own feel and mystery. It took me an episode or so to warm up to these characters, but now I can’t wait to see what they do next and I honestly care about what happens to them.

A mystery that hooks you from the start.

I love the eerie vibe to this series. I’m always hooked by Harlan Coben mysteries, but this one is really interesting and I think it has a lot of potential already. We have a lot of moving pieces that will hopefully pay off in the end. I’ve got some working theories already and I can’t wait to see how the rest of this unfolds.

Either way…I’m intrigued and ready for more.

The Cons:

The crazy subplots are back.

This should come as no surprise for a Harlan Coben series. You need to pay attention to these series because you’ll miss some minor detail that will make way more sense by the time you get to the end.

That being said, the first episode felt a bit overwhelming, chaotic, and slightly messy, but I think it found its way by the time we got to episode two. So stick around if you’re feeling this way initially.

Some of the dialogue is also a bit generic and cliché, but the actors are making the most of it.

I’m also not sure how I feel about the weekly episode approach. I’m used to these addicting series being on Netflix, where you can binge-watch the entire thing. Luckily we got three episodes at once for the release, but I wish all of them were available now.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

The first YA Harlan Coben streaming series doesn’t disappoint!

Shelter is a consuming watch that already has me anxiously waiting for more episodes to drop.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Harlan Coben’s Shelter in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

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

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

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Paper Girls” on Prime Video: Coming-Of-Age Time Travel Story has its Moments

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“We could stick together…”

Paper Girls premiered on Prime Video on July 29th 2022 with eight episodes available to stream now. The sci-fi series (based on the comic series of the same name) stars Riley Lai Nelet, Ali Wong, Sofia Rosinsky, Camryn Jones, Fina Strazza, and Adina Porter. Each episode runs for approximately 42-45 minutes.

After Halloween night in the 1980’s, a group of paper girls start their morning route, but wind up caught in the middle of a time travel war.

Here is the trailer:

Paper Girls features a fantastic group of characters worth getting to know in the middle of a sci-fi time travel story. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Believable characters with layers.

The characters are the strongest part of this series. I really liked that they weren’t already friends at the beginning. It made their eventual bond together that much more compelling. They all learned so much from each other, but each individual was really strong on her own.

I’m also always happy to see Adina Porter in pretty much anything so that was a plus!

Starts things off right away.

I was worried that we would get way too much set-up with this particular series, but the pacing was actually pretty solid for the most part. We didn’t have to wait too long for things to actually happen.

The Cons:

Doesn’t really explain the time travel war/world that much…

I felt a little bit lost watching this. I didn’t really understand what was going on with the time travel war and I wanted more information. I felt like I needed a crash course before watching this. The focus was more on the journey of the characters, which was fine, but I wanted a little bit more sci-fi action to balance things out.

Some of the special effects were a little cheesy and silly as well, but if the series is targeting a younger audience, I’m not sure that it matters that much.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

This series has its moments and I absolutely love all of the characters. If you enjoy series like Stranger Things, you’ll probably find plenty to like with this particular one, but be prepared to do your homework on what’s actually going on with the time travel war.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

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

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Stranger Things” Season 4 Volume 2 on Netflix: Intense from Start to Finish

*This is a spoiler-free review for season four so feel free to read on!*

“Without heart we’d fall apart…”

Stranger Things season four (volume 2) premiered on Netflix on July 1st 2022 with two new episodes available to stream now. The sci-fi horror series stars Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, and Natalia Dyer. Each episode runs for approximately 90-140 minutes.

Our beloved group is put to the test as they face off against Vecna in an epic battle.

Here is the trailer:

Stranger Things season four started off with a bang, but does volume 2 stick the landing with the final two episodes of the season? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Doesn’t hold back…

Volume 1 was absolutely fantastic to watch, but we got a lot of set-up and flashbacks so there were some breaks from the intensity. Volume 2 takes us on a thrill ride and never stops. It really felt like more of a movie and I loved every second of it. There were so many edge-of-your-seat moments in this one, along with a lot of really heartfelt and heartbreaking ones. The music was AMAZING and there was one musical moment in particular that I will be re-watching over and over for years to come for sure. Wow! Talk about entertaining…I think it’s safe to say that this was definitely one of my favorite seasons yet.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Other characters prove their worth!

I really liked that we got enough time to explore each character in volume 1 and I am happy to report that volume 2 filled in the blanks with a few other characters that needed a little bit more time and development. Everyone proved that they were worthy to the group in different capacities and I loved watching their journeys.

That’s why I like this show so much. It’s not just about the superhero. It’s about everyone else too. The show reminds me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in that way. You have this one powerful girl who is destined to save the world, but her friends are just as capable and powerful and they all show just how special they are over the seasons.

The same thing can absolutely be said about the characters in Stranger Things. That’s why it makes it so incredibly hard whenever we lose one of these characters. There will be no spoilers in this review, but wow. I shed quite a few tears during volume 2.

A finale to be excited about!

That last shot took my breath away. We are all set up for the final fifth season of the show and I am confident that it will be out of this world. The only problem is…we have to wait for it!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Unanswered questions.

That was a lot to take in and now I have all of these unanswered questions stirring in my brain. It’s not really much of a con, but I loved this season so much and it’s really hard to come up with something I didn’t like. I am sure that everything will be resolved in the final season, but there’s a lot left to explore and I’m just hoping that this series can finish strong because these characters all deserve a satisfying ending and so do we!

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent!!!

A satisfying conclusion to a fantastic season!!!!!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Stranger Things season four (volume 2) in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A Halloween they’ll never forget…

When former friends, Shay and Adriana team up to participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt with a cash prize, they temporarily put their differences aside to outsmart their opponents. However, they soon start to realize that a dangerous threat is playing their own version of the game, stalking them during each hunt.

Winning is now a necessity as their lives are at stake. As old wounds and memories re-surface, Shay and Adriana attempt to unmask the threat before the night is over, but soon learn that Scream Hunt is not done with them just yet…

My new young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Stranger Things” Season 4 Volume 1 on Netflix: Delivers with 80’s horror vibe

*This is a spoiler-free review for season four so feel free to read on!*

“What have you done?”

Stranger Things season four (volume 1) premiered on Netflix on May 27th 2022 with seven new episodes available to stream now. The final two episodes of the season will air on July 1st 2022. The sci-fi horror series stars Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, and Natalia Dyer. Each episode runs for approximately 65-75 minutes.

It’s Spring Break in the town of Hawkins, but our beloved group encounters a new nightmarish threat targeting local teens.

Here is the trailer:

Stranger Things season four is more mature in a lot of ways, channeling classic 80’s horror films like A Nightmare on Elm Street and Hellraiser, while giving us plenty of reveals to be excited about. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Dark fast-paced plot.

Our characters have grown up a lot so it makes sense for the plot to mature as well. I absolutely loved the 80’s horror vibe. We got a great cameo/small role that furthered some of these similarities even more and the dark and twisted story really was quite frightening this time around.

I loved every second of it!

Standout episodes: 4 and 7!

Supporting characters get their chance to shine!

I appreciated that we took some time for each character on the series to get some well deserved screen time. There’s a lot of characters and a lot of subplots going on, but the longer episodes actually helped us catch up with all of them. The new characters really added something as well.

Standout performance goes to Sadie Sink as Max. Wow, she was absolutely incredible! I’m really glad we got a chance to see her character develop more.

The Nancy and Robin adventures were pure entertainment and the other characters had plenty of fantastic moments as well.

I would have liked for Erica to have gotten some more screen time, however.

The Cons:

I have to wait until July to watch the last two episodes…

Seriously, that’s my only con. I love this series so much and I think that season 4 has been absolutely incredible so far. I can’t wait to see how it all ends!

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!!!!!

Dark, twisted, and so much fun to watch! Season 4 has been absolutely incredible so far and I highly recommend it!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Stranger Things season four (volume 1) in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A Halloween they’ll never forget…

My new young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Chosen” on Netflix: Teen Sci-Fi Series with Angst

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“What’s out there?”

Chosen premiered on January 27th 2022 on Netflix with six episodes available to stream now. The Danish sci-fi series stars Malaika Mosendane, Andrea Heick Gadeberg, Andreas Dittmer and Anders Heinrichsen. Each episode runs for approximately 40-45 minutes.

A young girl discovers a secret truth behind the meteor that hit her small town years ago, bringing her into a mystery surrounding its origin and her own destiny.

Here is the trailer:

Chosen feels very much like a teenage style Fringe as it attempts to balance out a sci-fi mystery with teen drama. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Strong main character.

I really liked the character of Emma and I thought that the actress did a great job with her portrayal. Whenever I watch a series centered around some kind of female “chosen one,” I want her to really stand out and I thought that Emma managed to do that in this series.

All of the other characters had layers as well which made it easier for me to connect to them all. We got a likable Scooby gang to give this show a Nancy Drew feel at times and I think that it worked for the most part.

Intriguing mystery at its core.

I really liked the mystery behind the show and I think that each episode did enough at the end to bring you back for more. There were a lot of secrets and reveals and I think that the show still has a lot of unanswered questions to address if it gets a season two.

The Cons:

Too much teen drama at times.

I appreciate that this series wanted to channel a Stranger Things vibe in a lot of ways, but it could have benefited from some more humor. The teen drama felt overwhelming at times and I tuned out at certain points because of this.

There were also some pacing issues in the beginning of the series.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

Perfect for fans of teen fantasy/sci-fi series. There is enough content here to keep viewers entertained. I have a lot of questions after watching the first season, but I think this show is a unique gem that a lot of fans will truly enjoy!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

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

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Girl in the Woods” on Peacock: Can another Chosen One make an impact?

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“Deep in the woods lies a secret door…”

The Girl in the Woods released on October 21st 2021 on Peacock with all eight episodes available to stream now. The supernatural drama series stars Stefanie Scott, Sofia Bryant, Misha Osherovich, Will Yun Lee and Leonard Roberts. Each episode runs for approximately 25-30 minutes.

A young runaway flees a cult destined to protect the world from the monsters beyond the door when she crosses paths with two new friends in West Pine, Oregon, as their two worlds collide.

Here is the trailer:

The Girl in the Woods has a familiar formula that has worked for shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the more recent Warrior Nun, but does this show do enough to find its own identity? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Creepy flickers here and there.

The door that Carrie is sworn to protect can unleash monsters from our nightmares and some of the ones we see are actually kind of terrifying and creepy in a good way. I think that the premise is a decent one and the woods can be terrifying on their own, creating a supernatural mystery that has some potential.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

A chosen one without any edge.

Shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Stranger Things, and even Warrior Nun understood the importance of having an empowering chosen one to really light up the screen. Unfortunately I didn’t really connect with our chosen one in this series…at all.

The acting wasn’t horrible, but there was just no personality and even though we are supposed to understand that she grew up away from society, I needed more layers to truly care about her.

I actually connected more with the two friends who had some redeeming qualities. We form another type of Scooby gang (which had its moments), but it wasn’t enough to spark any real interest here.

Really predictable…

I really made a valiant effort to connect to the mystery even with the bland chosen one, but a lot of the reveals were just so predictable and uninspiring. There were moments meant to create some kind of emotional response in the audience and yet I found myself frustrated and really bored unfortunately.

There was no real humor in this show either and the lighting was so dreary. The episodes are only about twenty-five minutes each, which should make this easy to binge-watch, and yet I found myself checking the time, which is never a good sign in terms of pacing.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

If you are going to use a popular formula, you need to really make sure it delivers and this one just felt extremely forgettable. I needed so much more from this show and even though there were some glimmers of potential sprinkled in, the creepy vibe was stifled by the uninspiring main character and the overall predictable and bland feel of the show.

I’d recommend re-watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer instead.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

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

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Fear Street Part 1: 1994” on Netflix: 90’s Slasher Nostalgia

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“It began as a prank and ended in murder…”

Fear Street Part 1: 1994 is a supernatural slasher film that premiered on July 2nd 2021 on Netflix. It is the first entry to the trilogy which will take place over the next three weeks. The film stars Olivia Welch, Kiana Madeira, Benjamin Flores Jr. and Maya Hawke. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-five minutes.

Inspired by the R.L. Stine book series, the first film follows a group of teens in the town of Shadyside as they face off against a supernatural presence that threatens to wreak havoc on their town.

Here is the trailer:

Fear Street Part 1: 1994 turns back time and reels us in with some iconic 90’s slasher nostalgia along with a killer soundtrack, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Don’t f*** with the original.

The opening of this film was really strong. It helped having Stranger Things fan favorite, Maya Hawke lighting up the screen in a B.Dalton bookstore, which brought back so many memories. This film definitely channeled Scream and even gave me some Blair Witch vibes as well, but it did it in a clever way. It didn’t feel like a cheesy rip-off. It felt like a tribute to some iconic 90’s horror and I hope this also helps introduce a younger audience to some of these great films.

It still pains me to hear things like “oh I didn’t know the Scream show was based on a movie.” (This really happened by the way).

90’s dream.

Remember when people used to actually call one another? I thought this time jump back to the 90’s was a lot of fun. Similar to shows like Little Fire Everywhere and Cruel Summer, Fear Street is jumping on the bandwagon and they delivered in a lot of ways.

I thought the soundtrack was amazing and the throwbacks were a lot of fun, but I thought the fashion could have used some work. Other than the opening scene, I didn’t see any real iconic pieces of 90’s fashion thrown into the mix.

In a lot of ways, this time jumping theme for Fear Street is kind of reminding me of American Horror Story: 1984 and in a good way. Both of these entries understood the time period and the movies they were channeling, but they also did a good job of creating something on their own.

I’m interested to see how they will approach the next era in the second film. Bring it on!

The Cons:

Where’s the chemistry?

This film earned a R rating and stepped away from Goosebumps. I’m all for a group of kids or teens facing off against an unspeakable horror, but I need to actually care about the characters. Fear Street needed to take a lesson from Stranger Things and even the new IT film. The chemistry and humor between the characters was lacking here.

There were a lot of scenes where we witnessed some melodrama that didn’t really translate well. I won’t call it Riverdale-esque because I actually like Riverdale, but it felt empty and uninspiring.

I loved Olivia Welch in Panic and all of the actors put forth a valiant effort, but I needed more. There were some moments sprinkled in, but I think any major character layers were glossed over and as much as I appreciated the LGBTQ relationship at the core, we needed more development to truly care about these characters.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

The film had a really strong opening and ending. It did enough at the end of the movie to reel me in for more and I’m anxious to see the other two parts connect with everything. Overall, this was an entertaining watch and I think as long as you manage your expectations and power through the unnecessary teen melodrama, you will enjoy the watch. Besides, you can always just tune them out and focus on the amazing soundtrack!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Fear Street Part 1: 1994 in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A HALLOWEEN THEY’LL NEVER FORGET…

My new young adult horror thriller comes out October 7th 2021! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Locke & Key” on Netflix: Unlocking the Door to your Next Binge-Watch

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

A dark, magical adventure filled with heart, leading us past our imagination with some worthy evil threats thrown into the mix.

Locke & Key premiered on Netflix on February 7th 2020 with 10 new episodes (40-45 minutes in length). It stars Connor Jessup, Emilia Jones, Jackson Robert Scott, Darby Stanchfield, and Laysla De Oliveira.

The show is based on the graphic novel series written by Joe Hill and illustrated by Gabriel Rodríguez. After the tragic death of their father, three siblings move into his old mansion with their mother, unlocking past secrets and discovering some magical keys that light the way to their new potential destiny. However, there is an evil lingering inside the well of Keyhouse that threatens them all.

This is not the first time we have seen a plot like this and there are a lot of similarities to The Chronicles of Narnia, The Haunting of Hill House, and Stranger Things. That being said, I absolutely love all three of those, so I welcomed this familiar plot with open arms.

However, does Locke & Key unlock its way to its own identity? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Locke and Key Netflix 5 — Images courtesy of Netflix

The Locke siblings are the heart of the show.

I loved the family aspect of The Haunting of Hill House and we get a young adult friendly version of that in Locke & Key. The relationship between the siblings is heartwarming and believable. All three of these characters are absolutely fantastic and you almost feel like you are a part of their family. The performances are well done and the family drama isn’t overly exaggerated.

Locke and Key Netflix 8 — Images courtesy of Netflix

The mystery is intriguing and entertaining.

From the very first episode, we get a sneak peek of what’s to come for the Locke family, as they explore Keyhouse with brand new eyes. The house is breathtaking, but the Locke siblings quickly discover that there are more secrets hidden within the walls of their father’s old home.

Locke and Key Netflix 6 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Evil looks good on our Villainess.

The villain in this series is beyond entertaining. She’s absolutely fantastic and will lure you over to the dark side for sure. She is cunning, powerful, and mysterious, as the Locke siblings are forced to really think outside the box to stop her, but do not underestimate her for one second. I love a good Villainess and Dodge or “Well Lady” certainly exceeded my expectations.

The Cons:

Locke and Key Netflix 7 — Images courtesy of Netflix

The rest of the characters fade into the background.

Unlike Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which has an endless amount of extraordinary characters, the rest of the group in Locke & Key are just kind of okay and very forgettable. Even Mrs. Locke seemed all over the place and I almost felt like they didn’t really know what to do with her character.

I did enjoy Scot the most out of the friend characters, who had the most adorable nickname for our girl Kinsey, Rocky Road, but the supporting characters seemed underdeveloped and uninspiring. That being said, the Locke siblings and Dodge certainly made up for that and stole the show.

Some plot holes and unanswered questions.

I wouldn’t say that this was a major con, but I found myself asking more questions about the keys and where they came from. A lot of things are explained in the end and we are left with a major cliffhanger, so I’m hoping for some more background information if we get a second season.

So am I in or out?

Locke and Key Netflix 1 — Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in! This series was so much fun and I watched it all in one day. It has a lot of heart and so many twists and turns that will keep you thoroughly invested throughout the show.

While it may not be the next Stranger Things, it doesn’t have to be. Locke & Key creates its own separate identity and has the potential to become my new favorite show with possible future seasons. Now about my key…

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Free Instant Preview of The Search for Alice is available here!

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Do you love horror series? Of course you do! Please also check out 12 Nights of Horror Series Coming Soon. It’s your home for everything you need to know about new and returning horror television series including new trailers, premiere dates, reviews, recaps, and renewals!

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Ranking my Top 10 Television Shows of 2019: Which Shows Made The Cut?

Greetings TV Fans! I hope you all had an amazing holiday and I wish you all the best for the upcoming New Year! As we get closer and closer to approaching 2020, I thought it would be the perfect time to count down my Top 10 TV Shows of 2019.

While some returning shows continued strong, others fell off slightly. Meanwhile, some other new shows completely captivated my attention, paving their way into my top 10.

**Please note some spoilers are ahead.**

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

My Top 10 Television Shows of 2019 are:

10

American Horror Story: 1984

AHS 1984 FX 1 — Image courtesy of FX Network

Who doesn’t love the 80’s? The first half of the newest season of AHS was so much fun. The music was to die for and it really gave us this campy comedy horror vibe that also presented us with some fun throwbacks to horror movies we all know and love.

Emma Roberts did a fantastic job leading the cast and we got plenty of twists and turns along the way. While the second half of the season fell off for me, I still was entertained, rooting for my Final Girls to kick some ass!

9

The Punisher (Season 2)

The Punisher Netflix 1 — Image courtesy of Netflix

So I am a huge Jon Bernthal fan and I really think that he plays this role to perfection. Bernthal is always a little rough around the edges, but that’s part of his charm and he is so believable as Frank Castle. I absolutely loved the first season of the show and while I anticipated that this show would be canceled after season 2, I knew that it would provide us with a lot of action and it did!

8

The Purge (Season 2)

The Purge USA 1 — Image courtesy of USA Network

Last year, The Purge (season 1) was my absolute favorite show of the year. I am a huge fan of the movies and I didn’t go into the series with very high expectations, but it was bloody fantastic! It’s hard to live up to something so spectacular and while season 2 fell slightly short for me, it still was such an entertaining watch.

The new characters were great and I loved the inside look into the NFFA. Fans got a chance to see a world outside of Purge Night, which was so interesting. They presented us with so many new layers, while sprinkling in some super fun cameos and Easter eggs too!

7

Riverdale (Season 3)

Riverdale CW 1 — Image courtesy of The CW

Riverdale is definitely one of my favorite shows, but after all of the Black Hood dark twists in season 2, season 3 got a little bit weird. We entered the world of Gryphons and Gargoyles and learned about The Farm, which was really bizarre and confusing, but there were still so many moments that kept this show going strong for me.

The Midnight Club flashback episode was fantastic and Cheryl Blossom was pretty much born to star in the Heathers musical episode, reminding me why I love this show so much!

6

The Walking Dead (Season 10)

I have been watching TWD since it first started and I loved the earlier seasons so much. The show fell off for me along the way and I often felt like I was watching out of obligation. However, the second half of season 9 and the beginning of season 10 made me a true fan once again.

The Whisperers are fantastic villains and we are finally getting some screen time for some of our favorite characters. I mean, who doesn’t love seeing Daryl and Carol making friendship bracelets for one another? Keep it up, TWD!

5

Unbelievable

Not the typical type of show that I usually watch, but I heard really great things about this show and decided to give it a try. There were some parts that were difficult to watch, but the performances were so real and inspiring. I could not stop watching this show and I thought it was so thought-provoking and important.

4

Killing Eve (Season 2)

Killing Eve AMC 1 — Image courtesy of AMC/BBC

While season 1 allowed us to really focus on Eve’s quest to take down Villanelle, we got to really know Villanelle in season 2. Jodie Comer’s performance was beyond fantastic and I was so excited for her Emmy win! The dynamic between Eve and Villanelle took some unexpected turns in season 2 and we were left with a major cliffhanger at the end of the season, but this show is so addicting and I can’t get enough! More please!

3

Stranger Things (Season 3)

Stranger Things Netflix 1 — Image courtesy of Netflix

I am a huge fan of Stranger Things, but I was slightly underwhelmed by season 2. However, season 3 came back with a bang, giving us so many fun 80’s moments. Some of our favorite characters truly got to shine and we also got some fantastic new characters that I welcomed with open arms. I think season 3 may be my favorite now, but I was so entertained by the watch and I can’t wait to see how it all ends!

2

Game of Thrones (Season 8)

I thought that GOT would pretty much be a given as my favorite show of the year, but the final season took some interesting twists that I’m still debating over. That being said, the performances were brilliant, the action was intense, and we also got some heart-warming moments in the midst of the heartbreaking ones.

I loved seeing Arya’s “Not Today” moment and Jon Snow’s reunion with Ghost was very special for me. This show will always be one of my all time favorites and overall, I was thoroughly entertained.

Drum roll please…

1

The Witcher

This show was such an unexpected and pleasant surprise. Even though the show started off a little slow, it kicked things up a notch and quickly became my favorite show of the year! The characters and performances were beyond fantastic. The action was out of this world and the dark magic was so intriguing.

This show was fast-paced, fun, and addicting. I never thought that I would even like this show and it somehow blew all of the other shows out of the water for me. Cheers to The Witcher!

The Witcher Netflix 2 — Image courtesy of Netflix

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments about your favorite television shows of 2019. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Nancy Drew” Series Premiere on the CW: “Maybe more horror and less mystery?”

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“Mysteries were everywhere and I loved solving them.”

Your favorite amateur sleuth is getting her own show, but it seems like this Nancy Drew is darker and more mature, but can she measure up to the competition? The series premiere of Nancy Drew aired on the CW on October 9th 2019. The show will run weekly episodes and it comes on directly after Riverdale. Know your audience, right?

The show stars Kennedy McMann, Tunji Kasim, Leah Lewis, and Scott Wolf. Nancy Drew makes reference to how she started solving mysteries at a young age, paying tribute to the book series character we all know and love. However, after tragically losing her mother, Nancy Drew is all grown up and it seems like she wants to stay away from mysteries and ghosts, but it doesn’t look like they are ready to let her go just yet.

Nancy Drew has a lot of competition, especially since other shows like Riverdale, Veronica Mars, and Stranger Things all have a captivating female lead who likes to solve mysteries, but where does that leave the girl who started it all? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Nancy Drew CW Premiere 1 — Images courtesy of The CW

True respect for the original character.

Nancy Drew was the first book series I fell in love with and I lost myself in the mysteries again and again. I have seen several movie interpretations and I appreciate that this show is trying to do something different, but I also respected the clever Easter eggs thrown into the mix, including our girl Nancy investigating with the infamous flashlight.

Some potential for the new Scoobies.

I am still sorting out who is who and I’m not sure how I feel about Nancy’s friends just yet, but I like that they all want to help out. I always loved “The Scoobies” on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, reminding us that you don’t have to be the obvious hero to make a difference and save the day, so I think this could be the start of something really fun and nostalgic.

The supernatural horror elements are genuinely scary!

If you know anything about Nancy Drew, you know that even though you get your fair share of ghostly mysteries, there is always some kind of rational explanation to bring us back to the real world. Even this Nancy reminds us in the beginning of the show that she doesn’t believe in ghosts and yet there is this very real ghost story going on, which has captured my full attention.

I expected this show to be more focused on teenage drama with mystery sprinkled in, but I was genuinely surprised by the supernatural horror aspect and I think this might be something that can help Nancy Drew create a voice of its own separate from Riverdale. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina comes to mind, but so far they are doing much better with that deliciously dark component, but that doesn’t mean that Nancy Drew can’t step up to the plate too. More horror please!

The Cons:

Nancy Drew CW Premiere 2 — Images courtesy of The CW

I can’t get a real read on Nancy yet.

Part of the reason why I like characters like Betty Cooper, Veronica Mars, and Nancy Wheeler is that they channel Nancy Drew while having this magnetic spark that really draws you in to their character. I’m missing something with Nancy Drew so far and while I get that she is dealing with her grief and seems closed off, I haven’t connected with her at all yet and that could be a problem. I’m only one episode in so I hope to get some more layers soon, but I want to ignite a fire within Nancy as soon as possible.

Forcing a ship.

Part of the way I fall in love with a ship, is that I see the progression of their relationship that leads to some epic moment between them that cannot be ignored. We dive into this relationship between Nancy and Nick (Ned Nickerson) and I just don’t feel the chemistry yet. I want to see some real moments between them leading up to something, rather than these bits and pieces that are being forced upon me.

The actual mystery is just kind of blah…

A dead body shows up and Nancy Drew is on the case, but there is nothing really unique or special about the murder and Nancy’s process to discover the clues seems very by the numbers and uninspiring. That being said, the mystery surrounding this ghost story and her parents might be the real winner, but I still want Nancy to surprise me and invest me in her other mysteries. Maybe she should call Betty Cooper up for some advice on this…

So am I in or out?

Nancy Drew CW Premiere 3 — Images courtesy of The CW

As of right now, it’s about 50/50 for me. The show isn’t necessarily bad, but there’s nothing that magnetic or special about it just yet. I feel like right now it is in the shadow of its competition and it needs to do something spectacular to pave its own way. Maybe that’s the horror element I mentioned earlier, which has a lot of chilling potential.

I plan on giving the show another two episodes to really get a feel for it, but I’m hoping for some kind of a spark here. Out of every new Fall show premiering, this is the show I was really looking forward to and perhaps I set my expectations too high, but I’m keeping an open mind for now.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Free Instant Preview of The Search for Alice is available here!

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