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Ranking the top 5 moments from “Supernatural” season 13 episode 12: “Various & Sundry Villains”

Happy Friday TV fans! After watching the CW’s Supernatural season 13 episode 12 last night, you may want to think twice about this upcoming Valentine’s day. Be careful what or who you wish for or you may wind up under a love spell that leads to a pretty gruesome death. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, “Various & Sundry Villains,” we meet the magical Plum Sisters who will stop at nothing to return their mother to the living. Rowena is back and is claiming to have changed from wicked to good, looking to score some help from the Winchester brothers. Meanwhile, Castiel and Lucifer try out being cell-mates, as Lucifer attempts to tap into his inner rage to unleash his power. My top 5 moments from Supernatural season 13 episode 12 are:

Meet Jamie & Jenny Plum.

“Always look your best. Never get attached to a man. And always make the death look non-magical so you don’t attract hunters.” Seems like good advice until the witch sisters, Jamie and Jenny beat their poor victim, Dale to death with a sledge hammer. New witches are in town which is never a good sign and they have their sights set on Dean Winchester to obtain the Black Grimoire. While the sisters are dangerous, they bring the fun as well, reminding us of films like “The Craft.” Sure their powers come from evil, but one can’t help being slightly sympathetic that they just want to reunite their family.

Rowena is back.

After Lucifer killed Rowena, fans were hoping that this wouldn’t be the last of our favorite witch. Rowena reveals that she had cast a sort of get out of death free spell which had its fair share of consequences, but nevertheless she is back among the living once again. Rowena approaches the Winchester brothers and offers to help them in exchange for a spell in the Black Grimoire. She claims it is only for protection, but is clearly very invested in obtaining more power. While Sam and Dean know better than to openly trust Rowena, they don’t really have much of a choice when the Plum Sisters successfully steal the book.

“There is no I in team Castiel.”

Castiel and Lucifer are cell-mates and Cas is getting sick and tired of listening to Lucifer whine about how he is drained of power. Refusing to let him tap into his own soul, Castiel tries pushing Lucifer to the limits by talking about how good Jack is and how he loves movies where the hero saves the day. Lucifer is horrified by this revelation and he quickly realizes that his rage is a good motivator for power. After Lucifer and Castiel escape, Castiel confronts Lucifer and tells him “this is me learning from my mistakes.” Castiel is not messing around and not even Lucifer will be able to walk all over him. Go Cas!

The Plum Sisters cast a love spell on Dean.

Dean comically gets hit with the love spell and is now head over heels for Jamie. The lovey dovey music combined with his stars in the eyes like glow is hilarious. Dean practically skips back home and confides to Sam about his love for Jamie. He even begins making room for her to move in. Sam immediately sees the problem here and tries to get Dean to see reason. Dean says “Am I alright? I’m in love!” Sam tries to stop Dean but he is knocked out by his brother in the process. Dean gives Jamie the Black Grimoire and just when he is about to hit him with a hammer, Sam saves the day. Luckily for Dean, Sam didn’t hold a grudge and was able to get there in the nick of time.

Sam and Rowena talk about inner demons.

Rowena admits to Sam that she feels scared and helpless all the time because she saw Lucifer’s true face and what she saw has been burned into her memory, constantly scratching at the surface. Sam explains that he also saw Lucifer’s true face and knows exactly what she is going through. He lets Rowena know that the scared feeling never really goes away and that’s important to find other things to focus on. Sam tries to distract himself by trying to help save his mother and Jack, but now that they are out of reach in another dimension, he is feeling the darkness pulling him down further and further. After Rowena’s “triple-cross” ends in shooting a “Zombie Mom” in the head and turning the Plum Sisters on each other for a gruesome death, Sam agrees to give her a page from the book to Dean’s disappointment. Has Sam made the right call? Will Rowena tap into too much power and become a threat worse than Lucifer? Perhaps, but I’m certain that Sam and Dean will not be too far behind to put a stop to it.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

“Charmed” is Back for a Reboot! Ranking the top 5 couples from the original “Charmed.”

Happy Wednesday TV fans! I have been recently re-watching one of my favorite television series of all time, Charmed for the 7^th time through and I was very interested to find out that the CW has requested a pilot order for the reboot of the show. It has been about 20 years since the show premiered and ran for 8 seasons with the magical Halliwell sisters portrayed by Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs, Rose McGowan, and Shannen Doherty. Holly Marie Combs is openly opposed to the reboot but Shannen Doherty is trying to stay positive. It’s understandable for there to be controversy around the reboot, as the original story and characters can never be replaced.

The original Halliwell sisters of Charmed still represent strong female characters to look up to and root for even re-watching today. That can never be replaced, but it would be exciting to see something similar for the new generation and something nostalgic for the rest of us who remember the series so well. 90210 had a reboot years later and even had special appearances by the show’s original cast, but it still doesn’t hold a candle to the original series and never will. Other shows featuring TV witches such as The Secret Circle and Witches of East End didn’t last for very long airing after Charmed was off the air so it’s hard to predict if the reboot will be able to have a successful run.

Similar to the spinoff proposed series of Wayward Sisters from Supernatural, the Charmed reboot has a real chance to capture an audience in desperate need of strong and smart female leads who can save the day from demons and deal with everyday problems. While I don’t know much about the pilot, it doesn’t seem like it will follow the lives of the next generation of Charmed ones, but may be set on a college campus with three new witches coming to power. Either way, I am all for giving the show a chance. How about you?

The attention around the Charmed reboot sparked my interest in discussing some of my favorite moments, episodes, characters, villains, and ships. For today, I will be discussing the most memorable couples/ships from the series. While some couples on the show do find their fairy-tale happy ending, others end a passionate bond in tragedy, breaking the hearts of our beloved Halliwell heroines along the way. Either way, their love was inspiring, fiery, and memorable. Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet.

My top five ships from Charmed are:

Paige & Kyle aka Agent Brody.

When Paige is introduced as the half-sister of Piper and Phoebe in season 4, she has to learn about her powers and new destiny very quickly to keep up with the rest of the Charmed ones. Paige steps into the role of the third sister seamlessly and really captures the sisterly bond, but her ultimate destiny focuses more on helping others through Magic School rather than on a romantic relationship.

Paige does have her share of relationships over the seasons, but the most memorable one for her would be with Kyle aka Agent Brody. Portrayed by the charming Kerr Smith, Kyle came to the sisters seeking revenge on the new big bad, The Avatars, who he believes are responsible for the death of his parents. Paige and Kyle instantly have a spark and move quickly into a romantic relationship.

One of my favorite moments is when they get trapped in a 1930’s novel set in black and white and need to solve a mystery to get back. They embrace the world, costumes and all, and end with a very passionate kiss, letting fans know that this is the start of something lasting for sure. Sadly, Kyle’s quest to take down the Avatars leads to his untimely death, separating him from his love, Paige. While Kyle does become a white lighter and implies that they may see each other again, the series ends without them together, as Paige finds love with Henry instead.

Prue & Andy.

In the first season of the show, Prue is handling a lot. She moves back in with her sisters, basically has to represent the mother-figure as the oldest sister, gets attacked at her new job, and is reunited with her childhood sweetheart, Andy. As if that isn’t enough, Andy is an Inspector for the police and is desperately trying to figure out why Prue is connected to so many of his unresolved cases.

Prue’s love for Andy is pure and true, but she tries to keep her distance from him to protect him. When Prue thinks that she may be able to trust Andy with her secret of being a witch, she casts a truth spell that lasts for 24 hours. To her dismay, Andy reveals that he would not be able to continue a relationship with her. At the end of the season, Andy sacrifices himself to protect Prue and her sisters.

Prue has a fleeting moment with him in limbo before he is gone forever and it’s now clear that he would have accepted Prue completely, secret and all. He just needed more time to fully process what she shared, which is completely understandable. Sadly for Prue, she has to say goodbye to Andy forever and is never really able to find anyone as worthy again.

Phoebe & Coop.

Out of all of the Halliwell sisters, Phoebe has gone through the most relationships. Toward the end of the series, fans were wondering who she would ultimately end up with and immediately spot the romantic tension between her and Cupid, Coop. Coop is there to lead the way for Phoebe to open her heart again and find love; only he ends up falling in love with her in the process.

Coop is funny and charming and is really the only worthy candidate for Phoebe to end up with since Cole is gone forever. While they don’t necessarily have the same passion she had with Cole, Phoebe does learn to truly open her heart again with Coop and finally get the family she has been dreaming of.

Phoebe & Cole.

This list would not be complete without including Phoebe and Cole. Cole is introduced in season 3 and is a demon who is half-human. While he initially tries to use his budding relationship with Phoebe to worm his way into the house to steal the Book of Shadows, Cole falls deeply in love with Phoebe, jeopardizing his cover and bringing his humanity to the surface.

Phoebe and Cole’s love is the most passionate on the show. They have this almost magnetic pull toward one another, which does lead to some rocky moments, however. Cole eventually becomes the source of all evil, even luring Phoebe to darkness for a while, but his love for her never fades. It seems like Cole has been vanquished several times, but he always finds a way to return, holding on to the hope that he can be with Phoebe.

When he is finally vanquished for good, Phoebe says that maybe “it wasn’t meant to be.” However, fans still cling to the idea of Phoebe and Cole ending up together. The downfall of Cole was too much, however; leading to his demise, but their connection to one another has always been undeniable. Cole leaves a goodbye letter for Phoebe that reads:

Dear Phoebe,
If I’m dead right now,
I know it was at your
hand. No one else in
heaven or hell had
Power over me. Please,
don’t cry. I was dead
Before I met you. I was
Born the day you loved
me. And my love for you
will keep me alive…
Forever
Love,
Cole

This letter is one of the most resonating moments for me on Charmed. Cole brought new life into the show and was one of my absolute favorite characters. While being one of the greatest villains for the Halliwell sisters, he is Phoebe’s ultimate weakness. Even when they were apart, Phoebe knew that she may never love anyone the same way again.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one ship are:

Paige & Henry
Prue & Bane
Phoebe & Jason
Piper & Dan
Prue & Jack

Piper & Leo.

My number one ship has to go to Piper and Leo as if there was any doubt! At the beginning of the series, their blossoming relationship is charming and real. Phoebe even initially competes with Piper to win Leo’s affection, but it’s always been clear where Leo’s heart lies. As Piper’s white lighter, it is forbidden for them to be together, but they cannot deny their connection.

Piper and Leo have been through so much together and Leo is even ripped away from her during their first attempt at a wedding. Ultimately, Piper and Leo are meant for each other. However, they go through quite a lot on the way and are tested constantly. Piper and Leo have two beautiful sons, Wyatt and Chris, and form a beautiful family together, constantly trying to keep this priority above all others.

While Piper is known for her quick temper, Leo balances her out and always keeps her calm. When they are apart, it’s truly heartbreaking, as fans recognize the selfless love these two have for one another. Piper and Leo do get their happy ending and keep their friendship and love strong in the process. There is something so believable and undeniable between Piper and Leo, still holding the test of time and reminding us what true love is all about.

I hope you enjoyed my list and feel free to post your own comments and thoughts about the ships on Charmed along with your thoughts on the new reboot. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 TV witches: “The power of 3 will set us free!”

Happy Friday TV viewers! When you think of witches, what comes to mind? Society has embraced the idea of the witch as an old hag with a wart, hooked nose, and pointy hat flying off on her broomstick, cackling across the night sky. But to be honest, witches have so much more depth and character than this common stereotype. Sure it may be fun to embrace the costume for Halloween, but what’s so great about witches is that they are a source of female empowerment.

They may possess magical abilities and can whip up a spell in the blink of an eye…or the wiggle of a nose, but what makes these women so intriguing is their humanity. Some of my favorite witches on television desperately attempt to balance a “normal human life” with their calling and magical duties. They want something more out of life and sometimes feel stifled by their magical responsibilities, feeling that it gets in the way of having true and meaningful relationships.

While they sometimes reveal their secrets to mortals, it is clear that being a witch is very complicated and not all it’s cracked up to be. However, they sure do have some very cool magical powers that could come in handy now and again. Please note some spoilers are ahead.

My top 5 TV witches are:

Bonnie Bennett from The Vampire Diaries.

When you combine being a witch with being a teenage girl, things get beyond complicated. Bonnie and her best friend, Elena, live in Mystic Falls where it seems like supernatural beings are creeping up behind every corner. While the show focuses primarily on vampires, Bonnie’s witchcraft is a key component and an influential force. When Bonnie discovers her powers as a witch and realizes that she comes from a very powerful line of witches in history, she has to confide her secret to her best friend.

One of my favorite scenes occurs when Bonnie and Elena are sitting on the bed and Bonnie closes her eyes and makes the pillow feathers float all around them. Her powers are beautiful and mysterious, but as the series goes on, she becomes more and more powerful. While she sometimes drains on magic and needs strength from those around her, Bonnie is the essence of good magic and is a great asset to Elena and the Salvatore vampires.

Zelena aka The Wicked Witch of the West from Once Upon a Time.

There is clearly a lot of unlocked magic in the quiet town of Storybrooke, ranging from evil queens to saviors. However, when something wicked comes their way, Zelena proves to be the witch you don’t want to mess with. She embraces the green skin and looks absolutely fabulous. We later learn that Zelena is Regina’s half-sister, which explains their connection and Zelena’s constant quest for revenge against her. While Zelena does transform into a powerful ally later on, her snappy one-liners and her refusal to let others get in her way make her stand out in a crowd of fairy-tale villains and heroes, absolutely stealing the show.

Fans everywhere root for Zelena and desperately want her to get her own version of a happy ending. In the most recent season, Regina goes off to find Zelena in San Francisco, when a new memory curse has been cast on our favorite characters. In Zelena’s new life, she is actually a cycling instructor and even tells her class to “fly like monkeys,” keeping her humor and character alive.

Willow Rosenberg from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

While the show focuses primarily on Buffy and her strength and powers as a vampire slayer, Willow gives up on a being a quiet nerd in the background and tries out witchcraft to help her best friend fight evil. In the beginning, her powers seem harmless and involve floating pencils, which does come in handy when she actually uses it to stake a vampire. As the series goes on, Willow becomes more and more powerful and has an unquenchable need to consume magic.

This dangerous consequence leads to her tapping into dark magic. Willow even gives up using her witchcraft, recognizing that the addiction is hurting those around her. When her love, Tara dies in her arms, there is no stopping her, however. The dark magic pours into her, making her one of the most powerful and dangerous villains Buffy and the Scoobies have ever faced. Luckily, Xander is able to bring her back to goodness, refusing to lose his best friend to evil.

Samantha Stephens from Bewitched.

This list would not be complete without including one of the most famous television witches who paved the way for the rest to come. I grew up watching re-runs of the show in black and white and was mesmerized by Samantha’s powers. With the wiggle of her nose, she used her magic to even the score, proving to be very powerful. Samantha had trouble balancing her life as a loving housewife with being a powerful witch, introducing the very concept of a witch looking for something more meaningful in life beyond magic. While she loved her husband dearly, she didn’t want to just be labeled as a housewife, still holding on to her identity as a witch. Samantha was absolutely a source of female empowerment, refusing to merely comply in a man’s world.

Some honorable mentions before revealing my number one pick for TV witches are:

Sabrina Spellman from “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”
Davina Claire from “The Originals”
Melisandre from “Game of Thrones”
Endora from “Bewitched”
Rowena from “Supernatural”
The Coven from “American Horror Story”
The Beauchamp family from “Witches of East End”

The Halliwell sisters from Charmed.

So my number one pick has to go to the Halliwell sisters. Prue, Piper, Phoebe, and Paige all possess amazing magical abilities and have a sisterly bond that cannot be broken by any evil that comes their way. Charmed is one of my favorite series of all time and each sister possesses their own strength, but as the “power of 3,” they are unstoppable. My favorite power belonged to Piper who could literally freeze time by putting her hands up. What makes the Halliwell sisters so great is that they didn’t always know they had powers. When their grandmother dies and they move back into their child-hood home, they release the power behind the “Book of Shadows,” reconstituting the power of 3. At

this point in their lives, they are already dealing with finding love, finding a career, and dealing with the daily pros and cons of being a sister. They are known as the most powerful witches of all time and many demons and evil beings try to defeat them. When Prue is tragically killed off at the end of season 3, Paige Matthews steps in as their long-lost half-sister and has just as much power as the rest of them. The sisterly bond continues and they deal with some really tough decisions. On more than one occasion, the sisters have the opportunity to relinquish their powers and lead normal lives, but the Halliwell sisters embrace their destiny and understand that protecting the innocent isn’t just a job…it’s who they are.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the Top 5 TV Bad Boys Redeemed by Love: “I’m a Complex Guy, Sweetheart.”

Happy Friday TV viewers! When you think of your favorite male hero on television, what comes to mind? Are you thinking about the selfless actions they make to help those in need? Perhaps, they become so good at playing the “hero” that we forget about the anti-hero who has just as much charm and more intrigue. While the good guy typically saves the day and gets the girl, what about our favorite bad boys who lurk in darkness and mystery? Being a “bad boy,” isn’t enough, however; as the hero will ultimately sweep in to make things right. For today’s topic, I am specifically looking at bad boys from television who are redeemed by love and transform into a more realistic hero we can root for as a result. These “bad boys” are nowhere near perfect and continue to make mistakes along the way, but that’s why they are so entertaining to watch. While a hero may sometimes feel destined for greatness, our favorite bad boys were initially looking out for themselves and possessed their own agenda. This changes drastically, however; when they fall in love with the right person who brings out the best in them and reveals an unlikely hero in the process. Please note some spoilers are ahead. My top 5 TV Bad Boys redeemed by love are:

Cole Turner from Charmed.

“I was dead before I met you. I was born the day you loved me. And my love for you will keep me alive…forever.” (Cole’s letter to Phoebe from Charmed)

When Cole was first introduced on Charmed, he was revealed to be a demon who was half-human, posing as a lawyer. His plan was to get Phoebe to fall for him so that he could worm his way into the Halliwell house to steal their powerful spell-book, “The Book of Shadows.” Seemed like a solid plan, until Cole fell madly in love with Phoebe. Cole had the tall, dark, and handsome role down pat, as he used his charm to get what he desired. What separated him from other “bad boys,” was his vulnerability for Phoebe. Even when he was the source of all evil, his love for her still allowed him to embrace goodness inside him that he thought was long gone. Over the seasons, Cole and Phoebe’s love was epic and messy, ending in heart-break and tragedy. Even though Cole overcame his demonic side on more than one occasion and came back from the dead repeatedly, their love did not ultimately win out to the dismay of fans everywhere. Phoebe even commented that “it wasn’t meant to be,” but the uncertainty in her voices suggested otherwise. While Phoebe ended up finding several new romantic loves later on in the show, none of them compared to her passionate love for Cole.

Killian Jones aka Captain Hook from Once Upon a Time.

“When I win your heart Emma, and I will win it. It won’t be because of any trickery.” (Hook to Emma in OUAT)

When the devilishly handsome Captain Hook sailed into our hearts on OUAT, he initially was out for revenge against the “crocodile,” otherwise known as Mr. Gold/Rumpel. While Hook innocently flirted with Emma from the start, his love for her allowed him to grow as a character and to learn from his wicked past. More importantly, he transformed from a classic fairy-tale villain into one of our favorite anti-heroes. Hook was always used to taking the easy way out and making decisions based on how well it suited him. Emma changed this perspective, however; proving that he could be a selfless man. When Hook realized his strong feelings for Emma, he even backed down and explained that she should be with Neal so that Henry could have his family all together. Hook truly loved Emma at this point, but was willing to sacrifice this so that she could find happiness. Later, when they did end up together, Emma’s power became too great and evil corrupted her heart. The only thing that could bring her back to goodness was Hook’s love for her. Emma and Hook had one of the most beautiful relationships on television, but Hook’s growth into a hero is what made him truly stand out.

Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries.

“I don’t mind being the bad guy. I make all the life and death decisions while you’re busy dealing with collateral damage.” (Damon to Stefan in The Vampire Diaries)

This list would not be complete without Damon Salvatore. He embraced the role of the bad brother, refusing to apologize for what he was and how he acted. Unlike Stefan, Damon was reckless and dangerous. He also possessed a magnetic quality about him that just reeled in the ladies with barely any effort. Damon’s initial mission was to free his love Katherine from a tomb, however; he soon realized that Katherine was not the epic love he thought she was. Damon’s jealousy for Elena and Stefan’s relationship reached new heights at this point, but he quickly realized that his feelings involved more than envy. He grew fond of Elena and fell in love with her, which quickly tamed the vampire beast within. Damon didn’t lose his “bad boy” charm, but put Elena before everything else, truly learning what sacrifice means. While the love triangle between Elena and the Salvatore brothers became complicated, Elena eventually followed her heart straight to Damon, allowing her own darkness to reach the surface as well.

Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

“What can I tell you baby? I’ve always been bad.” (Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

I have to admit it was extremely difficult for me to choose between my top 1 and 2 picks for this category. After all, Spike was the very epitome of the bad boy redeemed by love. Like Damon, Spike was a soulless vampire, only interested in power and his deranged and misguided love for Drusilla. Over the seasons, Spike proved to be a worthy foe of Buffy, constantly coming up with ways to stop her while having a little bit of fun in the process. In season 4, Spike is captured by a military order experimenting on supernatural creatures and a chip is placed in his brain which prevented him from harming anyone. While this brought on quite of bit of laughs, Spike eventually became a sort of honorary member of the Scoobies, trying to bring down evil, but still holding on to his own agenda to destroy the slayer one day. Like the other bad boys on this list, Spike was redeemed by his love for Buffy. What makes this love so special, however; was the fact that Spike still did not have a soul when he fell in love with Buffy. Sure he had the chip in his brain, but his thoughts and desires were the same as they had always been. Spike grew into an anti-hero that we rooted for above others because he learned how to get in touch with his humanity, with having literally no humanity within him. In season 5, he sets off to kill Buffy and finds her crying on the porch after she has learned about her mother’s illness. Spike puts aside his anger and sits on the porch next to her, offering his support without any hidden agenda. He revealed how much he truly cared for Buffy, as his feelings only grew stronger and stronger. Spike eventually came to realize that Buffy may never love him the way he wanted her to, but accepted this, realizing his destiny to be an unlikely hero for good.

James Ford…aka Sawyer from Lost.

“I’m a complex guy, sweetheart.” (Sawyer to Kate in Lost)

So my number one pick for best TV bad boy redeemed by love has to go to the charismatic and hilarious, Sawyer. When the survivors of Flight 815 crash on the island, Sawyer was revealed to be a con-man with a jaded past. He quickly shifted into survival mode, hoarding many of the supplies for himself. Sawyer wanted everyone to hate him, mostly because he didn’t feel like he was worthy of the love and compassion of others. He even put together several schemes, putting the Losties against each other and making deals that only benefited him. While Jack represented the good hero we came to know and adore, Sawyer proved to be an unlikely hero as well. In season 3, Sawyer returned to the Losties after being captured by the others and the survivors looked to him as their leader. Sawyer showed some promising signs of change, attempting to help out and to protect his love, Kate in the process. He also began to reveal signs of selfless behavior, jumping off the chopper so that Kate and the others could be rescued. While this seemed like a heroic gesture, Sawyer was still running away from his destiny. When Kate and the oceanic six said goodbye to the island, Sawyer was left behind with Juliet, Jin, and Miles. In episode, “LaFleur,” Sawyer put his con-man skills to good use and saved the day, convincing the Dharma Initiative to let them stay with them for a while. Juliet wanted to get on the sub and leave, but he asked her to stay with him. “Who’s going to get my back?” he asked, revealing the first real spark between them. It took traveling back in time for Sawyer to finally embrace the goodness that was there all along. His love for Juliet was pure and selfless, but he was no longer running away from himself or his feelings. Sawyer was finally ready to settle down and lead a simple life with the love of his life. The bad boy was truly redeemed, proving that love can help point our moral compass in the right direction.

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post your thoughts and comments below on some of your favorite TV bad boys redeemed by love. Thanks for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

@TV_Fanatic_Girl

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Ranking the top 5 siblings from television: Family is where the heart is.

As we are in the midst of the holiday season, it’s a time to re-connect with family and remember what’s truly important in life. Many of us have an unspoken bond with our siblings, whether it is inside jokes or a similar laugh, which is natural when you have all grown up together and faced many of the same challenges and shared similar memories. This really got me thinking about siblings on television and how difficult it must be to create that connection instantly. The actors on these shows already have the complicated task of portraying their roles and diving deep into what makes that particular character tick. However, when you also need to add on a believable and real connection as siblings, this becomes even more difficult to capture. For today’s topic, I am going to be ranking my top 5 siblings from television. The siblings I chose are not just cast well. Rather, they become so believable as siblings that I have to bring up Wikipedia on my phone just to double check that the actors are not related. Please note spoilers are ahead. My top 5 siblings from television are:

Brandon and Brenda Walsh from Beverly Hills, 90210.

The Minnesota Twins!

Who could forget when twins, Brandon and Brenda Walsh move from Minnesota all the way to glamorous Beverly Hills, California. While the twins quickly realize that West Beverly High is not like any other high school they have ever seen, they fast-track into a superficial bubble where they are faced with difficult decisions. Luckily, the twins have each other to support one another. Some of my favorite moments on the show are when Brandon or Brenda would make a huge mistake and they would end up meeting in their Jack and Jill bathroom, relieved to see their other half so they could confide in them. Brandon and Brenda share quite a bit of fights along the way and introduce new friends like Kelly and Dylan into the mix, but there is something about their bond as siblings that is wholesome and unbreakable. Fans were disappointed when Brenda left the show, wondering where that would leave Brandon now that his beloved sister was gone. While Brandon still kept viewers hooked with his charm and good sense of right and wrong, the earlier episodes with the Walsh twins had something truly special that could not be so easily replaced even with new cast members.

Fiona, Lip, Ian, Debbie, Carl, and Liam Gallagher from Shameless.

“Hey, sometimes life throws a couple swings at you. But we’re Gallaghers, okay? And there’s two things that we’re really good at: knowing how to get back up, and knowing how to party.” (Shameless)

This list would not be complete without the Gallagher siblings we have watched grow up over the years. Fiona has the difficult task of taking care of her five younger siblings since their parents are rarely present…and when they are it’s like they are children too. While this forced Fiona to grow up very quickly, she has always made it clear that family comes first. The Gallagher siblings may appear to be a group of untamed misfits, but at the end of the day they are truly there for one another. The family faces many problems over the seasons ranging from losing their house to Fiona winding up in jail. When Fiona was not around, Lip and the others recognized that they now needed to step up. Whether that meant collecting money in a jar for the electric bill or making sure that Liam was actually fed breakfast, the siblings are forced to grow up fast in a world that seems to be against them, but they are resilient and strong.

Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows from Prison Break.

“I’m breaking out, and you’re going to make sure my brother goes with me.” (Michael from Prison Break)

How many of us would tattoo our entire bodies with the blueprints of a prison and commit a crime so that you could help break your brother out of prison? Seems extreme, right? But Michael Scofield is a genius and will not stop until he frees his brother, recognizing that his brother was framed for a crime that he didn’t commit. While this show keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with each new challenge that gets in the way of the escape, what keeps you coming back for more is the undeniable connection between Michael and Lincoln. Lincoln is the older brother and used to take care of Michael when he was younger. Michael feels like he owes him and has guilt about turning his back on him previously when he asked for help. He sacrifices everything to help him escape, redefining what unconditional love means in the process. Michael and Lincoln always have each other’s backs and their physical resemblance is uncanny. Even though they are not related, I found myself repeatedly searching online to see if perhaps they were distant cousins to no avail.

The Halliwell Sisters from Charmed.

“The power of 3 will set us free!” (Charmed)

Charmed has always been a guilty pleasure of mine. I always enjoy watching shows that feature a supernatural premise, but this series goes beyond that. The sisterly bond between Prue, Piper, and Phoebe Halliwell is so heart-warming that you truly believe they are sisters. In moments where one of the sisters faces an unstoppable evil or comes close to death, their heart-breaking tears even get me crying. Through all of the evil monsters and demons they face as witches, they take the time to bond and fight over things normal sisters would, such as trying to stealing the other one’s boyfriend or remembering to ask before borrowing a favorite outfit. This light comedy combined with some intense drama and action along the way makes this show truly unique. Much like 90210, Shannen Doherty left the show, which had fans wondering how Prue could ever be replaced. You couldn’t just recast her because the sisterly bond is what captured so many viewers. Fans would have been put off if they just tried to pretend like another actress was the oldest sister. The producers and writers were smart enough to add in a new story-line where Piper and Phoebe discover that they have a half-sister they never knew about previously who could help re-establish the power of 3. Whether you were on board with this or not, Paige stepped in seamlessly to fill the void Prue left and the sisterly bond continued to stay strong.

Dean and Sam Winchester from Supernatural.

“You saved my life over and over. I mean, you sacrifice everything for me, don’t you think I’d do the same thing for you? You’re my big brother. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.” (Sam from Supernatural)

So my number one pick for best siblings on television has to go to my favorite brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester. The series has lasted for 13 seasons and is still going strong. Like Charmed, this show features a supernatural premise…hence the title. Sam and Dean are forced to grow up quickly when their mother dies when they are young and they follow in the shadow of their father’s footsteps to become hunters. The brothers travel from place to place to take on cases and help save innocent lives, but deal with some powerful obstacles along the way. Whether it is getting trapped in hell or purgatory or working with angels or demons, the brothers refuse to let death get in the way. They support each other no matter what. When one brother is going through a difficult time, the other recognizes that he needs to step up and help pick up the pieces. Out of every show I have ever watched, the bond between Sam and Dean is the most real and uplifting. You don’t doubt for a second they are brothers and you never give up on them. What’s so great about the brothers is that they also have quite a few hilarious moments together as well, ranging from running away from an adorable Yorkie to reluctantly facing a child-hood fear of clowns. This reminds viewers that the brothers are human and while their calling is to fight the good fight, they are not afraid to share some laughs too. Fans love when the brothers show up posing as FBI agents, wondering what new dynamic duo they will pretend to be. Like our own families, Sam and Dean portray the good, the bad, and everything in between, truly representing what it means to stick by one another through thick and thin.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Ranking the top 5 moments from “Once Upon a Time” season 7 episode 10 winter finale: You just need to believe

After watching ABC’s Once Upon a Time season 7 episode 10 last night, I am wondering if every curse can really be broken. True love’s kiss or belief in the impossible is not always enough. Rather, sacrifices need to be made for the greater good. But can our favorite characters from OUAT make these difficult choices? Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch yet. In last night’s episode, we learn about the moments leading up to the curse and how it was cast. The power of the coven of 8 is introduced and an old friend is back to help. Meanwhile, Rumpel enlists the help of Anastasia, Robin and Alice are revealed to be in love, and poor Lucy is still in a coma. My top 5 moments from Once Upon a Time season 7 episode 10 are:

Zelena is back.

When Regina took Henry to San Francisco to enlist some help, fans were excited because we knew Zelena would be the one she goes to. In Zelena’s new life, she is an exercise peddling instructor and even tells her class to fly like monkeys. Zelena is hesitant about stepping out of her new life. Regina uses MacCutcheon whiskey to bring back her memories. Lost fans will be pleased once again with this Easter egg as Charles Widmore’s liquor of choice is getting quite a bit of screen time this season. When Zelena remembers who she is, she confides to her sister that she is about to get married and enjoys her new life, complicating her choice. Zelena ultimately decides to help her sister, but it is clear that she will want to return to the simple life she has come to know and love here in San Francisco.

Rumpel tries to help Anastasia unleash her magic.

Rumpel is convinced that Anastasia is the guardian and this will ultimately help him achieve his own destiny. However, he recognizes that Ana is the only one who can save Lucy right now. He lays out several knives on the table in front of her and explains that “all you have to do is tell me which one of these has magic.” Lost fans will recall a similar conversation when Richard Alpert goes to visit John Locke as a child and lays out several items on a table and asks “which one of these items belongs to you already?” Whether this was intentional or just familiar, this scene allowed us to see exactly what Ana is capable of. It is clear that she is overflowing with magic and is unsure how to control it all. Will her powers be used for good or evil?

Gothel proves to be a worthy foe.

Ana’s childish innocence gets in the way later when Drizella tries to trick her into giving away her magic. However, Gothel double crosses her and gives Ana all of Drizella’s power, hoping to unleash the full force of the coven of 8. The symbol of the coven of 8 has been surfacing all over the place, but it is clear that unleashing their dark magic will be a threat to our favorite OUAT characters. Regina and Zelena are powerful witches, but can they defeat an entire coven? Who else will be joining? Once again, Gothel proves to be a worthy opponent and leaves viewers wondering what else she has in store for everyone.

Regina is the one who unleashed the curse.

When Regina and the others confront Gothel and Drizella, they prove they are going to fight for what they believe in and keep the curse from happening. Regina challenges them asking, “You want a witch fight? Happy to oblige!” However, Drizella and Gothel anticipate this and capture Henry, poisoning him in the process. The only cure for him is a land without magic. To Regina’s horror, she realizes that she is left with the impossible choice of letting her son die or casting the curse herself to save him. The good in Regina and the unconditional love she has for her son are weaknesses that Drizella and Gothel were counting on. The other characters completely understand her decision and cling to each other, hoping that they can find each other again once the curse takes place.

“Every curse can be broken. You just need to believe.”

Henry immediately leaves San Francisco when he learns that Lucy is in a coma. He rushes to Jacinda’s side to comfort her. When he is left alone with Lucy, he reads to her from his “Once Upon a Time” book and knows exactly which passage to start with. His love for Lucy is clearly one of a father’s, even though he doesn’t realize it yet. He will do anything to help her and even tells her that he will believe that he is her father in another world if she will just wake up. He kisses her on the forehead but true love’s kiss is not enough here. Lucy’s own beliefs had been shattered previously, preventing this magic from waking her up. Regina later reveals that if the curse is broken, Henry will die, but if it remains, Lucy will be its victim. Once again, this leaves Regina with an impossible choice. How will she be able to choose between her son and her granddaughter? Is there another way around this? We will have to wait until new episodes return to find out, but if anyone can unearth a way, it’s Regina.

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Once Upon a Time below. Happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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