Updates on Top 10 Lists for The Walking Dead (SPOILERS)

With the end of the ninth season of The Walking Dead, to say a lot has changed would be putting it lightly, but thankfully, the show has fallen into the capable hands of Angela Kang, and what could have been the season to officially kill the show has instead breathed new life into it. Now it's time to take a look back on my Top 10 lists and see what has changed. Let's begin:

Top 10 Moments
 10. Rick vs. Negan (Season 8 Episode 12 "The Key")
 9. Carol kills Lizzie (Season 4 Episode 14 "The Grove")

 8. The Death of Shane (Season 2 Episode 12 "Better Angels")

 7. Lori's Death (Season 3 Episode 4 "Killer Within")

 6. Carl's Death (Season 8 Episode 9 "Honor")

 5. The Pikes (Season 9 Episode 15 "The Calm Before")

4. The Prison War (Season 4 Episode 8 "Too Far Gone")

 3. All of "No Way Out" (Season 6 Episode 9 "No Way Out")

 2. Michonne killing the Kids (Season 9 Episode 14 "Scars")

 1. Glenn and Abraham's Deaths (Season 7 Episode 1 "The Day Will Come When You Won't Be")

Top 10 Episodes

 10. "Killer Within" (Season 3 Episode 4)

 9. "Honor" (Season 8 Episode 9)

 8. "No Sanctuary" (Season 5 Episode 1)
 7. "What Comes After" (Season 9 Episode 5)
 6. "The Calm Before" (Season 9 Episode 15)

 5. "Too Far Gone" (Season 4 Episode 8)

 4. "No Way Out" (Season 6 Episode 9)

 3. "The Day Will Come When You Won't Be" (Season 7 Episode 1)

 2. "Wrath" (Season 8 Episode 16)
 1. "Scars" (Season 9 Episode 14)

Top 10 Characters
 10. Carl Grimes

 9. Shane Walsh

 8. Maggie Rhee

 7. Glenn Rhee

 6. Negan

 5. Morgan Jones

 4. Carol Peletier

 3. Daryl Dixon

 2. Michonne

 1. Rick Grimes

And that's it for these updates, guys. Tune in for more on the way :)

Retro-Reviews: The Walking Dead Season 9 (SPOILERS)

We're making a New Beginning...

It's been a while since I've talked about The Walking Dead. When it started out, it was one of my favorite shows ever with the first four seasons being exemplary television. However, things took a major drop down for me in the fifth season and ever since then, every season has been a frustrating mixed bag. There was always something sprinkled into each season that gave me hope that I'd see the show return to its glory days, but for every high, the showrunners come up with a brand new boneheaded decision that kills all good will, each worse than the last. By season 8, it seemed that the nail was finally in the coffin when it was decided that to "progress the story," Carl Grimes, arguably the second most important character in the series and one who was the most likely to take up reigns as the primary protagonist overall, was killed off. To add even further insult to injury, this season was confirmed to be the last for Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes and Lauren Cohan as Maggie Rhee, so that was three big characters that the show loses in such a short amount of time. In addition to all this drama, interest in the show began to decline, with the ratings being a grim reflection of that. To put it simply, it's been a dark time for the show, and one that it seemed it would never recover from...until Season 9, or more specifically Angela Kang, swooped in and saved the day. Adapting material from the story arc fittingly known as A New Beginning, Kang brought a fresh new direction for the show to take in spite of the mess that came before, and for anyone who stuck around to see it through, such as myself, I believe it's safe to say that their patience has been rewarded...at least for now. So let's see what makes The Walking Dead Season 9 succeed, and whatever problems still persist:

UPS

1. To put things into simple terms, it really does feel like the show has undergone a new beginning. For starters, the tone is much lighter and the characters go through optimistic developments, such as Carol forming a relationship with Ezekiel and the two starting a family by taking in Henry as a surrogate son, Daryl starting to come into his own as a friend, a protector, and even as a leader (which is a real treat given the poor treatment of the character in the last few seasons,) and even more poignantly, Maggie finally coming to terms with Glenn's death and having the strength to spare Negan. Overall, the new developments have pushed the show forward in truly magnificent ways and it's all the better for it.
2. The new opening theme. If there was any indication that this show was going in a different direction, then it definitely starts here. Seriously, this opening is so unique and sets itself apart from the previous openings. It really does give you the impression that the show was changing, and I couldn't help but embrace it. 
3. Though it will never be the same without him, and the episode itself may have been overwhelmed by the hype surrounding it, I think Rick did get a proper sendoff. Not only did we see him fight till the bitter end, but we also got to see him have moments with Sasha, Shane, and Hershel (with the latter being especially moving due to it being Scott Wilson's last scene before passing away.) What makes this even better is that, despite this being his last appearance on the show, Kang and the showrunners make the decision to spare him from death and simply send him off on a new journey, which will take place in a trilogy of movies set for 2020. All in all, he may no longer be on the show, but as Andrew Lincoln put it, the story of Rick Grimes is far from over.
4. The Whisperers. I don't know how else to say it, but they fucking nailed the Whisperers. After a (mostly) superb introduction, the promotional material for the second half was really ramping up the excitement at them becoming the new villains of the series. Though her southern accent admittedly sounded pretty goofy in the promos, all doubts were put to rest once Samantha Morton proved to be downright chilling as Alpha, providing a cold, vicious, almost animalistic presence to the role. Cassidy McClincy is also great as Lydia, with the dynamic between her and Daryl being something that I particularly look forward to seeing in Season 10. Ultimately, though, the true standout for me is Beta, primarily because they took a complete dud of a character from the comics and helped him become a breakout star in the show, and honestly, after careful consideration, out of every character that the showrunners have casted, Ryan Hurst as Beta may be the one they have nailed the best. I am truly impressed with the Whisperers so far and as such, they made this season more memorable than it already was. 
5. "Scars" and "The Calm Before." Despite my positivity so far, I will admit that it took a while for me to truly express my love for this season. As good as it was, I felt that the show's problems forever held it back from reaching the same magic it had during its early years...and then these two episodes dropped and swept me off my feet. "Scars" really brought to light that after so long, the show was finally hearkening back to what made it the phenomenon that it was in the first place, being the darkest episode since "The Grove." "The Calm Before" then takes a page from Game of Thrones by providing the big shocker in the penultimate episode, all while being an utterly suspenseful hour and a half of television the whole way through. Again, if Season 9 was a sign that things were looking up for the show, then these are the episodes that solidified and sealed the deal. 

DOWNS

1. Jesus ended his tenure in the series as a massive waste of a perfectly good character. One of the major problems of previous seasons was that every right-hand man Rick had that wasn't Daryl or Shane got the short end of the stick, and Jesus is no exception. After such a promising introduction, the character fell to the sidelines before having the tired "pacifist in times of conflict" trope dumped on him to provide unnecessary drama, all while never getting the chance to truly stand out on his own or show off his amazing martial arts skills, something that Tom Payne himself was very adamant about. What makes this worse is that Season 9 was finally starting to showcase Jesus in an interesting way, with him becoming a reluctant leader of the Hilltop, forming a budding relationship with Aaron, and showing us all what a true badass he could be. Overall, Jesus was one of the many characters that this show just never utilized to their full potential. Now with so few characters left, let's hope the showrunners can put this bullshit to rest.
2. As much as I hate to admit it, I wasn't too keen on how Negan was used throughout the season. Seeing as we haven't reached the part of major importance for him in this storyline, it meant that there wasn't much need for him to be as prominent. Still, I wished they could have done more with him than just having him sit around in a cell and spend a whole episode being an aimless wanderer before going back to where he was. It didn't help that two of the characters he shared a majority of his screen time with, Rick and Carl, were no longer around. Basically, the more he was around, the more pointless he felt, and that is not how I should be feeling about one of my favorite characters in this series. Thankfully, it seems that this will be rectified as the season finale planted the seeds for his redemption arc to fully come into fruition, and his moment with Maggie is easily one of the best moments of the season, if not the series.

OVERALL

The Walking Dead Season 9 did what I thought could not be done in a while and brought the show back to what made it so great in the earlier seasons. Sure, it still could do a little bit more, but for now, this is truly the best this show has been for a while, and I hope it gets better from here. Thank you Angela Kang for saving this show, and let's hope it stays that way.

And that's it for this post, guys! Tune in for more coming your way :) 

Captain Marvel (SPOILERS)

Higher, Further, Faster...

To prep for the arrival of Endgame, Marvel brings us its first female-led feature. In the months before its release, there has been major buzz surrounding this film...and most of it, unfortunately, was not very good. For starters, the trailers were pretty underwhelming and did nothing to garner much excitement, while elsewhere, trolls took to the internet to bash the movie as much as they could. With all this being said, what did I think of it? Well to start, as anyone can already tell you, don't believe the trolls. Secondly, I, like many, was underwhelmed by the trailers, but early reviews promised a solid experience, so I went in holding my head high and found myself mostly rewarded for doing so. This movie is a very enjoyable installment to the MCU, though not without some major flaws. In this post, I will go over what made Captain Marvel work and what didn't:

UPS

1. Brie Larson is great. A big reason the trailers were so frustrating is that they never really managed to showcase their star. How could you do that, trailers?! Well thankfully, Larson does knock it out of the park by providing effortless charm to the role. She's tough, she's funny, and while the writers don't fully flesh Carol Danvers out to the fullest extent that they could have, Larson more than makes up for that. 
2. Besides being great all on her own, Larson has great chemistry with the rest of her cast, in particular, of course, with Samuel L. Jackson. It's no secret to say that the movie really picks up once Nick Fury arrives on the scene, providing a highly entertaining dynamic that provides some of the best moments in the film. Alongside Jackson, Lashana Lynch provides a lot of heart as Maria Rambeau. Though we don't see enough of her and Carol's friendship, the moments they are together really allow it to shine. All in all, the more these three are together, the better the movie is. 
3. Talos and the Skrulls in general. While I do have my problems with the twist (which I will get to later,) I do appreciate the different direction Marvel takes with these characters. Turning them from straight villains into characters with more moral ambiguity provided some neat potential for a truly interesting conflict which we never really see come into fruition. Talos himself is a great character and Ben Mendelsohn owns the role. 
4. Goose the Cat. Just Goose the Cat. Anytime a movie offers us an animal sidekick to tag along, you know you will be in for a treat. While I try not to say she stole the show, it's pretty hard to do so. She's just such a lovable addition to the movie.
5. This. Need I say more?

DOWNS

1. Again, while making the Skrulls morally ambiguous was a smart move, the direction taken afterwards was less than satisfactory. Turning the Skrulls into anti-heroes does not mean that the Kree needed to turn into full-on villains, yet that's exactly what happened. As a result, the conflict became less interesting when there was potential for something more. 
2. The first act takes a while to get going, and during that time there isn't much fleshing out of any of the Kree (they really get the short end of the stick, do they?), their way of life and how that pertains to Carol, or the conflict with the Skrulls. Meanwhile, the last act, well, the twist pretty much explains the issues regarding it, but being more specific, the final battle is a pretty big letdown, with Carol pretty much annihilating the Kree fleet in a flash while Ronan shows up, does nothing, and leaves. Yeah, that's it? It's such a frustratingly minuscule role that I wonder why they even bothered adding him in. He doesn't even look that intimidating this time around. 
3. As I have said before, as great as Brie Larson is, the character of Carol Danvers was pretty one-note in terms of actual character. The movie never really takes the time to flesh out her role in the story nor really explain who she is, having flashbacks to her story pop up every now and then in very minimal doses. I left with the feeling that because I knew so little of who she was, she never feels like she goes on a journey or change of some sort. She's not a bad character by any means and I'm sure she'll get a better showing in Endgame, but considering this is her first solo outing, I was hoping the writers would do more. 

OVERALL

Captain Marvel is definitely worth seeing. The trailers did not do it justice and the trolls will not be swaying anyone anytime soon. While I do have some issues with how some things were handled, I hope to see more of her as time goes on and can't wait to see her tagalong with the OG Avengers team as they work to reverse the damage done in Infinity War...whatever it takes.

And that's it for this post, guys! Tune in for more on the way :)

In The Mind Of: Hiccup and Toothless (SPOILERS)

It's you and me, Bud...

The best kinds of friendships last a lifetime and persevere against all obstacles. In the realm of fiction, there are many friendships that encapsulate this idea and no different from them is the bond shared between a boy and his dragon. In the world of Berk, vikings and dragons were constantly at odds with each other, fighting an endless war that would only end with one or the other dead. That all changed when Hiccup met Toothless, and together the two formed a friendship that brought the two worlds closer together instead of further apart. 

Hiccup and Toothless share a bond that is one of the purest and most genuine friendships I have seen in the realm of fiction. Their bond has not only affected each other, but those around them. As such, people like Stoick and Astrid are able to grow into better people because of them. Together, even if the odds are stacked against them, they still push through because nothing can stand in the way of their bond and their pursuit of everlasting peace between humans and dragons.

Retro-Reviews: How To Train Your Dragon (Complete Trilogy/SPOILERS)

We Go Where No One Goes...

I always love a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, and that is the beauty of a trilogy. There are many movie trilogies that I love, but which one is my absolute favorite? Honestly, I try to use that term as loosely as possible because I really can't pick a favorite out of any of them. However, if there was one that moved me the most, that holds the most impact for me personally, and tells its story as fully and completely as possible, then I think I have to go with the How To Train Your Dragon trilogy. Words cannot begin to describe the love I have for these movies. Without further adieu, let's get into why I feel this way, and whatever major or minor caveats they hold:

UPS

1. For starters, Hiccup and Toothless. The bond these two share is one of the most touching, pure, and genuine friendships I have ever seen put into any work of fiction. What makes their bond better is how it develops Hiccup as a character and how he becomes a better person because of it. The two go to Hell and back together, and nothing that stands in their way drives them apart, which really speaks volumes about how powerful their friendship is. 
2. Going into each movie, each one has something to love about it. The first one is an excellent starting point, with all the characters being introduced in satisfying ways and developed to points that will shape them for the future. Most affecting of all is the arc of Stoick, who goes from this hard-hearted brute of a Viking with high standards set for his son to a more vulnerable individual who allows himself to open up in more personal ways and admit his shortcomings, which culminates in this profoundly affecting moment. That's just one of the many moments in this film that is genuinely awe-inspiring and it would be easy to think after such a strong start that we wouldn't reach the same heights again. Well...
3. The second one proves to be just as stellar as the first and even takes things to higher heights by providing darker and more emotional scenes, in particular the death of Stoick, which really just needs to be seen to be believed. The introduction of Valka also brings in more drama and seeing Hiccup really come into his own despite everything that happens really helps to round him out as a character. Finally...
4. The Hidden World, while admittedly slightly weaker than the first two, is a beautiful and satisfying conclusion to the story. Everything comes full circle in ways that feel earned, and it provides a perfect bittersweet conclusion that moves you and helps you feel hopeful that things will get better in the future. Also, the romance between Toothless and the Light Fury is simply adorable and that final scene may just be my favorite moment in the entire trilogy. It couldn't have ended on a more perfect note than that.
5. The music! Good Lord, THE MUSIC!!! If there one thing that I could definitively say, it's that these movies hold, for me, the best soundtrack to a movie ever! EVER! It is so moving, so powerful, so...AGH! Let's just leave it there, shall we?

DOWNS

1. Remember how I said The Hidden World was slightly weaker than the first two. Well, everything about it was mostly stellar...except one thing: this one subplot featuring Snotlout having a crush on Valka and getting jealous of Eret, with the latter two getting very little to do in this film, which is kinda surprising given the rather major roles they played in the second one. It's really odd and what makes it more distracting is that it's given a heavy amount of screentime, even when it adds nothing to the film. I may be overreacting a bit, but I think if there was one thing from these movies that I could do without, it was definitely this.

OVERALL

The How To Train Your Dragon trilogy is pretty much my favorite movie trilogy of all time. If you haven't seen any of them yet, please give them a watch. I promise you won't regret it.  

And that's it for this post guys. Tune in for more on the way :)

The Walking Dead: 10 Characters likely to end up on The Pikes (SPOILERS)

With The Walking Dead Season 9 just about wrapping up, it seems that we are going to see a major moment from the comics play out in the upcoming penultimate episode, "The Calm Before." Like Negan before her, Alpha and the Whisperers as a whole establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with by committing an act of violence that sees the deaths of a huge cast of characters, including heavy hitters like Ezekiel and Rosita. A harrowing scene that took everyone by storm, this moment will no doubt hold the same impact on the show as it did in the comic. The question is: who will end up on the pikes? Since so much has changed over the course of this season, it will be quite hard to say if they will remain faithful or take major deviations. Regardless, with this moment being set up as the series' Red Wedding, expect A LOT of people to die, and in this post, I have chosen ten characters who I feel will most likely end up on a pike, starting with:
 10. DJ and/or Marco
 9. Kal
 8. Nabila
 7. Any given member of the Highwaymen
 6. Tammy
 5. Luke
 4. Enid
 3. Rosita
 2. Tara
 1. Ezekiel

And that's it for this post, guys. Tune in for more on the way :)