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Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Affair” season 4 episode 9: “I Just Want To Live A Different Life”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s The Affair last night, I realized that it is never too late to try and change our own story. Alison Bailey is proof of that. Over the years, Alison has been broken, like a wounded bird, desperately trying to cling to some kind of temporary moment of bliss. Even though Alison began to make real changes in her life, her true metamorphosis occurred when she took Helen’s advice and decided to change her narrative, refusing to let men treat her a certain way. That made this episode even more tragic, dark, and heartbreaking for me. I was so proud of Alison’s strength here, but sometimes there is a darkness in others that tries to stifle even the faintest light, dragging it deep into the ocean. But not everything stays beneath the surface for long. Please note major spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet. In last night’s episode, “409,” Alison prepares for her conversation with Ben and confronts him about his lie. While the temptation remains, Alison focuses all of her energy on doing the right thing and finding out the truth. Alison’s fate is finally revealed to the audience, which is both shocking and devastating. My top 5 moments from The Affair season 4 episode 9 are:

“All I want is to somehow be forgiven.”

Part one of the episode is from Alison’s perspective, as she anxiously waits for Ben to arrive. When he shows up, Alison does her best to keep the conversation going and explains that she has some things she wants to address with Ben. Before she can get a chance, Ben reveals to Alison that he is married and that he has just left his wife. Alison explains that she already knew this information and that she is “done being a woman you lie to your wife about.” After all, Alison has already lived through this before and she knows that “it doesn’t end well.” Ben opens up to Alison and tells her about his time as a soldier in Afghanistan and how he killed a kid by mistake, which has left him with a never-ending hole of guilt, weighing down on his conscience constantly. He explains that he was not the same person when he returned and this impacted everything, including his marriage. Alison compassionately listens to him, understanding what it means to walk around with that pain every day.

“Don’t mess with my heart, OK?”

Ben agrees to fix Alison’s sink even after she tells him she can’t see him anymore and then she agrees to make him dinner. It seems like their break-up is amenable and I instantly began to question everything since we know that this is not the story that Ben told Cole and Noah. Ben asks Alison to dance with him and Alison asks him, “What happens to us? The ones who can’t be forgiven.” Ben answers that he wants to live and the two share a kiss. He asks Alison what she wants and she gives in to Ben and begins kissing him back. This leads to them making love and it seems like everything is perfect between them now. Only it’s too perfect and now we know why.

“Tell me the truth.”

Alison is cleaning up in the kitchen and hears a knock at the door. The rain is still pouring outside and she looks down at the sink, which is now broken again. When she opens the door, Ben is standing there and part two from Alison’s perspective begins. One of the reasons why I adore this show so much is because we get to see things from different perspectives. Usually each story has its own version or variation of the truth, but we ultimately get to peek into the hearts and minds of our favorite characters. When part two opened up with Alison again, I realized that the first part was merely a dream or a fantasy of what could be. Reality was now at the door and I was on the edge of my seat, fearing for the worst. When Alison tells Ben she needs to talk to him, he is no longer kind and gentle like in the first part. He tells her never to stand him up again and is clearly angry and on edge. Ben begins drinking when he tells Alison about his time in Afghanistan, which now reveals that Ben knew that the kid he killed was not holding a real weapon. Alison tries to ask him why he would do this and his anger begins to escalate even further.

“I don’t owe you a thing.”

We know that Ben has a problem with drinking and his behavior begins to become erratic. He breaks down when Alison tells him to leave and cries in her lap and begs her to be with him. Alison has had enough; however, and is ready to embrace the strong woman within. She tells Ben she knows that he is married and it’s like a new darkness comes over Ben. He is now suddenly calmer, but the danger is nowhere near gone. He tells Alison that she better not tell his wife, threatening her. Alison tells him that she won’t if he leaves and he turns everything around on her. Ben tells Alison that she broke up other marriages and that he will only leave if she admits that this is her fault. Alison stays strong and tells Ben, “I don’t owe you a thing.” While I was so proud of Alison in this moment, I feared what would happen next. Ben attacks Alison and hits her over the head. As the blood rushes down on Alison’s face, her life began pouring out of her. While I was hoping to be wrong about Ben, the reality of him being Alison’s murderer became painfully obvious when I realized that there were no other characters in this episode at the beginning of part two.

“I just want to live a different life. I want to live a different story.”

At the end of the episode, we see Ben dumping Alison’s body into the ocean by the rocks. Alison’s last monologue is heard, which is beyond heartbreaking. Alison talks about wanting to live a different life or story so that she could be someone who could be happy. She took Helen’s advice and finally tried to be strong and stand up for herself, but Ben refused to allow her the chance at a fresh start. We see Alison’s body sinking to the bottom of the ocean, as this life is over for her. In this moment, I wanted nothing more for Alison than for her to get another chance. She has been through so much loss and pain along the way and it seems beyond unfair that her story ends just when she was starting to fight for the spark of life that had been trapped away for so long. This episode was compelling and dark, revealing the ugliness that can lurk beneath the surface. Alison was not perfect and she was completely aware of this, but she didn’t deserve what happened to her and I am hoping that Cole gets the chance to bring Ben to justice. While Alison’s story may be over, Cole’s love for her will not burn out, keeping her memory alive. Farewell Alison. You deserved better. Stay tuned!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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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!

I am so excited to announce that my book 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!

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Younger” season 5 episode 9: “Nothing Worth Having Comes Easy”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching TV Land’s Younger season 5 episode 9, I remembered that there is no “I” in team. It may seem cliché, but after listening to the “Claw” book pitch, I started to really agree with Liza. You don’t have to sacrifice your own self-worth or ambition to help someone else, but it’s important to look out for those that matter most to us and to understand when compromise is necessary. Otherwise, it might be pretty lonely looking out for ourselves at the top. What’s truly important to you? Only you can answer that question, but I don’t think that there is anything wrong with knowing when to share the spotlight, especially when true friendship is involved. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet. In last night’s episode, “Honk if You’re Horny,” Liza and Charles continue their secret relationship, but realize that they have an audience lurking around every corner. Meanwhile, Lauren discovers a secret about Enzo and Kelsey crosses a line at work. My top 5 moments from Younger season 5 episode 9 are:

“I am really sorry to be wasting your time…sir.”

Charles and Liza continue to grow closer and they decide to grab dinner at a quiet place on the Upper East Side. Everything seems to be going well until they run into the agent, Redmond, at the restaurant. When Redmond asks what they are doing together, both Liza and Charles panic. Liza practically throws the manuscript that Kelsey passed on at Charles to come up with a believable cover story and Redmond thinks he has it all figured out now. Rather than think that Liza and Charles are there together romantically, he jumps to the conclusion that Liza wanted Charles to look at the manuscript Kelsey passed on because she believes in it. Things are about to get beyond complicated, as Liza and Charles realize that they aren’t safe yet in public. Will their secret affair blow up in their faces or will they be able to finally figure out a way to have a normal relationship?

“How long have you two been repairing things with each other?”

Kelsey is beyond angry when she learns that Charles approved a manuscript that she passed on, feeling like he went right over her head. When she vents to Liza about it, Liza has no choice but to come clean about what happened. Kelsey does not react well to the news about Liza and Charles and says that she has a big problem with this. It seems like Kelsey is always stuck in the web of Liza’s deception, which can damage her reputation and her career. However, she does need to also realize that Liza’s relationship with Charles is personal and she doesn’t have a right to get involved. Will Liza and Kelsey’s friendship be able to handle another lie?

“Thank you Diva.”

In this episode, Lauren really puts her publicist skills to good use, as she lands Kelsey an award at the Glamour Women of the Year event. She tries to branch out and represent Diana as well and gets to meet Enzo for the first time. Lauren thinks that he looks oddly familiar, but can’t quite place it there. She later discovers that Enzo was in the first porno she ever saw and shows the video to both Kelsey and Josh. Enzo lets out a very distinct honking noise when he climaxes, which Josh comments on when he hilariously says, “yo that was primal.” Lauren feels that she owes Diana the truth even though Kelsey is hesitant about this. Lauren approaches Diana and tells her about it, but also reveals that she has taken care of getting every copy off of the internet. She gives Diana the last copy and Diana is beyond grateful and thrilled. It looks like Lauren is getting a new client after all. When Diana confronts Enzo about it, he explains that he comes with baggage just like anyone else and Diana accepts him completely. I have to say that I was initially worried about what secret Enzo might be hiding from Diana, but it looks like these two are really the perfect match. Now hopefully she can win over his mother as well.

“Nothing worth having comes easy.”

At the end of the episode, Charles explains to Liza that no one else can know about their relationship. He is going through a divorce and there is a lot at stake for both of them professionally. Liza understands and agrees to keep their relationship a secret, but it seems like it will only be a matter of time before a new challenge is thrown their way. While I am happy to see Liza and Charles finally together, I am still waiting for them to get their true moment of happiness together. Will they finally be able to step out in the spotlight together or is this a secret romance destined for disaster?

“I choose you.”

Kelsey crosses a line when she confronts Charles about accepting the manuscript she passed on and wants him to also approve the one she liked. After explaining that there might not be enough in the budget for both pieces, Kelsey says, “What if I got Liza to ask you over dinner or after dinner?” While Kelsey is still clearly upset about what Liza told her, this is a threat that Charles does not take lightly. Kelsey needs to remember that Charles is her boss and she has no right to meddle in his affairs. Liza tells Kelsey how much she means to her and tells her that she chooses her over Charles, as she cannot handle the idea of losing her friendship. Even though Liza has gotten herself into this mess, she would never try to hurt Kelsey. When Kelsey accepts the award at the Glamour event, she looks over at Liza and realizes that she is right. Kelsey accepts the award on behalf of both of them and says that she would not be where she is today without Liza. I’m glad that Kelsey had a change of heart, as I can’t handle another fight between these two. While Kelsey makes up with Liza, Charles gently reminds Kelsey that she is not to pull another stunt like that again. However, I think that Kelsey’s discovery is only the beginning of the complicated mess between Charles and Liza. Will they be able to handle everything that comes their way? Stay tuned!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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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!

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!

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!

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The 100” season 5 episode 13 Season Finale: “I Hope We Do Better There”

Happy Wednesday TV fans! After watching the CW’s The 100 season 5 episode 13, I realized that sometimes all it takes is a simple life with the person we love most in the world. The days may seem routine, but they are never unfulfilling because each day is filled with hope and joy. We may sometimes feel like we need to search for something more or bigger, but perhaps what we need most is right in front of us and has been all along. Please note major spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet. In last night’s episode, “Damocles – Part Two,” Madi attempts to lead her people to victory with the help of Echo, Bellamy, and a surprising ally. Meanwhile, Clarke enlists the help of Diyoza to stop McCreary, Shaw is tortured in front of Raven, and Abby desperately tries to save Marcus’s life. My top 5 moments from The 100 season 5 episode 13 Season Finale are:

“I’m saving the man that I love.”

War always has casualties and I was very worried about the fate of some of our beloved characters. After John Murphy is injured, he tells the others to leave him behind since they only have nine minutes to get to the transport ship before the missile, Damocles, hits the valley. Thanks a lot McCreary. Emori is no longer hiding her feelings for John at this point, as she tells him, “There’s no way in hell I’m going to leave the man I love behind.” Monty agrees to carry Murphy and they really wait until the last possible second to get to the ship, but luckily they are all OK for now. Meanwhile, Abby also refuses to leave the love of her life behind. Octavia confronts Abby and agrees to help her, as she gathers people to carry Marcus on a stretcher to the ship. Octavia and Abby may never be able to fully forgive each other, but Octavia helps Abby in this crucial moment. While we know that Marcus’s injuries are bad, we will have to wait to determine his fate after “Cryosleep.”

“It’s the kiss of death.”

Octavia and Diyoza are left out of the meeting to figure out how to save everyone and Diyoza breaks the ice by telling Octavia, “Cheer up. I wasn’t invited either.” Both of these women were strong leaders, but they each had their flaws. Diyoza points out to Octavia that her “mistake was liking it. Power. It’s the kiss of death.” Octavia doesn’t disagree and comes to the realization that the valley probably wouldn’t have worked out after all. She says, “One Garden, two serpents…Eden never stood a chance,” and she is right. While we never got the chance to see if they could all co-exist in the valley, war can destroy everything. Perhaps the best thing that could have happened was for each of these leaders to step down. We know that they are strong, capable, and fearless, but it looks like we are in for quite the change.

“Break the cycle.”

Madi is initially nervous about accepting the large responsibility of being the Commander, but she recognizes that it is something she cannot run away from. When she first appears, someone cries out, “Heda is going to save us,” and surprisingly Octavia is the first person to bow down to her. This moment is extremely important, as Octavia finally accepts that it is time to let go and pass the torch. Her time is over and she puts her full trust and faith in Madi to lead her people to victory. With Gaia’s help, Madi taps into the minds of the other Commanders to figure out what to do and comes up with a plan to save her people. When the enemy surrenders, Madi initially wants to have them executed, but Bellamy steps in and explains, “You can be better than them. You can be better than us. The choice is yours Heda.” Madi makes the courageous decision to break the cycle and understands the importance of saving them so that they can prove they deserve to be saved. Bellamy’s wise words really resonate with Madi and it looks like she has a trusted adviser by her side. Madi has a huge responsibility once everyone wakes up from Cryosleep; however, but luckily she has Bellamy and Clarke to help her.

“She called you on the radio everyday for six years.”

Madi reminds Bellamy that he needs to forgive Clarke, but Bellamy is still clearly upset about Clarke leaving him in the fighting pits and has every right to be. Madi sheds some light on Clarke’s real feelings for Bellamy; however, and tells him about her talking to him on the radio everyday, which is a moment I have been waiting for all season. When the ship is about to close, Clarke begs Bellamy to get on board before it’s too late, but Bellamy refuses to leave his friends behind, as Murphy and the others have still not arrived. He tells her, “I can’t do that again,” clearly still feeling remorse about leaving Clarke behind after “Praimfaya.” Once everyone gets on board safely with barely a second to spare, Clarke asks Bellamy why he is not mad at her and he says, “The commander ordered me not to be,” in a heartwarming moment. While we know that Echo is still in the picture, Bellamy finally learns how Clarke feels about him, which is important. Clarke is always trying to be brave and strong for everyone else and often locks away her own feelings and desires to do what is right, but her feelings for Bellamy are real and true. I’m looking forward to seeing this explored more next season and I hope these two finally get the chance to be together because they deserve it.

“I hope we do better there…may we meet again.”

So one of the reasons why I love this show so much is because each season finale provides the audience with a twist you never see coming. I remember being shocked every single season and season 5 was no different. After everyone realizes that they must go into “Cryosleep” for ten years to survive, it seems like we are merely going to flash forward to the future. However, I almost fell out of my chair when Monty and Harper’s teenage son, Jordan, wakes up Clarke and Bellamy. Clarke and Bellamy ask “why is it just us” and learn that Monty and Harper stayed behind on the ship and didn’t go to sleep. They left a video message for them, which walks them through everything they have done together over the years. It has been 125 years and Clarke and Bellamy learn that earth is not survivable anymore. Monty spent his entire life trying to find another way to save his friends and discovered another planet with two suns. Monty explains that they chose this life and asks Clarke and Bellamy to take care of their boy. He has the middle name “Jasper” and Monty told him all about his friends and Murphy is surprisingly his favorite, which lightens up the mood. In Monty’s final moments, he has aged quite a bit and tragically explains that Harper passed away. He holds on to a glimmer of hope that they can do better here and tells them “may we meet again.” Monty finally got to live the simple life he always wanted to even though it may not have been exactly what he had in mind. He enjoyed every single second with Harper and his child and put all of his energy into finding a “plan b” to save his friends. Monty has always flown under the radar, but he is a true hero and has saved them all. The end of the season finale shows Clarke and Bellamy looking out on the new planet, not knowing what to expect. We don’t know anything about this planet and it looks like we are in for quite the adventure. Stay tuned and I know that we will meet again!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories and thoughts on The 100 in the comments section below. Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’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!

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!

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!

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Affair” season 4 episode 8: “We Need to Know that it’s the Real Her”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s The Affair last night, I realized that sometimes you spend so much time being strong for everyone else, that you almost forget to take a moment to let the grief and pain in. Even if it is just for a moment, sometimes you need to allow all of your feelings to rush straight to the surface. Whether this leads to crying or yelling, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you take the time to allow yourself to dive into your own feelings. This doesn’t make you weak or selfish. It just makes you human and it’s important that we process our feelings every now and again. Please note major spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet. In last night’s episode, “408,” Cole, Noah, and Anton set out to find Alison and solve this mystery once and for all. While these three bond along the way, nothing can prepare them for the discovery they are about to make. My top 5 moments from The Affair season 4 episode 8 are:

“I want you to understand the hole that you left in her life.”

Part one of the episode is from Cole’s perspective and he teams up with Noah and Anton to find Alison. After speaking to Alison’s mother, Athena, Cole learns about Alison’s father and decides to pay him a visit. Noah insists that they take a polite approach so that they open up to them, but Cole cannot sit there and listen to Alison’s father judge her, especially when he talks about her “episodes.” Cole reminds him that he hasn’t been there for her entire life and that he doesn’t know anything about Alison. Cole refuses to let Alison’s father take advantage of her, remembering how Alison always felt like it was her fault that her father wasn’t around. I have to say that I was also rooting for Cole in this moment, as it seems like her father was only out to use Alison, but we will need to wait and see if there is more to the story.

“What are you two doing together?”

So I never thought that I would see Noah and Cole working together on anything, but their love for Alison brought them together. Anton added some comic relief as well, which gave the episode a lighter feel at first. Even though the episode takes a dramatic twist, it was hilarious to see both Noah and Cole point out what works for the other in terms of getting women. While Noah refers to Cole as a “classic moper,” Cole takes things further when he explains that Noah will make promises that he can’t keep. Anton refuses to let them ruin the mood and schools them both when he “sexiles” Noah from the hotel room after he meets up with the owner’s daughter. After barely escaping another disaster when her father pounds on the door, these three enjoy some male bonding, which helps keep their minds off the inevitable…at least temporarily.

“We need to know that it’s the real her…you do it.”

Cole and Noah are shocked when they find out that a body has been discovered. Cole is barely able to process his own grief and refuses to look at the pictures to identify Alison’s body. He wants to be brought to her actual body, but is warned that she drowned and was left underwater for several days. When they finally approach the room, Cole cannot handle this and Noah courageously offers to identify her. Cole’s reaction to Noah’s confirmation is beyond heartbreaking. I have to admit that I was hoping that it would not be Alison and that we still had a mystery to unfold, but there is still more to the story. Even though Cole cannot stand Noah, he genuinely appreciates that he was able to do this for him, as they are both connected forever to the memory of the woman they both loved so much.

“I don’t buy it.”

After receiving the heartbreaking news that Alison is dead, Cole refuses to believe that it is a suicide. I have to say I agree with Cole, as it’s unlikely that Alison would leave Joanie especially when it seemed like she was finally getting her life back into some type of order. While Cole tries to blame Ben, he has an alibi and explains that Alison broke up with him. Cole is still not buying it, but I am starting to think that perhaps her father or his new wife had something to do with it. We know that Alison was not about to hand her kidney over, especially after Athena tells her that she was raped by him. Is it possible that they tried to take matters into their own hands? While I’m not certain that this is true, it seems like Alison had such a great conversation with Helen and was finally ready to start changing her narrative. So what changed when she returned from California?

Part two: Noah.

I was surprised to see “Part Two” pop up on the screen, as the episode was almost over at this point. There was so much going on that I almost forgot that the show was divided into separate parts. However, this part was absolutely necessary and extremely moving. The majority of the episode focuses so much on Cole’s own grief, as he desperately tries to find out what happened to Alison. Noah was strong for Cole the entire time, but when he goes to the diner with Anton, he finally has a moment to himself. Noah sees a woman in a waitress uniform that resembles Alison and all of his memories and feelings come rushing back. When Anton goes to the restroom, Noah begins quietly sobbing at the table and I was crying right along with him. While Noah may have confessed to Cole that his relationship with Alison was over, that doesn’t mean that he didn’t have something real with her. The two of them shared a connection for many years and he clearly cared for Alison very much. Noah did his part for Cole, but in this quiet and temporary moment, he is able to finally release his grief. This moment was heartbreaking and I empathized with Noah completely. Will Noah be able to pick up the pieces now that Alison is gone? Will we finally find out what happened to her? Stay tuned!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’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!

I am so excited to announce that my book, The Search for Alice, is now available! If you enjoy fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, 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!

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

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The 100” season 5 episode 12: “I Loved Her So Much But It’s Nothing Compared To How Much I Love You”

Happy Thursday TV fans! After watching the CW’s The 100 season 5 episode 12, I learned that sometimes we need to own up to our mistakes and do what is necessary to make things right. While we may not be able to fix everything with a good deed, the willingness to make a sacrifice to save a life should not go unnoticed. It may seem impossible to achieve, but it’s never too late to start trying to fix what may seem to be eternally broken. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet. In Tuesday night’s episode, “Damocles – Part One,” war is finally here and Octavia marches Wonkru into a battle they are not prepared for. Meanwhile, Clarke and Octavia attempt to tip the scale with their actions, Vincent brutally attacks Kane, and Echo does everything in her power to save Bellamy. My top 5 moments from The 100 season 5 episode 12 are:

“It’s time to end this so both our children can live happily ever after.”

War is here and McCreary will stop at nothing to obtain all of the power for himself. Echo and the others recognize that Bellamy is in some serious trouble along with the rest of Wonkru and understand that perhaps they need their true Commander to lead them through before it’s too late. It seems like McCreary is always lurking behind a corner with perfect timing to thwart everyone’s plan. Once again, Raven and Shaw have been captured, which seems to be a pretty normal occurrence for these two. Clarke saves Echo’s life and explains to McCreary that they need her, proving once again that she can think quickly on her feet. We know that McCreary will continue to be a threat to everyone, but who will be the one to take him down for good? Will Diyoza really be able to stop the father of her child before it’s too late?

“So much for surrender.”

When Octavia marches her people into battle, McCreary’s men are beyond ready for them and begin surrounding them and taking out her people left and right. Gaia is hanging on by a thread and Bellamy reminds Octavia, “You led them here. These people are dead because of you.” While it’s clear that Bellamy still blames Octavia for everything, he now realizes that surrender is not an option. When several members of Wonkru call out that they give up, they are gunned down just the same, forcing Octavia to finally realize that she has now completely broken Wonkru. Will her people ever trust her again?

“Now you care about Bellamy?”

I have been waiting for an encounter all season between Clarke and Echo that really boils down to who should be with Bellamy. I have always been a Bellarke fan, but Echo has been good for Bellamy and clearly cares for him deeply. Echo is angry at Clarke for betraying him and reminds her that he is still alive. Clarke tries to tell her that she always cared, but Echo seems doubtful. While these two have bigger problems to face right now, the underlying tension here cannot be ignored, as Echo is no fool and must know that Bellamy does care for Clarke. Who will he ultimately choose? I’m not sure this will be resolved this season, but we’ll have to stay tuned to find out.

“My brother, my responsibility.”

After reality finally hits home with Octavia, she feels responsible for the defeat of her people. Gaia is injured badly and she is hiding with her brother and Indra. Octavia recognizes that she must make the ultimate sacrifice in order to help them get away safely. In a courageous moment, Octavia begins shooting at the enemy and screaming, “You are Wonkru or you are the enemy of Wonkru,” just in case anyone has forgotten their slogan. For a moment I thought that this was it for our girl Octavia and that “Blodreina” would finally fall, but Echo and the others show up with perfect timing to save the day and get them out of there. However, Octavia’s actions should not go unnoticed, as she was more than willing to give up her own life to save her brother’s. Will Bellamy finally be able to forgive her?

“I love her so much but it’s nothing compared to how much I love you.”

The greatest moment of part one of the season finale belongs to Clarke and Madi. Clarke realizes that she cannot stand in Madi’s way and that she has to let her embrace her destiny. However, that doesn’t mean that she won’t do whatever it takes to keep her safe. We know that Clarke fears losing Madi just like she lost Lexa, but Madi reminds Clarke, “She’s not a ghost. She’s real. Betraying you is her deepest regret. She doesn’t want you to make the same mistake.” Madi tells Clarke that “life should be about more than just surviving” and she is absolutely right. Clarke understands that she must stay behind and that Echo will be by Madi’s side to help her. Madi doesn’t want to do this alone, but Clarke tells her, “You will always have me. This is how I protect you.” In a heartwarming moment, she reveals to Madi that she is the one who saved her. Madi fears that they may never see each other again, but Clarke tells her that, “I’m the Commander of death and I say we will meet again.” This moment is truly beautiful and probably my absolute favorite one of the season so far. Clarke has done everything in her power to keep her daughter safe and finally empathizes with everything her own mother has had to do. She knows that Madi is more than capable of being a strong Commander and she is finally ready to let her embrace her calling, trusting that Madi is strong, powerful, and capable. While her love for Lexa will never fade, Madi taught her about true and unconditional love. At the end of part one of the season finale, there are so many questions still unanswered. What will Clarke do to save everyone? Will Raven really end Shaw’s life? Will Marcus survive? Stay tuned for the epic conclusion of the season finale next week!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories and thoughts on The 100 in the comments section below. Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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The Search for Alice is available here!

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Younger” season 5 episode 8: “Can We Stay In Our Bubble Just For Tonight?”

Happy Wednesday TV fans! After watching TV Land’s Younger season 5 episode 8 last night, I found myself thinking of Liza’s advice when she says, “The good things only happen when we risk letting the bad stuff happen too.” We may want to keep our guard up or make decisions with our head rather than our heart, but sometimes we can miss out on something truly great if we do so. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet. In last night’s episode, “The Bubble,” Liza and Charles finally get a chance to explore their feelings for one another. Meanwhile, Kelsey tries to make the right decision, Lauren has a dinner party, and Diana struggles with keeping up with her cleanse. My top 5 moments from Younger season 5 episode 8 are:

“I need to press pause.”

Kelsey has clearly been stressed out in her personal and professional life and it doesn’t help that she has been stuck in the middle of a love triangle between her author and her co-worker. Kelsey finally makes the decision to choose herself, or at least a time out, when she tells Jake that she wants to cool things at least until after the book comes out. Kelsey is just being honest and tries to explain that she has made this mistake before and it seems like Jake is willing to accept this. However, Jake demonstrates his sneaky side once again and goes behind Kelsey’s back to approach Charles and suggest that his book be published by Empirical Press rather than Millennial. Jake’s actions prove that he is absolutely not the right match for Kelsey, but will the shadiness stop here? Something tells me it’s only the beginning. Watch out Kelsey!

“We all have issues.”

Lauren is excited to host a dinner party for her friends and plans on inviting a woman she recently met that she is very much interested in. Josh and Maggie show up and Maggie hilariously brings some food even though Lauren is cooking and reminds her, “You want to impress this girl right?” When the doorbell finally rings, Maggie is beyond shocked to learn that Lauren’s date is her ex-girlfriend, Malkie. Lauren’s cooking is not the only thing stirring in the pot, as the drama and tension between these two escalates. Malkie and Maggie clearly have unresolved feelings for one another, but Maggie leaves before they can completely rehash everything. After speaking to Liza, Maggie realizes that maybe she does need to let her wall down and give Malkie a chance. With the help of Josh, she paints a beautiful mural with Malkie’s portrait to surprise her and it looks like they are both ready to give their relationship another go and put in some work.

“This one is hers.”

In the beginning of the episode, Zane is still angry with Kelsey after being taken off of Jake’s book. Kelsey tries to talk it out with him, but Zane harshly tells her, “You screwed me and then you screwed me over.” Later on in the episode, Charles approaches Zane about shifting Jake’s book over to Empirical and Zane proves to be a knight in shining armor. He could easily take the credit here and grab this opportunity, but he tells Charles that Kelsey worked very hard on the book and Charles agrees to keep it at Millennial. Zane may be hurt and frustrated by Kelsey’s actions, but he refuses to stoop to the underhanded level that Jake has, proving once again to a good and honest man. Now let’s hope our girl Kelsey can realize this too. Men like Zane are hard to come by and I would hate to see these two miss out on an opportunity to be together.

“She might want revenge.”

Liza and Diana are meeting with Reese Witherspoon’s representative to discuss “Marriage Vacation,” and Liza is shocked when Pauline arrives. Pauline clearly knows what is happening between Liza and Charles, as she starts coming up with different premises for her sequel, suggesting that perhaps a younger assistant steals her husband. Liza panics and plays along when she says, “Maybe the assistant was actually trying to help,” but Pauline is not buying it and starts talking about revenge ideas. While it is great to see Liza and Charles finally together, there are still many outside forces that can bring consequences. Are they finally ready to face them together?

“Can we stay in our bubble just for tonight?”

The beginning of the episode opens up with us seeing bits and pieces of Liza and Charles’s night together which is very sexy and passionate. Charles leaves for ten days and when he returns, he is sporting a new beard. While Liza is not necessarily a fan of the beard, she is so excited to see Charles and the two continue their secret relationship by meeting up in the stairwell and sending texts to one another. When Charles invites Liza out, he takes her to Battery Park to a sea glass carousel and I was absolutely swooning over this date. All of this talk about staying in a bubble and Charles literally takes her to their very own bubble away from the rest of the world. After Liza tells Charles about Pauline, he explains that he has already taken care of it and agrees to let her take her sequel to another publishing company. It’s clear that Charles’s main priority is Liza, but he does recognize that the challenges are going to keep coming their way. While we know that they cannot stay hidden in their bubble forever, I have to say that it was so wonderful to finally see these two enjoy some quality time together. But what happens when they step out of the bubble and face reality? Something tells me that as long as they stick together, they can make it through any obstacle thrown their way. That doesn’t mean it will be smooth sailing; however, as we know these two are in for a bumpy ride. Stay tuned!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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The Search for Alice is available here!

Throw-Back Thursday: Ranking the top 5 episodes of “Charmed.”

It’s Throw-Back Thursday TV Fans! For today, I am going to be counting down the top 5 episodes from Charmed. Out of the 178 episodes of the series, it was extremely difficult to narrow this list down to just 5 episodes. Over my many re-watches of the show, these episodes have stood the test of time. As I re-watch the series each time, I find myself looking forward to them because they truly make an impact with me. There have been different points in my life where many episodes of Charmed have gotten me through some really tough times and that just goes to show you how amazing this show is.

It’s not just about witchcraft and magic. It’s about family, loyalty, and how to deal with the everyday demons in our lives, not just the supernatural. The entire series is filled with great episodes, all connecting to create a believable story and providing us with some great entertainment, while keeping our favorite characters real, empathetic, funny, and significant in the process. It’s hard not to feel like part of the Halliwell family when you invest so much time watching these powerful and amazing women. These stand-out episodes below 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 Charmed are:

“From Fear to Eternity.” (Season 1, episode 13)

“Prue. Prue. You must face your fears, Prue. You must trust in the greatest of all powers. Love.” (Patty Halliwell)

So for me this episode has to be the one that hooked me onto Charmed for good. This episode was in the middle of the first season and really elevated the show to an entirely new level. It’s Friday the 13^th and we are first introduced to one of the greatest villains on the show, Barbas, the Demon of Fear. I have to say that it was very clever to have episode 13 be the Friday the 13^th one, which really made this episode that much more haunting. The Demon of Fear has to murder 13 witches before midnight so that he can be freed, which is alarming enough for those of you who are superstitious.

What makes Barbas so frightening is that he brings a victim’s greatest fear to the surface. The victim appears to die from a heart attack and their hair turns bright white from fright, which gets the police involved, but there is something so bone-chilling about this. Just imagining this happening makes my skin crawl, which is why Barbas was such a genius villain and so difficult for the sisters to face. This episode stood out to me as well because the sisters could not just rely on their magical powers to defeat him. Phoebe is held captive by him and he lures Prue to the scene to get two witches for the price of one. We learn in the episode that Prue is very fearful of drowning, as Barbas initially attacks her in the shower.

When Prue is in the pool, the spirit of her mother, Patty appears before her and tells her to trust in the power of love. Prue is able to overcome her fear, which banishes Barbas. It took Prue conquering her inner demons to be able to defeat this one and it finally allows her to open up to her sisters and let them into her heart, while still having plenty of room to remember and love her mother.

“Chick Flick.” (Season 2, episode 18)

“You’re my hero Billy.”

“And I think you’re swell, Sally Mae.”

My top 5 list would not be complete without including “Chick Flick.” I typically refer to this episode as “Kill It Before It Dies,” which is the old movie that Phoebe is obsessed with, currently playing down at the local theater. In this episode, the Demon of Illusion flees from the Charmed ones and hides right in the movie. The demon is not afraid to change the script and even recruits other psycho killers from different movies to attack the sisters. Phoebe’s dream man, Billy, comes out of the movie and is still in black-and-white. Phoebe is beyond thrilled and bonds with Billy. I mean how many times have we thought about hanging out with one of our favorite characters? Phoebe actually gets to do this which is beyond cool.

The sisters team up with Billy to fight the Demon of Illusion, but not before they get trapped in the film. The Demon of Illusion explains that if they are stuck in there when the movie ends, they will never get out. Luckily, Prue is quite the photographer and is able to rewind the film and vanquish the Demon of Illusion by leaving his frame under the light for too long. Phoebe is forced to say goodbye to Billy, but is thrilled when she gets her own copy of the movie. “Kill It Before it Dies” actually appears in three episodes of Charmed and even Cole tries to give her a message through the movie. I mean you can’t knock him for lack of effort.

Either way, this episode is absolutely hilarious and fun. If you’re having a bad day, I strongly recommend you grab your popcorn and watch this one. And whatever you do…don’t hide from a psycho killer in the shower like poor Piper.

“The Seven Year Witch.” (Season 7, episode 16)

“Leo and Piper’s love, it’s epic, it’s massive. It’s Romeo and Juliet, Anthony and Cleopatra, Brad and Jennifer.” (Drake)

There are a few reasons why I absolutely adore this episode. First off, my absolute favorite character, Cole Turner is back. Well not back to the land of the living, but he does act as a sort of mentor and guide for Piper who is currently trapped in limbo. Meanwhile, the elders decide to test Leo and strip him of his memory and leave him out on an abandoned highway so that he can choose his path once and for all. The path is not so clear-cut, however; as the elders do try to manipulate him by focusing on his love to help others. Cole finally gets through to Piper and she realizes that she must let go and die and call out to Leo in order to reach him and the plan is a success. While Drake should have probably picked couples in history that actually ended up together…or ended up surviving, the intent is there.

When I think about epic couples, Piper and Leo always come to mind and it’s because of moments like this. Piper and Leo’s love transcends everything else around them and they are able to fight for each other and support each other through it all. At the end of the episode, Drake’s life ends at midnight when he says, “Alas…pumpkin time.” Fans learn that Cole sent him there to help Phoebe believe in love again, which is absolutely swoon-worthy. Even though Cole can’t be with Phoebe, her happiness is all that keeps him going in the other plane and he will forever love her. Phoebe even feels his presence in the house, which proves that they are still connected on some level. Now that’s romantic.

“Centennial Charmed.” (Season 5, episode 12)

“We’ve been through so much together…haven’t we? Our love’s so strong, nothing can destroy it, not even this. We’re meant to be together.” (Cole)

So even though Phoebe says, “I don’t think so,” it’s hard to fully believe this can be true. I absolutely believe that Phoebe and Cole were meant to be together, but unlike Piper and Leo, they are unable to defeat everything that gets in their way. Cole’s path toward self-destruction is beyond difficult to control and Phoebe will always choose her family over her love for him simply because she is selfless. It’s a sacrifice and something that will always be with her, but it’s hard to agree that their love was not meant to be. While I do think that her love with Coop later on in the series is a healthy and stable relationship for her, it comes as a close second to her passionate and messy romance with Cole. This episode is the 100^th episode of the show and I think that they really hit home with it. Cole has been vanquished before, but he always finds some way back. However, this time is different.

Cole reveals that it is his birthday but all he wants is a chance at love and happiness, which is heart-breaking and empathetic. The Avatars approach Cole, which prove to be a greater threat later down the road with Leo, and Cole decides to use his new powers to cast a spell to alter reality so that he can win Phoebe back. Only this has unforeseen consequences, as Phoebe does not love him in this reality anymore than she does now. Cole’s plan back-fires when Paige sneezes and orbs out when the spell is cast, as he had anticipated her being dead in this reality. Paige is able to convince Piper to help her, which is no easy task and the power of 3 is alive again. Cole is not indestructible in this reality and when he is vanquished, it’s for good this time. The end of the episode is bitter sweet, as Cole’s place is found empty and abandoned, revealing that he’s not coming back anytime soon.

Paige wishes him a happy birthday before she exits, which always brings me to tears. The sisters did not want to vanquish Cole, but he made it impossible for them to live in a world with him. Perhaps his path could have been different or perhaps it would end just the same, but it’s clear that he impacted more than just Phoebe, which makes his departure from the show that much more heart-breaking.

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

“The Wendigo”
“Is There a Woogy in the House?”
“Déjà Vu All Over Again”
“P3 H20”
“Ms. Hellfire”
“Awakened”
“The Good, The Bad, and the Cursed”
“Just Harried”
“All Hell Breaks Loose”
“Brain Drain”
“A Paige from the Past”
“Charmed and Dangerous”
“Marry-Go-Round”
“Long Live the Queen”
“The Day the Magic Died”
“Sense and Sense Ability”
“Witchstock”
“The Courtship of Wyatt’s Father”
“Hyde School Reunion”
“Witch Wars”
“Charmageddon”
“Show Ghouls”
“The Torn Identity”
“Kill Billy: Volume 2”

“Forever Charmed.” (Season 8, episode 22)

“And although we certainly had our struggles and heart aches over the years we’re a family of survivors and we always will be. Which is why we’ve truly been Charmed.” (Piper Halliwell)

So I absolutely have to give the series finale of the show the number one spot. Mostly because it truly sums up everything the way I would have liked. I would say that the only thing missing was the presence of Prue but they did mention her. The episode focuses on Piper using Coop’s ring to travel through time to save her sisters, which allows some of our favorite characters from the past and future to get involved to help save the day. When the threat is over, we get a glimpse into the future of the lives of our favorite Halliwell sisters and everything is as it should be. Piper’s words to her future grand-daughter remind us what the show is all about. While the Halliwell sisters are powerful witches, they are much more than that.

They are survivors and they are a family that sticks together no matter what. It’s hard not to fall in love with this show and every time I watch the series finale, it inspires hope and love. While it’s always hard to say goodbye to the Charmed ones, you can always start the series over again, but knowing that they obtained the future that they deserved provides us with closure and satisfaction. “The power of 3 will set us free!”

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post some of your own favorite episodes from Charmed below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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Ranking the top 5 Most Fashionable Female Characters on TV: “Fashion is art and culture and history and everything I love combined!”

Happy Friday TV fans! The weekend is almost here and these drastic changes in weather here in New York have brought out all sorts of clothing changes. Heavy coats were swapped out for chic leather jackets, giving each one of us the chance to shine on our own runway. Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl got it right when she said “fashion is art and culture and history and everything I love combined.”

Whether you are channeling a certain era in time or embracing a new trend you spotted in a magazine, fashion is all about expression and creation. You can change up your style with each new outfit, depending on your mood or destination, which makes it so truly wonderful. For today, I am going to be looking at female TV characters with some serious style. Whether they are trying to rule the world…or their high school or looking for an escape from the mundane world of suburbia, these ladies are beyond well-dressed. They’ve become my inspiration when plotting my own next ensemble.

My top 5 most fashionable female characters on TV are:

Veronica Lodge from Riverdale.

I’ve been quite impressed with the fashion on Riverdale. Every character really embraces it and is not afraid to try out new trends, but I have to give the top spot from the show to Miss Veronica Lodge. When she arrives from the big city, she brings her expensive wardrobe with her and is not afraid to show it off. Veronica truly has an Audrey Hepburn inspired look, carefully completing each ensemble with simple but classic accessories, such as her pearl necklace. Veronica always looks flawless and ready for anything. It’s no wonder she is able to stand up to her parents and the other adults in this town. She’s dressing the part and means business.

Emily Thorne from Revenge.

You can’t help not rooting for Emily on her quest for revenge against the Grayson family who she believes is responsible for the downfall of her father. Emily takes on her new identity and plans to step into the elite world of the Hamptons, Long Island. You would never doubt for a second that she doesn’t belong, as she makes an entrance with poise and confidence. Emily’s wardrobe is beyond beautiful. She tends to favor reds and floral patterns, typically leaving her long blonde hair down in soft waves, giving her a certain Veronica Lake vibe. Emily even challenges the notorious Victoria Grayson without batting an eyelash. Even her casual wardrobe screams The Hamptons, embracing simple cardigans and nautical sweaters with fitted jeans. No matter where the social event is, Emily Thorne is there to make a statement and her wardrobe absolutely helps her accomplish this.

Gabrielle Solis from Desperate Housewives.

When ex-model, Gabrielle moves to Wisteria Lane with her rich husband, Carlos, she has traded in her runway days for the quiet life of suburbia. However, that doesn’t mean Gabrielle is about to sacrifice her wardrobe in the process. Even though most of the other women on the block dress casual and simple, Gabrielle looks fabulous in brightly colored ensembles. Even when she does her Yoga, she has on brightly colored matching velour sweats. Gabrielle’s dresses are her trademark, however. She absolutely adores anything that is couture. In a hilarious moment on the show, Gabrielle’s entire walk-in closet is destroyed by a horrible leak in the ceiling and her screams of distress are absolutely sympathetic. When Gabrielle begins dating her second husband, Victor, she seems to have more fun going through his ex-wife’s closet, even borrowing a few outfits. Unfortunately for Gabrielle, the ex spots her in the outfit and Gabrielle is forced to strip in the bathroom and hand over the goods. Luckily, Gabrielle can pull off any outfit…or lack of one in this case, so she was in the clear.

Buffy Summers from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

I was a teenager myself when watching Buffy and I have to say that she was my inspiration for my own style. I remember trying to find the perfect prom dress that looked like hers because I adored it that much. Whether Buffy was rocking a pair of cute leather boots with a short dress or skirt or wearing one of her beautiful statement coats, she always looked fierce while defeating the many threats in Sunnydale. While she was great at accessorizing, perhaps her best accessory was her cross-bow which really went with every outfit. Later in the series, Buffy traded out many of her short dresses for cute leather pants and soft sweaters, embracing hoop earrings and cute hairstyles. No matter what outfit she wore, she always looked comfortable and cute, which is sometimes really hard to do! Either way, Buffy still remains an absolute influence on my own fashion and style.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one pick are:

Hanna Marin from “Pretty Little Liars”
Cheryl Blossom from “Riverdale”
Serena van der Woodsen from “Gossip Girl”
Olivia Pope from “Scandal”
Victoria Grayson from “Revenge”
Aria Montgomery from “Pretty Little Liars”
Felicity Smoak from “Arrow”
Joan Watson from “Elementary”

Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl.

So if the quote at the beginning didn’t give me away, my number one pick for most fashionable female TV character has to be awarded to Blair Waldorf. The Queen B herself, Blair embodies fashion and style. Her number one accessory is always her headband, which basically represents a crown, but she wears it so well. Blair, like Veronica Lodge, has an Audrey Hepburn vibe going on, but takes it to an entirely new level. Whether she is rocking a preppy outfit with knee-socks or a breathtaking gown, Blair plans every single detail of her outfit. Her endless amounts of coats are to die for and her handbags are elegant and the perfect pop of color. I’m sure fans around the world (including me) would love to go through her closet just to be that close to a work of art that will never go out of style. Blair’s love for fashion is absolutely apparent and even when she is scolding her minions; it’s hard not to root for her because she looks absolutely fabulous in every scene.

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post your thoughts and comments below on some of your picks for the most fashionable female TV characters. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Throw-back Sunday: Ranking the top 5 villains from “Charmed”

It’s Throw-Back Sunday TV Fans! For today, I have returned to one of my old favorites, Charmed, as I am currently on the last season of my re-watch. The Halliwell sisters are always fun to watch and truly know how to protect their innocents from the forces of evil with good magic. Even though most of their everyday foes are easily conquered with a Power of 3 spell, there are some villains on the show who just won’t go away…no matter how many times they vanquish them.

These villains become worthy opponents who continue to threaten the sisters over the seasons, trying desperately to bring down the infamous Charmed Ones. While some villains are just completely terrifying, others take the time for a well-thought out pun, while others are tormented by the darkness that continues to incessantly creep in, wiping out any goodness that may be inside.

Either way, these villains have paved their way into my top 5, refusing to sit back and let good conquer evil. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the series yet.

My top 5 villains from Charmed are:

Christy Jenkins

In the final season of Charmed, we are introduced to the character of Billie, who is a young witch eager to take on demons and excited to have the Charmed Ones as her mentors. We find out that Billie has a complicated past, however; and has unresolved memories about her older sister, Christy being kidnapped by a demon when they were children. We later learn that former villains, The Triad, are responsible for this and have been training and raising Christy to be an unstoppable force of evil.

The Triad anticipated that sister witches could be the ultimate power to take down the Charmed Ones. Christy initially pretends to be good to lure Billie to her side, but her childhood and innocence were corrupted long ago when she was taken, as she is unable to step away from the darkness. Billie has to ultimately kill her sister in an act of defense, which is unbelievably heart-breaking.

The very idea of putting sisters against sisters is a genius move of the Triad, but they are unable to predict that Billie’s goodness combined with the Halliwell sisters is too powerful for evil to tip the scale.

Zankou

An upper level demon who is after great power, Zankou initially appears to be on the side of the Charmed Ones, when he teams up with them and Agent Brody to stop the Avatars. He bids the Charmed Ones adieu, but they know this is not the last they will see of him. Zankou begins to re-organize the underworld in an attempt to steal the power from the Nexus, which is beneath the Halliwell manor.

He also tries to obtain the Book of Shadows, which he successfully manages to steal. Zankou stands out from other demons because he learns to anticipate their humanity, which so many other demons have failed to do in the past. He spies on them in their home and even reads Piper’s diary to get the full inside scoop on the Charmed Ones and their human emotions giving the term “know thy enemy” new meaning. This comes in handy later on when he causes the sisters to shake their bond, making the book and them vulnerable in the process.

Ultimately, the Charmed Ones are able to defeat Zankou by tricking him into absorbing the power of the Nexus so that they can cast a spell to destroy it and everything else in their path, causing the Charmed Ones to fake their own deaths in the process.

The Source

The Source is probably one of the scariest demons I have ever seen on Charmed. He initially cloaks his face with a dark hood, but later reveals his half-face which had been mutilated from his many battles in the past. The Source is the big bad that has been mentioned since the beginning of Charmed. Even Rex, Prue’s demonic boss, mentions that he won’t be pleased without revealing his name.

The Source is always after power and is no longer interested in sharing a balance between good and evil. He even takes in the power of the Hollow, which is forbidden, to try and kill the Charmed ones. The Source is also responsible for the death of the oldest Halliwell sister, Prue. His demon for hire, Shax is the one who kills her, shattering the lives of the Halliwell family. Later, he tries to corrupt Paige to his side, but he is no match for the power of family and love.

Even though The Source is beyond scary, he does take a few moments to toy with his enemy, taunting the sisters to “say hello to Prue for him.” However, this only enrages the sisters even further, using the magic of their entire ancestry line to stop him.

Barbas aka The Demon of Fear

Barbas first appeared in season one in one of my favorite episodes of all time where he appears on Friday the 13^th to take out 13 witches to free himself. He reads the fears of his victims and then uses that fear against them, causing them to die from what looks like a heart attack, as their hair turns completely white from the panic and fear. The victims truly believe that their fear is coming to life, which makes him a very dangerous demon to say the least.

Barbas targets the Charmed Ones and comes very close to killing Prue, preying on her fear of drowning. However, Prue is able to overcome her fear with love. Barbas is banished as he is unable to obtain the 13 witches he needs for freedom but he is never gone for good. Barbas has appeared as a recurring demon over the seasons, teaming up with other forces of evil to bring down the Charmed Ones. When the Charmed Ones go on trial, he leads the prosecution, bringing up evidence against the Charmed Ones in quite the compelling argument.

When the Charmed Ones get trapped in a parallel world where everything evil is good, they have to go to Barbas as the source of all good to help them. He is clearly one of the toughest enemies for the Charmed Ones and he is quite entertaining as well in the process.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one pick are:

Inspector Rodriguez
Bane
Shax
The Woogyman
Gideon
Evil Wyatt
Evil Charmed Ones
The Seer
The Triad
Agent Jackman

Cole Turner

It should be no surprise that my favorite villain has to be Cole Turner. Cole first appears on Charmed in season 3 and is the love interest of Phoebe. Cole reveals that he is half-demon and half-human, which causes quite the internal conflict. His demon-side, Belthazor is an upper-level demon who is absolutely terrifying. However, his human side is tall, dark, and handsome, proving to be quite the charmer and an excellent lawyer.

Later in the series, Cole becomes the source of all evil, taking in the hollow to protect Phoebe and her sisters from the original source. When the sisters ask what happened to the powers of the source, the Seer says “into the void” with a knowing smile, as her plan to make Cole the new source has sprung into action. Cole cannot control the powers of the source but he refuses to give up Phoebe in the process, his love remaining true to her. He even corrupts Phoebe to darkness, tricking her into a dark wedding and impregnating her with the spawn of Satan.

The Charmed Ones are able to vanquish Cole but one learns that he is never gone for too long. Cole remains trapped in limbo, collecting powers of vanquished demons along the way to become an even greater threat with more powers than the sisters thought possible. Through it all, Cole tries to continue to change for Phoebe and hold on to their love, but he ends up being his own worst enemy. In an effort to change his fate and be with Phoebe, he tries to create a new world and goes back in time. This plan back-fires, however; as he is now in a time when it was possible for him to be vanquished as Belthazor.

Cole is vanquished on his 118^th birthday in the 100^th episode of Charmed and it seems like this one is for good. He makes a special appearance when Piper is trapped in limbo later on in season 7, however. Cole comes to her rescue and even sends Drake to Phoebe, to remind her about the importance of loving again, even though he will always be loving her just a little out of reach.

Either way, Cole is my favorite villain of all time on the series, proving that villains can find love too. Unfortunately for Cole, his own inner-conflict and pride get in the way, preventing him from ever finding the happy ending he so desperately wanted for him and Phoebe.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to share some of your own thoughts and comments on your favorite villains from Charmed. Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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Ranking my top 5 Guilty Pleasures on Television

When you think about a guilty pleasure, what comes to mind? Is it a type of candy you can’t live without or a fantastic collection of designer shoes? For me, it all comes down to television. While it’s no secret that I am beyond obsessed with movies and TV, there is something about the over-the-top shows filled with sexy melodrama and unbelievable plot twists that I can’t deny.

Whether the female leads are getting into scandalous dilemmas or weaving a dangerous web of deception, there is something about these particular shows that make me want to grab the popcorn and binge-watch all through the weekend in my pajamas.

My top 5 guilty pleasures on television are:

The Client List

Although this show only lasted for two seasons on the Lifetime network, this show screams guilty pleasure. Jennifer Love Hewitt was cast perfectly, playing Riley Parks, a mother of two living in Texas who is just left by her husband. Riley is left with a mortgage to pay and bills that seem never-ending, which causes her to find employment at “The Rub of Sugarland.”

While Riley starts out seeking a legitimate masseuse job, she realizes that this is not going to cut it if she wants to make ends meet for her family. Riley quickly discovers that there is a client list which involves special customers who comes in looking more than a traditional massage. Riley fully understands that this is illegal, but the opportunity is just too tempting for her to turn down. Riley begins to compromise her moral compass and lies to her family, but she is ultimately trying to be the best mother she can under the circumstances.

The clients are intriguing enough with their “special” requests and fans wonder if Riley’s world will be shattered with each new plot twist, leaving viewers with an action-packed series finale that still have us asking lots of questions.

Secret Diary of a Call Girl

This popular series aired for 4 seasons on Showtime and is a British comedy starring the fantastic and beautiful Billie Piper as Hannah Baxter aka Belle (her escort alias). While the show initially seemed like it may be a little bit too gratuitous, it’s easy to quickly fall in love with with Hannah or Belle and root for her with each episode.

The episodes are short (about 24 minutes each) so it makes this series extremely easy to binge-watch. Belle allows the viewers the opportunity to get the inside scoop on what it’s really like to be a call girl. While it may seem glamorous and have its perks on the outside, Belle reveals a lot of the complicated aspects as well, including how extremely difficult it is to actually maintain a normal relationship when you are a prostitute.

Mistresses

This series aired for 4 seasons and used to be part of the summer lineup on ABC. When one was in desperate need of some serious binge-watching when all of our other favorite shows were on break, Mistresses did an excellent job of capturing viewers with its fun and fancy-free attitude.

The ladies on this show were not shy of diving head first into drama, including extravagant affairs, secret relationships, and husbands faking their own deaths. While many of the plot twists were clearly over-the-top, the fantastic women on this show did a great job of being believable and their close-knit friendships brought us back to the days of Sex and the City.

This series also ended on a huge cliff-hanger, but was the perfect summer fling to have during the off-season of television.

Devious Maids

Lasting for 4 seasons, this show was jam-packed with the perfect blend of spiciness, comedy, and mystery. It’s no wonder that it came from the creators who brought us Desperate Housewives. However, this show took the sexiness a step further than Desperate Housewives, which made the mysteries going on that much more exciting to solve and be a part of.

Like Mistresses, the women on this show have an undeniable bond and support each other through all of the chaos and drama surrounding them, but they don’t forget to have some fun along the way. Like some of my favorite guilty pleasures, this show also ended on a huge cliff-hanger. While I didn’t want to turn the page on this show just yet, it still provided me with just the right amount of laughs and gasps to go with a lazy weekend.

The Affair

So my number one pick has to go to Showtime’s The Affair. While you may think you know what the show is about just from the title, you are seriously missing out if you don’t get caught up. As I am anxiously waiting for season 4 to premiere, I am getting ready to re-watch the entire series. It’s that good.

While the first season still remains my favorite and the most entertaining, each season allows us into the private thoughts of each character. The show focuses primarily on Noah and Allison, giving us a glimpse into their souls as their worlds start to unravel right before their eyes, drowning them further and further into a darkness that has a more powerful calling than the ocean right outside their doors.

There is something hypnotic about this show. It pulls you in right from the start and the decision to present the story from the different perspectives of each character makes you question everything, pulling the viewer in even deeper. Just when you think you know what’s about to happen or unravel, there is another unexpected twist that will haunt you and resonate with you even long after watching the series. The acting and writing is fantastic on this series, providing us with the perfect escape from the mundane.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl