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

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

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

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

Dylan & Kelly.

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

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

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

Brandon & Kelly.

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

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

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

Steve & Janet.

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

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

David & Donna.

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

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

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

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one ship are:

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

Dylan & Brenda.

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

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

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

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

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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

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

Mickey explains the importance of going to college.

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

Alba pretends to be a maid again.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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

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

Frank makes it back to the USA.

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

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

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

Debbie befriends a dog named, Toto.

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

Fiona goes bowling.

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

Carl is getting married…

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

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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

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

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

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

“Ab Aeterno.” (Season 6, episode 9)

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

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

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

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

“The Constant.” (Season 4, episode 5)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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

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

Cole Turner from Charmed.

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

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

Killian Jones aka Captain Hook from Once Upon a Time.

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

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

Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries.

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

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

Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

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

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

James Ford…aka Sawyer from Lost.

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

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

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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

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

Bridgette gets a job at Account Collect Management.

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

Bridgette gets a new hair-cut.

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

Bridgette eats cupcakes in the bathroom.

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

Rafi graduates from “sober living.”

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

Bridgette matches with her father on Tinder.

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

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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

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

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

“All Carl’s.”

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

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

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

Lip tries out speed-sponsoring.

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

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

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

“Sexy Welder Girl Looking for Work.”

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

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

Kev is in “full on domination mode.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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

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

Want to read more? You can click the link directly below for a free preview. Thanks for your support!

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

The Search for Alice is available here!

My top television shows of 2017 on Netflix: Binge-watching throughout the year!

Since I covered my top favorite television shows that aired in 2017 on local and cable networks, I thought it would only be right to discuss my favorite shows that aired on Netflix as well. While Netflix has been slowly taking away some of my old favorites series to make room for the new ones, I have been pleased with a lot of their new shows. Don’t get me wrong, I desperately want them to bring back shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and One Tree Hill and to consider not taking Lost off. Either way I will still dust off my old DVD sets and settle for some quality shows on Netflix as a compromise. Netflix has done a good job of successfully providing me with the binge-watching we all crave once in a while with its lineup. Who am I kidding…all the time! Please note some spoilers are ahead.

The Best of the Best of television shows streaming on Netflix for 2017 are:

13 Reasons Why
Stranger Things (season 2)
The Punisher
Ozark
Orange is the New Black (season 5)

Orange is the New Black is a favorite guilty pleasure of mine and I admit that I look forward to every June for the premiere. I tend to watch these episodes in just under a week because I am always sad when it is over to soon. Season 4 ended with a cliff-hanger of Daya pointing a gun at a guard, leaving fans wondering what would happen next. A lot of the season focused on the inmates refusing to be treated poorly anymore, leading to a riot that allowed the tables to be turned and the inmates to take control of the prison. Each episode was jam-packed with drama and action, which had me contemplating when to start up the next episode. I have to admit that it took a lot of self-control to watch everything over the course of the week, as it would have been very easy to finish this within a day or two.

When my friends told me about Ozark, they said it was sort of like Breaking Bad but not really. Not really that specific of a review, but it did get my attention and I checked out the show featuring the wonderful and brilliant Jason Bateman. Bateman plays Marty who gets caught up in a money-laundering scheme and is forced to leave his home with his family and set up shop in the small town of Ozark so that the head of the Mexican cartel doesn’t kill him and everyone he cares about. Marty has a set of skills that are unlike many others and thinks on his feet quickly to come up with a business scheme that can work, all while trying to deal with the fact that his marriage is coming to an end and to keep his children happy. Sounds like a tall order and it is. While the series is no Breaking Bad, at least not yet anyway, it was entertaining and absolutely worth a watch.

I am a big fan of Marvel in general and The Punisher is one of my favorite heroes or maybe anti-heroes of all time. Usually when I say this, fans question this and say why not Wolverine or Captain America? The Punisher is so powerful to me because he has no super powers and his quest for revenge is sympathetic and tragic. When Netflix’s Daredevil season 2 came out, the best part of it was the introduction of The Punisher. I was ecstatic when I heard that the character would be getting his own series. I am happy to say that I successfully binge-watched this show over the weekend and it is everything I could have hoped for. Jon Bernthal is so believable as Frank Castle that you would think the comic series was based off of him. He is someone to root for and although the violence may be extreme, the enemies get what is coming to them. I also found myself investing time and energy into the supporting cast as well which is rare for me. The villains are also so intense and heart-breaking, as Frank Castle finds himself being betrayed left and right while he is trying to make amends and bring those who deserve it to justice.

Stranger Things season 2 is absolutely worth a binge-watch and perhaps a second or third time through. That’s how good it is. The music alone sparked new life into this season, the characters and friendships were bonded further, and the quest to find out where one comes from and what “home” truly means is touching and beautiful. Once again, this season blended the perfect amount of comedy with sci-fi mystery. New friends and characters are introduced and the adventures don’t stop. I don’t want to give away too much in case you haven’t gotten a chance to watch yet, but remember “friends don’t lie.” So please watch and enjoy!

When 13 Reasons Why streamed on Netflix earlier in the year, it was considered to be very controversial because of the subject matter and targeted audience. As a result, it got mixed reviews. After watching the first episode for myself, I found myself binge-watching the season all in one day. While I am sure many of you have done the same, the show did an excellent job of drawing the viewer in wanting to unlock the real reasons why Hannah Baker decided to end her life and how her friend, Clay Jensen is involved. Rather than leave a suicide note, Hannah records everything on 13 audio cassette tapes and has them delivered to the different people responsible so that they can hear the whole story. While the show makes you want to dive deeper into truth, there is something very raw and painful about the emotions that are revealed along the way from each character who wronged Hannah and how they are dealing with the aftermath of her death along with issues in their own lives that they are facing. You connect with the characters so much which makes the ultimate fate of Hannah that more tragic and heart-breaking. While the show is emotionally difficult to handle sometimes, it is worth a watch and reminds us about what is truly important in life.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 siblings from television: Family is where the heart is.

As we are in the midst of the holiday season, it’s a time to re-connect with family and remember what’s truly important in life. Many of us have an unspoken bond with our siblings, whether it is inside jokes or a similar laugh, which is natural when you have all grown up together and faced many of the same challenges and shared similar memories. This really got me thinking about siblings on television and how difficult it must be to create that connection instantly. The actors on these shows already have the complicated task of portraying their roles and diving deep into what makes that particular character tick. However, when you also need to add on a believable and real connection as siblings, this becomes even more difficult to capture. For today’s topic, I am going to be ranking my top 5 siblings from television. The siblings I chose are not just cast well. Rather, they become so believable as siblings that I have to bring up Wikipedia on my phone just to double check that the actors are not related. Please note spoilers are ahead. My top 5 siblings from television are:

Brandon and Brenda Walsh from Beverly Hills, 90210.

The Minnesota Twins!

Who could forget when twins, Brandon and Brenda Walsh move from Minnesota all the way to glamorous Beverly Hills, California. While the twins quickly realize that West Beverly High is not like any other high school they have ever seen, they fast-track into a superficial bubble where they are faced with difficult decisions. Luckily, the twins have each other to support one another. Some of my favorite moments on the show are when Brandon or Brenda would make a huge mistake and they would end up meeting in their Jack and Jill bathroom, relieved to see their other half so they could confide in them. Brandon and Brenda share quite a bit of fights along the way and introduce new friends like Kelly and Dylan into the mix, but there is something about their bond as siblings that is wholesome and unbreakable. Fans were disappointed when Brenda left the show, wondering where that would leave Brandon now that his beloved sister was gone. While Brandon still kept viewers hooked with his charm and good sense of right and wrong, the earlier episodes with the Walsh twins had something truly special that could not be so easily replaced even with new cast members.

Fiona, Lip, Ian, Debbie, Carl, and Liam Gallagher from Shameless.

“Hey, sometimes life throws a couple swings at you. But we’re Gallaghers, okay? And there’s two things that we’re really good at: knowing how to get back up, and knowing how to party.” (Shameless)

This list would not be complete without the Gallagher siblings we have watched grow up over the years. Fiona has the difficult task of taking care of her five younger siblings since their parents are rarely present…and when they are it’s like they are children too. While this forced Fiona to grow up very quickly, she has always made it clear that family comes first. The Gallagher siblings may appear to be a group of untamed misfits, but at the end of the day they are truly there for one another. The family faces many problems over the seasons ranging from losing their house to Fiona winding up in jail. When Fiona was not around, Lip and the others recognized that they now needed to step up. Whether that meant collecting money in a jar for the electric bill or making sure that Liam was actually fed breakfast, the siblings are forced to grow up fast in a world that seems to be against them, but they are resilient and strong.

Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows from Prison Break.

“I’m breaking out, and you’re going to make sure my brother goes with me.” (Michael from Prison Break)

How many of us would tattoo our entire bodies with the blueprints of a prison and commit a crime so that you could help break your brother out of prison? Seems extreme, right? But Michael Scofield is a genius and will not stop until he frees his brother, recognizing that his brother was framed for a crime that he didn’t commit. While this show keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with each new challenge that gets in the way of the escape, what keeps you coming back for more is the undeniable connection between Michael and Lincoln. Lincoln is the older brother and used to take care of Michael when he was younger. Michael feels like he owes him and has guilt about turning his back on him previously when he asked for help. He sacrifices everything to help him escape, redefining what unconditional love means in the process. Michael and Lincoln always have each other’s backs and their physical resemblance is uncanny. Even though they are not related, I found myself repeatedly searching online to see if perhaps they were distant cousins to no avail.

The Halliwell Sisters from Charmed.

“The power of 3 will set us free!” (Charmed)

Charmed has always been a guilty pleasure of mine. I always enjoy watching shows that feature a supernatural premise, but this series goes beyond that. The sisterly bond between Prue, Piper, and Phoebe Halliwell is so heart-warming that you truly believe they are sisters. In moments where one of the sisters faces an unstoppable evil or comes close to death, their heart-breaking tears even get me crying. Through all of the evil monsters and demons they face as witches, they take the time to bond and fight over things normal sisters would, such as trying to stealing the other one’s boyfriend or remembering to ask before borrowing a favorite outfit. This light comedy combined with some intense drama and action along the way makes this show truly unique. Much like 90210, Shannen Doherty left the show, which had fans wondering how Prue could ever be replaced. You couldn’t just recast her because the sisterly bond is what captured so many viewers. Fans would have been put off if they just tried to pretend like another actress was the oldest sister. The producers and writers were smart enough to add in a new story-line where Piper and Phoebe discover that they have a half-sister they never knew about previously who could help re-establish the power of 3. Whether you were on board with this or not, Paige stepped in seamlessly to fill the void Prue left and the sisterly bond continued to stay strong.

Dean and Sam Winchester from Supernatural.

“You saved my life over and over. I mean, you sacrifice everything for me, don’t you think I’d do the same thing for you? You’re my big brother. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.” (Sam from Supernatural)

So my number one pick for best siblings on television has to go to my favorite brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester. The series has lasted for 13 seasons and is still going strong. Like Charmed, this show features a supernatural premise…hence the title. Sam and Dean are forced to grow up quickly when their mother dies when they are young and they follow in the shadow of their father’s footsteps to become hunters. The brothers travel from place to place to take on cases and help save innocent lives, but deal with some powerful obstacles along the way. Whether it is getting trapped in hell or purgatory or working with angels or demons, the brothers refuse to let death get in the way. They support each other no matter what. When one brother is going through a difficult time, the other recognizes that he needs to step up and help pick up the pieces. Out of every show I have ever watched, the bond between Sam and Dean is the most real and uplifting. You don’t doubt for a second they are brothers and you never give up on them. What’s so great about the brothers is that they also have quite a few hilarious moments together as well, ranging from running away from an adorable Yorkie to reluctantly facing a child-hood fear of clowns. This reminds viewers that the brothers are human and while their calling is to fight the good fight, they are not afraid to share some laughs too. Fans love when the brothers show up posing as FBI agents, wondering what new dynamic duo they will pretend to be. Like our own families, Sam and Dean portray the good, the bad, and everything in between, truly representing what it means to stick by one another through thick and thin.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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

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

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

Alison DiLaurentis from Pretty Little Liars.

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

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

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

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

Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl.

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

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

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

Cheryl Blossom from Riverdale.

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

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

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

Valerie Malone from Beverly Hills, 90210.

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

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

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

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

Cordelia Chase from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

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

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

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

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

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl