​According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of the word supernatural means “departing from what is usual or normal especially so as to appear to transcend the laws of nature.” For the diehard fans of the TV series Supernatural (CW), this definition is quite fitting, as the show itself has defied the laws of nature for television. To date, the famed show is the “longest-running sci-fi/genre series in the history of American broadcast television,” and rightfully so. Every fall, devotees like myself have tuned in year after year to bear witness to the endless stories of triumph and defeat for our beloved heroes, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) Winchester. We’ve seen many characters, good and evil, come and go, but time and again, aside from the men, various women throughout the series have left lasting impressions on fans, always leaving us wanting more. Some are in several episodes, stretched over many seasons, and some only appear in just few. Regardless, in print, the women of Supernatural, like so many other women on TV, are often reduced to their looks, rather than the resilient characters they are. A simple Google search for Supernatural Women yields mixed results with the top of the heap being based on looks alone. I know, classy, right? Of course, there are several other great articles and lists that focus on these badass women as characters and not sex objects. However, with the final season just around the corner, I decided to take a more unique approach and compile three different lists, all with five of my most favorite female characters, along with some honorable mentions for each category. To be clear, though it was difficult to choose, these are my picks alone. Some aficionados may disagree with who I chose, what ranking I gave them, etc., and that’s just fine with me. My aim here was to choose not only strong women that impacted the overall story, but also those that moved me in one way or another. Finally, there are several female characters that walk the fine line of good and evil. Therefore, for the sake of continuity, if they started out bad, that’s the list they will fall in now. Without further ado…The Road So Far… ***SPOILERS AHEAD*** (All photographs courtesy of Supernatural Wiki)

​This feisty mother to the Prophet Kevin Tran (Osric Chau)  only appears in a handful of episodes, but the impression she makes (particularly Lauren Tom), lasts longer than most who go on to appear in several. In her short run, she fearlessly gets an anti-possession tattoo, is possessed by Crowley (Mark Sheppard), survives a stabbing from the demon knife, gets captured and tortured under Crowley’s orders, and finally, takes the ring that Kevin’s ghost is attached to so she can continue to look after her son even in death. It’s clear that when it comes to protecting her son, there’s nothing she won’t do, including standing up to and punching Crowley. Few can say this, but Mrs. Tran sure can! 

​This tough lady is in less episodes than Mrs. Tran, but left an impression so solid that even in death, she makes it all the way to 14.10: ‘Nihilism’, appearing in Dean’s mind trap as part owner of their bar. Despite being blinded by Castiel’s (Misha Collins) true form with her introduction to the show, Pamela has used her psychic abilities to help the boys more than once. She’s honest, straightforward and playfully flirts with both Sam and Dean. All of which earns her a spot on my list. In fact, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see her resurface in the final season to lend her psychic abilities, if not just her wisdom alone, once again. It would be worth it just to see her grab Sam’s ass one last time! 

Mom to Joanna Beth Harvelle (Alona Tal) and pseudo mother to Sam and Dean, Ellen is easily one of the strongest female characters of the show. A serious hunter in her own right, she ran the Roadhouse bar as a respite for fellow hunters. She comes to the Winchesters’ aid several times, the most pivotal being when she fearlessly stands by her daughter’s side in death to let Sam and Dean get away. She even reaches from the great beyond to give Dean a message via a psychic in 7.07: 'The Mentalists', threatening to kick his ass if he doesn’t get help. The words that come to mind when I think of this formidable woman are “yes ma’am!” 

The love of John Winchester’s (Jeffrey Dean Morgan…yum!!) life since high school, Mary struck a chord with many fans simply for being Sam and Dean’s mother who dies in the pilot episode of the series. Since then, she has made numerous appearances over the years, both past and beyond the grave, as a beacon of love, hope and strength for her boys. Resurrected by Amara (Adult: Emily Swallow) in 11.23: ‘Alpha and Omega’, Mary goes on to show just how badass of hunter she is, and always has been, while mending the broken ties with her sons along the way. Her death in 14.18: ‘Absence’ is absolutely heartbreaking, but her second chance at life with her family remains her most powerful legacy. 

​The epitome of the fangirl representation, Charlie is easily my favorite female character of the whole series. Her spunky, smart, funny and optimistic nature is instantly refreshing. She is also one of the few LGBTQ+ characters in the entire series and at one point leaves with a seemingly interested Dorothy to fight evil in Oz…I know, right!! She’s a little sister and honest friend to the Winchesters’ almost immediately, and of course, her LARPing, gaming, tech and movie character skills are always on point! She helps the boys many times, including bringing down her notorious boss the Leviathan Dick Roman (James Patrick Stuart). Her last act before death was to defy another Big Bad, The Stein’s, to help Sam and Dean translate the Book of the Damned. Such a strong character, she’s even revived, so-to-speak, in the form of an Apocalypse World Charlie, only one of two women in the entire series to physically do so… “Swoon.” *wink* 

​Missouri Moseley (Loretta Devine; Eps 1.09: ‘Home’ and 13.03: ‘Patience’), Baby (Dean’s TRUE love) and Audrey Elmer (Nicole Leduc; 4.08: ‘Wishful Thinking’ – no one should ever forget little Audrey OR that bear!) 

Making her memorable debut in 11.02: ‘Form and Void’, the reaper Billie scares every fan out there by telling Sam that the next time either he or Dean dies, she will make sure they cannot come back by throwing them into The Empty. Up to this point, reapers, including Death himself (Julian Richings), have actually helped the Winchesters one way or another. Thus, Billie’s introduction shook fans to their core. Not to mention, she becomes the new head honcho of the underworld, taking the original Death’s place after Dean kills him. This was another surprise to the boys and their followers since she was previously killed by Castiel to protect Sam and Dean. She is calm and calculating and her coldness towards the Winchesters’ is palpable. Along with all this, Billie has played many sides in The Road So Far. At one point, she is depicted as working with Crowley and she surprisingly helps the boys more than once, including sparing Dean from The Empty when she determines he and Sam are a small part of a bigger picture. Still, the character is so well played that the viewer is never sure whose side she’s really on besides her own. Finally, Chuck (Rob Benedict; AKA: God), makes it known that he doesn’t actually care for Billie compared to her predecessor, so when she appears to Jack (Alexander Calvert) in the season 14 finale: ‘Moriah’, I’m sure I wasn’t the only admirer that cheered. 

Coming on the scene in physical form in 3.01: ‘The Magnificent Seven’, Ruby (Katie Cassidy) seems to be on the Winchester’s side. She’s the source of the still used today and a personal Dean favorite, the demon knife. She also helps Bobby (Jim Beaver) to get the famous Colt up and running. By the time Genevieve Padalecki (Cortese at the time) takes over, many fans seem convinced that her feelings for Sam and need to redeem herself are sincere. Wedging herself between Sam and Dean, Ruby tricks Sam into becoming addicted to demon blood in order to defeat Lilith (actors below in #3). In the end, it’s all a scam and she completely succeeds only to be killed by Dean with her own knife. Played expertly by both ladies, Ruby is the only female character that comes between Sam and Dean in such a profound way even to this day. The love/hate relationship fans have had with Ruby makes them feel just as betrayed as Sam which speaks volumes. Additionally, the overall story involving Ruby is definitely some of the best Supernatural work out there which is only made more likable knowing Jared and Genevieve fell in love on set…awwww, look kids, chemistry!!

As the first demon ever and the final of the 66 Seals, Lilith is a force to reckon with. She was the Queen of the Crossroads demons and the source of Dean being sent to hell which alone is just…wow! Her powers and abilities seemed endless except when it came to Sam. Plus, her devotion to hell is actually quite admirable – willing to die to resurrect Lucifer (Mark Pellegrino). But what makes this character stand out for me is just how terrifying she truly is. Possessing children, drinking baby blood, excited by torture and the source of The Witnesses, Lilith shows outright joy when inflicting damage. Particularly, Sierra McCormick in 3.16: ‘No Rest for the Wicked’, is absolutely chilling as the possessed little girl in New Harmony, Indiana. Finally, she’s one of the few female characters, present or not, that monopolizes a good majority of the Winchesters’ fight in the latter half of the first five years of the show. Considering show creator Eric Kripke originally only planned five seasons, this means Lilith was always considered a pretty heavy hitter…and suitably so! 

I originally wasn’t an admirer of Meg which is actually what made her portrayal by Nicki Aycox memorable. She was the demon I loved to hate! Working with Azazel (Frederic Lehne), Alastair (Christopher Heyerdahl), Lucifer and later (Rachael Miner), Crowley, Meg proves that she can definitely hold her own in a room full of men. As if this weren’t enough, Meg actually switches sides, protects Castiel (as a nurse no less) and ultimately sacrifices herself to help the boys against Crowley. By the end of her run, fans loved this character, her chemistry with J2M (Jared, Jenson and Misha) and her nickname for Castiel…Clarence, which still cracks me up to this day. Additionally, Rachel Miner was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2010 which caused her to stop acting for a while, so seeing her come back to the show in 2012 was personal not only for her, but for her many followers as well. She’s definitely one demon I’d love to see back on the Winchesters’ side in the final season!! 

​Coming on the scene as a badass wicked witch, it was easy to hate Rowena instantly. Conversely, there was something about her that was immediately likeable as well. Armed with power, wits, beauty and one hell of a wardrobe, this character quickly became a fan favorite. Later, revealed as the King of Hell’s mother, Rowena earned her way to a main female character, and eventually, a reluctant, on and off again ally to the Winchesters’. She has worked with just about everyone, good and evil…Crowley, Lucifer, Amara, Charlie, Castiel and of course, Sam and Dean. These days, she is all but a full blown member of the crew and for me, it’s her deliciously wicked and strong nature that stood out so clearly. Her heavy-duty magic skills make her a formidable adversary or asset depending on where you sit. Additionally, considering Sam is slated by Death to be the one who kills her, it will be interesting to see where Rowena’s loyalties lie in the final season when faced with mortality. Will we see her claws truly come out…likely. Towards who is the real question!! 

Honorable Mentions: Tessa the Reaper (Lindsey McKeon; various episodes) and Eve (Julia Maxwell; various episodes – this robust and evil character just didn’t get enough screen time in my opinion) 

Played by Yadira Guevara-Prip, similar to Charlie, this badass female is the only other character to be reincarnated as it were, through an alternate world called The Bad Place. In total, as herself or her alternate, she only appears in a handful of episodes, but steals the show every time. As The Dreamwalker, she uses her powers to help the Wayward team and in a strange plot twist, sacrifices herself to save Claire Novak (Kathryn Newton) from what turns out to be a spear belonging to her doppelganger, Dark Kaia from The Bad Place. We later find out that the spear she carries is the only thing that can hurt Apocalypse World Michael (Christian Keyes) and in the end, she releases this spear to Dean in exchange for help in saving her family who are still in The Bad Place. Yadira’s skills are phenomenal, presenting as equally timid and tough as well as caring and dark for both characters, which proves her duality and range as an actor. One can only hope that somehow we will get to see her battle and acting skills once again in the final season…*Kapow*

Originally part of a vampire cult, this solid female character went through quite a lot before being rescued by the Winchesters’ in 9.19: ‘Alex Annie Alexis Ann’. Stubborn from the get go, it took some time for me to warm up to this character, but before long, it was clear that she is as Wayward as they come. She proves herself as such when saving Jody Mills (Kim Rhodes) from a brainwashed Mary Winchester hell bent on killing her. Only appearing in four episodes, this character definitely deserved more! Season 15 anyone?? 

The daughter of Jimmy Novak (Castiel’s vessel), Claire is sassy, angry and Wayward AF. As young Claire, Sydney Imbeau shows her acting chops when possessed by Castiel via expelling demons and comforting a dying Jimmy Novak. As a coming of age teenager, Kathryn Newton wholeheartedly embraces this character with grit, sarcasm, and tormented depth, particularly in 10.09: ‘The Things We Left Behind’. Her transformations over a few episodes are dramatic yet fitting for what this young girl has been through and I hope we get more! 

This warm and loving mother figure is the soul and the original OG of the Wayward Sisters. Appearing way back in 5.15: ‘Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid’, Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sheriff Jody Mills is thrust into the Supernatural world when the dead start coming back to life, including her own young son. As if overcoming that weren’t enough, amongst other things over the years, Jody has been attacked by a Leviathan and the vampire mother who stole Alex. She also unknowingly goes on a blind date with Crowley…interesting!! No matter what, she somehow always gets through it and often knows just what to say when the Winchesters’ or her Wayward girls need a push. It doesn’t hurt that she’s got some pull as a Sheriff in Bobby’s home town either! To be sure, Jody belongs in the battles to come. 

If Jody Mills is the soul for the Wayward Sisters, then Donna definitely is the heart and that makes her my number one choice for the sisterhood. Her bubbly personality is annoyingly infectious and one cannot help but smile in her presence. A Sheriff as well, she’s quick witted, organized and knows her weapons. Not to mention she took to hunting like a duck on water all while spouting her endless positivity to boot! She quickly becomes a part of the gang and as far as I’m concerned, everyone could use a Sheriff Donna Hanscum in their lives. No doubt, the boys are truly gonna need her before the end. 

​Honorable Mentions: Of course, there is only one Wayward Sister left in the original lineup…Patience Turner (Clark Backo), who I loved as well. Sadly, the spinoff was never picked up by the CW as they decided to go with The Originals spinoff, Legacies instead. Still mad at you CW…still mad!!! However, I would like to mention a few other formidable ladies that would’ve made great Wayward additions were the show allowed to progress…Joanna Beth Harvelle (various episodes), Kate the werewolf (Brit Sheridan; Eps 8.04: ‘Bitten’ and 10.04: ‘Paper Moon’), Tina as a teenager (Madeleine Arthur; Ep 10.12: ‘About a Boy’), and finally, Audrey Elmer (Nicole Leduc; 4.08: ‘Wishful Thinking’ – yep, a second shout out for this tough little oneJ) who would certainly be the right age when Wayward Sister’s should’ve aired. All of these women, would in one way shape or form, easily fit into the Wayward Sisters, but unfortunately will only live on in my imagination. Ahem…CW!?!? Who would you choose?
 
Well, that’s it!! And yes, I know that several pivotal female characters were left out, such as Bela Talbot (Lauren Cohan) and Amara. There were also a few Angels and Demons that didn’t make the list like Anna Milton (Julie McNiven), Naomi (Amanda Tapping), and Abaddon (Alaina Huffman). I understand that these women often played intricate parts that not only pushed the story, but led it as well. However, for whatever reason, these characters just didn’t strike a chord with me and therefore were excluded from the lists as well as the honorable mentions. No matter my choice, or yours, thankfully, culturally impactful female leads come in all shapes and sizes and for me, the women I chose, good, bad or Wayward, all have one thing in common…strength! What do you think of my lists? Do you have your own? Until next time…Go Team Free Will!!
 
References:

1. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supernatural
2. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/supernatural-end-season-15-cw-1196579
3. http://supernaturalwiki.com/7.07_The_Mentalists
4. https://supernatural.fandom.com/wiki/LARP_and_the_Real_Girl
5. http://supernaturalwiki.com/Audrey_Elmer
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Miner#Personal_lif
   
7. https://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/wayward-sisters/265846/wayward-sisters-cancellation-explained-by-the-cw-president

​Every town has its own stories about things that have happened within its borders in the past. They also have their own legends of other strange accounts that have supposedly taken place over the course of the town’s long or short history. When traveling through these towns, it is fun to sit and listen to these stories and try to piece together what really happened, but you may not want to stay and call them home if their legends make you feel uncomfortable in the slightest.

Callie has moved back in with her sister Tricia. Although Callie has been known for taking off at odd times and has had a long history with drug use, she believes that it can all go away when trying to take care of her older sister who is pregnant and alone. Although she has not seen or heard from her husband in seven years, Tricia is with child now and will need all of the help she can get to get through this difficult time.

Tricia has finally been allowed to file for her late husband’s death certificate since he has not been seen or heard from in seven years. But as the days pass and with her sister in the house, Tricia is starting to see images of him around the house. Although her therapist is not giving this a second thought, knowing that it is Tricia’s psyche doing this, he recommends that she keep up with her normal exercises and move on with her life. Tricia believes that her late husband is trying to tell her something in all of the visions she is having and is upset with her for getting pregnant since he is not the father, but she knows that if she lets him haunt her dreams, she will never be able to live a happy life again.

Callie has mapped out her everyday morning running routine, and even with having to make it through a spooky tunnel, she is happy with the results. One day on her daily run however, she is met by a man that appears to be strung out on drugs lying in her path. Yelling for a trade, Callie leaves the man alone and promises she will return. Almost forgetting about this, she brings some leftovers from lunch and leaves them in the abandoned tunnel, not seeing the man again. The next morning, a pile of trinkets are left at her door and not wanting any type of payment for her good deed, she returns them to the tunnel, but then finds a strange man telling her not to leave anything there. Thinking little of this, Callie and Tricia go along with their normal day’s duties, but when Tricia decides to go on a date with the first detective that was handling her husband’s missing person case, she sees that she will not be able to move on, as her husband has returned home.

A chill always goes down my spine when I hear of people being punished for trying to help someone else. This movie revolves around just that and succeeds, without knowing where Tricia’s husband has been and then seeing him come walking towards the house after seven years, is freaky, but why he has been returned is what makes the story scary. When trying to help a fellow person that is suffering, there should not be any penalty to pay, but as it is shown, no good deed goes unpunished. Stay Scared.

Truth be told, the phenomenon that is Stranger Things never ceases to amaze me. Because in its short three-year existence, this series has truly become a pop culture icon, one that speaks to the power of streaming networks and one that reminds us of how much people love nostalgia since its 1980s setting provides endless throwbacks to those who lived who through the era, and those who are curious about it. Yet, what I truly find intriguing about this series is how much its fan base is invested in its overall quality. For while some shows receive support from their viewers as the stories work to find their voice and their groove, this is a series that set the bar high in season one and received no slack from its fanbase in season two.
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Because there were plenty of people that were critical of the decisions that were made storytelling wise in season two, and while I am in the minority in that, since I liked what that season had to offer, the voices out there on the web, made sure their disdain was known and they were equally as boisterous about their expectations for season three and I suppose the good news is, their complaints were heard loud and clear. For it was inherently obvious when I settled in to watch ‘Chapter One: Suzie, Do You Copy?’, that great care went into the scripts for season three and in doing so, the Duffer Brothers have assembled something truly special because this premiere felt like something different and new for the series.

I say that, simply because I noticed two key changes when it comes to this opening chapter, and the first one that really caught me off guard in the right way, is the sheer fact that this show is suddenly having a lot of fun with the story and the characters. Because there were a lot of laughs to be found in this opening chapter, from the entire pool sequence and Billy’s ability to catch the eye of the more mature ladies of Hawkins, to Steve’s inability to impress the ladies at Scoops Ahoy, I simply found myself laughing way more than I’m used to when it comes to this series and quite frankly, that’s a delightful thing. Because it means that the Duffers are finally letting loose and enjoying the ride and we are clearly reaping the benefits.

But what truly impressed me when it comes to this premiere, is the sheer fact that the characters have become the proper focus for this series. Granted, they’ve always been important to this show as is, and we’ve shared some important moments with them over the past few years. But this time around, they seem more open and accessible to the audience, and the moments we share with them are more relatable than ever before. I mean, who didn’t sneak into the movies when they were young? And who doesn’t remember how weird it was when our friends discovered the wonder of dating and most importantly, who didn’t spend every waking moment at the mall, when they were teenagers back in the day? Because that was the place to be and seeing the power of Starcourt on display really took me back.

Yet while all of those elements are important to making this season successful, this season premiere doesn’t forget in the slightest where this show comes from. Because it’s all about the scares and the inter-dimensional creatures that want a piece of our world, and the Russian storyline and whatever they’ve done to bring something back from the Upside Down was satisfying to say the least since it did a fine job of building up some ominous mystery, and I absolutely loved the grandiose homage to George Romero and his work in this episode and well, when all is said and done, it’s inherently clear now, we are going to be in for one hell of a ride this season. One filled with more quality nostalgia, and perhaps the show’s finest story to date and that means it is high time I return to the Starcourt Mall to see where this intriguing story is headed. Until next time.  

What better break from a long year than going to the mountains with some of your best friends. I am a firm believer in breaking the mold and going somewhere where you should not have a care in the world. As time has changed however, it seems to get harder to find times when your friends are available to go on such an adventure, but once it does happen, it is always an magnificent adventure.

Thomas has invited a couple of his friends from school to head up to his cabin for a long weekend. Although he is new in the school, a couple of his classmates have taken a liking to him, or so they pretend. Although nobody in the group are the best of friends, the chance to get away from their parents and drink in the mountains is too much for them to pass up, and Thomas’ cabin is in a part of the mountains called Donner Country, as the Donner party had their break down somewhere around where they are headed.

With stories being told about the expedition gone wrong, they group gets stopped to chain up as the roads get more treacherous. While getting the car ready to make its last push up the mountains, the group hears about a crazy killer loose in the area that is eating his victims. With thoughts that the Donner party may still be there, the group pushes on and arrives at the cabin and wastes no time in settling in when a surprise comes their way. With Nicole being one of the most popular girls in school and going up the mountain with Thomas’ group, she cannot be without her boyfriend for more than a day. But her boyfriend has brought the party with him as another group of four students have arrived at the remote cabin.

Thomas is not happy about the situation, but his friend Mikey is telling him to let it slide. As these are the coolest kids in the school, they will all owe him, and it will move the outsider Thomas up the ranks so much faster. Agreeing to let them all stay, the party kicks into full effect, but when the new group runs out of beer, everything starts to take a turn for the worse. When some of the kid’s head into town to get stocked back up, they go missing and Thomas has to lead the group down the mountain to look for them. Finding his classmate’s dead body in the snow, with his organs pulled out, everyone starts to believe that the killer they were told about is stalking the cabin, but the killer is not the only one to be afraid of as secrets are passed amongst the group and tensions start running high.

A perfect movie to watch when it is snowing outside, as it just makes you go to the window and wonder what is out there. With the legend of the Donner party being brought back to light and life, it is fun to see where the characters beliefs fall on what happened, compared to what is happening to them now. With blood being the driving force behind the killer’s hunger for the kids, along with anyone else that ventures into his country, his interactions with the mountain are just fascinating and enhance your imagination further. This is just a fun ride, as high school horror movies are starting to get a soft spot in my soul, since there are so many more twists and turns that can be taken with the young casts. Stay Scared

If there’s one thing I truly love about the horror genre above all else, it is the genre’s magnificent ability to examine humanity as a whole. For it often provides us with an objective look at our world and it can show us what is good and bad when it comes to modern society, or it can provide us all with an intimate look at the human condition and dive deep into what makes people tick and the latter of those two storytelling elements, are precisely why I utterly adore AMC’s new series, NOS4A2. Because over the course of its brief run, it’s done a phenomenal job of examining our fears, our hopes, our dreams and the evil that lurks within the hearts of men and once again, this particular series found a way to examine who we are as a species, by diving deep into the power and the terror that accompanies the notion of self-reflection.
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Which made ‘The Dark Tunnels’ a supremely fascinating and powerful episode, because few shows take the time to really slow things down to allow for their characters to look within themselves, but the psych ward setting of this tale, made such a feat possible. Because, it didn’t take long for Vic to find herself in front of a psychiatrist now that she was in the midst of her voluntary hold, and this doctor wasted no time, diving into what exactly brought Vic into his office and that made for quite the uncomfortable experience. Because Vic did indeed have to face the harsh realities about her family and her home life and the abuse that she has endured, and her time with the doc was illuminating to say the least since he more or less opened her mind to the possibility that she will need something more than a mere escape from Haverhill in order to properly heal her ailing soul.

Oddly enough, the answer she needed when it comes to that, arrived in the most unexpected of fashion. For this tale also featured an intriguing twist of fate since Vic had to room with Jolene July, the strong creative that Charlie visited back in ‘The Gas Mask Man’, and this encounter was a special one indeed. Because Jolene and Vic connected quickly, and with a little creativity they were able to escape into Jolene’s inscape, wherein the elder creative was able to reflect upon her own life and some of the mistakes she’s made, the biggest one being; that she never got the chance to kill Charlie Manx. Because had she done so, she would have saved countless lives and done some good in this world. But meeting a strong creative as powerful as Vic, made Jolene realize that perhaps Vic could finish what she started and after showing Vic how to wound and defeat Charlie, she asked our young heroine to put an end to Charlie Manx, and everything she showed Vic, inspired our young heroine in powerful fashion. 

Because stopping evil, would provide Vic with the peace and absolution she’s been searching for, and she told the doctor exactly what he needed to hear in order to get her release, so she could deal with Charlie. But sadly, this is where the show provided us with an exploration of how reflection can also do us harm. For Vic was hoping that she would have Maggie at her side for this grandiose battle with Charlie, but dear Maggie had a change of heart. Because her time in the hospital, allowed for her to reflect upon the darker side of her abilities and she no longer wanted any part of this nightmare, and she made her way home and abandoned her tiles along the way and while this was disheartening in its own right, it was also brilliant since it bookended Vic’s journey in masterful and logical fashion, and it was supremely relatable since we’ve all shared in moments akin to the one Maggie went through in this tale, where we realize the journey may not be worth it.
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Yet, while this tale ends in epic fashion, with Vic readying for war against Charlie’s special brand of evil, we do need to take a moment discuss the other reflection related exploration that this episode took us through. In that, sometimes getting the opportunity to see and reflect upon a particular person’s journey through another set of eyes, can be supremely beneficial to understanding who they are, and that was handled in this tale by way of a fascinating flashback involving Jolene. For this trip down memory lane allowed for us to see Charlie when he was still a touch more human, and still deeply in love with Jolene and this little segment, and her wonderful attack on the Wraith later on the story, allowed for us to understand that Charlie is nothing more than a lonely and angry little man. One that feels marginalized and ostracized and being able to leverage power over people makes him feel large, and all he wants, is that perfect world where someone is at his side. The kind of person who will always admire him and doesn’t ask questions or mind that he, you know, eats the souls of children and well, seeing him in this kind of light, only engenders pity when all is said and done.

If anything, this was a thoughtful and intimate story, which is no small feat in the horror world. Because often times, this genre examines things in broad and sweeping fashion, wherein the monster serves as the allegory for the topic in question. But in this tale, the characters drove everything, and they did so in brutal and honest fashion and while it may have been uncomfortable to watch here and there, that’s what a good story does. It unsettles you, and it makes you think, and it pleases me to no end that Vic maintained her strength while finding a way to grow when facing the parts of her life she’s not exactly happy with and really, kudos to Ashleigh Cummings and her cast-mates in this tale, for turning in some incredible performances. And I also need to throw a shout out to the writer of this episode, Tom Brady, for weaving together a beautiful tapestry of a screenplay and really, all of these elements just go to show that horror can be more than just jump scares and splatter, it can be relatable and poignant and I really hope that other shows take a page from this series since it truly is the smartest horror series out there. Until next time.     

I have to admit, that I’m quite impressed with everything that Fear the Walking Dead is accomplishing thus far in season five. Because in many ways, this season is injecting all kinds of new ideas and concepts into the notion of the zombiepocalypse, and while it is odd and awkward at times to see positivity and hope permeate the fabric of this universe, it’s a welcome change to the norm. But, while this is wonderful and refreshing in its own right, I have found myself concerned that these repeated attempts to bring joy to the land of the dead are going to fundamentally change this series and what it stands for. Because this is the end of the world, where danger and the unknown are around every corner and forgetting that would make the series a mockery of itself.
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However, it would seem I’m not the only one to have this concern, since last night’s episode of the series, ‘The Little Prince’, made an attempt to address this potential mistake. Because this grand and sweeping tale of rescue and hope, took the time to remind us that not everyone can be saved, and that a physical lack of people means that some unseen dangers are growing behind the scenes and what made these examinations work so incredibly well on screen, is that at first glance, it seemed like business as usual when it comes to this series. For this episode opened up in beautifully hopeful fashion, wherein the group worked toward getting the heck out of this desolate area.

Which meant, it was time to rebuild the plane and it was quite lovely to see everyone pitch in and work to piece this behemoth back together. Because it really was quite the symbol of salvation and redemption early on in this tale and I won’t lie, it was quite uplifting to hear Morgan’s rousing speech about togetherness and all of these rapid-fire elements really did instill hope into the story and I would imagine the audience as well. Because it really did seem as though this group was leaving this place behind as soon as the plane was ready, and that hope was further compounded by the fact that John and Dwight were back on the hunt for Sherry, making it seem as though that couple might reunite and find their happy ending at last.

But it didn’t take long for the universe to begin to assert itself since the plane, started to break down, to the point where a propeller snapped in half, and to make matters worse, Grace called in, asking for immediate help. Because the second reactor at the power plant was going into critical status and she needed the outpost’s generator to buy everyone some time, and just like that, the story returned to more dismal territory. Since now, the group was on the clock with the reactor preparing to go into meltdown status and that brought about the interpersonal complications I made mention of, since the harsh reality of the plane’s status, and the lack of a ready supply of propellers, prompted regression from Annie.

Because she saw the potential writing on the wall, and rather than believe Alicia’s claims that a fix would come for the plane, or give Morgan proper time to help Grace slow the impending meltdown, she made plans to get her brothers and her group back to their safe space, and well, this led to a surprisingly powerful interaction. Wherein Alicia tried to talk some sense into the young girl, only to learn that Annie is severely traumatized by everything she’s seen and experienced over the past few months, and at this point, the only way she feels safe is if she’s on her own and calling the shots and despite making some solid points about why it was time for Annie to try something new, Alicia’s words fell upon deaf ears, and the kids made a run for it.
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Plus, things didn’t go that well for Morgan, either. Because helping Grace offered Morgan one last chance to talk some sense into her as well, and hopefully get her away from her dark quest to perhaps allow for her to enjoy life for a change. If only for a little while, if she was indeed telling the truth about her exposure to radiation. But Morgan ran into the same problem as Alicia, and his inspiring words and solid attempt to save her ended in failure as she made her way to the power plant alone, and well, the hits in this episode just kept on coming, because even the always positive John Dorie ran into some complications out on the road with Dwight, the kind that could be catastrophic down the line.

Because let’s be honest, Dwight is in a precarious place, and his only beacon of hope, is Sherry and the only thing keeping him going, is the possibility of finding her in the midst of this madness. And while he and John made some solid strides in getting closer to Sherry, John found a letter from Dwight’s one and only that asked him to stay away and rather than embrace the ugly as his counterparts did in this tale, John tried to keep hope alive, by keeping the letter a secret from Dwight. Yet, while all of these issues were enough to leave the audience worried and on the edge of their seat, the closing moments of this tale truly hammered home the return to bleakness for this series since an attempt by Charlie and Strand to deliver propellers, ended in disaster since they’re now surrounded by radioactive corpses.

So, just like that, all the good and all the wonder that season five has worked toward is basically wiped away in this tale and well, I love this twist when all is said and done. Because these characters are at their best when they face great challenges, and well, they’ve got plenty ahead of them now. Because they need to get all their problems resolved and quickly, since the clock is ticking to a major meltdown, the kind that no one will survive and well, I absolutely praise this episode for shattering the joy that season five has brought to the table. Because it provides balance to this story, and it does serve to remind us that bad things are inescapable in the horror genre, and events like this, definitely keep you vested in the story, and I’ll be counting down the minutes to next Sunday’s episode to see how the group gets out of this incredible mess. Until next time. 

High school could have been a rough time for many people, but for others, it was worse. You know those kids, possibly your friends, the ones that were always getting in trouble and were sent to detention. If you were ever privy of being part of this crew, you know that it was not like a John Hughes movie, but more of a quiet time where, even if your friends were being punished along with you, you never got a chance to talk. You were forced to write reports, study or worse, read and then write a report on what you just read. There was no joy in this, and being a young person, there were much more important things that you would have rather been doing.

Matt Clark has been in trouble ever since he has moved to Crestview Academy. Being the new kid on campus, he is always being called out for whatever he does wrong. With it being more of a small community, it is hard to make friends outside of the normal cliques, and Matt has found that out the hard way. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time is something that he also excels at, as he has been caught doing things that nobody would have done in public.  

Arriving in detention, he finds that he will be locked with five other of his fellow classmates that have done something to upset the Headmaster for the day. As the rules have been laid out for them, the group decides to do their own thing as there is nobody in the library to watch over them…or is there. There is a story around campus that the school is haunted by an upset spirit and the kids are not afraid to discuss what they know. As the story goes, an old Indian refused to sell his land to the school and was found dead right where the library stands. Knowing that his spirit was at unrest, the group decides to hold a séance to try to communicate with him, but that just makes the day even worse for them.  

​As their attempt to reach the dead starts, one of the guilty girls suffers from an asthma attack and dies on the floor in front of the group. Thinking that she just misplaced her inhaler, the group has to find out what really happened. As blame is passed around the building, the group is starting to hear strange things lurking around, along with lights flickering in the building. Thinking that it is just the storm, they think little of it, but when each student is alone, something more disturbing finds them.  

Needing to find a way to escape their prison, the group tries crawling up through the ventilation shafts, but the idea is quickly abandoned. Not being able to contact anyone for help is driving the group crazy, but more strange things start happening, leaving them wondering who or what is coming after them. One by one, the students are picked off and the only way to stop the death is to contact the angry spirit. Trying the séance once again, the three remaining survivors are meet by a ghostly vision coming through the library’s doors. But is it the ghost that wants them dead…or someone else?

A high school horror movie and I will allow it. Although I am pretty far removed from this age bracket, I can still identify with the problems that they are going through, along with the types of interactions that happen these days with the kids (that is another story, for another time). With everyone having their own issues, they will not even try to help each other out, as they are too good for everybody else. That is pretty much what my high school experience was like and I am pretty sure others can say the same. With that being said, there are plenty of scares that come throughout that can be explained, but they still freak out the kids. Without knowing what is really happening and trying to explain everything rationally, it is not enough to keep their young hearts safe from who or what is hunting them. Stay Scared.

​Watching your loved ones get old is never easy. With them helping you through all of your life challenges and making sure you come out on top, it is sad to not be able to help them when it seems they need it the most. As you get older, it becomes easier to believe that you might have to go through the same things that you have seen them go through, but will you be able to handle it as gracefully as they seemed to?

Growing up with a single mother, George has found that he enjoys spending his time talking with Mercy, his grandmother. George knows that his mother loves him dearly and cares for him, he just finds it easier to talk to his grandmother about everything, allowing for him to gain more of the precious knowledge she’s picked up over the years. When Mercy told him once, that it was okay to stand up for himself and not be scared of anyone, George took it literally and would follow her lead for the rest of his life.

After Mercy suffers a stroke, the nursing home decides that it is too much for them to take care of her anymore. It has been years since George has seen his best friend in the flesh and is looking forward to helping his grandmother in her final days. Rebecca, his mother and Buddy, his older brother, however, are not looking forward to taking on the task, but will do what they can to make Mercy as comfortable as possible. Seeing his grandmother when she is sick takes its toll quickly on George as he remembers her being young and full of life, but now being next to a lifeless body, he is dying to find a way to bring her back.

But as George starts to talk to people around the town, including his uncle, he finds out that his grandmother was not as pleasant and nice as he remembers her, but instead was quite the bitter woman. As he hears of her being cruel to her children, he talks to the town’s priest who tells the boy what really happened to his favorite person. As Mercy was never able to have the children she wanted so badly, she trekked up into the mountains one day and came back with a book and a secret. Being pregnant by someone other than her late husband, she always had luck on her side. But with each miracle that was given to her over the years, Mercy seemed to lose a bit of her good-natured self and is slowly becoming something more dangerous. George will do anything to help her and with an assist from his brother, they find a book that she buried years ago and as the pages start to reveal themselves to the boys, they find that there is something bad on the horizon, and it’s all courtesy of the woman who is dying in their new home.

This is a very intriguing story as you get into the movie. With a young man who just so happens to be scared of everything, his grandmother teaches him that his fear is not okay, and he will need to stand up for himself. Seeing how the lesson makes the young boy stronger, it is hard to imagine that this kind old woman would ever turn on him. I love how the story played out in this movie as you have several characters you can identify with as they all have to battle their own inner demons. With a lot of scares scattered throughout, there is still the feeling that they are all family and no matter what happens to any of them, that will never change...or will it? Stay Scared.

Personally, I am a firm believer that consequences are completely and utterly essential when it comes to telling a good story. Because while I fully understand that we use stories to escape and suspend disbelief when watching them; without consequences, the characters can never grow, and by staying stagnant in their world, they in turn cannot teach us anything of importance about ourselves and our world. And that’s why, I was supremely pleased to see that NOS4A2 wasn’t going to ignore the fallout related to Vic’s grand discovery from the last episode. In fact, ‘The Wraith’, wasted no time in showing us exactly what kinds of complications came about from Vic’s grand attempt to bring down Charlie and Bing. But what made this exploration of consequences so incredibly fascinating, is how relatable so much of it turned out to be.
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Because Vic was rattled by finding said body, as anyone with a heart would be, and the reality that someone she once trusted took Sharon’s life, without giving it a second thought, kept her up at night, as did the phone conversation with Manx and that led to some awkward moments with her parents, since they in turn, were quite worried about their daughter. Which is natural and relatable in so many ways. Because we really do rally around those who find themselves traumatized by death and do our best to keep them safe as we try to figure out what they need to properly grieve and it was nice to see this process on display by way of Vic’s parents since they really did try and help their daughter. But they were unsuccessful in their endeavors, thanks to the fact that Vic really did need to process this on her own, and exploring the immediate aftermath of Sharon’s death was perhaps the classiest and smoothest way to ease the audience into the other complications and consequences that awaited Vic over the course of the hour.

Take for example, the harsh reminder, that the law will come into play when a dead body is discovered. For the police were quite curious to learn more about how exactly Vic came across Sharon’s corpse in such seamless fashion and well, that meant that Vic had to pick and choose what facts to speak, for fear of being branded as mad, and while keeping one’s freedom isn’t exactly something to be seen as a negative, by staying silent, the real penalty came into play. Because it meant that Bing, was able to stay on the streets (thanks to an assist from Charlie) and remain an afterthought in the matter, which allowed for he and Vic to have a few angry words with one another, the kind that made it clear that any friendship they once had was destroyed beyond repair, and that little chat also gave Bing the opportunity to give Vic an invitation from Charlie, and the realization that this dangerous being could cause her great harm when they finally met, allowed for fear to take hold of her heart. 

Which meant, she needed to find a way to cope with all of the emotions that were surging through her and she made that happen, in the most relatable way imaginable, by letting loose at a party. Because a few drinks and her first kiss seemed to finally bring Vic to a point where she could handle the danger in front of her and I call this relatable, simply because, we all have our own little escapes that we go into when the going gets tough or scary in life, and more often than not, drowning our sorrows while surrounded by other people is one that we’ve all turned to at some point or another and throwing this into the mix was a brilliant decision storytelling wise. Because it removed the heroic mystique surrounding Vic in this tale, and reminded us of her humanity and it was also a nice way to break up the darkness in this tale, something that proved to be supremely necessary since what came next was thrilling and terrifying and harrowing at all once.
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For, Vic made good on her promise to meet with Charlie, and that allowed for Mister Manx to reveal that he himself is a strong creative, one that figured out how to turn his power into life eternal and he hinted greatly that he needed some kind of an equal since he offered Vic a role in his scheme, something that Vic thankfully rejected quickly. Which did not go over well with Charlie, allowing for his darker demeanor to once again come to the surface. But sadly, their little chat, while unsettling in its own right, was interrupted by Maggie, who finally got a good look at the Wraith, and paid the price dearly for her investigation. Because the car was able to defend itself in a supremely scary, Christine-esque sequence of events and well, despite all the hardships and fallout Vic and her friends faced in this tale for trying to stand up to Charlie Manx and his twisted scheme, none of them compared to the one that Vic dealt with at the end of this tale. Because Vic finally told the truth to Detective Hutter while she watched over an ailing Maggie, and in doing so, faced the greatest consequence of all. Because her admission prompted the police and the hospital and her father to ask her to sign a voluntary commitment form in order to evaluate her mental health and that’s where we leave Vic in this story, facing an uncertain future…

If anything, I have to admit that I was supremely impressed with a great many things when it comes to this particular tale, the first one being, it did a phenomenal job of balancing out the darkness present in ‘The House of Sleep’. Because this story really was a transitional tale in its own right, one designed to give the audience a break, all while pushing the plot along and well, it succeeded marvelously in its task, yet it still managed to terrify, thanks to Charlie. For his meeting with Vic was the stuff of legend and the subtle fury present on Charlie’s face and in his eyes, still haunts me, and kudos to Zachary Quinto for putting on a master class acting wise since he exuded charm and evil on a moment’s notice and honestly, I really am impressed with this show’s versatility when all is said and done. Because it takes some phenomenal writing to make an episode like this come together in smooth fashion. So, I tip my cap to Lucy Thurber, the writer of this tale, for accomplishing wonders and well, all structure aside, this episode is going to continue to haunt me in the days to come, because I am genuinely worried about Vic. For she will likely fight the doctors at every turn, making her journey all the more harrowing and heartbreaking and powerful and well, once again I am left counting down the minutes to see what lies ahead for Vic McQueen, and this brilliant story as a whole. Until next time.  

If there’s one thing that Fear the Walking Dead has done a wonderful job with in season five, it’s moving the plot along at a wonderfully brisk pace. Because in the past, big mysteries and important twists were drawn out at times, or more or less relegated to the season finale to keep things interesting. But here, everything’s been coming forth at a breakneck pace. After all, Dwight arrived three episodes into the new year, something I wasn’t expecting to happen that early, and for that matter, we found out why there were radiation signs everywhere early on in this season as well, and we were quick to learn exactly who was behind the roadblocks of the dead surrounding this area.
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But of the many mysteries this series has managed to either progress or resolve this season, only one has remained; the fate of our favorite intrepid reporter, Al. Because her disappearance in the season premiere hasn’t been updated or resolved in the slightest and honestly, considering how things looked with that mysterious helicopter taking to the skies in the last episode, I got the funny feeling that the series was going to purposely push this plot thread to the wayside, allowing for a grandiose adventure to take place to rescue Al from her captors. But as it turns out, the series felt the need to address this little matter sooner rather than later, since ‘The End of Everything’ allowed for us to find out what happened to Al a few weeks ago.

As it turns out, she quickly found herself in a world of trouble, shortly after we last saw her. For the mysterious soldier that knocked her out was handling a little clean-up work when Al came to and well, seeing a corpse be set on fire never bodes well, which prompted Al to run for it, unsuccessfully, and her journey only became more complex from there. For the woman who captured her, had little to say to Althea, outside of barking orders and demanding she surrender the tape that she recorded, the one that featured the map and the armor surrounding the resurrected soldier and of course, Al had no intention of handing that over, not without making a deal to maybe get a little information from this mysterious person, first, and well, that certainly seemed like a good idea at the time. 

Because while a tentative deal was struck to learn everything there is to know about this mysterious soldier, the fact that she continued to say nothing, and continued to make threats and push Al around, made it seem as though this interaction was going to end badly when all is said and done, and while Al gave it her all to try and remove the walls surrounding this woman, she instead flipped the tables and ended up putting Althea in quite the compromised place. One where she was forced to risk life and limb to gain any shred of trust, and one where she was forced to open up over the fact that back when the world came to an end, she made a powerful choice, in that, the story mattered more than anything else and by covering mankind’s final moments, she missed an opportunity to say farewell to her family.
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Which was quite the eye-opening moment for Althea. Because if this was the end of the road for her, she suddenly felt as though she’d wasted precious hours and minutes on stories rather than living in the moment and seeing the world for what it currently offers, and that prompted Al to try a few new things for a change. Including fighting back and taking her captor, prisoner, in order to ensure her safety and to finally get some answers about why this woman had to be so secretive and why she was so hellbent on ending the life of someone that was supremely supportive and helpful and well, as the old saying goes, be careful what one wishes for, because Isabella did indeed spill as much of the beans as she could about her organization, and what she revealed was chilling to say the least.

Because this group, is a well-organized machine, one that features inventive and practical weaponry, armor that cannot be chewed through and it would seem, just about endless resources, since they have supply drops in places for their troops and they are working on something big. In fact, it would seem they’re planning to put the world back together, and that’s really all we got out of Isabella when it comes to this group and this place, because she also made it clear, that they like to operate in the shadows, and they don’t tolerate failure, and the fear in her voice as she explained this, was enough to satisfy Al’s quest for knowledge, but it still didn’t resolve the danger since Isabella made it clear that she still needed the tape in question, and that she needed to put down Al in order to cover her tracks. 

Which made their final moments, under the stars while sharing a beer, about as foreboding as one might expect, and the long march back toward the river where they first met, made it truly seem for a moment there, as though this episode was going to serve as Al’s farewell tale. But that is precisely where the episode surprised us all. For rather than let her die, Isabella explained how important and wonderful it was to have someone treat her like a person again, and make her feel special, meaning that Al had helped someone along the way, and won their heart as well since they shared a deep and passionate kiss and all it cost Althea, was the tape showing evidence of this mystery group, and the tape she made of that fateful day since she left it with Isabella before returning to Morgan and everyone else, content to honor her promise to keep this strange operation a secret, and this experience also taught her, that it was time to live in the moment and enjoy this second chance at life.
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However, while this episode does end happy and this was a magnificent story through and through, Isabella’s organization and everything she had to say about them, hangs heavy on my mind a day after this tale. Because she said a lot about them, without going into details and what has me fascinated and terrified about this group, is the sheer fact that they’re working to better the world, in silence, and none of that sounds helpful or good in the slightest, especially since she spoke of this place with fear in her voice. Which makes me wonder, do they have some kind of grand plan for the future of mankind, and they’re not sharing it with anyone because they plan to impose it by force? Because that could lead to some ugly moments and a bleak future for so many if these folks just rush in and take people to a new home with the expectation that they abide by new rules or pay a penalty.

Granted, that’s just conjecture at this point, but The Walking Dead universe is rife with people who offer protection and hope with the best of intentions before delivering the worst possible results, so it’s quite feasible that this group meets that particular qualification. But, as to whether or not we discover more about them later this year or in another TWD adventure remains unclear, since this tale seemingly saw them fade into memory, so in the here and the now, it’s best we celebrate a lovely character study, one that saw Althea grow like never before, all while staying true to the mission, and now, with this plot thread neatly wrapped up, it’s on to an escape from this strange place and quite possibly, a showdown with Logan. Until next time.