TV Archives - Page 73 of 75

Ranking the top 5 spin-off television series of all time: Can a spin-off surpass an original?

Is it possible for a spin-off series to surpass the original? Perhaps not in most cases, but that doesn’t mean that the spin-off can’t branch out into something entertaining and epic on its own. Creating a spin-off series is always a gamble. You are relying on the fans from the original series to follow the show and create a fan base with its own separate identity as well.

While many spin-off series have failed to capture this difficult standard, there have been some that are so memorable that you almost forget that there was an original series that started it all. This really got me thinking about my own favorite spin-off series and why they stand out above the rest.

My top 5 favorite spin-off television series of all time are:

The Originals

This show is a spin-off series of the CW’s successful hit, The Vampire Diaries. Klaus Mikaelson and his family of original vampires are introduced as dangerous and worthy villains, but their history is so rich and intriguing, not leaving The Vampire Diaries much room to explore it among its own plot.

The Originals is set in New Orleans and fans were pleased to see the Mikaelson family as the center of it all, while introducing new characters as well with just as much complexity. The Originals does not shy away from its roots and all fans know where it started, however; it takes a darker and more historical approach to vampires, allowing viewers to see the full picture of how everything started.

After years of watching both series, I came to ultimately prefer The Originals because it was fresher and explored darker elements. Klaus, who was previously shown as a ruthless killer with no remorse, now shows a glimmer of a soul and reveals to us how he became so broken in the midst of family and romantic betrayals.

Melrose Place

This show is a spin-off series of one of my all time favorites, Beverly Hills, 90210. 90210 was such a success and targeted a teenage audience who craved a drama with more depth and complication than your average soap opera. Some fans don’t remember that the very entertaining Melrose Place was actually a spin-off of 90210. Jake is introduced as an old friend of Dylan’s and has a fleeting romantic moment with Kelly, only to decide to ride his motorcycle off to a new town to discover a life of his own.

The opening episodes of Melrose Place even feature Kelly coming to find him to see why he had broken their relationship off, strategically hooking in viewers from 90210. While a lot of the love triangles, betrayals, and outrageous plots seem familiar to 90210, Melrose Place did a good job of capturing an old generation of viewers as well, breaking out of the mold of a high school drama and paving the way for many more shows to come.

Angel

A spin-off of the hit TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Joss Whedon recognized that Buffy and Angel’s story was over…or at least put on pause, leaving fans wondering where Angel would go after Buffy graduated and went off to college. Lucky for us, Angel was not done with his destiny just yet, traveling to LA with fan-favorite, Cordelia, to help innocents along the way and even start his own business while doing so, taking on one evil lawyer at a time.

In Buffy, Angel’s back story is briefly explored, but his own show allows us to truly see and understand every aspect of his origin. Also, Angel was not able to shine as much in Buffy since he was obviously not the center of the show. Angel’s personality and potential were often stifled in Buffy because the focus was on more of the romantic relationship between them, rather than who Angel truly was or meant to be.

This spin-off series did have a strong following and it was lined up right after Buffy on the same night of airings, but Angel did have its own identity and voice, proving that a supporting character could become a principal hero after all.

Better Call Saul

A spin-off of the hit series, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul is a prequel to the beloved series, focusing primarily on our favorite scheming lawyer, Saul Goodman. This spin-off is one of the most successful ones I have watched and I adore both series.

What’s so great about the show is that it introduces important elements and characters that fans recognize from Breaking Bad, giving us a chance to further dive into how everything started in Breaking Bad. However, this does not outshine the incredible acting by Bob Odenkirk who does an excellent job at truly embracing his character.

While fans are pleased with his wit and schemes along the way, we begin to fully learn about his past life and what lead him to the decisions he made later in Breaking Bad. Saul demonstrates his work ethic and how much he wanted to be a lawyer and prove to his brother and girlfriend that he is capable of being a good man.

This becomes difficult to maintain later on, but it is clear that Saul’s character is deeper and more complex than anyone could have imagined on Breaking Bad, creating something unique and separate from the series it came from.

Xena: Warrior Princess

Who could forget the fabulous and beautiful Xena, played by the brilliant and gorgeous, Lucy Lawless? While fans remember that it is a spin-off of Hercules, this series surpasses it in my opinion. Xena paved the way for strong female leads such as Buffy, proving that a female warrior can be just as dangerous as any man. Xena fights warriors and gods along the way, refusing to back down.

Her iconic battle cry is still memorable along with her heart-warming and controversial friendship with her side-kick, Gabrielle. While Xena did air directly after Hercules in the lineup, fans became more excited and hooked by Xena. I did watch both shows and have to admit that once Xena came on, all bets were off.

While the show was darker and more violent than Hercules, it was the character of Xena that drew me in. She wasn’t just a hero; she was jaded, and searching for forgiveness. She masked her vulnerability and weakness behind her sword, but the humanity in her provided viewers with a true connection to her character.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your thoughts and comments below along with some of your favorite spin-off television series of all time. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

“SMILF” Season 1 episode 5 ranking the top 5 moments: “Panda is Larry’s Constant”

Greetings TV Fans! Lately, I have been binge-watching Showtime’s SMILF and I have to say that I am absolutely obsessed. The critics say it is “raw and funny” and they are absolutely right. The main character, Bridgette, has just the right blend of Weeds’ Nancy Botwin and Orange is the New Black’s Piper Chapman’s personality along with her own set of quirkiness. She is learning how to be a single mother with each new day and challenge, while still trying to chase her dreams in the process. If you have not gotten a chance to check this show out, I highly recommend it. After watching SMILF season 1 episode 5, I have my own desire to play the day out in different parts. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In episode 5, the show opens up with “Part 1” revealing that it is father’s day. The day plays out differently each time with 4 different parts throughout the episode. Each part starts off with Larry’s father knocking on the door displaying his #1 Dad apparel, to be interrupted by Larry not being able to find his beloved panda stuffed animal. The distractions get more and more extreme, involving different characters, leading up to part 4, which is actually heart-warming and truly perfect. My top 5 moments from SMILF season 1 episode 5 are:

Bridgette beats up the fire alarm. In part one, Bridgette has a premonition type flash of where the panda could be, revealing that she left it over at Ally’s house. She runs over there to enter a sea of chaos and distraction, as the family is trying to prepare everything for father’s day. When the fire alarm goes off, Bridgette is determined to lend some assistance, as she proceeds to punch it repeatedly to be quiet. While I’m not sure we should try this method at home, it is clear that she is channeling her own frustration over finding panda. But she is not about to give up just yet.

Bridgette decides to do shrooms which “could make her a better parent.” In Part two of the episode, Bridgette has a similar premonition flash that panda was left behind in Eliza’s room. While she searches frantically, the two decide that doing shrooms is the best solution to remedy the situation. Bridgette is convinced that this will absolutely help her clear her mind to find panda, only it leads to some very confusing hallucinations along the way, including Larry speaking to her in a grown man’s voice and Eliza suffocating in her excess sea of clothing.

Bridgette gets propositioned for a “sleep over.” In part one after she beats up the incessant fire alarm, Bridgette is listening to Ally go on and on about “Mr. Daddy” and what to do for him for father’s day. While it is initially revealed as background chatter, Bridgette’s attention is woken up suddenly when she is asked if she would like to have a sleep over. Bridgette’s confusion about what this actually means leading up to a scenario where she would get pregnant again and what the trust fund would look like make this moment even more hilarious. Unfortunately, this does not lead to the discovery of panda.

The panda is Larry’s “constant.” Bridgette’s desperate need to find panda for Larry demonstrates how much she truly cares for his son. She mirrors his own frantic cries, throwing everything around in a frenzy to try and locate Larry’s beloved panda. At one point, she is speaking to her mom on the phone and screams out that she needs to find panda “or Larry is going to die!” While Bridgette has been hanging on by a thread to make ends meet, her unconditional love for Larry never fails which makes her search for panda empathetic. Larry deals with a lot of moving around; going from his mother’s house to his father’s and even to his grandma’s and the panda is the only thing that stays the same. Bridgette is clearly also holding on to this constant for Larry, wanting to be able to provide him with stability and continuous love.

Panda is found along with Bridgette embracing father’s day. Part 4 starts off the same way, with Larry’s father, Rafi at the door. Rather than slamming the door in his face, Bridgette and Larry leave with Rafi to go celebrate the day at Tutu’s house, Bridgette’s mother. Panda is discovered at the house and all is right with the world again. This leaves us with a true family moment. Even though everyone has their differences, they come together because Larry is the constant, creating an undeniable bond of happiness. Plus, it helps that panda is there keep the peace.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

“Shameless” Ranking the top 5 moments from Season 8 episode 5: 50/50

Happy Monday TV fans! As you pour that second cup of coffee, get ready for another dose of the Gallagher family antics. After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 8 episode 5 last night, I feel the need to provide Debbie with some serious parenting tips. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, Fiona learns the valuable lesson of saying please and apologizing in an unconventional way, Carl tries to think of ways to earn money so he can go back to military school, and Ian is ready to make a huge investment. Meanwhile, Lip is contemplating what matters most in life while Kev embraces his southern identity. Svetlana teaches us basic math skills while Frank helps others see the problems with standardized testing. My top 5 moments from Shameless season 8 episode 5 are:

Kev embraces his southern roots. “Shift change!” Kev yells, as he enters the bar dressed liked a cowboy, informing the Russian population that they must leave and make room for his fellow Americans . This of course leaves the bar practically empty while he is informed that there is a difference between being southern and western. V had it right when she said that her husband is transforming into a “Kentucky fried red-neck.” Kev even insists on practicing his common southern phrases and using them in everyday conversation to V’s dismay. Kev may be back in Chicago, but he is not leaving his new found identity behind just yet.

Carl’s detox program for junkies is a success. In the beginning of the episode, Carl has the junky he caught in last week’s episode tied up in his basement as he leaves him no choice but to get clean reluctantly so that he can be free and a more productive member of society. As if this isn’t funny enough, at the end of the episode the former junky bursts into the Gallagher home and brings in his friend or girlfriend who also needs help from Carl. He explains that no other rehab was able to help except for Carl’s method and he has brought lots and lots of cash for the results. Maybe Carl has another calling besides the military. Either way he has now successfully made enough money to return to school while making a difference in the lives of others…one junky at a time.

Frank convinces the parents to look further into the cultural interpretation of multiple choice and the dangers of standardized testing. When he learns that Liam has failed his exam, Frank doesn’t take this at face value. Rather, he goes through the questions and shares some concerns of his own. For example, “how would Liam know what a foyer is?” There is a fill in the blank question about glue and Liam crosses out the choices to write in “sniffing” which Frank explains is not necessarily wrong in that context. While it may seem that Frank is just making excuses, he really inspires the other parents to get involved and to take measures against the testing to ensure that each child’s success is measured fairly.

Lip contemplates what life is really all about. It’s been really great to see Lip stay sober and it is clear his sponsor has had a part in this and has truly helped him. While Lip is continuing his affair with his co-worker, he is later seen gazing over at Sierra and wanting to hold his sponsor’s baby demonstrating his own desire to truly connect with someone and start a family. While this may be a big epiphany for Lip or perhaps something that was there all along, it gets put on pause when his sponsor cannot handle the stress of being a new dad and winds up at the corner bar. Lip tries with every effort to help him, but he doesn’t want it and speeds off drunk to Lip’s disappointment. Will this set Lip back or motivate him to continue to stay strong?

Svetlana is back and is ready to teach us basic math. It is great to see Svetlana back in the bar, but she is immediately ready for business and explains to V that profit should be 50/50 even though there are three parties involved. V is not about to give up so easy, but Svetlana explains that she does the majority of the work and even shows her numbers that prove she makes the majority of the money during her shift. When V is still not ready to budge, Svetlana decides to get her to sign the contract with her terms another way…with sex of course. V is no match for Svetlana at this point and ultimately signs the contract. Kev’s shock about what happened combined with detailed questions is hilarious as Svetlana proudly walks out of the house holding the contract. 50/50 wins after all. It’s great to have you back Svetlana!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Throw-back Sunday: Ranking the seasons of “Lost” from best to worst: “We have to go back!”

Happy Sunday TV Fans! For today’s throw-back Sunday, I am going to be ranking the seasons of Lost from best to worst. I have to admit that this took longer than I anticipated because each season has so much to offer. We watch the characters we have come to know and love grow and change, while the island continues to reveal new mysteries and challenges along the way.

Each season has its own set of heart-warming and shocking moments, refusing to allow the viewer to take a break for even an episode or you might just become lost yourself…pun intended. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

“We have to go back, Kate! We have to go back!” Jack (Through the Looking Glass part 2)

From the first time watching the series up until my 16^th re-watch, season 3 remains my absolute favorite but I do admit that some seasons come very close to knocking it out of the number one spot. Season 3 introduces us to the others. Yes, the others are coming or they came and we want to know what they are all about, right? At the end of season 2, Sawyer, Jack, and Kate have been captured by the others. They take them to Hydra Island and keep Jack locked up in the Hydra station while keeping Sawyer and Kate locked up in cages. Not only do we get to learn more about the others and see things from their perspective, but we are introduced to Dr. Juliet Burke who brings a new dynamic to the show. While it seems like Ben is calling the shots, Juliet proves to be an other who is just as home-sick as the rest of the losties and even risks her place as an “other” to help save Kate and Sawyer becoming more of a friend than a foe.

Ben has stepped out of his role of “Henry Gale” and proves to be a worthy opponent, and Desmond can now see the future and tells Charlie that he is going to die. For me, what sets season 3 above the rest is the fast pace of it. After watching the show so many times, I still have to sit on the edge of my seat watching this one in particular and tend to binge-watch this one more than the others. There aren’t as many filler episodes and one episode leads into the next seamlessly. Some of the greatest episodes in the entire series for me are in this season as well such as “Flashes before your eyes” and “Greatest Hits.” While this may or may not be your favorite season, most fans will agree that it is one of the best, as we learn that all bets are off. Flash forwards now exist and the Losties or at least some of them do get off the island. Talk about a cliff-hanger for a season finale!

“Has it occurred to any of you that your buddy’s actually gonna cause the thing he says he’s trying to prevent? Perhaps that little nuke is the incident? So maybe the best thing to do…is nothing?” Miles (The Incident)

Season 5, like season 3, is full of lots of action and introduces the concept of time travel. At the end of season 4, Ben moves the wheel to save the island, only the wheel is off its axis, causing the island to skip through time like a broken record. Locke has to then leave the island himself to get it back on course, which causes Sawyer, Juliet, Miles, and Jin to remain trapped in Dharmaville time. You may think that the time travel aspect is confusing or that it’s been done too many times, but what makes this season truly great is that it separates the characters for a period of three years and then they are all reunited again on the island bringing chaos and challenges along the way.

The season 5 finale, “The Incident” is one of my favorite episodes of the series giving the losties another chance to reset time to before Flight 815 crashed. But this would mean that some of them may have never met which could sever relationships and friendships for good. So is it the right thing to do? The end of the season reveals that Juliet has survived momentarily and takes it upon herself to detonate the hydrogen bomb to save Sawyer and give him a chance. Rather than the typical fade out into a black screen, the screen flashes white and I remember screaming at my television the first time watching, impatiently waiting to see what happened next.

“Last week most of us were strangers, but we’re all here now. And god knows how long we’re going to be here. But if we can’t live together, we’re going to die alone.” Jack (White Rabbit)

The pilot of season 1 is full of never-ending action, introducing the viewer to an overabundance of characters among a whirlwind of horrible events. As season 1 continues, Lost reveals that it is a show about much more than what the smoke monster is or who the other people are on the island. Don’t get me wrong, the scene where Kate is counting to 5 hiding from the smoke monster in the rain-soaked bamboo is terrifying and hooked me immediately.

However, the show transforms into something more with each episode. It’s about the people who crashed there and what their lives were like before. While some were criminals, others were alone or searching for something more, creating an undeniable connection between the characters and the viewer. We can find so much of ourselves in the decisions or mistakes they made, and they are given a chance at a clean slate to get a new life and survive together.

“Please don’t give up, Des. Because all we really need to survive is one person who truly loves us. And you have her. I will wait for you. Always.” Penny (Live together, die alone)

Season 2 opens up with us finding out what is in the hatch that Locke was so desperate to get into. Was it his destiny? Maybe, but what’s truly interesting about the hatch is what, or I should say who, is inside. Desmond Hume has been living in the hatch for 3 years pressing a sequence of familiar numbers every 108 minutes to save the world. To Hurley’s dismay, the code is 4 8 15 16 23 42, the very numbers that he won the lottery with that he is convinced are cursed.

Desmond initially appears to be quite mad in the opening episodes, but later returns and becomes one of the most influential characters on the show. It is also revealed that there were survivors from Flight 815 in the tail section, which include the introduction of new characters such as Ana Lucia and Libby along with a beautiful reunion between Rose and her husband, Bernard. Michael switches sides and betrays the losties, killing Ana Lucia and Libby in the process and helping the others capture Jack, Hurley, Kate, and Sawyer. Although we are sympathetic with Michael trying to help his son, his actions are unforgivable and horrifying. Meanwhile, Locke believes the prisoner, Henry Gale that the numbers and the hatch aren’t real and just some experiment. Desmond returns to make the connection that he is what crashed Flight 815 and that it’s all very real, leading to the infamous “system failure” scene, where the hatch begins to self-destruct and Desmond turns the fail-safe key to sacrifice himself to save them all. While the action is there, season 2 lacks the fast and natural pace that seasons 3 and 5 have, as some filler episodes are trying a little too hard to reveal back stories and force connections.

“You were all flawed. I chose you because you were like me. You were all alone. You were all looking for something that you couldn’t find out there. I chose you because you need this place as much as it needed you.” Jacob (What They Died For)

Season 6 is the final season of the Lost series and many fans have revealed that this is the most controversial season, especially the ending. After watching the series so many times, I do still appreciate everything the writers did in this last season. I think that the forces of good and evil face off in a powerful match between Jack and the man in black, wearing John Locke’s face. The writers kill of characters we have come to love and bring us into another world or dimension, something that cannot be explained by time or reality.

Christian later explains to Jack that “there is no here, now.” The flash sideways we see are a way for the losties to find one another and to ultimately move on. Once again, this season proves to be very much about the characters and the connections they made along the way. While it may be lacking something final or epic, it brings closure and allows the island to be embraced by Hurley as the new Jacob to take care of others the way he always has and to lead the island in a new way. The series ends with Jack’s eye closing, bringing everything full circle, reminding us that life may be finite, but what we do and the memories and connections we hold dear to our hearts, last eternally.

“If there’s any part of you that still believes in us, just give me your number.” Desmond (The Constant)

Season 4 is my least favorite of all the seasons but not for lack of great material and drama. This was during the writer’s strike so this is the shortest of all of the seasons so perhaps that is why it falls short for me. However, it has some great episodes, including one of my favorites, “The Constant.” Flash-forwards continue as it is revealed to us who the “Oceanic Six” are and new characters from the freighter are introduced such as Daniel Faraday, Miles, Charlotte, and Frank.

While they initially arrive claiming they are there to help rescue the losties, it is clear they have another agenda which includes capturing the scheming, Ben Linus and returning him to Charles Widmore. More secrets are revealed, including how to move the island and what a 14-J is, but there just aren’t enough of them to rank this season toward the top. Either way, the show would not be complete without all of these seasons, proving time and time again why it is such an epic and memorable series.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your comments and thoughts on some of your favorite seasons of Lost. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” season 13 episode 8: What’s in the vault?

Don’t fret TV fans, it’s almost the weekend and there are plenty of shows to catch up on. After watching the CW’s Supernatural season 13 episode 8 last night, I am reminded of that well-known question “what’s in the box?,” although in this case it’s more like what’s in the vault protected by Indiana Jones like booby-traps? Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, Dean takes a chance and opens up, reminding himself why they became hunters in the first place and that saving lives does matter, all while enjoying some well-deserved cherry pie. A new cross-roads demon introduces himself, but he’s surely got something up his sleeve, and Jack is still nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, Sam and Dean decide to embark on a heist filled with unexpected twists and dangers. My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 13 episode 8 are:

5) The new cross-roads demon tries to make an impression. Dean receives a cryptic phone call from this demon that he has something Sam and him will need to find Jack. They take the bait and meet him at a diner where there is a freshly baked slice of heavenly cherry pie waiting for Dean. This demon has done his homework for sure as he convinces the brothers to work for him to retrieve a vault that he desperately needs. Dean demonstrates a lot of self-control and hilariously waits for the demon to leave before digging in to his favorite food. Sam and Dean haven’t trusted a demon since Crowley and they are not about to start now but need to figure out a way to still get what they need to find Jack.

4) “Hey Winona, the 90s called and they want their shoes back.” After much discussion, Sam and Dean decide to go on the heist with the help of a mortal we later find out is named Alice and another demon. Alice is able to break into safes but it is unsure what her motive is at this point. Dean decides to break the ice by teasing her about her fashion sense, but the two then bond over his favorite old caffeinated drink, “nerve damage.” While Alice is weird and awkward, she seems to appreciate the company of Dean and it makes us wonder if Dean does really care about others after all. He has been extremely negative lately about their purpose and all they have had to deal with along the way. It’s nice to see him smile and take a moment to connect with someone even if it is on a minor level.

3) Dean is a “vault compass.” Dean is needed on this heist because he has been to hell and back and his blood is the key to opening up where the vault is held. The demon begins chanting and Dean rolls his eyes at the thought of something magical happening here, but he begins being dragged off as if by a magnet while gripping his flash-light tightly. Alice and the demon follow Dean as he treks through the property against his will, but adds for some laughs along the way. Dean’s reaction to opening up the vault later is very amusing as well, as he cringes and squirms through the one small prick on his finger. Sure he can fight the most terrifying forces of heaven and hell, but gets queasy at the idea of giving some blood. It reminds us why we have come to adore Dean over the years, keeping the episode light and fluffy with just the right amount of mystery.

2) Sam has a good idea on how to get through the Indiana Jones like booby-trap. The immortal guarding the vault is not about to give up any secrets to the brothers and it is clear that the algorithms and design of the vault will lead to an unwanted arrow to the head. Dean seems confident they can just “wing it” but Sam reminds us why he is the logical one in the family. They strap the immortal to a chair and push him through so that he takes the hits from all of the arrows. Good thinking Sam!

1) Sam, Dean, and Alice do the right thing and break the deal. Alice has revealed that she sold her soul and made a deal with the cross-roads demon, but she is not a lost hope. Once it is revealed that the cross-road’s demons bones are inside the trunk, they realize that it is not the greatest idea to just turn this over to him. He holds Alice at knife-point and Dean trusts her enough to grab the lighter and set the bones on fire to rid the world of the cross-roads demon. Dean later tells Sam that it felt good to save someone again and Alice is freed from her deal to start a new life. Dean tells her to “stay weird” revealing that he is ready to make friends and embrace his destiny again. Saving innocents and helping people does truly make a difference. Welcome back Dean!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

My top 5 questions from “Riverdale” season 2 episode 7. Theories and spoilers ahead. Bobby pins required.

Greetings TV Fans! I have to say I am absolutely thrilled to have a new episode of the CW’s Riverdale back after the break from last week. After last night’s episode, so many new questions and mysteries have emerged. Secrets and lies are creeping to the surface, Archie is at a crossroads…literally, and Betty might be pushing things out into the open too far. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. The episode is split into three parts from the perspectives of Archie & Jughead, Josie, and Betty & Veronica. All three parts are occurring at the same time and intertwine along the way. My biggest takeaway is to always have a bobby pin handy! You never know what locked doors need opening, but will you like what you discover? My top 5 questions from Riverdale season 2 episode 7 are:

5) Has Chuck truly turned over a new leaf? When we get to Josie’s storyline, we find out that she has a secret admirer, which sounds harmless enough, but starts escalating into stalker territory. Chuck is introduced back into the mix and Josie questions whether or not he has changed. He offers to give her a ride home and they grab a quick bite at Pop’s diner. Not only does Chuck reveal that he goes to church, but he is not a bad dancer either. Just as we are starting to think that perhaps he really has changed, Josie’s mother bursts in and Josie receives a threatening note the next day. She accuses Chuck of being her stalker, but this seems farfetched. Is Chuck a good guy now? I’m not sure I am buying the charming act either especially because we know the black hood targets sinners. Is his new found religion a clue that he could be the black hood? You never know but I’ve got my eye on Chuck for now.

4) Is Sheriff Keller off the hook? When we get to Betty and Veronica’s storyline, both girls are anxious to get to the truth about Sheriff Keller. Betty is convinced that he is the black hood and Veronica thinks that he is having an affair. Veronica strategically plans a sleep over at Kevin’s but only ends up discovering Sheriff Keller’s secret of working out in the basement. Betty has a little more luck when she breaks into his office, but he catches her in the act. All of the information he has on the black hood relates to the case, which makes sense, but perhaps that is so he could easily be ruled out. Betty is not buying it and spies on him with Veronica outside a motel. They discover that he is in fact having an affair with…Josie’s mom! It seems that we have discovered his scandalous secret, but is he hiding anything else?

3) Is the black hood connected to the Riverdale reaper? When we are involved in Archie & Jughead’s story, Jughead leaves his better judgment behind and takes a ride from a stranger so he can move his illegal crate to his destination in time. The stranger is certainly mysterious and has a creepy vibe going for him with his hidden dead animals in his truck, but does reveal some important information. He informs Jughead that Riverdale once saw a killer like the black hood before and talks about what happened with the Riverdale reaper. However, how has no one in the town heard about this before? What are they covering up? What else does this stranger know? The questions are endless, but it looks like the boys will need to get caught up their town’s history pretty fast if they want to stop the black hood.

2) Is Cheryl Josie’s stalker? When the stalker threatens Josie and sends her a portrait, we can quickly rule Chuck out. It just seems too easy that it is him so who else could it be? Cheryl has been clinging to Josie lately and is clearly very thankful that she helped stop her attacker, but has this gratitude gone too far? Cheryl is shown drawing a very similar sketch of her and Josie, which seems like all signs are pointing to yes that she is the one threatening Josie. Has Cheryl hit a breaking point? Is there any chance it’s not her? Just as Cheryl has been starting to display some redeeming qualities, she is being dragged back down by obsession.

1) What are the consequences of failing the black hood’s test? At the end of the episode, all of the intertwining stories have caught up to one another and all parties are present at Pop’s diner. Pop receives a phone call and reveals that it is the black hood and he said that they all failed his test and that the day of reckoning is upon them. What exactly was the test and what is going to happen now as a result? We know that the black hood is capable of murder, but does he or she have something else in mind? We will have to stay tuned for more answers, but it doesn’t look like the black hood is finished with Riverdale just yet.

I hope you enjoyed my top 5 questions and please feel free to post your own theories and questions from Riverdale below. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 television series with numbers in the title: What’s your favorite zip code?

Happy Wednesday TV Fans! As I am counting the days until the weekend and I am sure you are too, it got me thinking about numbers in particular on television. I started to create a list of television series with numbers in the title and couldn’t believe how many there were over the years. If you are bored at all throughout the day, I challenge you to create a list of as many number TV shows as you can without using the internet of course. 🙂 It’s actually really fun and you can post how many you were able to come up with in the comments. Naturally, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to rank my top TV shows that fit into this category. My top 5 TV shows containing numbers in the title are:

5) One Tree Hill. One Tree Hill has always been a guilty pleasure of mine. I used to watch Soapnet all day when I worked from home and this show came on quite a bit. I was actually really disappointed that they took the show off of Netflix streaming because it is really addicting to watch. While it may seem like your typical teenage soap centered on high school drama, the show does a good job of involving real issues as well. There is a strong emphasis on family in the show and the narrator and main character, Lucas Scott, has a romantic view of the world, which elevates the show for me and ties in epic works of literature along with a lot of important thoughts that may have crossed our minds in different points in our lives.

4) 24. While I have to admit, I have not gotten a chance to watch through this show recently, it is my mother’s absolute favorite and I thought very deserving of a spot in the top 5 even though it is not necessarily my top choice. When this show aired on television, it had a quality that hooked the audience to watch the show live similar to The Walking Dead or Game of Thrones now. You didn’t want to merely record 24 because you could miss something crucial or you didn’t want someone around you to spoil what happened. The number 24 is significant in the series and not just merely in the title, as each season contained 24 episodes covering the 24 hours in Jack Bauer’s life. All of the events happen in real time, which keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat seeing everything from Agent Bauer’s point of view.

3) 13 Reasons Why. When this series streamed on Netflix earlier in the year, it was considered to be very controversial because of the subject matter and targeted audience. As a result, it got mixed reviews. After watching the first episode for myself, I found myself binge-watching the season all in one day. While I am sure many of you have done the same, the show did an excellent job of drawing the viewer in wanting to unlock the real reasons why Hannah Baker decided to end her life and how her friend, Clay Jensen is involved. Rather than leave a suicide note, Hannah records everything on 13 audio cassette tapes and has them delivered to the different people responsible so that they can hear the whole story. While the show makes you want to dive deeper into truth, there is something very raw and painful about the emotions that are revealed along the way from each character who wronged Hannah and how they are dealing with the aftermath of her death along with issues in their own lives that they are facing.

2) The 100. I have to admit that this is one of my favorite shows on television right now and I am counting the days until new episodes are aired. The 100 reminds me of a futuristic version of Lost, revealing mystery after mystery where you truly can’t guess what is coming next. The series starts off after earth has been destroyed by the nuclear war and the remaining survivors are living in a space station called the Ark. However, air and supplies are running low and the leaders of the Ark make the decision to send 100 juvenile prisoners down to earth. While it seemed initially that they were sending them off to die to sacrifice the few to save the many, earth is in fact livable again. The prisoners are all trying to exist in a world without adults and laws, but find out that earth has many dangers, including other people who were already living there, “Grounders,” who are not looking forward to sharing their land with these invaders. While each threat is dealt with, a new one emerges, forcing the Sky survivors to deal with betrayal, love, death, and war.

1) Beverly Hills, 90210. It should be no surprise that my top choice takes place in our favorite zip code. The show lasted for 10 years and even had a revival series done years later. Many of us have grown up watching our favorite twins, Brandon and Brenda Walsh move from Minnesota to the very different and superficial Beverly Hills, California. The soap-drama is a guilty pleasure of many and I recently watched through the entire series again over the summer. Through all of the drama, this group of friends sticks together and grows up fast in a materialistic world only to realize that things don’t come as easily as they did in high school and that you can’t always buy your way out of everything. While many of the plots are outrageous and over the top, there is a lesson in all of them, and we find ourselves rooting for each character who we have come to know well from years of watching them.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your comments below about any of these shows or some of your own favorites. If you do complete the challenge, feel free to post how many shows you were able to come up with that do have a number in the title. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 television series based on movies: “If the apocalypse comes, beep me.”

So I’ve noticed that more and more remakes and adaptations from film are making their way to the smaller screen, which got me thinking about some of my favorites and how they compare to the originals. While some television series go in a completely different direction, others attempt to be closer to the original but sometimes fail to capture the same allure, leaving fans disappointed or searching for more. To me, what makes a television series truly stand out is if it takes on its own life and branches out into a new world of characters and stories. Whether it is considered a prequel or another chapter, the series has to capture the interest of the viewer who tuned in and keep it. Sounds like a difficult task especially when you add in an original film that the series is based on. Some of the shows below do an excellent job of staying true to the original and respecting where the series comes from in terms of history and context. At the same time, they are able to continue on with the story or shift into a new one without skipping a beat, keeping the original fans happy and bringing in new ones at the same time. My top 5 television series based on movies are:

5) Teen Wolf. Based upon the 1985 film of the same name starring Michael J. Fox, the series was created in 2011 on MTV. Already this was a risky move, as the audience MTV was targeting might not have necessarily seen the original movie, although I hope so. While the movie has a cheesy humor-like quality, the series follows the same premise of a teenage-boy realizing that he is transforming into a werewolf, only it embraces more of a horror genre approach. Both characters are named Scott, only with different last names and have to deal with the consequences of being bitten by a werewolf while dealing with everyday teenage drama. While the series is based on the movie, it really becomes something completely new and different, advancing the plot into something darker with touches of romance and terror, delving much deeper into the story.

4) Hannibal. Based upon the films, Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal and Red Dragon, the series is a psychological thriller that dives into the relationship between FBI agent, Will Graham and Dr. Hannibal Lecter who will later become his nemesis. While the television series had a lot to live up to from the books and films it was based upon, it proves to be a contender with excellent performances and a detailed plot, which keeps the viewer active and involved. As a result, the audience becomes hooked and drawn to every horrible reveal. While the films attempt to stay true to the books and showcase a simpler approach, the series is not afraid to break into new developments and jump head first into the darkness and insanity that is at the core of these characters.

3) Ash vs Evil Dead. Based upon the franchise films, The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, and Army of Darkness, the series once again stars the very funny and brilliant Bruce Campbell as Ash or “Ashy Slashy” as fans know him by. What is so great about this series is it is a true continuation of the films. Bruce Campbell is once again the star bringing fans back to the originals. Bruce Campbell has a true talent for bringing the campy horror-like genre a life of its own and I would have been disappointed if anyone had been casted in his place. Once again, Bruce and his chainsaw arm need to fight the forces of evil and he recruits some new and fun characters to help along the way. Lucy Lawless also joins the cast who did work with Bruce previously on Xena and fits in perfectly. The series stays true to the campy-horror genre while keeping the comedy going strong.

2) Bates Motel. Based upon the classic film, Psycho, the prequel follows the life of Norman Bates as a teenager and also introduces his mother, Norma Bates. The acting in the series is so real and powerful, as each actor reveals to the audience vulnerability blended with insanity, hypnotizing us into wanting to watch more and more. What’s truly impressive about the series is that the viewer becomes attached and fully invested into both Norman and Norma. As Norman is losing control, you do feel bad for him and see that there are moments of goodness that do truly exist in him. His unusual attachment to his mother seems harmless at first, but grows into something more and more dangerous, however. The series does an excellent job of allowing viewers to see the man behind the monster and to understand that although darkness wins in the end, there is a grey area that exists, making it not so easy to merely write Norman off as a killer without a conscience.

1) Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Based upon the film of the same name, this television series is at the top of my list because it takes a superficial campy premise and turns it into something epic and memorable. In the film, Buffy is very superficial and materialistic which creates some laughs and fun along the way, but there is nothing substantial about her character that makes her stand out. When Joss Whedon decided to turn his movie into a television series, Buffy had now become a character that teenage girls could truly look up to. She is a strong female who makes some bad decisions along the way, but this shows that she is human and she has to sacrifice a lot in order to save the world, growing up fast as a result. The humor remains but is more subtle and witty in the series, embracing more of a romantic and darker idea about the world of vampires and truly recognizing that this is a lot of pressure to put on one teenage girl to fight them all and repeatedly save the world. The series has the perfect blend of drama, action, comedy, and horror with terrific acting and entertaining villains along the way. It has truly surpassed the film, but it’s fun to take a look back at the movie from time to time.

I hope you enjoyed the list. Feel free to post your comments below on your favorite television series based on films. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

“Shameless” Season 8 episode 4 ranking the top 5 moments: Fiona is not a step in anyone’s rehab

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s Shameless season 8 episode 4 last night, I am left with even more respect and appreciation for our lovely Fiona. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, Fiona is confronted by her ex, Sean on top of her everyday responsibilities at work. You know like prying a junky’s head out from between the bars of a fence. Meanwhile, Lip is losing to his own battle of self-control while Franny takes her first steps, and Kev and V discover a whole new world in Kentucky. My top 5 moments from Shameless season 8 episode 4 are:

5) Frank joins the PTA. Frank, or I should say Francis, is looking to continue with his newly found identity and embrace it to the fullest. He seeks involvement at Liam’s school and joining the PTA is a step in the right direction of teaching others the valuable lesson of hard labor. Frank wins the respect of the moms on the committee and puts the other dads to shame who have not lifted their heads from their cell phones. Is this Frank’s new calling? Perhaps, but the mothers sure seem to like having him around at the car wash.

4) Carl joins the neighborhood watch. After Ian and Carl are confronted by the neighborhood watch and find out about a burglar terrifying the neighborhood, Carl takes it upon himself to find out what happened when he learns that a Veteran was robbed. Carl salutes the neighbor and embarks on his very important mission which ends with him setting up “junky bait.” When he catches the thief, he lets him know that he is his “worst effin nightmare.” Carl has been on the sidelines these past few episodes, so it’s great to see him reminding us why we are always rooting for him.

3) Lip considers the idea of “no strings attached” relations. The beginning of the episode opens with Lip’s dream surrounded by topless women, but they keep disappearing leaving him stuck in a whirlwind of dissatisfaction. Lip approaches a girl at work only to be turned down because “Sierra is her girl” and then swipes right on Tinder but decides that rum-flavored kisses are not the best decision since he is in recovery. After all of Lip’s constant complaints at work, his female co-worker finally stops working on the bike to take him upstairs so that he will stop whining about it and has her way with him. The scene is absolutely hilarious leaving us with Lip asking her to please stop slapping him to no avail.

2) Kev discovers he is the successful one in the family. Kev, or Bart, and V head down to Kentucky so that he can be reunited with his long-lost family. It seems harmless enough to start until the racist comments keep coming left and right to V’s horror. Kev is disappointed to find out that his family voluntarily left him, but when he is at a gathering and everyone starts swapping stories, he realizes that he is the most successful one out of the bunch. What makes this trip so laugh out loud funny is V’s reaction to everything. She calls Fiona in a frenzy fearing that they took Kev off out in the woods to eat him or something and grimaces every time a racist comment is dropped her way. She handles it gracefully, however; supporting Kev through it all. Even Kev realizes that perhaps it is a little too much when white hoods are draped over his daughters’ heads and they yell out that is only for Halloween.

1) Sean is back and Fiona is not about to let her heart stay shattered. When Sean walks through the door, Fiona’s first reaction is to walk out and leave him standing there with his mouth open. After she eventually goes to find out what he has to say, she learns that he is clean now, but also married and she realizes that she is a step in his recovery. Fiona storms out of the restaurant but is not done just yet. She writes down every lie and every promise in a fury and decides to let his wife know just how she is feeling. Sounds like the perfect revenge, only Fiona tells all of this to the wrong woman and she starts screaming at her husband thinking he is using drugs again. Sean then walks out of his motel room with his wife and Fiona just gets into her car laughing. It’s great to see Fiona can still have a sense of humor even when she is dealing with the jerk who broke her heart and left her on her wedding day. Fiona realizes that Sean is not worth it and heads home to be with her family. You are much more than a step in a program Fiona, you are our hero!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Throw-back Sunday: Ranking the top 5 villains from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”

It’s Throw-Back Sunday TV Fans! For today, I have returned to one of my old favorites, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Buffy and her friends are a blast to watch and are always trying to ensure that goodness prevails in order to protect Sunnydale and the rest of the world. But this would get boring if Buffy could always easily save the day against countless vampires.

What makes the show surpass this is the introduction of formidable foes that cross her path. Ranging from the geeks she went to high school with to the first evil that existed in the world, there is a lot of evil and chaos thrown at the Scoobies.

Let’s not forget that some of Buffy’s closest friends have turned on her and mortal enemies have become great allies along the way. Buffy is the Chosen One for sure, but these villains are not only worthy of an all out battle, they are more complex and smarter than your average vampire turned to dust. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the series yet.

My top 5 villains from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are:

Drusilla

Drusilla was introduced to Buffy in season 2 along with her boyfriend, Spike. When she first came to town she was weakened from a mob, but was revealed to possess psychic abilities. When Drusilla is at her full strength she proves to be extremely dangerous and even kills another slayer who gets in her way. What makes Drusilla such a stand-out villain is that she is completely insane.

She has an innocent girl-like quality at first and manipulates Spike to do her bidding, all while having a tea party with her dolls. One of my favorite scenes with Drusilla is when she blindfolds one of the dolls and says she’s not allowed to watch with the rest, as she kills someone brutally in front of them. There is a haunting quality about Drusilla that makes her beyond scary and a real threat to Buffy.

Glory

The best way to define her I suppose is if Cordelia had god-like powers with no sense of remorse. Glory is revealed to be a god and Buffy’s sister, Dawn, is the key that she is desperately looking for. In one of the first fights with Glory, Buffy is beaten not just badly, but to a bloody pulp, making fans wonder about how she would be able to defeat her.

Glory is an entertaining villain, keeping her manicure and lip gloss in check while continuing on her quest, refusing to allow anyone to get in her way.

The Master

The Master is introduced as the first main villain that Buffy must face in the first season. His face has no humanity left in it, different from other vampires, because of his age. There is a cringe-worthy factor here for sure, but the Master hasn’t left his sense of humor behind either. He is ruthless and powerful and even is able to kill Buffy initially. Thankfully Xander is able to revive her, but he proved to be a dangerous foe and an influence on other vampires nearby.

Evil Willow

Everyone loves Willow and she is a great friend to Buffy. When she begins experimenting with witchcraft, it naturally seems like a great way to help Buffy fight the forces of evil. But when Willow loses the love of her life, Tara, she is consumed by rage and evil magic corrupts her.

Willow becomes so powerful that it seems like no one will be able to defeat her. If not for her best friend, Xander, who has no powers or supernatural strength, she would have been lost for good and the world might have been destroyed. Xander uses love to remind Willow that he will always be there for her and it brings her goodness back to the surface.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one pick are:

Spike
Faith
The Mayor
The Judge
Mr. Trick
Anyanka
Darla
The First
The Gorch family
The Gentlemen
Kralik
Caleb
The Trio
Harmony

Angelus

Buffy and Angel’s love is so passionate and real throughout the beginning episodes. There is something very romantic about the idea of a vampire with a soul and Angel has been trying to do good and make up for the monster he used to be. However, when he is with Buffy, he loses his soul because he experiences true happiness, and Angelus is unleashed on the world once more as a result. Not only is he a vicious killer, but he targets on Buffy’s weakness and mocks their love, making it seem like he did not care for her in the slightest.

He goes after her friends and family and toys with Buffy in a stalker-like way. When Angelus unleashes a demon on the world to swallow it whole, Buffy knows that she must kill him to close the portal. She has pushed her feelings aside and knows that she must defeat him for the greater good. However, this becomes an almost impossible task when Angel’s soul is restored right at the moment she is about to kill him.

Buffy must follow through with this, sacrificing her love to save the world. Her love for Angelus is what makes him such a dangerous villain. Buffy is the Chosen One, but she is also human and a teenage girl with feelings. Her strength is truly tested when Angelus is introduced, but she is able to do what is necessary to defeat him.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to share some of your own favorite villains from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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