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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Over at TV Fanatic: 16 TV Characters Who Should Be Arrested for Scene Stealing

Image courtesy of The CW

You'll recognize their faces. You might even wonder why they're on this list. After all, a lot of them are the reason you watch your favorite shows in the first place.

But you know why? Because they're scene stealers!

They might have just signed on for one or two episodes (we're looking at you, Emily Bett Rickards) but their screen presence was so powerful their characters became a reason to watch. Who can imagine Arrow without Felicity Smoak?!?

What would The Walking Dead be without Daryl, who wasn't even in the comics on which the show was based? The character was created specifically for Norman Reedus after he auditioned for Merle! Precious Norman as crusty Merles? No way. He stole our hearts as Daryl.

Get out the handcuffs and find out who else should be taken to task for Hollywood robbery. Agree? Disagree? Hit the comments with your favorite scene thieves.

If you want the big reveal, head on over to TV Fanatic to see the other 14 in the slideshow!

Over at TV Fanatic: #TeenWolf Review ~ Stiles Gets Naughty for Nogitsune's Return

Image courtesy MTV


With every passing episode, the first half of Teen Wolf Season 3 becomes a distant memory.

All of the Alpha pack infighting had bearing only insofar as it brought out Scott's status as a True Alpha. 

It was trying to get through some of that story, but it was worth suffering through the more tedious moments to get to what we're experiencing now.

As the only character without some sort of special ability, Stiles was the heart and humor of Teen Wolf. His transformation into the terror has been simply riveting. 

Both the character and the actor (Dylan O'Brien) who play him have earned their moment in the spotlight and Teen Wolf Season 3 Episode 20 showcased the talents of both yet again. 

From the character of Stiles we were treated to unending compassion and concern for his friends and, heck, the community at large. He selflessly checked himself into Eichen House thinking it would be best for everyone concerned, but once there he was even worried about the patients locked in with him.

It was hard not to be worried when someone committed suicide immediately upon his arrival. If you've wondered where Ms. Morell has been spending her time, apparently some of it has been at Eichen House. It made sense given her profession in general, and even more when Stiles ran into Malia's fist in the hallway.

In a town like Beacon Hills when the supernatural (is that what we call them?) don't know what they are or how to handle it, they probably end up in Eichen House. Having Morell around to help would be helpful. Knowing she has a drug used for lethal injection on hand perhaps not so much.

The best relationships always seem to grow from some sort of tempestuous beginning, so let's keep our fingers crossed for our favorite Nogitsune occupied human and the werecoyote, shall we? How hot was that?!?

Even if everything else fails and Stiles never comes back to us, we can rest easy knowing that he got a little action with Malia -- Peter Hale's daughter! Remember how Peter was rolling on the floor in agony in Teen Wolf Season 3 Episode 19 after learning he was a father? Try to imagine the moment he learns about Malia... and then that she's involved with Stiles. We need a GIF for that. Seriously.

Hooking up with Malia proved to be too much for Stiles, however, because of his massive heart and his weakness for caring for others. He allowed the Nogitsune in to save her. 

That's where Dylan O'Brien reminded us he doesn't need Teen Wolf to be a success. 

As I watched O'Brien transform from the bound Stiles with tears streaming down his cheek to the possessed Nogitsune Stiles wickedly punching Oliver in the face with a fearless glance and an inner strength that O'Brien rarely gets to portray through our Stiles, it was difficult not to imagine him leaving the series.

He has range that goes far beyond what he's given weekly on Teen Wolf and beyond what he's been given so far in films. We can't be the only ones taking note of his incredible talent. He's going to have a very full calendar.

There have been various theories mentioned about what might save Stiles and at least one comment came with the observation that changing him into a werewolf might save him from his brain disease. Now that the gang uncovered one of the scrolls that says changing his body would rid him of the Nogitsune, Scott thought turning him would do the trick. Two birds with one stone!


Over at TV Fanatic: #BeingHuman review ~ Nothing's Permanent (especially this series!)

Image courtesy SyFy



Oh Aidan, you are centuries old and your swagger still gets you into trouble!

As we witnessed on Being Human Season 4 Episode 7, this fella really underestimated his Suzanna. He was so obviously in trouble when he walked gingerly into her room I could practically smell the fresh blood on him myself. 

Aidan's anger at being accused of eating humans when there is clearly a healthy way to go without didn't go over well. The way Suzanna plays it, vampires only need the bare minimum of blood to survive, look fabulous and stay healthy. They're more like alcoholics than monsters.

Well, except Aidan. What was he trying to prove by bragging about his killings? Nothing could prepare him for what Suzanna was going to share. Only his restraint kept him from doing the unimaginable.

Josh and Nora, just moments after their mind-bending marital argument about infidelity, were tasked with watching over Robbie while Sally tried to find a way to resurrect him.

On one hand, it was admirable that she was so concerned about his death and wanted to bring him back to life and on the other, I kind of wished that she had spent the time she had with him actually being with him, you know?

Donna offered up her soul save his life, but since we didn't see Robbie again after the two of them spoke, I was left wondering whether or not she did something to him that either drove him away or if she stole his soul for her own use. Can you blame me? Even when she's pretended to be cool in the past, things haven't quite worked out that way.

At least we can believe that the idea of being a ghost was exciting enough to send him out adventuring. After all, it does run in the family. He'll be back.

But Donna? She's sealed off at her own request. Hanging forever on her tree. After learning her history, it was kind of hard for Sally to deny her what she wanted in the end, to give her some sort of peace even if it meant she'd be banished from this plane of existence forever.

Josh and Nora didn't end up faring very well, did they. For a minute there, I was hopeful that Josh's amorous ways would win Nora over and maybe we'd have another little werewolf baby again. Not so lucky in that department.

It seems hormones are another trigger for Josh's wolf to appear and Nora's scared to death of him. So scared she walked out. In the span of two episodes they went from thinking about moving out on their own to Nora leaving. 

Over at TV Fanatic: #SwitchedatBirth review: How to save a life

Image courtesy: ABC Family


This week, Switched at Birth Season 3 Episode 7 offered up a segue installment.

Just enough happened to propel story forward and drive what happens next.

Everybody seemed to be trying, in one way or another, to save a life. Daphne was looking out for Sharee; Bay and Toby were trying to save their parents' marriage; Melody was intent on ensuring Travis' future; and Regina, well, she was still trying to save herself.

Bay and Toby Work Together
It's obvious how little time Toby spent in his own marriage when he agreed with Bay that taking their parents to a soda parlor to relive the old days was a good way to get them to rekindle their feelings for one another.

No go!

Instead, Kathryn recalled fatherless trips with the kids while John was on the road and John remembered passive aggressive arguments. Trying to eat a 250 banana split hardly gave anyone the warm fuzzies and Bay's attempt to win an iPod with a claw arcade game revealed two torn tendons putting her future as an artist in question.

What a great family night.

Daphne's friendship with Sharee was put to the test when they tried to get her mother help for her mental illness. Daphne's heart was in the right place, and nobody could have guessed how messed up Sharee's mother really was.

After stabbing Dr. Jackson at the clinic she was arrested leaving Sharee's fate uncertain. Daphne came off looking quite good in the eyes of the good doctor, however. I don't think he'll tease her about using the place as her personal dating service any longer!

Travis and Mary Beth are absolutely adorable together. At first, I thought he didn't want to go to Gallaudet because he wanted to stay and go to school with her, but she knew her boyfriend better than I do. Most of their relationship has taken place off screen, but the writing proved how close they've become when she shared with Melody Travis' likely fear of leaving the only true home he's ever known.

To read more, head over to TV Fanatic...

Monday, February 24, 2014

Over at TV Fanatic: #Reign Picture Preview ~ Francis is Back!

Photo credit: Christos Kalohoridis/The CW 
Francis is back and he's ready for some heroics!

On Reign Season 1 Episode 12, while he's graciously (and perhaps stupidly) stepped aside to allow Mary her wish for a royal engagement to his older brother Sebastian, Francis is still a gentleman who wants to protect a girl in need.

This time that girl is Lola!

It seems Lola's (incredibly hot!) brother Frederick has some debts that have gone unpaid and Lola's attempt to intervene get her into a bit of trouble. Francis steps in to get Lola out of that predicament and the two grow closer in the process.

Is there a quadrangle on the way?!

Although we get barely a hint of it in this set of photos, while Francis is daringly and dashingly looking out for Lola, Clarissa gains enough confidence from Mary's kindness that she steals away with Queen Catherine's and King Henry's youngest sons.

Whoops! It looks like Catherine needs Sexy Nostradamus' help.

Want to see the photos? Click here to head on over to to TV Fanatic for a groovy slideshow!!

Over at TV Fanatic: #DowntonAbbey Review ~ Let Battle Commence!

Image courtesy: ITV/Screen Capture














The best news about the Downton Abbey Season 4 Episode 8 - better known as the season finale - was that this year we weren't made to suffer through a Christmas episode at the end of February.

Instead, we had to suffer through cousin Rose's presentation to society, which featured a historical romp through the royal life of the Prince of Wales, later known as King Edward VIII, and his early affairs before he abdicated the throne because of his love for and marriage to Wallis Simpson.

Whew! That's a mouthful.

As usual, for that portion of the festivities the costumes were impeccable and it was nice how they keenly wound the Prince's affair into the life of the Crowleys through the nefarious card sharp Mr. Sampson. But the Prince, King George and Queen Mary were all unnecessary and filler -- much like cousin Rose herself, poor dear.

The more important fare belonged to the people we know best - and wasn't that expected? Much like Rose's affair with Jack Ross, she's not going to stick just because they've thrown her character in front of the camera.

For the rest of the review... visit TV Fanatic!

#ChicagoPD & #ChicagoFire Got Together for a Google Hangout


Image credit: NBC

No, that's not the beginning of a good joke, but it sure sounds like one, doesn't it?

If all goes well, I'll soon be recapping Chicago P.D. at an outlet near you. Most of you already know I'm a big fan of Chicago Fire and I'm happy to report the same humanity that runs throughout the writing of that fabulous show carried onto its sister. 

It was a difficult battle redeeming Voight after his initial run on Chicago Fire, but they've come up with a plausible atonement, although I can only hope it's a short-lived journey as it will grow old rather quickly. You can only beat a man's face into the ground for so long while still expecting audiences to accept him as a viable leader.

That's all for another time, however, as the point of this is to share with you the Google Hangout (the entirety of which I've embedded below) that was held at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago. The sound and lighting leave a lot to be desired (surprising considering where it was held, right?), but the content is entertaining.

In case you didn't know, most network broadcasting returns this week after the Olympics (hallelujah!), and there will be a crossover event between Law and Order: SVU and Chicago P.D., bringing a third NBC program into the Chicago family. It's being promoted as "a case so big it needs two teams to solve it." You can read more about it at Lost Remote.  At the TCAs in January, Dick Wolf teased that there will be a crossover event at the end of the season with a case so big it will involve everyone. That will be a giant social media event and one we won't want to miss!

If you don't laugh out loud while watching this video at least once, there's something wrong with you. Hey --I'm just pointing out the obvious. They make work seem like fun. Turn up your sound (and turn down the lights); the TWO microphones provided for the five individuals don't quite do the trick. Without further ado...

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Over at TV Fanatic: #PLL Round Table for 'Free Fall' Join in the fun!!

Ezra's well-plotted attempt to fool the Liars started to unravel on Pretty Little Liars Season 4 Episode 20, as Spencer's drug habit put her own credibility into question.

Join TV Fanatic staff writers Teresa Lopez, Nick McHatton, Leigh Raines and Carissa Pavlica as they discuss Spencer's habit, Aria's response to Ezra's admission and what's next for these super stressed Rosewood residents.

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Did you feel just a little anguish for Spencer as Ezra set her up, and do you her drug problem being exposed was more helpful than harmful in the long run?

Teresa: I do feel bad for her; it's not easy fighting a diagnosis of crazy. The more people call you crazy, the angrier it makes you that no one's listening, and the more likely that you come off as crazy. But I do think someone needed to put a stop to her drug use, especially since it was clear she was still looking for more pills even after that confrontation with her friends.

Nick: I'm a little mixed about Spencer. On one hand, she's my favorite of the liars, and I hate to see her getting thrown under the bus because she's usually the only one keeping and piecing things together; however, her drug use needs to stop, and Ezra was attempting to take care of the.....

to Read more head over to TV Fanatic....

Over at TV Fanatic: #BaTB Photo Preview: Cat Must Choose Between Vincent & Gabe!

Uh-oh!

Tensions are going to rise on The Beauty and the Beast Season 2 Episode 15 as Cat continues to find herself beside Vincent when she's supposed to be making a decision between him and Gabe.

When you take a peek at the photos, it sure looks like Gabe has had enough of Vincent being everywhere his girl is - and if VinCat truly find themselves in a compromising position as a result of their investigation, it could get ugly!

We might have to wait until Monday to find out what goes down, but at least we can enjoy these looks ahead in the meantime. (Along with these romantic moments between VinCat!)

Read more....

Over at TV Fanatic: #YnR Recap - Victor Makes a Case for Sharon & Nick!

The hostage crisis from the benefit fizzled to a rather unspectacular end this week on The Young and the Restless.

Considering the number of people involved and what could have happened, the carnage was relatively weak.

It all turned out to be one big spectacle for February sweeps that went nowhere. Billy tried to be a hero, got injured and confessed to a one night stand instead. Cane tried to be a hero and got shot.

Lily was the final hostage and Colin turned on Womack and DID look like a hero when he shot and killed his inside man. Oh, brother!

Read more....