Spoiler-Free Review of “Black Summer” Season 2 on Netflix: Step Your Cardio Game Up

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

“We did what we had to do…”

Black Summer season 2 premiered on Netflix on June 17th 2021 with eight new episodes available to stream now. Each episode runs for approximately 40-50 minutes. The show stars Jaime King, Christine Lee, Justin Chu Cary and Zoe Marlett.

The unofficial prequel of Z Nation brings us into a new icy setting, as our favorite characters attempt to survive during the zombie outbreak while dealing with other threats along the way.

Here is the trailer:

Black Summer season one was a welcomed surprise, but can season two keep things going at a fast pace without becoming overdone? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The new icy setting is a welcomed addition.

I suppose that you can only run away from these super fast zombies for a certain amount of time so it makes sense that we switch up the setting for the second season. The zombies are just as terrifying, but winter can be even more deadly and brutal. I thought this worked to the show’s advantage as our favorite characters had to deal with more than just surviving the dead.

A true zombie series.

While I watch the shows in the TWD universe, things have become less frightening in a way. The walkers move at a slow pace, our survivors know that they can outsmart them, and even some of the kids can take them out so are they really that terrifying?

Well sure, but the zombies on Black Summer will have you rethinking your entire cardio routine. Seriously, I need to get in serious shape if I want to outrun them. This series does not slow down at all. There isn’t any fluff in between and we basically are just along for the ride while everyone attempts to survive in this horrific new world. It’s bloody, violent, and a true depiction of what life would probably be like if the zombie apocalypse actually occurred.

The Cons:

Confusing at times.

I actually really like the vignette style of the show and I think it helps maintain the fast pace, but things can get really confusing at times. I had to piece together who was who and where we were in the timeline, which can get slightly exhausting, but at least there is plenty of action to make you forget about this.

No real attachment or story-line.

Other than Rose and her daughter, Sun, and Spears, I couldn’t really care less about any of the other characters even though there were some new additions with potential. It’s hard to get attached to characters when they could die at any moment and even the returning characters needed a little bit more air time for true character development although we certainly did witness some with Spears.

There also isn’t really anything major going on with the plot or story-line. If you are looking for something complex and layered, you won’t get that here. You’ll just get lots and lots of zombies tearing people apart so I guess it depends on your preference.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

I kind of needed a break from advanced story-telling. Sometimes you need a mindless show you can just watch and enjoy. There is plenty of action, gore, and zombie entertainment in this series. As long as you manage your expectations, you will highly enjoy the second season!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

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

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

My new young adult horror thriller comes out October 7th 2021! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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

Checking in on “The Walking Dead” Season 10: Who are the Reapers?

Happy Wednesday TV Fans! When we last checked in on AMC’s The Walking Dead, the Whisperers were defeated and Maggie returned. But now that she is back, has she brought a new threat along with her?

**Please note spoilers are ahead if you are not caught up on the series.**

A lot has happened in season 10 and with the extended season, we will be getting six bonus episodes before we approach the final season of the show. A lot can happen in six episodes and we have a lot of characters to catch up with.

First up is Maggie. Welcome home! Maggie returns and I am actually very happy to see her. With Michonne’s exit last year, we needed a fan favorite to return and I think that Maggie can help remind us why we started to love this show in the first place.

Images courtesy of AMC

We get a lot of drama in the beginning of the episode and I started seeing polls on Twitter about whether or not Maggie should forgive Negan. Negan brutally killed her husband in front of her. We can’t expect her to forgive him even though he saved the group against the Whisperers with his actions.

Carol tries to explain her reasons for letting Negan out and Maggie appreciates her honesty, but I don’t think that Negan should get too close to her. Alexandria isn’t big enough for the both of them so we’ll have to see how this plays out and we know that Negan tends to form friendships with some of the children in the group so I’m curious to see if he will approach Hershel or not.

Meanwhile, Daryl and Maggie head back to their camp and learn that it is has been burned to the ground and their people are either dead or missing. Maggie is very worried about Hershel and we come face-to-face with a Reaper threat. These scenes were actually pretty chilling and the Reaper they catch decides to blow himself up rather than come clean about who he is and what his people want.

Images courtesy of AMC

That leaves us with a lot of questions about this new group, but I’m not sure how much we will focus on them in the bonus episodes since there are a lot of other characters to follow up with.

Speaking of that, I am so happy that Kelly got some well deserved screen time in this episode. She and Maggie actually have a nice heart-to-heart talk and Kelly is extremely worried about Connie. Honestly, I am just waiting to see this reunion between her and Connie and I really want to see Daryl’s reaction.

Images courtesy of AMC

Let’s also talk about how adorable Hershel is and how he even wears a baseball cap like his father. It’s clear that he can already take care of himself when Maggie later finds him hiding in a tree when the Reapers were attacking.

Images courtesy of AMC

It looks like in next week’s episode we will focus more on Daryl and we will even get to see Dog. It honestly makes me nervous every time we see Dog because I don’t want anything to happen to him, but I’ll try to stay positive.

I really hope that Daryl can find Connie during these bonus episodes and we don’t have to wait until season 11 but I’m not sure. We also need to check back in with Eugene’s group as well and see what’s going on there with the mysterious Stephanie.

Is there a connection between Stephanie and the Reapers or are these two separate groups?

We’ll have to wait and see what happens. Let’s hope that these bonus episodes provide a lot more than fluff because I need the action to outweigh the drama to keep me invested.

Either way, I’m anxious to find out what happens next!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My new supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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

Spoiler-Free Review of “Clarice” on CBS: The Silence is Over…kinda

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

“To be a survivor, you have to be a victim…”

Clarice premiered on CBS on February 11th 2021. Episodes will air weekly and are also available to stream on CBS All Access. The series stars Rebecca Breeds, Michael Cudlitz, Nick Sandow, and Kal Penn. Each episode runs for approximately 52 minutes.

The series takes place one year after the events that occurred in the iconic film, The Silence of the Lambs. We follow the untold story of Clarice, as she tries to piece her life back together again while taking on some new disturbing cases.

Here is the trailer:

Clarice has the potential to bring us back into this world while telling a unique story. However, it is difficult to find the perfect balance between the films and a new show. Hannibal was very effective at doing this, but can Clarice accomplish the same? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of CBS

Rebecca Breeds is fantastic as Clarice.

It’s not easy stepping into a role like this and Rebecca Breeds certainly has some big shoes to fill. I was already a fan of hers and remember her from Pretty Little Liars and The Originals. I think that she is doing enough to honor the original performance while branching out and creating a more layered identity.

There are a lot of familiar faces in this cast. We have TWD’s Michael Cudlitz, Orange Is the New Black’s Nick Sandow, and Houses’s Kal Penn, which should give us a good character dynamic.

Good balance between past and present events.

The flashbacks bring us back to the film, but they don’t overwhelm the show. It looks like we will be following a weekly case formula, which could be very effective with a show like this. I thought that the new mystery was disturbing enough and Clarice stepped into her new assignment well.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of CBS

Nothing truly unique going on here.

While I thought that the pacing worked well for the opening episode, this show can quickly become stale and forgettable. The problem with it airing on a network like this, is that it becomes lost in the shuffle of every other crime show. I have seen plenty of television series premieres based on films and eventually, they run out of steam.

I think that Clarice has to pick up the pace and do something really different to keep us invested or it could find its way on the cancellation chopping block…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of CBS

I’m in about 75 percent…

This show was really not bad at all. I think that some critics are being a little hard on it. The pacing worked and I thought that the moody flashbacks were necessary to remind us about the actual premise of this show.

I really want to like this show because I like Rebecca Breeds and I think it has the potential to do well, but it needs to step away from the crime drama formula and give us a lot more. I’m invested for now, but that could quickly change if nothing too drastic happens. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we will get there!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

My new supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” season 10 episode 16: “A Certain Doom”

Happy Friday TV fans! After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10 episode 16 season finale, I learned that the way we survive is…together.

Please note MAJOR spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet.

In episode 16, “A Certain Doom,” the group faces off against Beta and The Whisperers while dealing with an overwhelming walker horde. Meanwhile, heroes are made and old friends return.

My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 10 episode 16 season finale are:

“This is the only way.”

A plan is quickly hatched to get through the horde of walkers, which means that several of our favorite characters will need to camouflage themselves with skins and blood to get through undetected. The plan is to reach the wagon to lead the horde away, but we witnessed some chilling and intense moments during this scene.

Beatrice draws the short straw and ends up brutally eaten by the horde while Carol lets her die.

It was clear from the start that not everyone would make it, but this moment of hesitation within Carol was an interesting one. She made the conscious decision to turn around and keep walking, giving us an every man for himself approach. This decision makes a lot more sense and provides us with some understanding when we get toward the end of the episode, however.

“It’s okay…”

Maggie is back! After seeing her in the very beginning of the episode, I was wondering when she would show up to save the day. After Gabriel and Judith are trapped, it looked like Gabriel was going to hold the line so that his friends could get to safety.

Gabriel put up a valiant effort, but Maggie and her new masked friend burst through the doors with perfect timing to save the day.

Welcome back Maggie!

Images courtesy of AMC

So, who is this masked stranger and where did he or she pick up those crazy moves? We’ll have to wait to find out, but I’m actually intrigued.

“I ain’t no hero. You could be.”

We’ve been watching the character growth and transformation of Negan over the seasons and it seems like our anti-hero is embracing this new side of him, but it’s not always easy shedding your previously selfish ways.

Images courtesy of AMC

We get this epic moment where Negan calls Beta out as a “shithead” so that he is distracted enough for Daryl to put him out of his misery after blinding him.

Only we get this weird moment where Beta actually seems elated to be eaten alive…

I think it’s about time he was defeated…

“It has to be me.”

Lydia really stole the show for me. After having a talk with Carol, she opens up and tries to get Carol to welcome a friendship between them. Lydia clearly states that she is not looking for a new mother, but Carol initially brushes her off and tells her to find her own way.

Later on, the group loses the wagon and decide to lead the walkers off a cliff, but it means someone has to jump first to bring them over the edge.

Carol volunteers as tribute and we get this emotional moment where she stands at the very edge, but Lydia grabs her hand at the last second and Carol finally allows her emotions to run free, embracing her.

Images courtesy of AMC

It looks like Carol finally wants to live and I have to say that it’s about time. Well done, Lydia!

“We still have things to do here.”

Well, right. This is TWD and we know that we have one more season to wrap things up. At the end of the season finale, we finally get to see Connie and learn that she is alive…although she is pretty beaten up for sure.

Images courtesy of AMC

Connie needs some assistance, but the person to pick her up is…Virgil. Yep, remember him? We’ll have to see how this unfolds, but I’m happy that Connie is all right for now. We need to see a reunion between her and Daryl as soon as possible!

Meanwhile, we circle back with Eugene and the others, but it doesn’t look like Stephanie hung around. Eugene is ready to keep looking for her, but they are then surrounded by strangers in uniforms who tell them to put their weapons down.

Friends or foes? I’m not sure, but it looks like we have our major set-up ready for the final season.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now! I hope you enjoy!

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” Season 10 Episode 15 “The Tower”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10 episode 15, we were reminded that “it’s so hard to take a chance on people in this world,” but every now and then, it pays off to open up to a new potential friend.

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, “The Tower,” we meet the new wild card character, Princess, who certainly makes things interesting. Meanwhile, Aaron and Alden wind up in trouble and Judith and Lydia try to come to terms with their own losses.

My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 10 episode 15 are:

“I’m great! You’ll see!”

Meet Princess! She is certainly a breath of fresh air, but Yumiko, Ezekiel, and Eugene quickly learn that she is unpredictable, but can they trust her?

Yumiko reminds the group that when you are alone for that long, you become selfish and crazy and perhaps Princess is a little bit of both, but at least she livens things up for our group. After scaring off their horses by mistake, Princess promises to make it up to the group and wants to help them with their mission.

Everything seems to be going just fine until she leads them right into a minefield. Watch your step, guys! Princess is running out of water canteens. Ultimately, everyone is all right and Princess comes through at the end. Yumiko apologizes to her and it looks like her intentions are pure after all. I personally really enjoyed her introduction onto the show and hope that she continues to make things interesting for us. I have a feeling that she will.

“Where are they?”

Meanwhile, Beta continues to channel his inner Alpha to find his enemies, but perhaps he should learn to look around a little harder…

Aaron and Alden are up in the tower, but they may have a difficult time getting out of there undetected. After Beta talks to the wind or to dead Alpha on his face, he seems to know where he is going and Aaron and Alden end up surrounded.

Now might be the perfect time for Maggie to show up…just saying.

“That’s your superpower.”

Carol and Kelly get some screen time during this transitional episode, as Carol breaks down and apologizes to Kelly about Connie. Kelly reveals that she doesn’t think Connie is dead and also explains that she does understand Carol and her actions.

Kelly tells Carol that when she first started losing her hearing, Connie reminded her that it was not a weakness…it was her superpower. She talks about how Carol is the “lone wolf” of the group and that’s OK because that is her own superpower.

I thought this moment was heartwarming and so well done. Kelly doesn’t often get enough screen time and this was a really important moment for both her and Carol.

Now let’s hope that Connie is still alive! I need her back!

“It’s not OK!”

Lydia is dealing with her own demons as well, shutting down to those around her. After snapping at Judith, Negan tries to approach her, explaining that he just wanted to tell Lydia that he did like her mom.

Lydia initially turns off all of her emotions here and is clearly afraid to process what has happened. She is mad to feel grief because she knows that her mother was a monster, but she still was her mother and that brings up some complicated feelings.

Later in the episode, Lydia finally breaks down to Negan and releases all of her emotions. It’s important for Lydia to grieve so that she can use it and move on, channeling that strength within her.

“I want to learn what you do.”

Judith also finds herself conflicted over her own feelings. After Lydia snaps at her, telling her that “not everyone gets to have a mom like yours,” Judith goes after Daryl and tells him that she wants to tag along and truly learn about what he does.

Daryl is hesitant at first, but agrees, reminding Judith that she needs to listen to everything he says. Daryl and Judith come across a Whisperer spy, or deserter, who has been badly injured. She isn’t really able to shed much light on anything and Daryl ends her life.

Judith does not react to this well and explains to Daryl that she could have had a family. Even though Judith told her mother to go and see if she could find Rick, she is clearly feeling abandoned and lost now.

Daryl reveals that he tried to radio over to Michonne, but didn’t hear back from her. Judith tells him that she is helping some people, but failed to mention anything about the possibility of Rick being alive. So, why did she keep this from him?

I think Judith is afraid of anyone else leaving her at this point and realizes that Daryl might go running off after Rick as well. We get a touching scene between Daryl and Judith, as Daryl tells her that he is her family. Let’s just hope that everyone can be reunited at some point because Judith’s reaction was honestly breaking my heart.

Overall, the episode functioned well as a transitional one prior to a season finale. While we did get a preview of the season finale, we still don’t know when it will air. I can’t wait to see it later in the year and hope that we can finally get some answers about both Maggie and Connie. I also want to see Eugene meet Stephanie as well, which should set up season 11 nicely.

Stay tuned!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

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

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” Season 10 Episode 14 “Look at the Flowers”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10 episode 14, we were reminded that you should “look forward, not back.” After all, “you don’t know what lies ahead for us…no one does,” which makes the journey that much more important for each and every one of us.

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, “Look at the Flowers,” Carol is haunted by Alpha, causing her to look deeper in her own soul to discover what she truly wants. Meanwhile, Eugene heads off to meet up with Stephanie, a new Alpha is crowned, and Beta looks for signs from the old one.

My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 10 episode 14 are:

“You’re free now.”

In the beginning of the episode, Carol asks Negan again what took him so long. We flash back to the day she let him out of his cell, offering him a chance to help everyone forget what he has done in the past. Negan recognizes Carol as a “certified bad-ass” and so do we, but the task wasn’t that simple and Negan admits to Daryl later on that maybe he did like being undercover for a while.

Negan reminds Carol during present day that she needs to hold up her end of the bargain and escort him back to Alexandria so that everyone believes that he “silenced the Alpha” to save them, but Carol has other things on her mind and reminds Negan that he’s free and it’s up to him whether he wants to wait around for her or not…

“A fool willing to believe in future friends.”

Meanwhile, Eugene finally tells the group about his conversations with Stephanie, which puts everyone on edge. We don’t know if Stephanie is an ally or a foe, but Yumiko and Ezekiel are willing to escort Eugene on this journey, determined to stay positive.

Only Ezekiel starts to have several meltdowns along the way. We know that he is very ill and unsure of how much time he has left, but perhaps he can still shed some laughter after all.

We haven’t met Stephanie yet, but the group does stumble upon a city staged with walkers. We get to see some of them sitting down for coffee and even a police officer walker handcuffed, suggesting that someone may be having a little too much fun here.

A new character pops up at the end of the episode and seems more than thrilled to see the group, but can she be trusted?

I’m intrigued to find out more! Let’s spice up TWD with a pop of color and insanity!

“Just listen…”

After Beta discovers Alpha’s head on a spike, he is less than pleased. Two of the other Whisperers suggest that he is the new Alpha now, but Beta decides to teach them a lesson, pushing one of them close enough to hear what undead Alpha has to say about this while she rips the flesh from his ear…

Beta decides to carry Alpha’s head along with him. He cradles her head like a baby, which was beyond disturbing, searching for some kind of a sign. Eventually Beta has apparently found what he is looking for, finally stabbing his former leader’s head.

So, what is Beta planning next? It looks like we may have a split between The Whisperers now that Alpha is gone, but Beta should not be underestimated and I am still looking forward to a rematch between him and Daryl.

“We kneel to the new Alpha.”

After Daryl stumbles upon Negan, he is not entirely convinced about his story, especially when Alpha’s head is missing. Before they can hash this out further, some Whisperers show up and decide to bow down to Negan, which really entertains him.

Daryl is forced to kneel as well, but perhaps Negan has an in to truly save everyone now that they are looking at him as the leader. Let’s just hope the power doesn’t go to his head…

I’m also wondering where Lydia ran off to. Hopefully they can get her back before Beta finds her.

Since we know that Beta is seen as a leader as well, the war is far from over, but this should be interesting…

“They don’t know what you truly want.”

Even though Alpha is dead, Carol is not completely satisfied yet, as Alpha begins to haunt her. Carol goes on a journey of self-discovery, attempting to discover what she really wants, but it’s far from easy.

Alpha drags her back down into the darkest parts of her consciousness, reminding her of Henry, Sophia, Ed, Lizzie and Mika. Alpha represents the voice in Carol’s head that tells her that she isn’t good enough as a mother or as a person.

This journey was so important for Carol to snap her back to reality so that she can move on with her life. The threat may be over, but the real enemies are the inner demons swarming around in Carol’s mind, refusing to release their grip on her.

When Alpha tells Carol to “look at the flowers,” it reminds us of season 4 episode 14, “The Grove.” Carol had told Lizzie to simply look at the flowers before she killed her, which is still one of the most emotionally chaotic episodes I have ever seen on the show.

In this moment, Carol refuses to do the same. She doesn’t just accept her fate. She decides to change it and now finally understands what she wants.

She wants to survive. She wants to live. She wants to finally release all of the demons so that she can move forward.

Welcome back, Carol!

Overall, I thought this was another powerful episode. After Michonne’s own spiritual journey, Carol’s was necessary as well. We certainly moved a lot of other pieces of the plot as well and I’m looking forward to next week’s episode.

Stay tuned!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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

My performance of the week ending 3/28/20 on TV goes to…

Danai Gurira as Michonne on AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10.

After that epic and revealing episode (season 10 episode 12), we switched gears to catch up with Michonne in episode 13. Her episode was extremely moving and I thought that Danai Gurira was beyond fantastic. She was heart-wrenching perfection.

**Please note MAJOR spoilers are ahead if you are not caught up on the series.**

I talked a lot about Michonne’s character growth and transformation across the seasons in my post on The Walking Dead (season 10 episode 13), but Michonne deserves a post of her very own, celebrating her as an extraordinary character on the series. Even though this episode is considered a farewell for her, her story will continue in a lot of ways and I thought it was the perfect tribute to her.

I thought that season 10 episode 13 was so well done. The alternate path/reality portion really gave us a chance to remember Michonne’s decisions and interactions with characters, reminding us just how important she really is. The decision to save someone in a selfless act is not easy in a post-apocalyptic world, but Michonne learns that she did ultimately make the right decision and was introduced to her family and the love of her life by doing so.

We glimpsed into a world where Michonne made one very different decision, choosing not to save Andrea, which could have led her down a dark and dangerous path.

Becoming a hero is not always clear cut. There are so many different factors that are at play and we often see villains who think that they are doing what is necessary to survive.

Michonne has gone through so much in her life and we could have easily witnessed her stumble along the way and yet she has become even stronger because of her decisions. I think that her connections with other characters helped her tremendously. When we first met Michonne, she was pretty much on her own, but once she started connecting with those around her, she opened the guard around her heart and became a true leader and warrior.

What’s next for Michonne? Well, we know that this was Danai Gurira’s last episode, but her story will certainly not end. After discovering some clues that Rick may be alive, Michonne decides to try and find him with the blessing and encouragement from Judith.

Michonne is a mother and we know that this was not an easy decision for her, but she is going to do everything in her power to find Rick and I’m hoping that we get to see a happy ending for them at some point within TWD universe.

I thought the last scene with Michonne was so fitting and perfect for her character. Michonne finds a man and woman who are in need of assistance and remembers when Rick and Carl took a chance on her, which ultimately changed her life forever. Michonne is on a mission to find Rick, but takes the time to offer her hand to those in need, truly embracing her role as a hero.

I will really miss Michonne’s presence on the show, but I thought this was the perfect tribute and farewell episode for her. The story is never really over and I feel honored to have witnessed so many incredible performances by Danai Gurira over the seasons.

We’ll miss you, Michonne!

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” Season 10 Episode 13: “What We Become”

Happy Monday TV fans! After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10 episode 13, we were reminded that “what happens next, it’s your fault.” Every choice we make is important. It can lead us down the path we are meant to pursue, but what happens if we take one false step? Will we still end up in the same place or will our lives change drastically?

Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In last night’s episode, “What We Become,” we catch up with Michonne and Virgil, as they finally reach Bloodsworth Island. Things are not as quiet as they seem, as Michonne ends up on a spiritual journey of her own that leads her to an incredible discovery.

My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 10 episode 13 are:

“I’m not staying here long…”

As Michonne arrives at Bloodsworth Island, she tells Virgil to “stop the bullshit,” explaining that she wants to find the weapons there as soon as possible so she can return home.

Only Virgil has some other ideas, as he ends up locking Michonne up in a cell after she hears voices behind a wall.

It’s clear that Virgil has snapped and possesses some inner demons of his own, but Michonne doesn’t plan on sticking around much longer.

“You were supposed to protect us.”

The opening of the episode flashes back to Michonne’s first episode right before she saves Andrea. Only in the flashback, we see that Michonne decides to walk away, choosing not to save Andrea. This twist makes sense later on when we discover that Virgil has drugged Michonne to make things even more complicated.

Virgil tells Michonne not to fight it and she begins to hallucinate. She has a chat with Siddiq and she flashes back to several key moments in the show we all remember so well, showing us what life could have been like for Michonne if she had decided not to save someone.

In this alternate flashback world, Michonne ends up joining Negan and is killed later on by Rick, revealing that every choice we make in our lives does matter. It makes us who we are and even though Michonne is hallucinating, I thought this was extremely powerful and revealing.

“Your mercy gives you something.”

After Michonne breaks free, she takes Virgil’s prisoners along with her, who seem to be trustworthy. They knew Virgil before all this happened and fill in some blanks about how he snapped after his family died. Michonne tracks Virgil down and really thinks about killing him, but reminds everyone that if they take his life, they will lose more of themselves.

Michonne’s decision to show Virgil mercy shows us just how far she has come as a character. Michonne could have taken the selfish or easy way out so many times in her life, but every single time she decided to risk it all to save someone, it made her who she is today.

Michonne is still determined to find what she is looking for on the island and Virgil finally agrees to help her.

Seriously, was that so hard, Virgil?

“Where the hell did you get these?”

Virgil takes Michonne to a ship that washed up on the island and she begins to go through everything left on board. Michonne is beyond shocked when she finds Rick’s cowboy boots and demands to know where Virgil got them from.

She frantically looks through the other items and finds an old cell phone with a chalk drawing of Michonne and Judith on it. Michonne’s reaction was so incredibly moving, now realizing that there is a chance that Rick may still be alive.

Of course this leads to even more questions. How did Rick end up here? Did he mean to leave these as clues or is someone else trying to get Michonne’s attention? Where is Rick? The questions are endless…

Michonne decides to head off the island on the ship with the others to try and find Rick, but Virgil stays there. He reminds her that he promised to leave his wife flowers everyday and he can’t leave her behind.

Michonne understands this all too well, realizing that she also has to follow her path and try and find Rick.

“I found something that belonged to the brave man.”

As if this wasn’t already an emotional roller coaster of an episode, Michonne radios over to Judith and explains that she found something that belonged to Rick. Judith asks her if he is alive and Michonne explains that she doesn’t know, but Judith wants her to find out, assuring her that Alpha cannot hurt them anymore. Judith wants her mother with her, but she also realizes the importance of Michonne trying to help her dad.

Michonne will be heading north and promises to still check in with Judith and RJ.

At the end of the episode, Michonne comes across people in need of assistance and ultimately decides to help them, remembering how Rick and Carl stopped to help her when she needed it. This will most likely stall Michonne’s discovery of Rick, but I thought it was the perfect scene to truly remind us that Michonne is a selfless hero and has come so far as a character.

Overall, I thought this episode was brilliantly done and the perfect exit and farewell to Danai Gurira. Michonne’s exit from the show gives me hope that she will one day be reunited with Rick and the rest of her family. It’s so often that we say goodbye to some of our favorite characters by watching them die, but this gave us another way, allowing us to truly be at peace with Michonne’s decision.

The flashbacks were so thought-provoking and emotional, giving us a chance to see former characters while providing us with an interesting perspective on Michonne’s own character development.

Farewell, Michonne! We will miss you and hope to see you and Rick soon in TWD future!

Stay tuned!

What were some of YOUR favorite moments with Michonne across the series? Feel free to drop them in the comments!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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

My performance of the week ending 3/21/20 on TV goes to…

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan on AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10.

Season 10 has been quite the ride, but I may have just watched one of the most epic episodes I have ever seen (Season 10 episode 12) and part of that is because of Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s beyond brilliant performance as our antihero, Negan.

**Please note MAJOR spoilers are ahead if you are not caught up on the series.**

Jeffrey Dean Morgan knows how to play a villain well. He’s ruthless at times, but he also has so much charisma and humor, really making him someone you love to hate and eventually transforming into more of an antihero rather than a villain. While I can’t forgive some of Negan’s actions that shattered TWD, I have been a fan of his for a while and I have enjoyed witnessing his character growth. Negan played the villain well, but he absolutely flourishes as an antihero.

Negan has many layers and he is no stranger to performing some unspeakable acts, but sometimes you need a villain to take down another villain and so our long con was created. Alpha is another villain who has been beyond ruthless, but Negan recognizes a lot of himself in her. Alpha talks about her decisions in terms of survival and destiny, but Negan also recognizes a vulnerability within her that Carol is determined to use to bring her down once and for all.

While many of the other characters on the show keep their moral compass steady, Carol has really lost her way after what happened to Henry and is completely driven by revenge. Carol recognizes that doing things the right way doesn’t always pay off and does what she has to do in order to bring down her enemy.

In season 10 episode 12, everything is revealed, as Negan approaches Alpha and explains that he has Lydia held up in a shack nearby. It has been obvious for quite a while now that Lydia would be Alpha’s ultimate downfall, even though she has been so obsessed with getting rid of her daughter in order to stifle this weakness within her.

Alpha clearly became somewhat intrigued by Negan and their tryst in the woods still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I think in a lot of ways, Negan truly did sympathize with Alpha and probably did connect with her on some level. However, Negan has always had a strict code about not harming children and we have witnessed his interactions with Lydia and Judith, suggesting that he would never let anything actually happen to them.

Negan’s long con works to perfection as he leads Alpha to an empty shack, immediately slicing her throat to put her down quickly before bringing her reanimated head back to Carol. Even though Negan did what was necessary, he tries to do so with compassion, holding Alpha gently while her life pours out of her, proving that Negan is not the same man anymore.

I thought that Negan’s discussion with Alpha about his own wife and how he shut down after her death was so important for his character growth. We have been witnessing the changes in Negan, but I think this may be the first time he actually sees it for himself and expresses it out loud. Negan certainly still has a long way to go until redemption, but I think taking down Alpha was a huge step in the right direction.

What’s next for Negan? It will be interesting to see how the rest of the group receives him now that he has taken down the other big bad wolf. Will they accept that Carol released him from his cell or will they still be cautious around him? I’m not sure, but I think it’s safe to say that we are done putting Negan behind bars.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the team-up between him and Carol and hope to see this dynamic duo get some more screen time together to take down the rest of their enemies. You have to admit, they make a pretty unstoppable team!

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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

Ranking the top 5 moments from “The Walking Dead” Season 10 Episode 12: “Walk With Us”

Happy Sunday TV fans! After watching AMC’s The Walking Dead season 10 episode 12, we were reminded that “things don’t always work out the way you want” and sometimes what you desire most of all can lead to your downfall.

Please note MAJOR spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

In tonight’s episode, “Walk With Us,” the war is here, as we get a few unexpected casualties. Meanwhile, Negan finally gives Alpha what she wants, leading to the epic ending you have been waiting for.

My top 5 moments from The Walking Dead season 10 episode 12 are:

“I’ll never walk with her.”

The opening of the episode is beyond intense. There are still flames everywhere as our group defends Hilltop. Lydia refuses to walk with her mother and runs off, but ends up bumping straight into Negan. She is initially relieved to see him, but it looks like he has another agenda up his sleeve. Where does Negan’s loyalty lie? We’re about to find out…

“Her hand just slipped out of mine.”

In the midst of all the chaos, Yumiko actually spots an injured Magna in the crowd.

Magna was able to survive the cave-in, but says that she lost track of Connie and couldn’t find her. This doesn’t necessarily mean that Connie is dead and I am remaining positive about one of my favorite characters on the show, but I was glad to see that Magna is all right.

Magna and Yumiko take a break from the war to break up, earning some screen time during the episode.

“Never!”

After Mary finally gets a chance to hold baby Adam, we witness a sweet moment. It’s good to see family back with family except they are being followed by a hungry horde of walkers. Mary sacrifices everything to protect her nephew and leads the walkers away, taking them out one by one.

Only Beta is waiting for her and stabs her, waiting for her to turn so that she can walk with Alpha. Mary’s actions were so brave and I was honestly so upset to see her die after showing so much promise and potential.

After being turned, Alden shoots her with an arrow to prevent her from falling victim to such a cruel fate. Beta runs off again and even takes out one of his own followers to protect his identity.

“I can stay here with you.”

Judith has always been so strong and mature, but she certainly grows up a lot after this episode and my heart goes out to her. The plans goes slightly off when Ezekiel is separated from the kids, but Earl gets them to the safe house.

Judith discovers that Earl has been bitten and offers to stay with him so that he does not have to be alone. Earl tells her that he is not alone and tells her not to come out again so that he can stop himself as a threat.

It’s not that easy to stab your own brain as we find out and poor Judith is left to take out undead Earl. Daryl and the others find the kids and they are all safe, but this has clearly taken a toll on Judith and I’m pretty sure that she has gone through more things than any other kid on the planet…ever.

Even though this was heartbreaking to watch, I finally felt like Judith got a true moment to shine, channeling Carl quite a bit here.

“Took you long enough.”

Negan informs Alpha that he has found the thing she is looking for, leading her off to where he has Lydia held captive. After an interesting Lion King debate, Negan actually reveals quite a bit about his own feelings after his wife died.

Alpha explains that it is Lydia’s destiny to die because she loves her. Lydia has always been Alpha’s weakness and as Lydia breaks free, we discover that she is in a different shack.

Alpha finds her own shack empty and Negan swiftly slashes her throat. He rolls her undead animated head toward Carol, revealing that these two make quite the team.

This was probably one of the best episodes I have seen on the series and I was very satisfied with this outcome. Welcome back to the team, Negan!

So, now that Alpha is dead, what does this mean for the fate of The Whisperers? Is the threat really over or will they take revenge?

Stay tuned! Next week we finally catch up with Michonne!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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

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