Spoiler-Free Review of “Love & Death” on HBO Max: Candy Returns…

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

“I will drag you through this…”

Love & Death premiered on HBO Max on April 27th 2023 with three episodes available to stream now. There will be seven episodes in total that will air weekly. The limited drama series (based on the true story of Candy Montgomery) stars Elizabeth Olsen, Jesse Plemons, Krysten Ritter, Lily Rabe, and Tom Pelphrey. Each episode runs for approximately 54-58 minutes.

Just less than a year later, we get another rendition of the true crime story involving Candy Montgomery and her best friend, Betty Gore.

Here is the trailer:

Love & Death brings us another talented leading lady and a chilling case, but did we really need another series on this crime so soon? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Talented cast.

I’m a big fan of Elizabeth Olsen and the rest of the cast is very talented as well, which almost makes me want to re-watch a series that I’ve already seen again just to see their take on things.

Fantastic soundtrack and vibe.

The music may be the best part of this series. It has been transporting me back in time seamlessly. I love the fashion and overall vibe as well. Even though I’m familiar with the plot and the ultimate outcome, I think I have been enjoying these aspects more in this series over Candy.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m not sure we really need this series…

If you haven’t seen Candy yet on Hulu, you’ll probably get more out of this series. Since I did watch that series less than a year ago, I feel like I already know everything that’s going to happen and I’m not sure that this series is doing anything that new or different this time around.

Also, as much as I love Elizabeth Olsen, I think I preferred Jessica Biel’s grittier portrayal. Elizabeth Olsen still seems so elegant and charming so I’m not sure she was the perfect match for this particular role. That being said, she’s still absolutely wonderful and talented. I’d watch her in pretty much anything…

The pacing is really sluggish so far. Candy only had five episodes and I was weighed down by that pacing as well, so having more episodes this time around that are longer is already problematic for me…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m in about 75 percent…

Elizabeth Olsen puts forth a valiant effort here and this is a fascinating case to see unfold on the screen, but the timing of this series seems odd and unnecessary. I’m in for now, but I’m hoping to see some drastic changes to keep me invested.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

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

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

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

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Outer Range” on Prime Video: A Unique Mashup of Genres

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

“The world has been waiting for something like this…”

Outer Range premiered on Prime Video on April 15th 2022 with the first two episodes available to stream now. There will be eight episodes in total. The supernatural mystery series stars Josh Brolin, Imogen Poots, Tom Pelphrey and Noah Reid. Each episode runs for approximately 55-58 minutes.

Two families feud over ranch land when a mysterious black void emerges in the middle of their pasture.

Here is the trailer:

Outer Range has a Yellowstone feel mixed in with Twin Peaks, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

A combo of genres I didn’t know I needed…

A western/sci-fi mystery may seem really far-fetched and it kind of is, but it somehow works here. I thought the mashup was the show’s strongest point. It really sets it apart from other shows that it would normally pale in comparison to. I think this gives it an edge of originality which will allow it to branch off into whatever story it wants to tell.

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Josh Brolin…

I mean, I pretty much love him in anything so it works in the show’s favor that he is the main star. So far he is stealing the show for me but there are some other characters that are really interesting as well and the acting is pretty solid.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Really really slow moving…

At one point I thought I had been watching Josh Brolin’s character walk back to the farm for over twenty minutes. The pacing really drags and it takes way too long for things to happen. This needs to improve drastically to hold my interest.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime Video

I’m in about 75 percent…

There is an interesting mystery here worth exploring and of course I want to know more about it, but the pacing needs to improve drastically so that I can stay awake for the rest of the episodes. Either way, I’m in for now…

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

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

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Ranking your Favorite Male Performances on Television for 2020

Greetings TV Fans! As we wrap up 2020 and move on to 2021, let’s take a look at some of our favorite male performances on television from this past year. Whether it was a moment of heroism, a sacrifice, or even a breaking point, these male actors went above and beyond to fully embrace their characters.

It was difficult for me to narrow down my favorite male performances for 2020 because there were honestly so many and I didn’t think it was possible for me to choose my absolute favorite one, which is where you came in!

I ran a three round poll (randomized tournament style) on Twitter and asked for fans to cast their votes so that we can all decide who our favorite male performances are for the year. Thank you so much for your participation and support, as the tournament was so much fun and actually really competitive!

Round One featured the following Male Performances on TV from 2020:

Misha Collins as Castiel from Supernatural
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan from The Walking Dead
Tom Ellis as Lucifer Morningstar from Lucifer
Tom Pelphrey as Ben from Ozark
Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones from Riverdale
Hugh Grant as Jonathan Fraser from The Undoing
Jonathan Majors as Atticus Freeman from Lovecraft Country
Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester from Supernatural
Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester from Supernatural
Richard Harmon as John Murphy from The 100
Lennie James as Morgan Jones from Fear the Walking Dead
Bob Morley as Bellamy Blake from The 100

After your votes, the following male actors moved on to Round Two:

Cole Sprouse
Misha Collins
Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Jared Padalecki
Jensen Ackles
Tom Ellis

After your votes in Round Two, the following male actors moved on to the FINALS:

Misha Collins
Jared Padalecki
Jensen Ackles

Honorable Mention: Tom Ellis just came up short as Lucifer and I think it’s only a matter of time before we witness another showstopping number from him in season 5, part 2!

Image courtesy of Netflix

After your votes in Round Three, the FINAL results are:

3^rd place: Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester in Supernatural

Image courtesy of The CW

After winning the crown the past two years in a row, Jared Padalecki came in third place this year. I had a feeling the end results would be very Supernatural-centric and well deserving. Jared’s performance has always been so emotional and I am looking forward to seeing him explore a new role in 2021! Thanks for all the memories Sammy!

2^nd place: Misha Collins as Castiel in Supernatural

Image courtesy of The CW

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…Castiel has had one of the most brilliant character transformations I have ever witnessed on any show. Misha Collins has been amazing and his final performance still has me in tears. Castiel forever!

Drum roll please…

1^st place: Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester from Supernatural

Image courtesy of The CW

We have a new winner for your favorite male performance on TV for 2020 and I couldn’t be more proud. Dean Winchester has always been my favorite character on SPN. While Sam usually carried the emotional weight of the show, I was so beyond impressed by Jensen’s incredibly heartbreaking performance in the final episode of SPN. He was so believable and I think he really showed a lot of range in his performance.

This year has given us so many incredible performances, but I am so beyond thrilled that Supernatural took the crown this year. Thank you for 15 amazing years of television. You will be missed, but never forgotten! SPN FAMILY FOREVER!

Thanks to all the fans who voted! I wish you all the best for 2021!

View Final Poll Results Here!

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post your thoughts and comments below on some of your favorite male performances on TV from 2020. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

My performance of the week ending 4/4/20 on TV goes to…

Tom Pelphrey as Ben Davis on Netflix’s Ozark season 3.

Ozark season 3 may be my favorite season yet and part of that is because of the beyond brilliant performance by Tom Pelphrey, who gave his heart and soul to his portrayal of Wendy’s brother, Ben Davis.

**Please note major spoilers have been left out for your convenience.**

It’s not easy being the new character on a show, especially when the characters are already so fantastic. However, Ben Davis certainly makes his presence known when he shows up to stay with the Byrde family.

What I really enjoyed about Ben was the way he was able to elevate other characters on the show. His connections with Ruth and his sister, Wendy, really developed their own character transformations, which I thought was so clever and thought-provoking.

Ben from Ozark Netflix 2 — Images courtesy of Netflix

We learn that Ben suffers from bipolar disorder and begins to make some drastic decisions when he starts developing romantic feelings for our girl, Ruth, which worries Wendy. Wendy has seen Ben at his worst before and doesn’t want to go down this dark path again, especially since the entire family is walking on eggshells while working for the drug cartel.

I’ve never really liked Wendy that much before, but her interactions with Ben made me change my mind. We finally got to witness some truly believable and emotional moments with Wendy and I’m not sure that we would have seen them without Ben on the show.

Ben from Ozark Netflix 1 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Ben has some fantastic and chilling moments on his own as well and isn’t afraid to shatter the lies and secrets being told in town. While his measures and actions may be beyond extreme at times, you can tell that he really has a big heart and cares about both Ruth and his family. He wears his heart on his sleeve, but he also believes in loyalty and integrity. He is honestly one of the most interesting characters I have seen on a show in a long time.

It’s not always easy to portray someone with a mental illness, but Tom Pelphrey really does a great job. He doesn’t overdo things or overact. He just simple embraces the role to the point where you really think that he is Ben Davis, which deserves a lot of recognition. I honestly think that he deserves an Emmy nomination for this role. He’s that good.

Season 3, episode 9 will tug at all of your emotions. I mentioned how powerful this episode was during my spoiler-free review of season 3, but Pelphrey’s performance is so real and heart-wrenching. I was crying my eyes out during this episode and I am still thinking about it even now. That’s how epic it was.

Family can sometimes be more complicated than anything else in the world and yet we still want to do everything we can to help the ones we love.

Bravo, Tom Pelphrey! Thank you for elevating an already fantastic show into something even greater.

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Ozark” season 3 on Netflix: Edge of Your Seat Perfection

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

Netflix certainly has us covered with plenty of new shows, seasons, and movies to help us during social distancing, but they really hit it out of the park with the latest season of Ozark.

Ozark season 3 premiered on Netflix on March 27th 2020 with 10 new episodes (Approximately 60 minutes in length). It stars Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Julia Garner, Janet McTeer, and Tom Pelphrey.

If you have never seen the show before, it channels a real Breaking Bad feel. Marty Byrde is forced to move his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks in order to launder money for the drug cartel.

Each season focuses on different business ventures that Marty must obtain in order to successfully launder the money to appease his boss and protect his family, leading to scandal, murder, and secrets along the way.

I am a fan of the series and was eager to see where the Byrde family would invest their time and money next. A casino seemed like the perfect place, but we quickly learn that this may not be so easy when competitors and the FBI begin to stir up some trouble for the Byrde family.

The show is fantastic, but the episodes are super long and sometimes can drag here and there. However, season 3 absolutely picks up the pace while introducing us to some new characters. But does it do enough to stand out from its prior seasons? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Ozark Netflix 1 — Images courtesy of Netflix

New character dynamics light up the screen.

I am a huge fan of Ruth Langmore and will continue to root for her against all odds. Seriously, she’s the best. However, I was beyond thrilled when we got some new characters on the show to really spice things up and to develop some of our other characters even more.

I am going to highlight Wendy’s brother, Ben, who comes to visit the Byrde family. Tom Pelphrey is beyond brilliant playing this role and he also helps us see even more layers from both Ruth and Wendy. Season 3, episode 9 was probably the best episode I have witnessed on the show and I think that both Pelphrey and Linney deserve an Emmy for their performances.

I still have chills from it…

It was also nice to see other characters develop more. Charlotte and Jonah actual earn their own story-lines, which I appreciated, as they interact with Helen’s rebellious daughter, Erin.

The casino background is a nice change of scenery.

We’ve seen Marty invest in a restaurant and a strip club, but I thought the casino was really a bold choice.

Ozark Netflix 2 — Images courtesy of Netflix

I have to say that Ruth did an amazing job running the floor and was not afraid to ruffle any feathers if anyone tried to mess with her.

Of course the casino captures the attention of the FBI, which makes things more complicated for the Byrde family, but I was thoroughly invested in all of the schemes and secrets behind the scenes here, which was a welcomed change of business for the Byrde family.

Fast paced edge of your seat moments and cliffhangers.

Every episode had something new and exciting. I was never bored throughout season 3 and the final moments of the last episode will leave you in complete shock. It’s that good. I really appreciated how much this show adapted to keep the pace going steady, as it had the tendency to slow down quite a bit in seasons 1 and 2.

Bravo!

The Cons:

Ozark Netflix 3 — Images courtesy of Netflix

The Darlene and Wyatt scenes…

So, while I thought a lot of the new character relationships and dynamics were necessary and intriguing, we don’t need to pair everyone up and we don’t need unnecessary sex scenes with certain characters that really leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Sometimes I think certain characters should really just be abandoned if they don’t further the plot and we don’t need to have them in every scene for them to make a difference.

So am I in or out?

Ozark Netflix 5 — Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in! Since a lot of my favorite shows are delaying production and release, I was beyond pleased to be able to binge-watch Ozark season 3 all in one weekend. This series blends family drama and crime thrills seamlessly. Each episode leaves you wanting more and the finale gave us one of the most shocking cliffhangers I have seen in a while.

Season 3 was my favorite season yet! More please!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Ozark season 3 in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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

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