“East” begins with moments of quiet connection, but ends with a bang. After Carol’s showdown on the road, we see scenes of Rick and Morgan tracking Carol through the fields intercut with the story of Daryl’s conflict with Dwight. The Walking Dead builds the suspense for the Season 6 finale by putting several characters in jeopardy while leaving Alexandria at risk for attack.
Supernatural S11E16 Recap: Safe House
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In “Safe House” Supernatural brings back Bobby Singer (Jim Beaver) and Rufus Turner (Steven Williams) when the Winchester brothers find themselves working on the same case the “Grumpy Old Men of Letters” were involved with years earlier. There are some great parallel moments as it becomes clear the case is more complicated that it initially appears. Just as Sam and Dean take on the case because they’re at a standstill in their efforts to fight the Darkness, Bobby is in the midst trying to help the boys stop the Apocalypse. This makes Rufus’s reminder that “you can’t save everyone” that much more poignant. Continue reading
Monster of the Week: Bunnies
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If you think that bunnies can’t be monsters, you haven’t been paying close enough attention. Below are some film and TV sources of a few of the scariest hares we’ve heard of.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: If a centuries-old vengeance demon like Anya (Emma Caulfield) is deathly afraid of rabbits, perhaps there’s something to learn there. Anya wears a bunny costume for Halloween in Season 4 because she’s told that the idea is to dress as “something scary.” Buffy lore has retconned Anya’s leporiphobia into having some relation to the fact that she seems to have bred and raised rabbits back in the Middle Ages when she was human (see S07E05, “Selfless”), but we don’t think she needs a reason. Continue reading
Supernatural S11E16 Review: Safe House
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“Safe House” hails the return of Supernatural’s favorite father figure, Bobby Singer. We look forward to what has become Jim Beaver’s annual appearance in the series and appreciate the creative ways the writers find to integrate his character into the story. Supernatural gives us an episode full of mirrored moments as Sam and Dean investigate a case that Bobby and Rufus Turner (Steven Williams) were involved with years earlier. We’re reminded that the Winchesters have faced down an end-of-the-world scenario in the past, though it came at a great cost. As Rufus tells Bobby—the oldest rule in hunting is “you can’t save everyone.” Continue reading
Supernatural Season 11 Episode 16 Photos: Safe House
0The Walking Dead S06E14 Recap: Twice as Far
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The burden of the past weighs heavy on some in Alexandria, while others seek to start anew. In “Twice as Far,” Carol continues to think about the lives she’s already taken and whether she can continue as she has. Carol isn’t the only one struggling with past choices, as Daryl finds that no good deed goes unpunished. While these two warriors meditate on the consequences of their actions, Eugene and Denise seek to prove to themselves and others that they are also survivors. The Walking Dead packs a lot into “Twice as Far,” showing us how the characters we have grown to care about have been altered by internal and external forces. Continue reading
The Walking Dead S06E14 Review: Twice as Far
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In “Twice as Far,” The Walking Dead reminds us that you can never escape your past, but you can try to shape your own future. Daryl faces the consequences of his earlier choices, while Carol struggles to live with who she’s become. Rosita and Abraham find themselves in transition, while Eugene and Denise consciously strive to evolve. “Twice as Far” feels like a thoughtful character study with a slow pace, up until the end when it smacks us in the face. The Walking Dead continues to balance thoughtful character-driven scenes and gripping action sequences, along with occasional moments of humor and warmth.
Monster of the Week: Spring-heeled Jack
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A Spring-heeled Jack penny dreadful cover
Spring-heeled Jack, “the Terror of London,” is a well-known monstrous villain of Victorian urban legend. Though generally human in appearance, Spring-heeled Jack is said to have demonic characteristics such as bulbous glowing eyes, long, sharp claws of metal, and sometimes even horns. He was often seen in England and Scotland in a bat-like, black winged cloak and a tight suit of black and white oilskin, not unlike a twentieth-century comic book character’s costume. Reports of Spring-heeled Jack speaking, or indeed making any sound, are rare, and it is possible he is mute, though there have been reports of victims hearing fiendish laughter. Another unnatural characteristic commonly attributed to Jack is his ability to spit blue flame. Spring-heeled Jack’s most famous attribute, though, is his ability to escape capture by leaping over tall gates and walls.
The Walking Dead S06E13 Recap: The Same Boat
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In “The Same Boat,” The Walking Dead focuses on Maggie and Carol after they’ve been captured by a group of Saviors. The episode was dominated by powerful female characters. Maggie and Carol find themselves facing women quite similar to themselves, but who took a darker, more violent path than their own. Both Melissa McBride and Lauren Cohan gave outstanding performances that showcase their characters’ strength and emotional vulnerability.
Teen Wolf S05E20 Recap: Apotheosis
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In the Season 5 finale of Teen Wolf, “Apotheosis,” we learn that Teen Wolf was holding out on us all season long. Apparently there’s nothing quite so rewarding for a writer as deceiving your audience. Despite their trickery, “Apotheosis” brought everything together and managed to kill off some of the villains we hated, as well as the villains we actually liked. There’s a lot going on in this season finale, with the Beast being hunted, the Surgeon getting unmasked, Malia having a showdown with her mom, and Theo amping up his E.Q. (evil quotient) to well past eleven. Continue reading