Stranger Things - Season 3

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Even though I've watched it a couple of times now, I realize I still haven't actually reviewed the third season of Stranger Things. So, that's what I'm going to do. One of the first things about the third season I really appreciated was the fact that most of these kids are growing up. All of them are in relationships except for Will. But, I also like the way they dealt with Will in this season as well. I kind of think Will is the least interesting of the core kid group. But, with season 3, there's more of an effort to flesh him out. For most of the season, he's still kind of stuck in the past while his friends are growing up around him. I like it because it feels relatable. We've probably all known someone like that, or maybe we've been in Will's shoes. I also think Billy was a much more improved character this season. I thought he was kind of one-note in the majority of season two. If anything, this season cements him as one of the show's best villains. Some of the new additions are pretty fun. Cary Elwes is awesome as a sleazy politician. Murray returns for this season, and is quite a bit stronger in season 3. It doesn't hurt that he gets a bromance with a Russian defector named Alexei. Alexei's great too. Basically, he's just a big child. The motivations behind his attempts at bribery are Cherry Slurpees and being allowed to watch Looney Tunes. My favorite new addition has to be Robin. I speak so much to the characters on the show in my reviews because they are the highlights for me. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy the action. I like the effects. I like the nostalgic callbacks. But, the characters and their relationships are the heart of the show. The one thing about this season I'm not entirely sure needs to be there anymore is Mike's parents and little sister. Mike and Nancy continue to feel like they are growing and developing. I'll say Mike's mom had some development. However, I don't entirely know what the dad and baby sister really offer anymore. They aren't awful characters. I just kind of feel like they are just there. I love how this season just kind of keeps building with each episode as well. There's an episode in the third season, The Sauna Test, that is easily in my top five. The episode just feels so tense, and actually raises the stakes. Overall, I think this season about on par with season one.

A

Jessica Jones - Season 3

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So, I have now finished the third and final season of Jessica Jones on Netflix. This time around, Jessica has to hunt down a serial killer, all while attempting to mend the relationships she had left broken following the events of the show's second season. I suppose I should start with the issues I had throughout the season, because they are honestly very minor problems. Some of the supporting characters act in ways I really don't feel they should act, as it doesn't completely feel like the characters we have come to know throughout the entirety of the series. On the other hand, the ending doesn't really feel like a series finale, so much as a season finale. I have no idea if this third season was written and filmed with the possibility of a fourth season in mind. While I don't particularly mind the show's slower pace, there actually were points where I wanted things to speed up a little bit. Okay, now I should talk about the things I liked. For starters, the actors all do a good job. Naturally, the standout to me is Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones. I like Gregory Sallinger as a villain. Because Sallinger doesn't have superhuman gifts, he brings a very different kind of menace to this show. He forces Jessica to use her intellect more than her brute strength. I also want to compliment the writers on how they handled the character of Trish Walker this season. They took her to a whole new place, and it made sense to me after how unlikable she was during the second season. Her character arc actually makes sense, and feels completely natural. Is this my absolute favorite when it comes the Marvel Netflix seasons? No, but I still think it is genuinely worthwhile. The third and final season of Jessica Jones has some stumbles, but it also has a lot working in its favor as well.

B+

Jessica Jones - Season 2

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In the sophomore season of Jessica Jones, Jessica has to deal with potential new threats as she digs more into her past. Much like the first season of Jessica Jones and The Defenders beforehand, Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones owns this show. You always understand exactly what she's going through. I like the idea of exploring how she got her powers. The character of Trish (played by Rachael Taylor) was incredibly unlikable throughout this season. This is something I found interesting, especially because there are a lot of moments where Rachael Taylor and Krysten Ritter act opposite each other. These two actually work off each other really well. I feel like the main conflict for Jessica Jones this season was much more of an internal conflict. She's in a position with the character who is arguably the main antagonist of the season that feels very different from her relationship with Kilgrave. Getting more into negatives, I feel like there were things that could have easily been handled better with the villain (played by Janet McTeer). There were ways I pictured it going. When it didn't go that way, it didn't feel as much like it was done in a good, surprising way. I saw glimpses of taking things in a better way, but it didn't always deliver. There were characters in this show (mainly a rival investigator) that felt important where they started, but seemed sidelined by the end of the season. It does leave curious as to where a potential third season could take the show. I also couldn't help but feel a little bit disappointed in how they wrapped up the stuff with Will Simpson (played again by Will Traval). Overall, I liked Jessica Jones season 2, but I do think it had some glaring problems that needed to be adressed.

B+

The End of the F***ing World - Season 1

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The End of the F***ing World is a black comedy Netlflix original series. The show follows two misfit teenagers on a road trip to escape their crappy lives. This is absolutely one of those shows where you watching it, wanting things to have a good ending, but you're never really sure that's what's going to happen. Alyssa is brash and rebellious, and doesn't really fit in, mostly because she doesn't seem to want to. She is the one who comes up with the idea to run away. James believes he is a psychopath. He only agrees to running away with Alyssa because he thinks he wants to kill her. I love watching these characters, and the performances by Alex Lawther and Jessica Braden are excellent. Their interactions make up the heart of the show. You hear both of their inner thoughts throughout the show. Along the way, these characters find themselves increasingly involved in robbery, breaking and entering, and murder. For this reason, two detectives (played by Gemma Whelan and Winnie Mosaku) begin searching for them. The characters are all around excellent. They all fit into this show's setting and tone perfectly.Because the show carries a dark sense of humor, the genuinely heart-felt and darker moments never feel out of place or like a tonal shift. The show is excellently paced. There are only 8 20-minute episodes. This is about the length of a two and a half hour movie. Each episode flows into the next pretty perfectly. The final episode is fittingly pretty tense. The overall ending has me curious as to whether or not there is going to be a second season. If there is, what will they do? This is one of the rare shows I have seen where everything just seems to work. The writing is great. The directing is great. The performances are great. This is a show I highly recommend watching. 

A+

The Punisher - Season 1

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The Punisher is the newest Netflix marvel TV series. Frank Castle (played by Jon Bernthal) has been declared legally dead for roughly a year (about the passage of time between Daredevil season 2 and this show). Frank is trying to live a quiet life under an assumed identity, believing his war to be over. He is pulled right back in by a man calling himself Micro (played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and learns there is more to the story than he thought. A woman named Dinah Madani (played by Amber Rose Revah) soon finds herself drawn into an investigation that puts her on the trail of the Punisher. Compared to the rest of the Netflix Marvel shows, this show particularly, should be viewed carefully if you have cautious feelings towards violence. The violence in this can be particularly gruesome at times. It never really reached a point where it bothered me, but the warning should be thrown out there. The acting in the show is really good. Bernthal as Frank Castle really stands out. Even in his quieter moments, you can really tell there's something inside him that's broken, and you can kind of tell that there's something of a rage beneath the calm demeanor. The Punisher isn't perfect, however. For example, there's a couple of characters that didn't feel like they were fully important to the plot. One of these characters could have been given a little more importance with a quick rewrite, especially because this character has a past with Frank already. There's another character who shows up near the beginning of the season. I'm not gonna lie, as soon as he showed up, I knew he was going to be a bad guy. This was based entirely off the actor that was chosen to play him. Overall, I would rank this ahead of The Defenders, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist, but behind the first two seasons of Daredevil and Jessica Jones. The Punisher has its flaws, but I definitely think it's worth a watch, especially if you are a fan of the character.

A- 

Top 10 Cartoon Theme songs

Honorable Mentions: There were a lot I would have loved to include, but it's a top 10 list, so here are a couple I enjoy that didn't quite make the cut. Keep in mind that this could've easily been a top 20 or top 30 list too.

Tale Spin

The Fairly Odd Parents

Teen Titans

Danny Phantom

Kim Possible

Animaniacs

#10: The Simpsons: I almost left this song off the list because it's too obvious, but that's also kind of why it deserves a spot on the list.

#9: Pinky and the Brain: It was kind of a toss-up between this and Animaniacs. I just chose the one that I personally had more nostalgia for.

#8: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: A classic you can't go wrong with. Listening back, it didn't hold for me as much, but it's still a pretty good theme that deserves a spot on the list.

#7: Family Guy: I'm not quite sure why, but I love this jazzy little number

#6: South Park: This is easily my favorite adult cartoon and adult cartoon theme song

#5: Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers: So, I actually had to restrain myself from putting more Disney songs on my list. There will probably be a strictly Disney list someday.

#4: Duck Tales: This is a really catchy theme from one of my defining childhood shows.

#3: Scooby Doo: Where Are You?: I know there's probably a million Scooby Doo shows and themes, but the original is still my favorite.

#2: Darkwing Duck: I really didn't mean for the top 5 to get so Disney-heavy, but this one was guaranteed a spot this high on the list no matter what.

#1: X-Men: As far as I'm concerned, nothing else was going to take the top spot.

Were there any I missed? Did I have any too high? Did I have any too low? Were there any on here that didn't deserve to be on the list (honorable mentions or otherwise)? Let me know your opinions.

Stranger Things - Season 2

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Just in time for Halloween, Netflix has released a new season of Stranger Things. The second season takes place one year after the events of the first season. Much like the first season, this season plays out less like a television series, and more like a 9-hour movie. The main returning characters all feel like they belong and had a part to play. Eleven's storyline is probably my favorite. They build up a sort of father-daughter relationship between her and Hopper (something the end of season 1 actually teased at a little bit). There were about six new characters added to the mix to talk about. There was a girl named Kali I hope a third season explores a little more. Without spoiling too much, she has ties to Eleven and her backstory. The second major character introduced was a journalist brought in to investigate Barb's disappearance. He kind of had some importance to the plot, and was enjoyable enough to watch.The problem is by the time I was done watching the show, I had forgotten his name, and I really felt this character could have been connected to the plot better than he was. The same could also be said about the character of Billy. Don't get me wrong. I understand why he was there, but he never felt integrated enough into the rest of the main cast. For most of the season, he felt a little too one note. However, one scene near the end of the season put the entire character into perspective for me. Bob as a character was fun enough. He was just a dweeby normal guy that was trying to help Joyce and her boys out. I also really liked Paul Reiser as Dr. Owens. At first, I was afraid he was going to be a retread of Matthew Modine's character from the first season. By the end of the season, he actually was one of the most likable parts of the season. That brings me to my favorite of the new additions to the cast. The party gets a new friend in the form of Max, a tomboy who likes to skateboard, play video games, and dresses up like Michael Myers on Halloween, while the guys are dressed up as the Ghostbusters. Despite his fate at the end of the first season, Matthew Modine appears in a couple of episodes. This is something I like because he still casts a shadow over Eleven. Outside of Eleven and Hopper, I like the stuff they do with the rest of the returning main characters to. I like the idea of Dustin taking in a new pet, that may be more than it seems. I like how Will isn't a fan of his friends and family treating him like he's fragile. I like that Nancy's trying to movie on with her life, but is still too hung up on Barb. I like that there were a lot of moments within the show's plot where I legitimately wasn't sure where it was going. Do I rank season 2 as highly as season 1? No, but it's more Stranger Things, and definitely worth your time to watch. 

A-

Scream: Season 2

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The second season of Scream was one I preferred over the first season in a lot of ways. For the most part, the actors and characters felt much more comfortable in their roles this season. Similar to season one, Brooke, Audrey, and Noah were the characters that jumped out to me the most. Emma was at least tolerable during the first season. This season, you really wonder why she's the main character. She's selfish and whiny. While, she is pretty, this season really wants to prove just how empty this girl's head is. Now, this isn't me slamming the actress. I think she performs fine with what she's given. Emma's just an awful character. The identity of the killer this season was pretty obvious almost from the get-go. However, I did like that this killer was a little more creative compared to what we got out of season 1. It probably helps his case that at almost every turn, Emma shows how phenomenally not smart she is. The amount of kills still could have been upped (this is a lesson I really wish the show runners would have taken to heart from season 1). But, I will give them credit for at least making the kills this season more creative. I like the new additions of Zoe and Stavo. The actors were solid, and the characters were actually pretty decent. The season finale is something I have mixed feelings about entirely because of behind-the-scenes stuff. This ended things with a lot of questions. But, because this season had lower ratings (the time slot changed a few times), season 3 is going to be a complete reboot of the show. It makes me mad mostly because I want these questions answered. But, that doesn't really take away from the episode itself for me because I do think it is a good episode. I also like that the first character to die this season is one of the season 1 survivors because it does make you think anybody really could die. If you haven't seen the show, I won't spoil who it is. Overall, while Scream season 2 still had its glaring flaws, I still feel that this is an improvement over the first season.

B+
  

Scream: Season 1

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In 2015, the Scream franchise was rebranded as a TV show on MTV. My initial reaction to the idea of the show was that my feelings were mixed. On one hand, I actually wanted another movie. Keep in mind, the show was greenlit and started filming and airing well before Wes Craven died. On the other hand, I was kind of glad it was going to be a new cast of characters. They weren't recasting anybody. This kind of exists as its own story. Ultimately, the first season was pretty fun but flawed. The acting in the show was (for the most part) better than it had any right to be. Characters were hit and miss, and most of them didn't feel like they could fully hit their grooves this season, something season 2 simultaneously did better and worse. But, I'll get to that when I review the second season. There were three characters that I honestly enjoyed the hell out of watching by the end of the season. As far as writing, development, and performing goes, Bex-Taylor Klaus as Audrey was probably the best. The other ones I enjoyed were the characters of Brooke and Noah. By the end of the season, I did feel that Jake had gotten a lot stronger overall. But Will, Emma, and Kieran had a little bit of a different reaction from me. These three (especially Kieran) were just kind of meh. The actress playing Emma was fine, but I don't feel that she had a lot to work with. The mystery and story themselves were both decently written, and actually pretty engaging to watch. The kills themselves I had mixed feelings about. A lot of them were very stab-stab. Some of them were creative. But, the biggest issue I have with them is that there wasn't enough of them. Someone might be killed in an episode, and then there would be two or three episodes where no one would die. I know I've said this before, but this is something I think the show Scream Queens handled a lot better. In short, the first season of Scream made for a guilty pleasure show that had its fun elements, but was also deeply, deeply flawed.

B

The Defenders - Season 1

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The Defenders is the culmination of seasons 1 and 2 of Daredevil, season 1 of Jessica Jones, season 1 of Iron Fist, and season 1 of Luke Cage. In case you are wondering, the only show you really need to see so you don’t feel lost is Daredevil. I only watched part of the first episode of Iron Fist, and I followed the story here just fine. As I have previously stated, this is the culmination of 5 seasons from three different television shows. Sometimes those tones can clash. Normally, these shows have 13 episodes in a season, The Defenders only has 8 episodes. To me, this rushes it a little bit, and I think just a couple more episodes would have been good for fleshing things out. That said, I really did like The Defenders quite a bit. The four leads have good chemistry with one another, and their very different personalities understandably all clash at times. The Hand has been making plays, dipping their hands into events that all four of the main characters have had to deal with in the past. Finn Jones as Danny Rand seemed to struggle in what little I actually got to see in Iron Fist. With The Defenders, he doesn’t have to carry the whole show on his shoulders, something that really made the actor seem uncomfortable with in his own show. Each of the four main characters had a pretty understandable reaction towards the events that drive them all together. Matt Murdock / Daredevil’s been retired for a little while (but has also seemed to want to get back into the swing of things). Luke Cage has just gotten out prison, and wants to try helping one family, but things spiral out of control. Jessica Jones has just been trying put the events of her own show behind her, and is the most skeptical out of all them. Iron Fist has been led to believe that destroying The Hand is his destiny. Sigourney Weaver portrays Alexandra, the head of The Hand. As a villain, she feels right at home with the rest of the Netflix villain catalog. She’s the antagonist, but in many ways, she genuinely believes what she’s doing is right (and has to be done). When you first see her, it’s actually in a very vulnerable place, making her motivations that much more clear and relatable. Overall, The Defenders has its rocky moments, but it’s still a solid enough watch for those who have already been along for the ride. 

B+  

Arrow - Season 5

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I've been a fan of this show from the beginning, and I've stuck with it. Season 2 was the peak of the show, offering the absolute best villain of the series (and my personal favorite storyline). Seasons 3 and 4 weren't awful by any means, but they did feel a bit lacking in comparison. Season 5 was easily the best season of the show since the second one. Oliver Queen has to balance being both the mayor and Green Arrow. Prometheus was an excellent villain. Not since season 2 and Deathstroke did we really get a villain who wanted to attack Oliver on a personal level. The character was manipulative, irredeemable, and always ten steps ahead. We also get the return of Earth-2 Laurel Lance a.k.a Black Siren, who is a character I honestly really like. I always did like the original Laurel a.k.a. Black Canary, but I just prefer the more villainous version of the character. My reasoning for this is simple. I just think the character with flexible morals plays better into Katie Cassidy's strengths as an actress. The relationship built up between Thea and Quentin was also fascinating. After his daughter's death in season 4, Quentin's fallen back into alcoholism, while Thea (having dealt with drug addiction) is trying to help build him back up. She goes so far as to hire him on as an assistant while she works in her brother's cabinet. Unfortunately, after that storyline wrapped up, the writers seemed to start struggling with what they could potentially do with the Thea character. Some of the new characters introduced were pretty interesting to me. Lawyer Adrian Chase comes in as a friend to mayor Oliver Queen, and he may be hiding secrets of his own. Rene Ramirez is a new vigilante called "Wilddog." This guy is just incredibly likable. He has tragic backstory that really makes you feel for the character. Ragman was pretty interesting, but he wasn't on the show for very long. Vigilante provided a decent side antagonist to pop up every now and then, even if he was a little bit underused at times. The same can also be said of Talia Al-Ghul. Dinah Drake, the person who takes up the Black Canary mantle this season, was a character I just couldn't warm up to. I don't hate her or anything like that, but I've seen two other characters over the course of the show carry that mantle, and I felt more attachment to those characters The finale was pretty kick-ass, involving pretty much every character that was important this season (save for Ragman and Vigilante). We also get to see Malcolm Merlyn, Nyssa, and Deathstroke play a part. While season 5 has its minor flaws, I do think it is the best season the show has had since season 2.

A-         

Legends of Tomorrow - Season 2

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The second season of Legends of Tomorrow just finished, so I figured what better time to talk about it. This season picks up pretty much where the first season left off. One thing I will say about Legends of Tomorrow is that I like the way they balance the team aspect a little bit more compared to Arrow and, to a lesser extent, The Flash. I have the cast props because they've almost all played these characters for several years. For the most part, the actors feel comfortable in their roles. Effects from the other shows bleed into this season. My favorite aspect of this is shown through the character of Sara Lance. She is sort of thrust into a new place this season (and I personally really liked what they did with her character). She had a lot of inner troubles that she was fored to deal with this season, and I loved that. There were two new legends thrown into the mix this season. I had mixed reactions to them, to say the least. First, there was Nate Heywood / Citizen Steel. He was a character that I warmed up to almost immediately. He was another good-looking nerdy guy (similar to Ray). But, I don't think he was a carbon copy either. I think he was different and rounded enough to stand out. On the other hand, there was Amaya Jiwe / Vixen. It took me a little while to warm up to her. Part of this came from the fact that there was already an established version of the character running around (a version I personally feel was superior). The villains this season were the Legion of Doom. They were pretty damn entertaining to me.I kind of like that they shake things up a little bit each season with the show. They'll introduce characters, give established characters something of an exit. Usually they'll do it with the possibility that the leaving characters could potentially return, if the desire is there. As with most things dealing with time travel, there were some plot holes that probably could've been smoothed over a little bit better than they were. For the most part, this season felt kind of on par with the first season. It's not perfect, but it's still pretty fun.

B     

Stranger Things - Season 1

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Stranger Things debuted on Netflix in September. I have finally finished watching the first season. Basically, a kid named Will Byers disappears after a night of playing Dungeons & Dragons with his friends. Mike, Dustin, and Lucas go searching for him, and come across a girl named Eleven. Stranger Things plays out like an eight hour long movie. There's sort of an 80s Spielberg vibe to this show, with a dash of Stephen King for good measure. Most of the characters feel well-rounded. There's a sort of mystery to the character of Eleven. She's odd, but carries a likability and loyalty to the people she perceives as her friends. She speaks very few words. All of this, actress Millie Bobby Brown portrays excellently, and I hope to see more from this young actress in the future. Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers, the missing boy's mom, is the best she has been in a very long time. This is a character who may or may not be going crazy, and Ryder pulls it off with apparent ease. David Harbour portrays police chief Hopper. This is a broken man who is trying to help Joyce, due in part to his daughter dying of cancer prior to the show's beginning. The one character who I felt was a bit too one-note was Troy. He was a bully that didn't really have any depth to him, or any redeeming quality. I never understood why he was the way he was. He was just a bully. The show takes place in 1983, which makes that 80s feel work in the show's favor. Great pacing, awesome writing, and generally excellent characters make for a show that I highly recommend. There's a second season coming in 2017, and I can't wait to see what's coming next.

A      

The Walking Dead - The Day Will Come When You Won't Be

The Day Will Come When You Won't Be is the title of the seventh season premiere. Overall, this was a pretty tense episode. And yes, I know the episode aired on Sunday night. Now, I am definitely going to be spoiling the hell out of this episode. If you haven't seen it yet, stop reading here. For everyone else, let's get going. The episode opens right after Negan has done the deed. He proceeds to drag Rick off into his trailer. They reveal the big moments through flashbacks. Negan proceeds to drive Rick towards a walker-infested area, tosses Rick's hatchet out of the trailer, and forces Rick to go get it. We also get to see the world's most terrifying game of "Eeny Meeny Miney Moe" ever. Some subtle hints and red herrings are thrown in that made wonder exactly who it was Negan killed. Ultimately, the person Negan designated as being "it" was Abraham. Abraham did have some of the best last words ever written for anything, ever. "Suck my nuts!" he mumbles before Negan finishes bashing his head in. Where things really get hard is when Daryl gets up and decks Negan out of anger. Negan feels as though he has to remind Rick and his group about the first one was free. But, if anyone were to try anything afterwards, he would "shut that shit down immediately." Before the audience really gets a moment to breathe, Negan proceeds to beat Glenn over the head. What we see of a barely still alive Glenn is pretty fucking gruesome as is. The sad moment is his gurgling out "Maggie, I'll find you" before being finished off by Negan. Back in real time, Negan brings Rick back to the group. Negan finally manages to break Rick when he tells him to cut off Carl's arm. Negan stops Rick just short, knowing he has broken Rick. We also see a little different side to Maggie. She has reached the point where, despite being sick, all she has left is her unborn baby. She has just lost Glenn, and is officially out for blood. So, this may just be about as perfect of a season premiere as it possibly could be. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is perfectly cast as Negan. The tension is the best in this episode as I think it's been in a while. I can't wait to see what's coming this season.

A+

     

Top 10 Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? Episodes

It's still October, the month of Halloween. So, why not talk about my favorite episodes of one of the most famous horror/mystery cartoons of all time that still endures to this day, which is also a personal favorite of mine.

#10: Bedlam in the Big Top:  The story is the gang goes to the circus to investigate the mystery surrounding an alleged ghost clown who begins hypnotizing them. I have this episode on the list simply because I am terrified of clowns.

#9: A Gaggle of Galloping Ghosts: The gang is trapped overnight in a castle, where they must outrun the Universal movie monsters (Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, and the Wolfman). I love this episode because it sort of pays homage to the classics, but also gives a pretty damn cool crossover that makes complete sense, even though you probably wouldn't expect it otherwise.

#8: Haunted House Hang-Up: I won't lie, I don't remember a whole lot about this episode, so it's pretty low on the list. I remember liking it a lot, and really dug the use of a headless ghost.

#7: That's Snow Ghost: When Scooby and the gang head to a ski resort for a weekend of fun, they find themselves involved with solving another mystery when a snow monster shows up to wreak havoc on the vacationers. The setting and the monster go hand-in-hand. One of the things I love about this particular episode is that it's legitimately one of the few times where they don't start out actively trying to solve a mystery. They just sort of stumble into it.

#6: A Clue For Scooby-Doo: While the gang is having some fun, they accidentally stumble across a ghost in a glowing green scuba suit. So, they begin trying to solve the mystery of who he is and what he wants. I love the look of the Captain Cutler ghost. He feels very vacant and empty with a hint of menace.

#5: What a Night for a Knight: The very first episode of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? centers on the Black Knight Ghost and a counterfeit painting scheme. As I already said, this is the show's first episode. It sets you up for what the overall show is, and has a fairly engaging story. But, it still keeps it simple enough for younger viewers to follow and understand.

#4: Go Away Ghost Ship: I remember that this is one where Shaggy outwits the ghost of Redbeard with an eggbeater. This was the episode I first remember seeing that told me pirate ghosts could be a thing.

#3: Spooky Space Kook: Spooky Space Kook centers around the gang running out of gas in a ghost town. They then must solve a mystery around an alien that seems to be terrorizing the town. Now, the alien himself is actually pretty creepy and has damn cool look to him, which is why this episode is so high on the list.

#2: Jeepers, It's the Creeper The Creeper is probably the most famous of Scooby-Doo's monsters, and for good reason. His introduction is so out of nowhere that's kind of memorable and a touch eerie. I actually love the character of the creeper so much this episode has the number 2 spot on my list.

#1: A Night of Fright Is No Delight: This is quite possibly the episode of Scooby-Doo I've watched the most. Scooby-Doo receives an inheritance, and along with the gang goes and stays at a haunted mansion. The mansion, however, is haunted by a group of chained green ghosts. It also borrows tropes and inspiration from slasher flicks of the time period as well as Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. 

Luke Cage: Season 1

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Luke Cage is the newest Marvel Netflix series leading up to The Defenders next year. Much like the previous two Marvel Netflix shows, Luke Cage is fantastic. Mike Colter owns the character of Luke Cage, playing a sort of black Superman, if you will. Luke Cage is just a good guy. He doesn't really want to be a hero, or hoisted on a mantle, but he has to be in order to deal with corruption in his Harlem neighborhood. Mahershala Ali as Cornell 'Cottonmouth' Stokes works spectacularly in the role of a nightclub owner / drug and weapons dealer who has a painting of crowned Biggie Smalls hanging in his office. Alfre Woodard portrays Stokes' cousin, Mariah "Black Mariah" Dillard. She is a Harlem councilwoman that genuinely wants to save Harlem, but also has her own monsters inside that she must contend with. Rosario Dawson reprises her role of Claire Temple. The character feels as though she has progressed, moved forward, and Dawson and Colter have spot-on chemistry. The fairly unknown Simone Missick shines as Misty Knight, giving a performance that could earn her well-deserved recognition. Theo Rossi likened his character of Hernan "Shades" Alvarez to that of Littlefinger from Game of Thrones, and it totally works, to the point that Shades was my favorite villain in the show. All of the main characters feel well-rounded, and are genuinely well-written. The soundtrack is phenomenal, whether it's recreating the sound and style of old-school 1970s shows, or Luke Cage beating bad guys down in hallway to the tune of Wu-Tang Clan. The music always fits the mood. If I have one flaw, there are roughly four or five main villains, and it does feel a touch overcrowded at times. But, that also works, too. I had an idea of where the show was going. Halfway through, something happened, and I had no idea what to expect from that point on. Overall, despite some overcrowding in the villain department, Luke Cage is a great show that I recommend checking out for yourself if you haven't already.

A  

Scream Queens: Season 1

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 The second season of Scream Queens just started. So, I thought I would go back and review the first season. In a lot of ways, the show did hit the ground running. The actors are all having fun in their roles. Emma Roberts nails the mean girl stereotype to a tee. Jamie Lee Curtis also deserves as much praise as possible. She plays the university's no-nonsense dean of students, and is equal parts funny, creepy, and suspicious. The creators of the show have said that they grew up with slashers of the 1980s, and I feel it shows. Someone dies in every episode (a point I wish the first season of Scream would have followed), which racks up the average body count a normal slasher flick might have. The use of the Red Devil (the school mascot) as the killer's costume plays to the tropes of 80s slashers as well, much to the show's benefit. Many of the deaths were also fairly creative and violent. Someone gets their face burned with frying oil. Another person gets dismembered with a chainsaw. However, the show's freshman season wasn't perfect. The main flaw of the first season has got to be the tone. A lot of the time, the humor of the series isn't dark enough. Moreover, the tone is just inconsistent. It feels like they just didn't quite know a lot of the time how to make the horror and comedy gel (something the season 2 premiere seemed to fix). While there were characters I enjoyed, some of the others just didn't do anything for me. I felt like they were there for cannon fodder, even if the actors did good in the roles.

B+ 

Game of Thrones S6E7: The Broken Man

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The episode begins by showing us that Sandor "The Hound" Clegane is still alive. He's more of a man of peace now, working and living with a village that he has come to call his home. He has even found a mentor in Ray, played by Ian McShane. We then cut to a moment between the High Sparrow and Margery Tyrell (neither of whose game I'm completely sure of what the end result is). I think it's possible that the two are playing each other in the other's own right. This is furthered by her discussion with her grandmother Olenna. Jon Snow, along with Sansa Stark and Brienne of Tarth, tries to rally the wildlings to join him in an army that could attack and defeat Ramsay Bolton, god willing. Fortunately for him, he is successful. Cersei attempts to convince Olenna to help battle the High Sparrow. Olenna reminds Cersei that she is surrounded by enemies, and has terribly few friends left. Jamie Lannister and Bronn confront the Blackfish, who is "disappointed" by what he sees of Jamie Lannister. We see Theon and Yara are still very much on the run. This isn't a long scene, and I don't feel necessarily needed to be included. Jon and Sansa argue over the number of men they have and the number of men they need. Ray, Sandor, and their people are confronted by Lannister bannermen. Arya has a run in with the waif shortly after buying herself passage to a ship headed for Westeros. Much of Sandor's fellow villagers are slaughtered and the episode ends with him picking up an axe, presumably taking up the mantle of the hound once again.

9 / 10 
       

Game of Thrones S6E6: Blood of My Blood

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The episode begins with Meera and Bran still running from the White Walkers and Wights. They are eventually found, but are saved shortly after by a hooded man we haven't met yet. Bran has several flashbacks that continue to hint at the R+L=J idea. Sam and Gilly arrive with Gilly's young son at house Tarly, where Sam was born. There, Gilly meets Sam's mother and sister. Tommen has a talk with the high sparrow, confessing his worry. Tommen is allowed by the high sparrow to see Margery. Margery seems to have come to a new look on life that I think is a little bit scary. Once again, Tommen shows his signature naivety that I feel will be his eventual (and inevitable) downfall. One thing that does make me curious is whether or not Margery is playing a larger game than she is letting on. Immediately, I came to the the conclusion that I despised Sam's father. I felt and understood the awkwardness that Sam and Gilly felt during their dinner with Sam's family. Disgusted by his father's small-minded bigotry, Sam defies his father's decision to have Gilly work in the kitchens and their son raised a bastard, by taking his father's sword and leaving with Gilly and the baby in the middle of the night. I'll be honest, some of these moments drag a touch for me. Arya watches the next piece of the play. Arya does poison the wine, though she hesitates before doing so. One of the most interesting things about this episode is that Arya has officially renounced becoming "no one." This does put her on the list of potential characters that don't make it to the end of the season because the waif is now hunting her with the order of "don't let her suffer." Jamie Lannister makes a move to prevent the high sparrow from allowing Margery to take the walk of atonement. Tommen, however is swung to the side of wanting to atone for his sins. I grow to hate the high sparrow more and more. Jamie Lannister is banished from King's Landing. Returning to Bran and Meera, the hooded man is revealed to be Benjen Stark. Walder Frey is revealed to have captured Edmure Tully. Jamie has a discussion with Cersei, and we learn that he is being sent to deal the whole Tully issue. Daenyres and Daavros ride to bring the Dothraki to Mereen with the plan to return to Westeros and take back what she believes to be rightfully hers.

9 / 10         

Game of Thrones S6E5: The Door

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Sansa receives a raven that tells her about the Tullys potentially taking up arms against the Boltons. I'll be honest, this is becoming one of my favorite story lines within the season. Season 6 has shown a Sansa Stark that is more world-weary. She has a bitterness towards Littlefinger. In the past, I admittedly haven't been the biggest fan of Sansa, but this season has turned her into one of my favorite characters on the show. Should Ramsay actually die this season (god willing, I personally hope it's Sansa that actually manages to kill him). There's a creepy little moment between Tyrion, Varys, and a Red Woman that gives a look from Varys I've never seen before. We're given a bit more of Arya's training to become no one. That honestly gets me wondering, though. Will she? She is sent to spy on an actress who the servants of the many-faced gods have been hired to kill. She sees a play that makes a mockery of both the Lannisters and the Starks, particularly Sansa and Ned. I found this beat interesting because, even though Arya claims to be no one, she had a look of disgust on her face at the way her family was portrayed. Daenyres and Jorah have a touching goodbye. Both Yara and Euron Greyjoy lay claim to the salt throne. When a good number of people side with Euron, Yara, Theon, and their own supporters smartly get the hell out of dodge. Finally, Bran's training with the Three-Eyed Raven gets cut short. The White Walkers manage to find them. The Raven and the tree-like children are killed. We also learn "Hodor" is Hodor's legacy. While Bran was what the Raven called "inside", he accidentally warged into a young Hodor, then named Willis. Willis then begins to seizure, screaming "Hold the Door" until all he is able to say is "Hodor". This moment is both sad and a little freaky at the same time, at least for me. Hodor is killed while Bran and Meera are able to escape. He is ultimately awarded a hero's death, which is something that isn't granted to many characters on the show. I'll be honest, this season keeps ramping up the ante, getting me more and more excited for what's yet to come.

10 / 10