The Blacklist: A Review of the Best Show on Television

In the weeks leading up to the premiere of The Blacklist, I was very excited about the show mostly because I am a huge fan of James Spader.  He was my motivation going in and honestly, I thought Spader would be the only thing that would keep me watching once it began as I'm not usually a fan of crime dramas.  Well, I was dead wrong.
On September 23rd, the day The Blacklist premiered, I was captivated immediately.  James Spader is phenomenal, of course, and his portrayal of Red Reddington is sinful because he makes you love him so much.  But he wasn't the only one who captivated me.  The chemistry among the cast and characters is perfect, the suspense is there every week and there hasn't been an episode yet that hasn't made me nearly have a heart attack.  Megan Boone really stood out in the first episode as Agent Elizabeth Keen.  She gets better every week and honestly, she's the strongest female character on TV right now.  The show starts on her first day where we meet her potentially dangerous husband, Tom.  From that moment, she and the viewers are taken on a whirlwind journey that is the first part of this season.  The chemistry between Red and Agent Keen is fantastic because we really don't know why Red is so interested in her and we're left in mystery with Agent Keen. 
Now, some shows captivate us with the character stories while others get us more with the cases and mysteries they investigate but with The Blacklist every aspect is intriguing.  Raymond Reddington, Red, turns himself into the FBI in the first episode and will only work with Agent Keen.  Red offers them the names and help to take down the criminals on his blacklist, which he's compiled over the last 20 years but only under his conditions.  Every week the show gets better and continues to one up itself.  The winter finale was mind blowing.
If you aren't watching this show...you should be.  You don't want to end up on #TheBlacklist.  Comment and let me know what you think of the show.  I'd love to discuss theories. #WhereIsRed

SharkNado: The Storm that Blew up Social Media

Sharknado has taken on a life of its own as a new cult classic.  First, it took over social media, gained viewers on each viewing and grew so large that it sold out one night only showings in 200  movie theaters across the US.  I looked forward to this movie for a while because I'm a syfy shark movie junkie but it opened up the eyes of the rest of the country with how awesomely terrible these movies can be.  Sharknado really raised the bar with the ridiculousness involved (chain saw scene).

What made this movie so successful?  First, I think the cast was a huge part of the magic.  With the bromance of Baz and Fin, George the loveable drunk, Nova the damaged hot girl and of course Tara Reid(I don't remember her character's name) all together made this film that much better.  Baz supplied all the one liners and much needed comic relief to each scenario as they got crazier and crazier and I think he's a huge fan favorite.  The graphics were so bad it was laughable along with the continuity from scene to scene.  For example, one second the streets are flooded then they're dry lol.  These things just made one heck of a combo which leads beautifully to a sequel.

Sharknado: The Second One has been announced and I can't wait for it to hit my TV but it needs to have the original cast.  I bet Baz and company are dying to get out of LA so of course they go to NYC to catch a break and oh no another Sharknado!  Bringing in new characters is just a silly idea because these characters are what made this movie so great.  I'll be highly disappointed, personally if I don't get to see Baz swinging that baseball bat at sharks for another go around.  I mean they definitely have it coming.  #SharkNado2 #TheSecondOne #BringBackBaz

TV Crushes

Spock, Kirk, Bones

Nick Jonas

With the exception of "Star Trek" where I crushed on Bones, Spock and Kirk; I've always known exactly which character I was attracted to.  With "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" it was Giles, with "Jonas" it was Nick and so on.  But since I've started watching "The Vampire Diaries", its become impossible  to pick just one man.

Rupert Giles

First up, we meet Stefan, who is so adorable.  He's the guy we all want because he's protective, caring and handsome.  When I watch him on the show, I always think he's the one I'd want as my boyfriend plus he's make a much better Edward than Robert Pattinson did.  The only problem with the adorable and selfless Stefan is that after awhile he gets kinda boring and you just are kinda over it.  

Stefan

Once you've met Stefan, they immediately give you his exact opposite in the form of bad boy, Damon.  Damon is just plain attractive.  He's also protective and caring but selfish at the same time.  And as soon as he came on the scene, I completely ditched Stefan and went straight to Damon.  If only I'd known how much more complicated this was gonna become.  

Damon

Alaric

The next male character that caught my eye was Alaric Saltzman, the history teacher/vampire hunter.  He is just the all around good guy with a little danger mixed in.  He's currently the front runner for me but probably just because he's not in love with Elena like Damon and Stefan but also just because his character reminds me of Giles which definitely puts points in his corner.  His only downfall is he broke Reese Witherspoon's heart in "Legally Blonde" which comes to mind sometimes when I look at him haha.

Elijah

Last but not least is Elijah.  He is an original vampire but he's the one with dignity and he follows a code of honor.  He's chivalrous and keeps his word but is always quick to make sure its worded very carefully because he will save himself when necessary.  His problem is that he's just not on the show enough to fully grasp my affections, however when "The Originals  premieres this may be a different story.  

 

Ugh, just writing this has me all turned around again lol.  There's just too many eligible bachelors on "Vampire Diaries" but I'm still stuck on Alaric for now.  What about you ladies or gents...who're your favorite guys or gals to fall for on this or any TV series?  

PS:  I really do want y'all to interact with me :)

Oscars 2013

So, I won't even lie...so many things happened that made me happy and it's not even over yet!  First off, William Shatner brought back Captain James T. Kirk.  Yes, this part should be on my Star Trek blog but ... not this time.  I have literally waited 10+ years, since I saw Generations for Shatner to don the Starfleet uniform and it was everything I've hoped.  Now, being the big dreamer I am...I hope this might mean that we may see the original Captain Kirk again :).

Next up...the Avengers on stage together!  I don't really have much to say about this other than...I loved it and cannot wait for more Avengers movies!  Iron Man 3 can't get here fast enough!

I'm aware that this isn't much of a blog post but really I just wanna share my excitement.  There were so many Star Trek actors appearing and the Jaws theme cutting off a speech...epic!  Next moment that I loved most and last because I stopped watching, Catherine Zeta-Jones performing All That Jazz blew my mind.  I was so obsessed with Chicago that I learned all the moves to her songs in the film and it was just such a great ride down memory lane.  Plus, she looks so great!

That's it, y'all!  These were my highlights from what I saw or was told about from Oscars 2013.  Let me know what your favorite moments were.  I know a friend who would say Joseph Gordon Levitt was the best part of the night ;)

Vampire Diaries

I just started "The Vampire Diaries" last night and initially thought it was very much like Twilight with the brooding/creepy stalker vamp and his human girlfriend. 

What I've discovered is that this show is so much like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and also its awesome.  So basic breakdown, Stefan is clearly Angel.  He's the brooding vampire with someone making him miserable, with Angel it was the curse with Stefan, his brother.  Also, he refuses to feed on humans which is more like Edward but let's be honest Edward might as well be Angel.

Next up is the brother, Damon.  He is clearly a representative of Spike.  He's the dangerous one who may later love the girl but right now just wants to kill, get the girls and always has a mission.  He brings trouble to the group constantly which is basically all Spike ever did, besides being drop dead gorgeous.  His attitude towards Caroline and the way he uses her is exactly like the way Spike used Harmony in the fourth season of Buffy.  Also, the brothers having rings is a clear pan back to the episode of Buffy in season 4 when Spike digs through most of Sunnydale to get the ring to let him enjoy the sunshine once more.

Next up on my list is Bonnie, the witch, which is a representative of Buffy's best friend, Willow, also a witch. So far Elena is clearly not Buffy in the sense that she slays demons at night with the help of her watcher, Giles but she is a strong female character unlike Bella which brings this show even further away from Twilight.  I'm sad I've waited so long to get involved in this awesome show.  

The last similarity is a bit of a spoiler for both shows, so I've saved it till the end.  Alaric, the history teacher is on a path for revenge against Damon who killed/changed his wife and is his only reason to be in the town.  He's a normal guy who could take care of himself in a fight with vampires.  Well, he's exactly like Principal Robin Wood on Buffy, whose only reason to be in Sunnydale was to exact revenge on Spike for killing his mother.  

Now, these comparisons aside, I love this show and almost more because of how many Buffy memories it brings back.  Y'all should check it out!  Am I crazy?  Or can other fans of both shows realize the same things?

A Good Day to Die Hard

Live Free or Die Hard was pretty darn spectacular if you ask me but the newest installment really falls short of expectations.  In Live Free or Die Hard, we watched as Bruce Willis dragged along a scared Justin Long in an attempt to stop a computer genius from shutting down the countries resources.  I guess they thought Willis needed someone else again but this time it was his son, who has not been mentioned for most of the Die Hard series.  Well, the son is certainly not scared but somewhat of a macho man himself.  Problem is, the kid can't act and that takes away from what could have been great father/son banter in the film.  The action scenes in this one were slightly hoaky too like in the Expendables films, which works for those movies but not for the great John McClane series.  I think if this had been its own action movie it would have been excellent but once you put it in comparison with the other films, it just doesn't even come close.

I have only listed the negatives of the film but there was one good thing.  We still get to watch Bruce Willis spit out great one liners and kick some Russian ass.  Rumors are spreading that there will in fact be a sixth installment to the Die Hard series and I hope they take things more seriously next time around.

Jurassic Park 4

Speaking of Jurassic Park, I'd like to take a second to discuss the new film.  So, what direction will they go in for another JP film?  Will we see old characters brought back to the islands, dinosaurs brought to the states, or new characters brought to the islands?  I honestly have no clue and no real guesses on the matter but I do have some legitimate fears, well one fear.

If they go the direction of new characters, will they bring in an original to help them out?  Someone put in place to pass the torch.  I'm ok with this idea as long as the mentor character isn't killed off.  Well, that's not completely true.  If Ian Malcom is brought in, I don't really care about the outcome and look forward to whatever happens.  But if Alan Grant is brought in, he better not be killed off.  In all honesty, though, there's not conceivable reason any of the original characters would get back on those islands.  So, the only way they could really be involved is if someone brought the dinosaurs to America and somehow the old guys got wrangled in.
Anyway, this is mostly just ranting out of the frustration of not knowing and being burnt by so many other revivals of other beloved series.  Let me know what y'all think of all these ideas...

Valentine's Day and Recurring Dreams

I saw Jurassic Park 3 when I was 12 years old with my best friend.  I fell completely in love with Sam Neill at the time, not that I don't still find him attractive now.  The following Valentine's Day, night I guess you could say, I had the first of a three year run of recurring dreams about Jurassic Park, each one taking place on Valentine's Day.

The dream began with the entrance to Jurassic Park with Sam Neill and some other characters from the film and it took the next three years, yes only three nights out of that time period, for us to escape.  Each time, the dream would start back at the beginning and go further until we had escaped and celebrated the victory.  In these dreams, Alan Grant (Sam Neill) was my boyfriend so in essence he was my Valentine for three consecutive years until we escaped the park and I haven't dreamnt about dinosaurs since.  The details of the dream are foggy since I am now 23 and haven't had the dreams for almost 10 years but I'll always remember getting out of the park and hugging Dr. Grant with all my might.
Now you might be asking, why is this girl sharing this?  No reason really, other than Valentine's Day is days away and every year I remember those three nights in Jurassic Park and it puts a little smile on my face.  Anyone else ever had a recurring dream like this?

Last Nights Crazy Dream

Mel and I 

I have to type this up because I don't want to forget it...I will include multiple pictures.  So last night I dreamed that my New York best friend Mel and her boyfriend got tickets for her and I and our men to go see Al Pacino at the Alys Stephens Center (I did this last April by myself).  Well, the husband didn't want to go so Mel set me up with a friend of her boyfriend's who happened to be Dominic Cooper (yes that part was exciting!).

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Yes, I added a pic of the dress because its similar to what I wore.  Continuing the story...The show went well and Dominic Cooper and I got very cozy with each other.  Afterwards, Mel suggested that we go to a local bar which I agreed to but when we got to the bar, I was no longer accompanied by a handsomely dressed Dominic Cooper but now I was with Ashton Kutcher.  He and I also hit it off pretty quickly as we all drank a lot.  Mel and her boyfriend left, leaving her phone, Ashton and I were good until Hayden Panettiere showed up and stole him.  I tried to leave then they wanted to bowl, then they wanted to get married on the beach until Ashton passed out on the beach and Hayden decided that he was too much of a lightweight to marry and abandoned us.  I suppose I got him home because the next thing I knew I was at work at the eye hospital the next day sharing this tale.

Ashton Kutcher showed up and asked me to help him find his new girlfriend Hayden, I tried but got fed up, told him I loved him, threw a fit and walked out.  He followed me only to say he loved her not me and then I cried.  At that point, I woke up and that was it.  But it was so elaborate and crazy, I had to share.
My next post could be anything but this may just end up being a dream journal.