Ranking the top 5 moments from “American Horror Story: 1984” season 9 episode 7: “The Lady in White”

Happy Halloween TV fans! After watching the FX network’s American Horror Story: 1984 season 9 episode 7, I learned that one should be careful about signing any kind of contract…especially if it’s with the devil. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.

In last night’s episode, “The Lady in White,” we say hello to some familiar AHS alum faces and they are ready to stir up some trouble. Meanwhile, we flash back to the 1940’s and learn more about Benjamin’s past and Brooke shows us her Final Girl potential while rocking it at a roller rink. My top 5 moments from American Horror Story: 1984 season 9 episode 7 are:

“She stole my life.”

Brooke and Donna make quite the tag team during this episode. Donna reveals that she swapped out the lethal injection, explaining why Brooke is really alive right now. Donna claims she is trying to make things right, knowing all too well what’s waiting on the other side if she continues down the wrong path.

Now that Brooke is finally free, will she be able to pull out all the stops as our Final Girl? Let’s hope so!

“What about your stranger policy?”

Hey Dylan McDermott! It’s always great to see him on AHS, although his character certainly seems shady. After meeting Brooke and Donna at the roller rink, he claims he needs a ride to go see his girlfriend, but things get a little suspicious on the ride there, suggesting that perhaps they just picked up a serial killer stranger. What are the odds?

“They couldn’t erase the evil.”

Dylan McDermott isn’t the only familiar face on this week’s episode of AHS 1984, as Lily Rabe also shows up, playing Benjamin’s mother. We flash back to 1948 when Camp Redwood was known as Camp Golden Star, discovering that Benjamin’s mother worked there and he and his brother were campers. After his mother told him to keep an eye on his brother, Benjamin lost sight of him for a moment and his brother ended up being brutally killed by the engine of a boat.

Benjamin’s mother has a nervous breakdown and decides to take her rage out on everyone, revealing the first real massacre here. After Benjamin ended her life, her blood seeped into the campgrounds, which would explain why there is a curse here. It’s clear that she may be the cause of all of this and it also explains why she hates camp counselors, since she blames them partially for her son’s death, giving us some Friday the 13^th nostalgia.

Benjamin’s mother also blames him, but can he make things right? Well, I’m not sure he will get the chance since he is killed by…himself? I’m not really too sure about this part. Was this supposed to be a projection of his brother or just the killer version of his own ghost? Either way, this version of Benjamin may be a worthy match for the Night Stalker, Ramirez.

“Your hitchhiking days are over.”

After the stranger in the car takes out a cop, he reveals that he is a serial killer and he’s actually trying to catch up to the Night Stalker by adding to his kill list. Brooke is presented with a choice: she can either save herself and drag Donna to her death or be killed.

Brooke says she is choosing herself, but ends up throwing the car in the reverse. Brooke and Donna work together and leave the stranger on the side of the road, but cut off some fingers to prevent him from hitching a ride.

Brooke is now the bad-ass girl I have been waiting for and I can’t wait to see this tag team see it through until the end!

“When you sign a contract with the devil, you better understand the fine print.”

The Night Stalker shows up and actually kills Kajagoogoo, claiming he already has his autograph after he signed a contract with the devil. The rest of the tour bus is found dead as well, but what about Billy?!

The Night Stalker has arrived and he’s ready to leave his mark, but I’m very excited to see the final showdown.

Overall, the episode was all right. I thought that the time jumps were slightly unnecessary, but I loved seeing some familiar faces on the show and right now, Brooke’s journey to become the Final Girl is the only thing keeping me invested. I’m hoping she can get everything back on track for us because I don’t want to lose the 80’s slasher vibe that hooked me on to the new season in the first place. Stay tuned!

American Horror Story: 1984 episode 7 Music Soundtrack Highlights:

Def Leppard – Armageddon It

Deniece Williams – Let’s Hear It for the Boy (Official Video)

Alice Cooper – Poison (Official Video)

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories and thoughts on American Horror Story: 1984 below in the comments section. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” Season 4 Episode 4: When a Stranger Calls

Happy Halloween TV fans! During the CW’s Riverdale season 4 episode 4, our characters are threatened on Halloween night, bringing real terrors to life.

Is it just a test or a warning? Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, “Chapter Sixty-One: Halloween,” Betty rocks it as Laurie Strode, but her prank caller decides to channel another horror movie. Meanwhile, Mr. Honey shows what he is capable of, Choni has a séance, and Veronica ends up in a life threatening situation. My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 4 episode 4 are:

“It’s literally six hours of our house…”

Well, we don’t have to wait that long to find out what’s on the mysterious VHS tape delivered. Everyone watches it together and finds out that it’s just footage of their house from the street. Everyone in town begins to receive a similar tape. There is no note left and we don’t really understand what’s going on here, but everyone in Riverdale is being watched. I’m intrigued!

“The Family Man.”

Everyone seems to be having their own spooky adventure during this Halloween themed episode, which was actually a lot of fun! Veronica is about to close up Pop’s, but a man comes in and asks her for a home cooked meal, revealing that he just wants to get home to his family.

He seems like a nice enough guy, but Veronica later sees a news report revealing that he is a serial killer nicknamed “The Family Man” and he enjoys getting a home cooked meal right before he kills his victim.

Our girl V doesn’t waste any time, as she is able to escape down to her club downstairs. Luckily, V is aware of her surroundings and she ends up lighting The Family Man on fire before getting out of there. Go V!

It’s definitely interesting that there are several mentions of Shady Grove during this episode, which is the asylum he escaped from. Could another serial killer be pulling the strings from inside?

“Who or what are the Stonewall 4?”

Well Jughead, apparently they are a group of students from Stonewall Prep who have mysteriously vanished over the years. Even though it’s said to be an urban legend, I think that Jughead is really about to become the fifth member of this group, especially since we know that he goes missing during spring break in the future.

Jughead decides to do some research of his own, but his plans get put on hold when his fellow students decide to lock him in a box as some kind of twisted initiation because you know…being buried alive is totally harmless.

Luckily, Jughead is released in the morning and is all right, but it absolutely makes me suspicious of pretty much everyone at Stonewall Prep.

“This is so messed up.”

Poor Toni! Toni tells Cheryl that it’s time to say goodbye to Jason and Cheryl agrees to bury him again, but reminds Toni that he is not going to be happy about it. After Jason’s body is gone, this really creepy doll begins to show up.

Cheryl thinks that perhaps it is Jason, but Nana Rose fills us in on Cheryl and Jason’s triplet brother, Julian, who died in the womb after Cheryl absorbed him. Cheryl thinks that they should all have a séance and even Nana Rose participates.

Cheryl admits to pretending, but when Toni agrees to let Jason return, the doll comes back as well and Cheryl swears she has nothing to do with it.

This was really disturbing, but also a lot of fun and it gave Choni some quality screen time. While we certainly enjoyed seeing them in their costumes, I thought that the spooky moments with Nana Rose were actually really entertaining. I’d love to see more of these three and I have a feeling that Julian is not going anywhere just yet…

“Who is this?”

Betty is ready to give out candy and watch some scary movies with Jughead, but she begins to worry when he doesn’t show up. I absolutely loved Betty’s costume as Laurie Strode, but her prank caller decides to channel When a Stranger Calls instead. The caller claims to be the Black Hood, but we know that Betty’s dad is dead…

Charles shows up and agrees to help Betty trace the call since it’s obviously not coming from inside the house. He tells her that it is coming from Shady Grove, which is where Polly is staying, but is she really the one behind the call?

After Betty puts her in her place on the phone, it seems like everything is back to normal. She recaps her night with Jughead, but now Charles is listening in on their call. There’s something definitely not right with Charles, but what is his end game here?

Also, we get another sneak peek into the future and see FP and Betty identifying Jughead’s body. The face is partially revealed and it definitely looks like Jughead’s fate is sealed, but we will have to wait and see how this unfolds.

Overall, I thought this was a fun and spooky Halloween episode. It really channeled a lot of old horror movies and presented us with some genuinely scary moments. Plus, we got to see Archie and Mad Dog in those hilarious costumes courtesy of Katy Keene. Way to sneak that in guys and I’m not sure that the vigilante should wear tights, Archie! Stay tuned!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Purge” season 2 episode 3: “Blindspots”

Happy Wednesday TV fans! After watching the USA network’s The Purge season 2 episode 3 last night, we learned that the voice over is back, reminding us that “when you embrace the Purge, anything can happen. What will you choose?” Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.

In last night’s episode, “Blindspots,” Marcus begins to suspect his wife, Esme follows a mystery man in a mask, and Ben attempts to channel his rage. Meanwhile, we get a glimpse into Ryan’s past, learning more about his group prior to the armed robberies. My top 5 moments from The Purge season 2 episode 3 are:

“This is the score to fund the rest of our lives.”

In the beginning of the episode, Tommy stands trial and pleads guilty. He tries to explain that all he did was cross over a line when the Purge siren sounded, but he is charged with a Level R offense. I’m still not clear on what that stands for, but I guess it’s pretty bad since he is sentenced to death. Tommy cries out that this is not justice, but it looks like he is going to need some serious help getting out of this one.

Meanwhile, we flash back to 8 years ago and get a glimpse into Ryan’s past. We learn that he and the rest of the group used to be police officers and they went out one Purge Night to take down a criminal. Only they ended up crossing paths with the Captain, realizing that she was working for the criminal. Ryan is basically blocked from finding any other type of government job and the rest of the group quits the force with him, standing by his side.

We start to truly understand why this group seems like a family, but are they prepared to do something extremely risky by going after a score outside of Purge Night? I can’t wait to find out!

“You’re not good at hiding unless you need to be.”

An excellent point for sure, Esme. I think Esme is starting to be my favorite character on the show. I love that she works for the NFFA, but she also wants to find out the truth and she is not afraid to follow her own leads to do so. Although it’s a safe bet that this may get her into some serious trouble later on.

We get another connection between our characters when Esme starts looking into a mystery man on the cameras. He hasn’t necessarily done anything illegal, but Esme senses that something is up and we discover that she is actually following Ryan.

This isn’t the only connection we get, as Esme decides to call Marcus’s son, Darren. She shares the information she found at Professor Adams’ apartment, hoping to get more information, but Darren seems cautious since she works for the NFFA.

“Cases like these…it’s someone you know. Someone you’re close to.”

Marcus continues to try and find out more about who tried to kill him, but he is shocked when his wife is suggested as a potential suspect. We find out that Michelle is actually Marcus’s second wife, but he can’t seem to believe that she would be capable of something like this.

Either way, Marcus has his guard up and decides to activate the tracker on her phone, following her to see what she is really up to. We discover that Michelle is attending some kind of safe space group to discuss Purge trauma, as Michelle opens up about what happened and how she is feeling. Marcus clearly feels awful for suspecting his wife and decides to surprise her with a romantic dinner.

Does this really clear Michelle as a suspect though? If Michelle is that good, she may have been on to Marcus’s suspicions already and could have done this to throw him off track.

We’ll have to see how this plays out, but after Marcus is almost run down while he is jogging; we know that the killer is not going to rest until he is eliminated for good.

“Was it something you had to do?”

Ben continues to trip out after Purge Night and it’s obvious that his rage is taking over. Ben goes for a drive and we get a Purge Easter Egg, as the famous voice over returns! Fans of The Purge season 1 will remember that the character, Joe, was always listening to this voice over, which was later revealed to be from Bobby Sheridan’s lectures.

Ben shows up to slaughter an animal to channel some of this rage, but he doesn’t go through with it. Later on, he stops to get some strawberries and ends up brutally murdering the man selling them after he tries to scam him out of his correct change.

It looks like the violence from Purge Night is seeping out into the rest of the year, so is it actually making people even more dangerous? Either way, Ben is clearly not over what happened and his roommate better get out of there because I have a feeling he’s next!

“You’re either a ghost or a glitch and I want to know why.”

After Esme follows Ryan, he shows off his own skills and confronts her later on. She reveals that she works for the NFFA and that he is basically a person of interest. Ryan reminds her that he hasn’t done anything wrong, but we know that he is planning this big score.

Will Esme get in his way or will he have second thoughts about going through with it?

Maybe Ryan will be the one to help Esme solve Professor Adams’ murder?

I’m not sure, but I love these character connections and I can’t wait until they all come face-to-face with one another. Stay tuned!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” season 10 episode 4: “Silence the Whisperers”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10 episode 4, Michonne reminded us that sometimes there are bullies that you have to live with and other times you just gotta fight them. Is it possible to kill them with kindness or do you need to stand your ground every now and again? Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, “Silence the Whisperers,” the waves of walkers continue to threaten the group, while Lydia is targeted. Meanwhile, Negan finally makes an important move, but will he end up facing consequences because of it? My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 10 episode 4 are:

“Never take your enemy by their word…”

Michonne and Judith have some nice mother-daughter bonding moments during this episode. Judith reminds Michonne that she is always willing to listen and she actually has some pretty good theories about why the walkers are coming in waves. Are the Whisperers changing the rules or is something else going on here?

I’m still not really sure, but Michonne has been studying her enemy for a while now and she seems ready to put a plan in motion. Later on in the episode, I loved seeing the side-by-side fighting of Michonne and Judith, but now I’m starting to wonder more and more about how she will exit the show…

“I’ve been here before.”

Michonne notices Ezekiel going off by himself and decides to follow him. Ezekiel is standing at the edge of a cliff, feeling very defeated, and Michonne is there to support him, but we end up getting this extremely awkward kiss between them. Michonne later jokes that they never would have worked out anyway and I breathed a sigh of relief, but I thought the actual conversation was an important moment for these two.

Michonne recognizes the pain and defeat within Ezekiel, especially since she has been there before and opens up to him about her own past and how she misses her “partner in crime,” which brought me to tears. It really makes you think about how far Michonne has come since we first met her and how she is an inspiring leader that Rick would be so proud of.

“Don’t give them a reaction.”

Everyone is clearly on edge because of the waves of walkers and Lydia takes the brunt of it. Lydia is called a freak and is constantly bullied. Someone even paints, “Silence the Whispers” on her door, refusing to let her have a safe haven here. Negan reminds her that they are just looking for a reaction, but Daryl wants Lydia to stay away from him, telling her that “he ain’t your friend.”

It’s clear that both Negan and Daryl care about Lydia and want to protect her. They both see a lot of themselves in her and want to do what is right, but it doesn’t look like killing the bullies with kindness is going to do the trick here.

“He didn’t do anything wrong!”

After Lydia tries to stand up for herself, she ends up getting jumped later that night. They claim that they just want to scare her, but they beat her up pretty badly. Negan steps in to save her, but accidentally kills Margo when he throws her into a wall.

Everyone wants justice for this, but Lydia screams out that he didn’t do anything wrong and tries to tell Daryl that Negan saved her. Later on, Daryl goes to visit Negan to have a little chat. Rick isn’t around to save Negan anymore, but Negan reminds him that he doesn’t know what to do with him either.

Negan was not in the wrong here, but his actions have stirred up a lot of drama in Alexandria.

“You don’t belong in a cage.”

Daryl takes some time to talk to Michonne over the radio and Michonne reminds him that they need to protect Lydia, recognizing that Alpha will not attack if she is alive with them. Michonne and Daryl decide to keep this information to themselves right now, but Michonne is absolutely on to something here.

Michonne asks Daryl to be her proxy for the vote of the council, but it seems like they need some more time to deliberate. Only someone has freed Negan and he’s gone. Lydia says it was her, but Daryl kept an eye on her all night. So who let Negan out?

Daryl has this important moment with Lydia, telling her that she doesn’t belong in a cage and it’s clear that Lydia has been trying so hard to fit in for him. Lydia misses her father and I think that Daryl can absolutely step into that role for her. I actually really like Lydia as a character and I love the dynamic between her and Daryl.

While time played an important part last week, the concept of masks comes up in episode 4. It’s sometimes easier to wear a mask to pretend that everything is all right, but what happens when you reveal your true self? Will you be accepted as you are or are you safer hiding behind lies and deception?

My main question after the episode is what will happen now that Negan is free? This is not the first time we have seen Negan escape, but circumstances are different now. Stay tuned!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Affair” season 5 episode 10: “If You Fall, I’ll Catch You”

Happy Sunday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s The Affair season 5 episode 10, Noah was reminded that “if you move you live, if you stay you die,” but he truly puts this saying to the test when he and Helen wind up in a very dangerous situation. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.

In tonight’s episode, “510,” the wildfire continues to spread, as Helen and Noah are forced to evacuate before it is too late. Meanwhile, Whitney refuses to forgive her father and Noah takes a trip down memory lane, bringing everything full circle. My top 5 moments from The Affair season 5 episode 10 are:

“I would do anything to undo what happened.”

Part one of the episode follows Helen, as she tries to console her daughter, but Whitney now says that she doesn’t want Noah at her wedding. Helen reminds Noah that he can’t run away from this and that they are a family, but is Helen co-depending on Noah too much here?

Helen continues to ask Noah about the hot tub incident, reminding him that he traumatized his daughter and failed to mention it. Noah tells Helen that he would do anything to take it back and that he was finally getting somewhere with Whitney in Montauk, but it now seems like he is back where he started. Let’s hope this gets resolved before the wedding…

“I think you and I are worth it.”

Helen ends up going to Noah’s place to find Whitney’s birth certificate and stumbles across an old letter that Noah wrote to her right before their own wedding. Noah’s letter was truly touching, telling Helen that he was excited to spend every single day with her, grateful that she was going to be his wife.

It seemed like perhaps these two were going to find some common ground, but Noah pushes Helen away after they are told to evacuate. Helen tells him that she hopes he burns, but it’s clear that Noah is feeling beyond defeated and depressed in this moment. Snap out of it, Noah!

“Do you remember seeing him for the first time?”

Part two of the episode follows Noah and he finds a recording from Alison’s deposition. Everything comes full circle, as Alison’s voice comes over the speaker, setting the tone as a dark and stormy night.

Alison is asked, “Do you remember seeing him for the first time?” reminding me of the question that started it all, hooking me on to the show in the first place. We are presented with several flashbacks of Noah meeting Alison and some of Noah with Helen as well, as Noah remembers from the recording what it was like to be happy.

There was a time that he was happy with both Helen and Alison at different times and perhaps he needs to remember that he still has a chance to find that happiness again. The concept of family comes up several times throughout the episode and I think this is what Noah really needs to focus on in order to truly be redeemed.

“I need you.”

Part three of the episode is from Noah and Helen’s perspective and I think this might be the first time we see a joint section. Noah hears from a neighbor that the fire is spreading very quickly and Noah rushes out to go and help Helen. Helen initially wants to stay in the car, but Noah says that they have to move, recognizing the immediate danger they are in.

They end up hiking to get to a fire route Noah knows about, but get stuck at a cliff. Noah is able to climb down and coaches Helen through it, proving to be somewhat of a hero here. Although Helen is clearly sick of his “movement is life” motto.

After avoiding this disaster, these two actually take some time to be open and honest with one another. I think this may be the first time I have witnessed such an honest conversation on both sides, which I thought was necessary since we are approaching the end of the series.

“Hi friend.”

Part four of the episode is from Noah’s perspective. Right before this, Helen ends up bit by a rattle snake to make things even more dramatic, but Noah refuses to leave her side, actually carrying her down the road. Luckily, they are picked up by an emergency vehicle and it looks like Helen is going to be all right. Phew! When Helen wakes up, she says, “Hi friend,” to Noah.

These two have certainly been on quite the adventure, but I thought this journey was more about their own lives together. They revisit who they used to be and who they are now, reminding us that perhaps there is still a new path for their family that includes both of them.

How will it all end? Stay tuned for the series finale next week!

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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Spoiler-Free Review of “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” (2019) Reboot on Nickelodeon: The Midnight Society gives us a Halloween treat!

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

“I declare this meeting of the Midnight Society…”

Nickelodeon provides kids and adults with a fun Halloween treat, releasing the Are You Afraid of the Dark? (2019) reboot as a three part mini-series event.

Are You Afraid of the Dark? was a spooky anthology series that aired in the 1990’s for kids and I can tell you that I was absolutely a fan of this! The Midnight Society would gather around a campfire to share some creepy stories. When the narrator began their story, we would be transported to that actual story away from The Midnight Society, diving into a tale filled with terror and suspense.

Originally, the reboot was supposed to be a movie from my understanding, but they decided to go with the limited mini-series event for television instead. The reboot features three episodes (50-55 minutes in length) and began airing on October 11th 2019 on Nickelodeon. It stars Lyliana Wray, Sam Ashe Arnold, Miya Cech, Jeremy Ray Taylor, and Tamara Smart.

There is definitely room for this type of kids friendly horror, as we have recently seen Goosebumps and The House with a Clock in Its Walls provide us with some horror fun without scaring us to death. But where does the Are You Afraid of the Dark? reboot fit in? Let’s find out!

The Pros:

Are you afraid of the dark 10 26 2 — Images courtesy of Nickelodeon

The new Midnight Society still gives you a sense of nostalgia from the original show.

I love that we have a new Midnight Society for the kids of this generation, as they can discover this spooky adventure for themselves. Even though this is a reboot, I thought that the show captured enough of the feel from the original series, while presenting us with some new and welcomed additions.

I love that the new show decided to use the scary story as a starting point, but it actually became all too real for the characters of the Midnight Society, which made it more interesting, allowing the story to branch out over three episodes, truly coming to life.

Horror Easter eggs and discussions for adults!

If you are watching with your child, fear not! There is plenty for you to enjoy during this series. We get several references to well known horror movies and some discussions that will make you laugh, as the kids start breaking down the difference between horror and sci-fi and how to truly classify it. I thought this was super fun and it really helped me relate to the series that much more.

The characters are fantastic!

I was a little skeptical at first when I met the characters, but I loved seeing the friendship and bond between them grow as they all handled this threat together. I’m a fan of horror shows and movies that include a group of Scoobies and the new Midnight Society certainly makes the cut!

The Cons:

Are you afraid of the dark 10 26 3 — Images courtesy of Nickelodeon

The effects are really cheesy at times.

But I kind of expected that going into this since the show is targeted at a younger audience. The scares are not really scary, but there are some interesting foes and fears that come to light, which kept my attention.

The show ended so soon!

I know that this was meant to be a limited series, but there was a lot of setup in episode 1 and I didn’t start to really like the series until the following episode, which is tough since there are only three episodes in total. Once I got to the end of the series, I was so invested and I wanted to see the new Midnight Society take on some more scares and threats. These kids are fantastic and I want to see more!

So am I in or out?

Are you afraid of the dark 10 26 1 — Images courtesy of Nickelodeon

I’m in! I went into this show expecting to be underwhelmed and instead I was pleasantly surprised. The show balanced a nostalgia for the original series while creating a voice of its own, allowing a new generation of horror fans to emerge.

The release of the limited series works well with this spooky time of year and I think it’s the perfect addition for your family friendly Halloween lineup!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Are You Afraid of the Dark? (2019) in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Castle Rock” Season 2 on Hulu: Lizzy Caplan as Annie Wilkes gets this Slow-Burn Horror off to a Chilling Start

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

Just in time for Halloween, Hulu has released the first three episodes of Castle Rock season 2. I loved season 1 so much and it featured some of the most brilliant episodes on television that I have ever witnessed.

Seriously, if you haven’t seen season 1, episode 7 (The Queen) yet, I highly recommend it. So that being said, Castle Rock season 2 has a lot to live up to, but I am excited that they are taking the anthology approach, as we get a new story with different characters.

Castle Rock is a psychological horror series on Hulu based on the characters and setting of Stephen King. There will be 10 episodes for season 2. Similar to the format with season 1, Hulu has released the first 3 episodes as of October 23rd 2019 and it will continue to run weekly episodes on Wednesdays. Season 2 stars Lizzy Caplan, Tim Robbins, and Elsie Fisher.

Season 2 follows a nurse named Annie Wilkes, based on the character of the same name in Misery. While Castle Rock is not necessarily a prequel, it does bring us familiar elements from both Misery and Salem’s Lot.

Annie has a lot of psychological issues and she is on the run with her teenage daughter when she arrives in Castle Rock. Annie mostly keeps to herself, but when she goes through withdrawal from her medication, her hallucinations start to become all too real, as she finds herself doing some very bad things.

The plot and characters certainly have a lot of potential, but will season 2 be able to hold its own? Let’s find out!

The Pros:

Castle Rock season 2 1 — Images courtesy of Hulu

Lizzy Caplan is beyond captivating as Annie Wilkes.

Her performance will chill you to your core, disturbing you in just the right way. Caplan absolutely nails the role and is the best part of the show so far. She immerses herself completely in this role, bringing you wild eye stares and horrifying reactions that are so real and terrifying.

The perfect dose of psychological horror.

I love that this show brings you along for the ride, unfolding the mystery with its audience. While a lot of the scares are psychological, there are some edge of your seat moments that remind us just how deadly an unhinged paranoid person can be.

I think it also works to the show’s advantage not following a specific plot from Stephen King, allowing familiar characters and settings to take on a life of their own, which makes this show unique and original.

The Cons:

Castle Rock season 2 2 — Images courtesy of Hulu

A lot of setup.

There are a lot of elements to digest after watching the first three episodes of season 2. You may find yourself slightly overwhelmed by this, but I had the same issue with season 1 and it ended up paying off, as other elements were revealed later on.

Slow moving at times.

Each episode is about 50-55 minutes in length and the show does move at a slow pace from time to time. The show is more of a slow-burn psychological horror, so it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does make it difficult to binge-watch all at once. You may want to try one episode at a time, but I thought that there were enough things going on to keep your attention.

So am I in or out?

Castle Rock season 2 3 — Images courtesy of Hulu

I am in 100 percent! Lizzy Caplan’s performance is enough to keep me invested, but I love the intertwining between the two works from Stephen King, while creating a new story that branches off into something completely different.

After watching the first three episodes, I am excited to continue watching weekly and I think this will actually make the watch that much more entertaining, as bits and pieces of the mystery are presented. If you haven’t started watching yet, I highly recommend it, especially if you are a Stephen King fan.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” Season 15 Episode 3: “The Rupture”

Happy Friday TV fans! After watching the CW’s Supernatural season 15 episode 3, I realized that sacrifice is never easy, but sometimes it is necessary. Would you let the world die so that someone else could live or would you be able to make the impossible choice that Sam Winchester is left with? Please note MAJOR spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, “The Rupture,” the team works together to retrieve Lilith’s horn to summon the souls back to hell, but not everything goes according to plan. Meanwhile, a sacrifice is made that reminds us that we are coming to the end, but what does it mean for the fate of our remaining characters? My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 15 episode 3 are:

“Go team!”

In the beginning of the episode, Rowena tries another ritual to cast the souls back to hell, but it doesn’t work. Rowena says that they are all going to die and that no magic can stop it. Dean insists that they try and come up with another plan and it seems like Belphegor has an idea with potential.

Belphegor explains that Lilith had a horn to summon all of the souls at once as a measure of last resort, but that it is probably locked away somewhere in hell. At this point, no one else has another suggestion, so it’s time for the team to get to work.

“Not at any price…”

Ketch is still recovering in the hospital, but he is anxious to return to his friends. We know that Ketch was hired to track down Belphegor by a demon named Ardat and she certainly makes her presence known now. Ardat threatens Ketch and demands that he give up his friends, but Ketch has this moment of redemption.

The old Ketch would have given them up to save himself, but he remains loyal and true. Ardat rips out Ketch’s heart and leaves him there to die, but we know that not everyone is going to make it on the last season of SPN. Either way, I’m glad that he did the right thing in the end. RIP Ketch.

“You’re an abomination…”

Castiel is forced to join Belphegor in hell to track down Lilith’s horn, but he is not exactly pleased about it. Belphegor claims he wants to be friends, but Castiel cannot bear to look at him wearing Jack’s body like a suit. Castiel tells Belphegor that he is an abomination, but proves to be quite useful when it comes to opening up the box to retrieve the horn. Nice singing, Cass!

Ardat attempts to break up the party, but is eliminated. However, she warns Castiel that Belphegor is trying to claim the throne of hell for himself. Belphegor’s true motives are revealed, explaining that he wants to absorb all the souls so that he can become a god. After all, there is a vacancy for that position.

Castiel is able to stop him in time, but Belphegor clearly does some damage when he pretends to be Jack one last time. Castiel recognizes the lie and destroys Belphegor, but it broke his heart to do so. Will Castiel be able to recover from this or is he too far gone now? I can’t bear to see him apart from the Winchesters, but he may need to find his sense of worth on his own. We need you Cass!

“It has to be you.”

SPN is not holding anything back for the final season, as Rowena suddenly realizes that “death is an infinite vessel.” She explains to Sam that she can absorb all the souls and bring them back to hell, but her death will seal the spell. Sam tells her that there has to be another way, but that pesky prophecy comes back up, as Rowena reminds him that he will need to be the one to kill her.

Sam and Rowena have grown very fond of one another and this moment was beyond heartbreaking, as Sam kills Rowena to save them all. Rowena absorbs the souls and says goodbye to her boys before she enters into the rift, which had me crying my eyes out.

Rowena has been one of my absolute favorite characters, but I thought that she also found redemption here. The witch who used to look out for her own interests truly discovered her purpose and this moment with Sam reminded her that she did have a family in the end.

Farewell Rowena. I will miss you so much!

“I don’t think there’s anything left to say…”

After this incredibly heartbreaking moment, Sam and Dean return to the bunker. Sam is dealing with his grief and Dean reminds him that they did it. Dean and Castiel have an argument and Castiel feels like Dean is still blaming him for Mary’s death. There has been a distance between these two for quite a while, but Castiel decides that it’s time for him to move on now.

Where will Castiel go? Is there a way for him and Dean to resolve their differences? I hope so because I can’t bear to see him separated from Sam and Dean. Castiel reminds Dean that he has Sam, but I have always looked at them all as a family and I can’t bear to see them apart. Let’s hope this gets resolved! Stay tuned SPN family!

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

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “American Horror Story: 1984” season 9 episode 6: “Episode 100”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching the FX network’s American Horror Story: 1984 season 9 episode 6, I learned that sometimes “being bad feels really good,” but that doesn’t mean that we should throw our moral compass out the window. Or does it? Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.

In last night’s episode, “Episode 100,” we time jump quite a bit for the 100^th episode of AHS, bringing us a killer soundtrack and some new plot twists. Meanwhile, Xavier and Montana adjust to life being dead, Brooke is on death row, and Margaret is living the good life. My top 5 moments from American Horror Story: 1984 season 9 episode 6 are:

“Take a picture. It will last longer.”

I guess it didn’t take Xavier and Montana too long to adjust to life being dead at Camp Redwood, as they enjoy some “bitchin kills” along the way. Ray is still trying to do what is right, but they remind him that there are no more consequences.

Xavier and Montana seem to be hot and heavy, but they have a real passion for murder, but it looks like they may have bigger fish to fry when Margaret shows up for the Halloween concert.

“Old habits die hard.”

Margaret seems to be living the good life and surprise…Trevor is actually still alive and is now her cokehead husband. We learn that Trevor remembers everything all too well and tries to blackmail Margaret, but she decides to strategically make him her husband so that he can never testify against her. I guess that’s the next best thing to having a sugar mama.

Margaret has made her wealth by investing in real estate for properties that have had major massacres or horrible things take place, but it looks like her diamond in the rough is returning to Camp Redwood. Let’s see how this works out.

“That bitch needs to die.”

Margaret announces some kind of Halloween concert at Camp Redwood, which will feature…Billy Idol! Well, we know that the Night Stalker is going to want to be in attendance, but Margaret’s presence has also stirred up a need for revenge among all the undead spirits residing there.

I always love the Halloween episodes of AHS, so I’m eager to see how this turns out and hopefully we will get some more amazing songs featured as well! Will Billy make an actual appearance?

“Welcome back to the land of the living.”

Poor Brooke is about to be executed even though she is innocent and she ends up running into the Night Stalker in prison. The Night Stalker says his master sees potential in her and reminds her that she can still say “yes” to Satan, but she decides to respond with, “F*ck off.”

Brooke stays strong through it all and spits on the window, realizing that Margaret is there about to watch her die. Brooke says that she is innocent one last time before she receives the lethal injection, but our favorite final girl gets a lucky break.

Fake Rita/Donna/Dee Dee shows up and injects her with something, bringing her back to life. Brooke is back to the land of the living and I can’t wait to see her take her rightful revenge. Go Brooke!

“I thought I could be free but I’ll never be free.”

Even though Mr. Jingles made a deal with Satan, he is looking for redemption. He ends up getting the Night Stalker thrown in jail and decides to make a fresh start for himself in Alaska because you know, that’s where everyone goes for a clean slate in movies. Mr. Jingles/Benjamin/Donald now works at a Videoshack and even comes up with the famous “Be Kind, Rewind” slogan for Blockbuster, which gave me a lot of fun nostalgia.

Mr. Jingle nows has a wife (former prostitute) and an infant son, but the Night Stalker shows up to take everything away from him after asking his master for a chance at immortality. The Night Stalker brutally murders his wife and he decides to leave his baby with their neighbor. Mr. Jingles realizes now that he can never be free and decides to end this once and for all. It looks like we have all of our players in place now so we’ll have to see who ends up surviving.

Overall, I was slightly underwhelmed by AHS’s 100^th episode. I guess I was hoping for some more familiar Easter eggs and AHS did what it always does around episode 5 or 6, where it decides to take this weird turn with the plot. I really enjoyed the simple slasher formula so I’m not sure that we needed all of this excess fluff, but I’m eager to see Brooke and Mr. Jingles take their revenge. Stay tuned!

I also enjoyed this music soundtrack the most out of all the episodes so far and hope you enjoy the highlights from it below!

American Horror Story: 1984 episode 6 Music Soundtrack Highlights:

Billy Idol – Flesh For Fantasy (Official Music Video)

Black Sabbath “Paranoid”

REO Speedwagon – Can’t Fight This Feeling

Mötley Crüe – Home Sweet Home (Official Music Video)

The Smiths – How Soon Is Now? (Official Music Video)

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories and thoughts on American Horror Story: 1984 below in the comments section. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Riverdale” Season 4 Episode 3: Saved by the Bobby Pin!

Happy Wednesday TV fans! After watching the CW’s Riverdale season 4 episode 3, I realized that change is not necessarily a bad thing. But what happens when new threats emerge because of this change? Is it truly possible to earn a clean slate with so many buried secrets? Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, “Chapter Sixty: Dog Day Afternoon,” Jughead adjusts to life at Stonewall Prep, but a new rival doesn’t make it easy for him. Meanwhile, Edgar calls Betty, but she’s ready for the final showdown. My top 5 moments from Riverdale season 4 episode 3 are:

“I’ll take those odds.”

In this episode, Archie decides that he wants to turn the gym into a community center where kids can go, especially after Munroe’s (Mad Dog) little brother gets caught up with a gang down at the arcade. I feel like they could have picked a more threatening spot, but I’ll go with it for now. Veronica is willing to lend Archie the money he needs, but Archie wants to do things his way.

We get an enthusiastic car wash from the boys, but it doesn’t earn enough money. After Archie tries out being a vigilante, he ends up taking the money from the drug dealers down at the arcade, but it’s not like they can use that either.

Archie’s mother wants him to get out of Riverdale, but Veronica reminds her that she is willing to invest in her son, explaining that he can do so much good in town and I think she’s right. The community center is open and it looks like Mrs. Andrews will be sticking around for a while after all.

“You will do as you’re told. Nothing more. Nothing less.”

Even though we get a brief intimate moment between Choni, Cheryl continues to have her chats with dead Jason, which just gets creepier and creepier. After Nana Rose starts to have some trouble with reality as well, Toni decides to hire a night nurse, Darius. Cheryl channels her best impression of Beauty and the Beast by telling him that he is forbidden from entering certain areas of the estate, desperate to keep Jason a secret.

Cheryl thinks that someone moved Jason and decides to fire Darius after she discovers that he was in the basement, claiming he heard rats. It looks like Darius was on to something, as Cheryl finds one of the rats inside Jason’s stomach, which instantly made my skin crawl.

The cat, or the rat, is out of the bag, as Toni finally stumbles upon Jason. Cheryl actually handles this surprisingly well, asking if Toni has ever met Jason before.

Will Toni be able to bring Cheryl back to reality? Let’s hope so!

“Blood doesn’t wash out…”

Hiram somehow finds out that Veronica is thinking of changing her name and decides to pay her a visit. He may be in jail, but he owns that jail, which apparently means he can come and go whenever he pleases? I’ll leave that one alone, but Hiram decides to tell Veronica the story about how he created the Hiram Lodge name, explaining that his name used to be Luna.

Hiram tells Veronica that changing her name will not wash out her past sins, but Veronica decides to go through with it anyway. Only she won’t be changing her name to Veronica Gomez, she will now be known as Veronica Luna, which clearly infuriates her father.

Will Veronica Luna be able to start fresh or will her Lodge past continue to get in her way?

“You need to buy us time!”

After Charles sends in an undercover agent to deliver pizza at the Farm, things go horribly wrong and Edgar decides to get on the phone. Only he seems to be more interested in calling Betty directly with his list of demands.

Under Charles’s instruction, Betty asks Edgar to release some hostages and poor Polly shows up with a bomb. Edgar has removed the pin on the dead man’s switch and the timer is counting down pretty quickly, but Betty’s bobby pin comes to the rescue, as she saves the day. Go Betty!

Betty decides to get Edgar his list of demands since she knows people and shows up at his front door, ready to end this once and for all, but she is clearly outnumbered and is knocked unconscious before anything too major can happen.

“Edgar ascended…”

When Betty wakes up, she is held hostage with Alice in a motel room. So good to see you Alice! We get an impressive mother-daughter tag team, as these Cooper ladies show us what they are made of. Betty works on trying to get the innocent Farmies on the bus, while her mother goes after Edgar.

Apparently Edgar wants to get on his recently built rocket, but Alice has other plans for him. After a gunshot is heard, Betty panics, but Alice is able to eliminate Edgar once and for all. At least I think so. You never know on Riverdale! It looks like this Farm cult story has wrapped itself up neatly, but I’m slightly confused on Edgar’s behavior in this episode.

Part of what made Edgar so intriguing was that he kept his cool and used manipulation to get what he wanted, but he almost seemed like a loose cannon in this episode. I’m not sure if there are some holes in that plot or if the writers were just done with his story, but I was slightly disappointed with this outcome.

Either way, I’m glad to see that both Betty and Alice are all right. So I guess it’s on to the next mystery, as Betty and Jughead get some kind of tape delivered to them at their doorstep. Is this a warning or a threat? I’m not sure, but we’ll have to see how this all links to Jughead’s future disappearance. Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Riverdale in the comments section below. Thank you 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!

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**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!

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