Spoiler-Free Review of “The Wheel of Time” on Prime Video: Lord of the Rings-esque Fantasy is actually pretty Addicting

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

“The world is broken…”

The Wheel of Time premiered on November 19th 2021 on Prime Video. There will be eight episodes in total. The first three are available to stream now and the remaining ones will air weekly. The fantasy action series stars Rosamund Pike, Madeleine Madden, Josha Stradowski, Barney Harris, Zoe Robins and Marcus Rutherford. Each episode runs for approximately 55-60 minutes.

A powerful magical woman named Moiraine tracks down a group of five teens, revealing that one of them is destined to become the reincarnation of the Dragon, which could ultimately save or destroy the world.

Here is the trailer:

The Wheel of Time may initially seem like a placeholder for shows like The Witcher and Shadow and Bone, but it manages to find its own identity. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Rosamund Pike lights up the screen.

Even though we get plenty of characters to focus on, Rosamund Pike is the best part of the show. There is a lot of talk about the power of women and she really embodies that completely. More please!

There is potential with some of the other characters as well, which is promising, but I’m all for a strong female lead and so far she is delivering.

Stunning visuals and worthy fight sequences.

The setting and visuals in this show are really so well done. I lost myself within the setting and I thought that it channeled Lord of the Rings in a good way. The fight sequences were actually really great too. I was worried that I was going to fall asleep watching this show and somehow I found myself binge-watching the first three episodes back-to-back.

Each episode has a fantastic ending that will leave you hitting play immediately. I honestly can’t wait to find out what happens next!

The Cons:

The supporting characters need some work…

I didn’t read the book series, but I would like these characters to be fleshed out a lot more. We’ve gotten some glimmers of their purpose and potential, but I need to actually care about what happens to them. I’m hopeful that we will get there within the next few episodes, but I don’t want to gloss over character development because it’s important.

I also think this show could benefit from some well-placed humor here and there. Shows like GOT and The Witcher understood how to lighten up the mood sometimes and even though I was thoroughly entertained with The Wheel of Time, it felt a little heavy at times and some of the dialogue was borderline atrocious.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

I went into this show thinking I was going to get a Game of Thrones rip-off and instead I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this show. It has a lot going on and it needs some improvements, but so far it has managed to captivate my undivided attention and I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

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 “Warrior Nun” on Netflix: It’s not easy being a Chosen One

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

One girl destined to fight against the demons of the world. Sound familiar? The premise screams Buffy the Vampire Slayer with religious undertones, which instantly sparked my attention, but sometimes a comparison is not always a good thing.

Warrior Nun premiered on Netflix on July 2nd 2020. It features 10 episodes (approximately 45-48 minutes in length). It stars Alba Baptista, Toya Turner, Emilio Sakraya, and Thekla Reuten.

Based on the manga style comic book character, Warrior Nun Areala, the show focuses on Ava. After waking up in a morgue, she discovers that she is far from dead and now possesses supernatural abilities as the chosen Halo Bearer. She faces new threats and demons while also searching for her own identity along the way.

Right away, I was completely hooked by the premise. The trailer was actually quite good and I’m all for a show that features a strong female character taking on the apocalypse, but does Warrior Nun do enough to make it stand out from its predecessors? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Warrior Nun Netflix 1 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Delightful performances.

Standout performances go to Alba Baptista as Ava and Toya Turner as Shotgun Mary. They are believable and they really helped me connect more with these particular characters. There is subtle humor and sarcasm going on mixed with some real life altering scenarios, which gave us a good balance throughout the show.

These nuns kick ass!

The fight scenes may seem slightly ridiculous. They are flashy and unrealistic, but they are also really entertaining and they kept the pace going. If you’re a Chosen One, I want to see some bad-ass fight scenes and Warrior Nun certainly delivered with that.

The Cons:

Warrior Nun Netflix 2 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Awkward voiceover narration.

I get it. We are trying to connect with Ava and learn more about her past to truly appreciate and understand what she has to deal with now. However, the voiceover narrations were awkward and out of place. They actually made Ava seem more whiny than she actually is and I could have done without them.

Too many episodes.

There are ten episodes and I think this show really could have been done in eight. When you have that many episodes, it really slows things down. There was unneeded fluff that made me lose interest several times throughout the show, which is a shame. Sometimes less is more…

This show is NOT Buffy.

I’ve seen multitple comparisons going on between this show and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While I can absolutely see the similarities and noticed some myself, this show is nothing like Buffy, which is in a category of its own. I think this actually hurt the show because it just falls flat in comparison. On its own, the show actually has a lot of redeeming qualities, but I’m not sure it will be able to break through these comparisons.

So am I in or out?

Warrior Nun Netflix 3 — Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in…about 75 percent. Overall, this show was pretty entertaining. I liked the premise. I liked the characters and I loved the kick-ass fighting scenes. Once I got over the disappointment that this show would not be in the same category as Buffy, I started to enjoy it more…especially once I got to episode 4.

That being said, there is a lot slowing down the pace of this series and the exceptional premise falls flat in several areas, but there is still enough substance and heart in this show. If you are looking for a supernatural type of binge-watch, I would recommend watching The Order before Warrior Nun, but there is certainly enough to enjoy throughout your watch.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Warrior Nun 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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My performance of the week ending 3/14/20 on TV goes to…

Rhea Seehorn as Kim Wexler on AMC’s Better Call Saul season 5.

The entire cast of Better Call Saul is extremely talented and it’s difficult to outshine the infamous scene stealer himself, Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman, but somehow Rhea Seehorn’s performance each week continues to move me. Kim Wexler is the heart of the show and she is always so brilliant and believable.

**Please note some spoilers are ahead if you are not caught up on the series.**

While Saul (formerly known as Jimmy) is known to cut through some red tape to make things happen, Kim always tries to do things by the book. Sure, she certainly has had some fantastic cons with Jimmy, but you truly empathize with her internal struggle to be taken seriously as a lawyer.

Better Call Saul AMC 1 — Images courtesy of AMC

I honestly don’t know anyone who works harder and sometimes it takes a toll on her, but she is so driven to fight for things in the right way. However, Kim recognizes that following the book doesn’t always pay off even when she has gone through every possible scenario and detail. I actually get so annoyed with the team from Mesa Verde and how they treat Kim.

They take advantage of her and don’t see how valuable she truly is. In season 5, episodes 3 and 4, Kim tries to reason with a man who refuses to leave his home, which is on land owned by Mesa Verde. Kim stands her ground, but also gets a wake-up call when the man asks her about her own morals.

Kim does everything in her power to try and find another way, but when her ideas are dismissed, she starts to realize that perhaps she does need Jimmy/Saul to get some real justice.

Kim’s moral compass is what makes her such a likable character. We accept and know that Jimmy/Saul is going to entertain us with his schemes, but Kim wavers back and forth between what is actually right and wrong. Out of all the characters on the show, Kim is the one I relate to the most. She is so real and convincing and my heart goes out to her whenever something bad happens to her because she doesn’t deserve it.

What’s next for Kim Wexler? We’ll have to see how her team-up with Saul pans out, but I’m hoping that Kim can find her way and earn the respect and recognition that she deserves. I’m also wondering what’s next for Kim and Saul. I think that they are such an adorable couple and almost remind me of a modern day Bonnie and Clyde in the attorney world, but we also know that Kim is not mentioned or seen in the Breaking Bad series.

Better Call Saul AMC 2 — Images courtesy of AMC

Was it a bad breakup or do they part on good terms? I’m not sure, but it’s clear that Saul needs Kim in his life. They both are conflicted in different ways and somehow bring out the best in one another. I’m hoping that with the series wrapping up next year, we will get some kind of concrete answers and closure for them.

Since we do flash forward to the future quite a bit, there is still hope for Saul to make things right with Kim, but I am also nervous about what actually split them up in the first place because it honestly breaks my heart even though I don’t know what actually happened.

Through it all, this series continues to be one of the best on television and Rhea Seehorn shines every single week with her incredible performances. Kim Wexler is one of the strongest female characters on television right now and she is an inspiration to women everywhere. Let’s just hope that she doesn’t get caught in the middle of another mess because she deserves the world and then some.

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

Have a performance on TV that you think is simply outstanding? Feel free to contact me with your nomination for the week by Friday at midnight!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

**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!

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My performance of the week ending 2/29/20 on TV goes to…

Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper on The CW’s Riverdale.

I never get tired of watching my girl Betty Cooper stand her ground and fight for the ones she loves. She’s relentless, courageous, smart, and the one person I want in my corner if I ever get stuck in some kind of small town mystery drama.

**Please note some spoilers are ahead if you are not caught up on the series.**

When I think about some of my all-time favorite shows on television, I think about my favorite characters and how much they have impacted me. Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers, Holly Marie Combs as Piper Halliwell, and Evangeline Lilly as Kate Austen come to mind. I can certainly add Lili Reinhart to this growing list now, as she continues to impress me again and again with her brilliant and inspiring performances.

Betty Cooper the CW — Images courtesy of The CW

Betty Cooper has always been my character to root for against all odds and she is certainly in a tough spot right now, but she can use all the support she can get!

This is not the first time I have highlighted Reinhart’s performance as Betty Cooper and sometimes I feel like giving her the spotlight every single week because she deserves it. After watching season 4, episodes 13 and 14, there have been a lot of reveals and Betty is doing her best to bring down the annoying cronies from Stonewall Prep to clear her name and get justice for her beloved Jughead.

You would think that Betty might be feeling defeated or overwhelmed and yet she is somehow channeling all of her inner strength to keep fighting, refusing to give up. The Stonewall Prep cronies may be smart, but we know that Betty Cooper is way smarter and she will outmaneuver them somehow.

Donna better watch her back because the daughter of the Black Hood is coming for her. As Betty said, she is the “ultimate wild card” and my hero. Betty may be far from perfect and perhaps she takes things too far sometimes, but she has a big heart and is extremely loyal.

Betty Cooper The CW 2 — Images courtesy of The CW

Betty can run circles around the adults in town and I know that she is about to channel her Carrie Mathison like theories to get to the bottom of everything, but I’m still hoping that we can somehow get a Bughead happily ever after.

What’s next for Betty? Well, quite a lot actually. Even though Betty has just set several pieces in motion, she now needs to sit back and wait for the Stonewall Prep cronies to make their next move. I’m confident that Betty will find a way to bring them to justice, but let’s hope that Archie and Veronica continue to have her back.

Betty Cooper The CW 3 — Images courtesy of The CW

Charles seems to be an ally for now, but we know that he has a lot of secrets as well after visiting Chic in jail, so our girl needs to be extra cautious. Either way, I can’t wait to find out what happens next and I know that Betty will continue to light a fire until she can get to the truth.

Watch out Quill & Skull…Betty Cooper is coming for you!

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

Have a performance on TV that you think is simply outstanding? Feel free to contact me with your nomination for the week by Friday at midnight!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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My performance of the week ending 11/30/19 on TV goes to…

Christian Serratos as Rosita on AMC’s The Walking Dead.

**Nominated by Luke from QuizUp. Thanks Luke!**

When Christian Serratos was first introduced on TWD as Rosita, I thought she was strong-willed and stubborn with a guarded heart. She was a bad-ass and someone I was always confident in to save the day.

Over the seasons, Rosita has not always gotten the spotlight she deserves, as her character became entangled in some interesting love triangles that seemed more like plot fluff.

When Rosita became a mother, I was really excited because I thought that this might bring us some new layers to her character. Rosita has this spark within her and I have been waiting for it to light up the screen and it looks like it has finally happened!

**Please note spoilers are ahead if you are not up-to-date on the series.**

Christian Serratos’s performance in season 10 episode 8 was so real and heartbreaking. Rosita puts the needs of her baby first, but I cannot possibly imagine what she was going through when she had to take down undead Siddiq.

Rosita has always put up a strong front previously and she channels some of her rage by playing Fight Club with the walkers outside the gates. Rosita loses her cool a few times and ends up needing to be saved by Eugene, which is a wake-up call for her.

Rosita starts to realize that she may die, which never scared her before, but now she wants to be there for Baby Coco. Rosita now wants to live more than ever and I could almost see the strength emerge within her eyes. The grief and the heartbreak will still be present, but Rosita understands that she needs to keep fighting for herself and for her child.

We are finally seeing a lot of character development for Rosita, so I hope that this doesn’t mean that we may lose her. TWD has a tendency to give us these brilliant moments only to brutally rip these characters away from us, but I’m going to continue rooting for Rosita.

She’s strong and resilient, but she is also now finally lifting the guard around her heart to let others in and to truly be there for her child.

What’s next for Rosita? We’ll have to wait and see, but it looks like a potential romance with fan-favorite, Eugene, may not be too far off anymore. While I kind of just want Rosita to get away from all of this romantic drama, I know that Eugene selflessly cares for both her and Baby Coco so I’m willing to give this a chance, but I want to see Rosita continue to fight and transform into the warrior I know she can be.

Either way, I am really happy with season 10 so far and part of that is because we are finally getting some worthy character development from characters who have previously taken a back seat in other seasons.

I can’t wait to find out what happens next in the second half of the season and I am beyond excited to witness Rosita’s journey even more!

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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My performance of the week ending 11/2/19 on TV goes to…

Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper on The CW’s Riverdale.

For two weeks in a row, Betty Cooper has been on fire! She’s strong, fearless, and a bad-ass girl you do not want to mess with! Even if you’re family, you are not off limits, as Betty has no problem putting you in your place if you deserve it.

There are so many characters on this show and I enjoy the dynamic between all of them, but there just has to be something said for the talent of Lili Reinhart. She’s in a league of her own and she always steals the show.

It’s interesting how I was more excited for the premiere of the Nancy Drew series and yet I found Nancy’s character needing to channel some more Betty Cooper to truly come alive because Betty has set the bar so high for female amateur sleuths.

She’s not afraid to challenge authority and even the adults listen to her because she’s usually right…about everything!

Please note some spoilers are ahead if you are not caught up on the series.

In season 4 episode 4, we get a fun and spooky Halloween episode and Betty decides to dress up as Laurie Strode, the original scream queen herself. Betty absolutely has Final Girl potential and she continues to get even stronger when more threats come her way.

That being said, Betty is so strong individually, but there is this wonderful and supportive quality to Bughead (Betty and Jughead together). With the new mystery unfolding, it doesn’t look good for Jughead’s fate, but how will that impact Betty?

We have seen her deal with the reveal of the Black Hood and her mom’s drama with the Farm, but Jughead has always been Betty’s rock. I’m slightly worried that she may completely lose it and resort back to dark season 2 Betty, but let’s hope that she can continue to stay strong.

What’s next for Betty? We’ll have to wait and see, but it looks like we could be revisiting her dark past. Betty may have this “serial killer darkness” within her because her father was the Black Hood, but I feel like she can tap into it to get an edge over everyone else, but let’s hope it doesn’t consume her completely.

When a mystery emerges in town, I’m always looking for my girl Betty to solve it and I hope that she can figure out a way to somehow save Jughead since we know that this show has presented us with a lot of twists and surprises before. Either way, I’m always going to root for Betty and I can’t wait to see what she does next!

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Have a performance on TV that you think is simply outstanding? Feel free to contact me with your nomination for the week by Friday at midnight!

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My performance of the week ending 9/7/19 on TV goes to…

Hilary Duff as Kelsey Peters on TV Land’s Younger. Even though the show mostly centers around Liza, I was beyond impressed with Hilary Duff’s performance in season 6 and I think that our girl Kelsey is finally showing the world what she is truly made of. She’s more than a SHero. She’s an inspiration and she is proving to be a strong woman who can compete with anyone in the business world. Please note some spoilers are ahead if you are not up-to-date on the series.

Even when it seems like things are not working in her favor, Kelsey manages to turn it around somehow, proving that she is extremely capable and hard-working. She refuses to let defeat creep over her and she always has another backup plan, preparing for whatever comes next.

I have always loved the friendship between Liza and Kelsey, along with the budding relationship between Kelsey and Zane, but I really thought that Kelsey finally started to find her own identity separate from these relationships in season 6, which makes her much more than a supporting character.

Kelsey has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders in season 6, taking on the role of publisher of Millennial, but she continues to make impressive decisions. Even after her social media mistake, she still bounces back and makes the courageous decision to leave the job that she has come to love, taking a huge leap of faith to discover her next path.

Ultimately, it looks like Kelsey’s path will actually lead her right back to Millennial in a different role and I have to say that I am relieved! Kelsey has worked so hard and she deserves recognition for her efforts and I think that Charles is really trying his best to make her feel like she is part of the Millennial family.

What’s next for Kelsey? We’ll have to wait and see, but it looks like Kelsey will have a new position at Millennial to tackle and she is also truly opening herself up to Zane, so it will be interesting to see what’s next for one of my favorite ships as well. I have been a fan of the series for a while now, but sometimes characters with the most potential lose out on screen time.

Each episode is only about 30 minutes, which doesn’t give us a lot of time to play with, but I think that the development and growth of Kelsey’s character has been so important for the series and I am a Kelsey Peters fan for life. I can’t wait to see what she does next!

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Have a performance on TV that you think is simply outstanding? Feel free to contact me with your nomination for the week by Friday at midnight!

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Affair” season 5 episode 2: “Be A Little Selfish”

Happy Sunday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s The Affair season 5 episode 2, I realized that sometimes we have to take some much needed time for ourselves. A lot of times it may seem routine or necessary to deflect our own feelings and worry about what is going on around us, but you also don’t want to lose who you are in the process. Perhaps it’s more about finding a balance, but taking care of ourselves can help more than we realize. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.

In tonight’s episode, “502,” we see things from Janelle’s point of view, reminding us that Noah really is completely oblivious and off in his own world sometimes. Meanwhile, Helen bonds with Sasha and Joanie takes a work trip up to Montauk, but will she find the answers she is looking for? My top 5 moments from The Affair season 5 episode 2 are:

“Girlfriend is a strong word.”

Part one of the episode follows Janelle, as we see things from her perspective during Vic’s funeral, which really helped fill in some blanks since we know that Janelle did disappear several times. I am a big fan of Sanaa Lathan and I love the character of Janelle. She is strong, opinionated, and brilliant.

Noah says that he can’t wait for Janelle to get to know his family, but the whole situation is slightly awkward and a bit overwhelming, especially when Helen’s father mistakes her for the help and Noah’s daughter, Whitney, points out how she is super excited that her dad is dating a woman of color.

Janelle does her best to deal with these inappropriate side comments with grace, but you have to wonder how long her relationship will last with Noah? I personally think that Janelle is out of his league, but I am trying to keep an open mind here.

“Are you always this honest?”

Three months later, we see things from Helen’s perspective, as she agrees to go on set with Noah and Whitney. Noah was under the impression that they were shooting a harmless family scene, but Helen actually has to watch a reenactment of the moment when she found Alison’s bra in her drawer. Helen is clearly going through a lot after Vic’s death and is speaking her mind even more than usual.

She is not intimidated when meeting celebrity, Sasha Mann, and she points out that the character based on Helen should really be more of a bitch. Sasha appreciates her feedback and thinks that Helen is quite extraordinary and I have to say that I agree!

“Montauk…”

I was worried that we were not going to get a chance to check in with Joanie at all during this episode, but we do get some time with her. Joanie is seen throwing up in the toilet, but wants to cover it up. Does this mean that she is pregnant or is something else going on here? Joanie is just as guarded and secretive as her mother and she has been trying to keep busy with work. Joanie accepts an assignment out in Montauk and tells her husband that she will be staying in her dad’s old house.

When Joanie arrives, Montauk seems like a ghost town and her fingerprint is not recognized at the house. Joanie decides to break in and it looks like she is about to discover even more ghosts as this story unfolds, but will she be able to uncover the truth behind Alison’s murder? I’m also curious to find out more about how Cole died and I am very interested in this story-line, as this keeps the story of Alison and Cole alive for us.

“Don’t come from within. Come from above.”

After Janelle discovers that she is now being offered a co-principal job with a young white male teacher with very little experience, she decides to go visit her ex-husband, Carl, to get some legal advice. Janelle will have to take a pay cut and Joel will be the face of the position, while she will get stuck doing all of the administrative work, which hardly seems fair. Carl initially presents her the facts, but it’s clear that Janelle is looking for some real support here.

Janelle says that she doesn’t play well with others, but I honestly like that about her. She tells it how it is and sometimes you need that in order to maintain structure and she has been trying to create some real change within the school district, which is pretty much what she was hired to do. Carl presents her with an alternative idea and tells her to run for the school board, which would really shake things up.

This would certainly be a huge change for Janelle, but she also decides to pick things up with Carl romantically again, which could have some interesting consequences. I already assumed that her relationship would not last very long with Noah, but is she ready to jump back into a failed marriage? We’ll have to wait and see, but I hope we get some more screen time for Janelle because she is fantastic.

“Live now for us both.”

Helen reluctantly agrees to meet with Sasha Mann and she even lets loose to play some basketball, but things go south when Sasha hits her right in the face with the ball. Helen feels sick and has a slight breakdown and Sasha actually handles it quite well and tries to support Helen. Helen explains that she wasn’t prepared for how permanent death is, opening up a little bit here.

When Helen returns home, she finally plays Vic’s recording for her and he tells her to “be a little selfish,” understanding that Helen is probably keeping her grief to herself to stay strong for everyone around her, but that she needs to be happy and enjoy life for the both of them.

I thought this was an important moment for Helen and Vic really touched on some of the points I made in last week’s blog about Helen enjoying life so I was happy to hear him say something similar. Is Helen finally ready to move on? Let’s hope so!

The ladies of The Affair are certainly holding my undivided attention as we sink deeper back into the ocean. Stay tuned!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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My performance of the week ending 8/31/19 on TV goes to…

Maura Tierney as Helen Solloway on Showtime’s The Affair. Helen has always been a fantastic supporting character on the series, but a lot of the attention has previously centered around Alison, Noah, and Cole. With the opening of the final season of the series, Alison and Cole are no longer on the show and I was worried that we would feel a void without them.

Fear not; however, as Maura Tierney reminded us just how compelling and real Helen can be and it’s about time she got her moment in the spotlight. Please note some spoilers are ahead if you are not up-to-date on the series. After watching the season 5 premiere, I was left in tears and then some.

Both Ruth Wilson and Joshua Jackson were able to bring tears out of me last year as well with their beyond heartbreaking performances, but there was something so incredibly real and honest about Maura Tierney’s portrayal of Helen in the premiere. Grief is something that is not easily portrayed. Sometimes it feels over-the-top and sometimes it feels disingenuous, but somehow my heart was completely breaking for Helen and that was mostly because of how well Maura Tierney performed here.

Helen is used to speaking her mind and she doesn’t care who she offends when she does, which is part of what makes me like her so much. In fact, some of my absolute favorite moments featuring Helen involve her saying something blunt, but she always comes pretty close to the truth. In season 4, Helen has this revealing conversation with Alison and I really stopped to think about what she said and how spot on she was with her advice.

When Noah tells Helen that she is resilient in the season 5 premiere, Helen tells him that she had to be because she didn’t have a choice. But the truth is, Helen is more than resilient. Through it all, she has been strong, loving, and funny. She’s a mother of four and she has had to deal with so much after finding out about Vic’s illness, which would probably push anyone over the edge, but somehow Helen is able to keep going, refusing to give up.

Helen has had some hilarious moments on the show, singing loudly and drinking wine in her bedroom and getting pulled over with her foils still in her hair, but in the season 5 premiere, there is this moment of silence where Helen just simply lets go, allowing her thoughts to drift. This moment of self-reflection is when Helen starts to truly contemplate what has happened and where she is in her life, which was an extremely powerful and heartbreaking scene to watch.

What’s next for Helen? We’ll have to wait and see, but it looks like she may have a new romantic interest in the near future who Noah will not approve of. Even though it seems like there is still a connection between Noah and Helen, I feel like Helen is so above him at this point. Noah doesn’t deserve Helen and I truly hope that she is able to find true happiness because she constantly puts others before her own needs and I just want her to experience a real moment for herself. How will it all end? I’m excited to find out and I can’t wait to see what Helen does next!

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Have a performance on TV that you think is simply outstanding? Feel free to contact me with your nomination for the week by Friday at midnight!

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!

My performance of the week ending 8/24/19 on TV goes to…

Alisha Boe as Jessica Davis on Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why season 3. One of the biggest character transformations on the series belongs to Jessica Davis. While Jessica was already making such an impact on me in season 2 with her courage, she is not holding anything back in season 3. Please note major spoilers have been left out for your convenience.

While I am only three episodes into the new season, Alisha Boe is already impressing me with her realistic and heart-wrenching performance as Jessica. Jessica is absolutely a girl with so much untapped power and strength within her and she is now demanding change at her school. When she runs for class president, it’s about more than being a leader or doing something that looks good for college applications. Jessica wants to bring about real change in the students there and she is willing to fight for what is right.

Ani, the new character on the show, notices the power surging within Jessica from her first real encounter with her, informing her that she is a woman with power who finally knows what to do with it. Jessica is also exploring her sexual identity further, learning how to love herself again after her traumatic experience, which is far from easy to do.

There is a moment of sheer vulnerability when Jessica undresses in front of the mirror. While she is hesitant about what she sees in front of her, Jessica tries her best to love and appreciate her body. With each day, she is getting stronger and stronger and she is inspiring others around her. Jessica has been broken for so long, but the woman I see in season 3 is strong and fearless. She may not be making all the right calls, but she is no longer staying quiet and I think that is extremely powerful.

What’s next for Jessica? We’ll have to wait and see, as I still have 10 episodes left of season 3 to binge-watch and I have already seen some interesting theories floating around. I’m trying not to spoil anything for myself, but I’m hoping that Jessica can continue to channel her inner strength. Has her search for power gone too far? I’m not so sure, but I absolutely admire her for being courageous enough to stand up for herself and other victims and I’m truly hoping she hasn’t made an irrevocable mistake.

So far it’s an interesting start to season 3 and I am still adjusting to the narration from new character, Ani, as I have a feeling we have a lot left to uncover about her as well, but I am continuing to root for Jessica and I hope that she learns to truly accept the love around her because she deserves it and is beyond worthy.

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Have a performance on TV that you think is simply outstanding? Feel free to contact me with your nomination for the week by Friday at midnight!

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!