Do Not Go Gentle - Vampire Diaries Season 3 Episode 20

*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!*

On to the show, which was awesome!

My Thoughts:

1. Klaus painting is really hot! Just saying...
2. I love everybody's gorgeous 20s costumes!
3. Bonnie/Jaime!!!! Woot!
4. Sweet lines from Stefan!
5. Ooooh! Esther is stone cold!
6. "I don't have to prove anything love, I am the Alpha Male." The tone in which Klaus said that just cracked me up! And what he said, about showing her the world...oh, that was to die for!
7. Tyler being jealous was hot, too, of course...but, for me, it can't compete with Klaus. 
8. Rick!!! Noooo! Aaaah!
9. Poor Klaus! That speech over Esther's corpse...did she ever stop to think that if she didn't completely reject him as a child, he wouldn't have matured into a sociopath? (Albeit a sociopath with deliciously pink lips)
10. "You have me." Awwww! I died over Stefan and Elena's gym conversation!

This is an episode you need to watch! The CW's Vampire Diaries is honestly the best show on TV and you should watch it!

The Beautiful Deception - The Borgias, Season 2 Episode 3

*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS*

Please forgive any mechanical mistakes, my hearts all a-flutter right now! This blog is a little different, as I typed this while watching the show and then tried to organize it topically, not only to get a review out faster, but also to comment on more things! And there were plenty!

For more musings on how hot Cesare is (since I recently moved on from my love of Juan to a love of the decidedly more sexy Cesare), scroll down to number 5 ;)

My Thoughts:

1. Holliday Grainger is amazing! The emotion over Pualo's death,  "Ask Juan..." "I would have my Paulo saved from the fires of hell" "For being yourself." The wordplay over the "family" toast. Oooh! She was just superb!
2. Lucrezia's attempted murder of Juan was so totally awesome! The juxtaposition of Juan/Bernadetta and and Lucrezia singing was beautiful. I was on pins and needles as they kept switching positions - there was a good bit of time when I thought it might be Juan on top, though I never expected the blow to kill him of course. 
3. Oh my God! The Juan/Rodrigo tensions this episode! At the dinner...oh, that was amazing and then, as he was leaving, Jeremy Irons's "peasant shoes" line...oooh, I had chills!And Juan's thwarted ambitions - that look after the scene with Rodrigo in the chair!
4. THE CANNON REVEAL! CROWNING MOMENT OF AWESOME!
5. I love how he is so protective of Lucrezia, the look on his face, the yell, the attempt at holding her back, chasing the villagers away, carrying her etc. There's something about a guy who cares for his sister that's really touching. 
6. And holding the baby, all awkwardly like  he doesn't know what to do with a child. And hovering by the midwife and just looking to the side...I loved it! And sleeping there, too! In leather pants to
    boot!  There's something about a guy (particularly a tough guy, with, you know, leather pants and a freakin' sword) trying to figure out what to do with a baby that's really endearing. (See the episode of the CW's Supernatural where Dean hums "Smoke on the Water" to the shapeshifter baby...and then proceeds to give it whiskey to quiet it.)
7. Standing behind Vittoria with his arms crossed, all clad in black and menacing...and storming into the main room with a cannon..oh, that was sexy! And when the Cardinal's questioned his knowledge...when the Pope asked if he was sure...the risk, the tension! And, coming back and smashing the cannonball, and that yell...whoa!
8. Speaking of, when Caterina Sforza tells Cesare he cuts a "manly figure on his horse," it really seemed to me that that was Cesare's arc for this episode somehow. Particularly that line, and when he goes to face the French/Sforza army and comes back victorious, he just seemed so overtly masculine...and it was so thrilling! I mean, I always thought I liked the androgynous, doormat types, but, God, was I wrong! Whoa! I think I'm still a little flustered! I mean, wow! He rode out there with nothing to back him up but artwork, and he looked badass doing it! And retorting to those naysaying Cardinals...I don't know if I'm hormonal or what, but something about that kind of authoritativeness and decisiveness is really attractive. (I need to start a list of reasons I'm going to have dysfunctional relationships later.)
9. This was just such a breakout episode for him, now that Juan's gone and he just proved himself capable (more so that his father) of saving Rome, I feel like there are big things in store for him! (Things which will hopefully include more of the sides of him mentioned in numbers 5 and 8 of this post...and/or more leather pants scenes.)

That's what I thought; please tell me what you thought in the comments!

This was a FANTASTIC episode and was just so enthralling that I plan on watching it again ASAP! Watch it if you haven't!

Thanks so much for checking out my blog! 

Of Grave Importance - Supernatural, Season 7 Episode 19

*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS*

For those of you that follow me on Twitter, you know that this is the first episode I watched as it aired, since I just decided to watch Supernatural this January...yay!

My Thoughts:

1. I've been really angsty and depressed lately, but the conversation between Dean and Sam about Hemingway, foxholes, and Annie made me laugh so hard!
2. I love that the show had an episode that was so...I don't want to say simplistic, but we got back to the old days of haunted houses and such.
3. I really loved Annie, she was fun and feisty!
4. I also really really loved the perspective of the ghosts - that was always something I'd wanted to see. 
5. Dean in the shower! If you haven't watched the episode, know that there is a Dean shower scene! (one that is well worth watching...not very gratuitous...but, still...)
6. I don't know what I think about the boys' reaction to Bobby's ghostliness. I wanted them to embrace him with open arms and have a big, happy, supernatural Supernatural family...but stuff like that rarely happens.

This was a great episode - you won't be disappointed! If you don't watch the show, check it out!It's the best thing on TV!

As always, what did you think? Did you like it too? Please feel free to comment!

Heart of Darkness - Vampire Diaries, Season 3 Episode 19

*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS*

Yay! I finally got around to reviewing this (a day late)!

My Thoughts:

1. The Tyler/Caroline meeting was so sweet! I just loved how they walked in time with the music and it was just so romantic!
2. For some reason, I really liked the Damon/Jeremy humor ... the show's gotten pretty dark, and this injected a little light.
3. In the scene in Matt's truck, I really started to like Rebecca.
4. OH MY GOD! THE KISS! The music, the scene, the passion - oh, it was legendary! Also, the fallout was heartwrenching! I, of course, am Team Damon all the way!
5. The ending! Poor Rebecca, I hope she's okay!

All in all, a great episode, and if you haven't watched it, you should!

Bachelorettes and Bullets - Hart of Dixie, Season 1 Episode 18

*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS*

Oh my God! This was the best episode of Hart of Dixie in a while! I admit, I was getting a little bored with the show, but this episode was a showstopper!

1. First, Magnolia's attempt at a bachelorette party and Wade's hunting speech were both hilarious!
2. Jesse is really hot, and I liked the chemistry between him and Zoe!
3. However, I liked Wade's jealousy even more, but the "sticking with your own kind" comment was a little much for me. 
4. Lemon/Lavon/George drama! OH MY GOD! Whoa! I'm not going to spoil it here, but everything, and I mean everything, comes crashing down!

This is a must-see episode!

What's Dead May Never Die - Game of Thrones, Season 2 Episode 3

*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS*

If you didn't catch yesterday's Game of Thrones (HBO, Sundays at 9), I recommend you watch it!

1. First, we finally caught up with Sansa, and got a lot more scenes at King's Landing, and those are some of the most intrigue-heavy, imo and I really like that. 
2. I missed Daenerys and the Dothraki! Did they die in the desert or what?
3. Also, I would've like more of Jon Snow.
4. Maybe I'm just a depressed person, but the cinematography of the Iron Islands has made it my favorite locale so far. 
5. The introduction to a few new characters was nice, though I don't think I'm a fan of this Brin/Brynn woman. 

Overall, it was really good, and, even though it has definitely been ousted by The Borgias as my favorite show on right now, I recommend you check it out!

Paulo - The Borgias, Season 2 Episode 2

*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS*

Wow! Oh, my God! I loved this episode! I highly recommend you watch it!

My Thoughts:

1. Okay, this is probably really weird of me, but I just love the dynamic between the Pope, Giulia and Vittoria. Jeremy Irons just plays it so beautifully. 
2. Oh, my God! Poor Paulo! Poor Lucrezia! I loved their relationship!
3. Partly because of Juan's role in that tragedy, and partly because of his general craziness, I think I'm starting to think Cesare is hotter. I mean, his treatment of Ursula Bonadeo/Sister Martha in this episode is certainly reprehensible, but that can be ascribed to unrequited passions and such, and, in true me fashion, something about a scorned lover is really great. Oh, I am SO having messed up relationships later in life. 

That's about it...it was amazing, and you should watch it!

Tangentially speaking, I am so officially a Cesare fan now! He just so hot in that brooding way, and the brooding way has always been my favorite way. And, of course, Francois Arnaud is an amazing actor! A lot of his other stuff is in French, so not only is he talented and hot, he's also bilingual! :)

The Borgia Bull - The Borgias, Season 2 Episode 1

I have just recently watched the premiere of the second season of Showtime's The Borgias, and, if you don't watch that show, you should. Why watch the show? It's got everything: romance, intrigue, betrayal, death, lust, love, tragedy, the beautiful David Oakes, history, power, destruction, Francois Arnaud, all set to the backdrop of the pontificate of Pope Alexander VI in 14th century Rome - trust me, this is something you need to be watching! Now, onto the premiere:

My Thoughts:

1. Wow! All the great stuff from last season is here, but it's being expanded and improved upon! 
2. I just love Jeremy Irons! He is just amazing as Pope Alexander VI, and the relationship between him, Guilia Farnese and Vittoria is so juicy!
3. I'm not going to sugarcoat it: the increasing rivalry between Juan and Cesare is really sexy. I don't know why, it might even be the new hairdo they gave Juan, but something about the anger and the ambition and the deeply buried jealousy and the raw emotion on display when they're fighting is really hot. (This is how you know I'm going to have very dysfunctional relationships later in life.)
4. There's a very hedonistic vibe to this episode. It's like this season is hitting the ground running, and they're not stopping. 
5. As always, the score, costumes, sets etc. are lavish and beautiful and you should watch it just for that. Or just for David Oakes. Also a  totally valid reason. Just saying.  

So, I really, really loved the episode! So, so, so good! If you watched last season, absolutely watch this, it's even better. If you didn't, the little "Previously on The Borgias" thing at the beginning (while helpful if you did watched the last season) doesn't do it justice and I recommend you watch the first season! Jump on board now, while there's only one season, so you don't have to catch up on SEVEN seasons like I did when I realized I should be watching CW's Supernatural. Anyway, the first season had only nine episodes, about an hour long, so that's nine hours of your life. Take it from me, you want to watch every episode of The Borgias!

Check back later for a review of the CW's Hart of Dixie or possibly NBC's Grimm ... whatever I choose to watch/catch up on first! ...And while you're waiting, you should be watching The Borgias. Seriously, it's like the Sopranos, only with better outfits, more intrigue, and the presence of David Oakes...you'll thank me later.  

The Once and Future King by T.H. White

So, this book is about King Arthur, and I saw it on sale at Barnes and Noble and I picked it up. I didn't get what I expected, but I wouldn't say I wasted the time I spent reading it.

My Thoughts:

1. This is divided into several books, and the first one is basically the plot of Disney's Sword and the Stone, which, all things considered, was most definitely not a bad thing. 
2. I was very upset as the book was drawing to a close. It had gone from this successful, glorious Camelot to these sad, worn-down, old people. I don't know why I thought it would be a happy ending. Then again, my previous knowledge of the topic would be the movie Arthur (the one with Kiera Knightley as Guinevere), which had an amazingly happy ending, the Showtime miniseries Camelot, which had too much sex and death to ever get truly tragic, and  the book Avalon High by Meg Cabot, which was about some teenagers in Maryland who were the reincarnations of important characters from Arthurian legend, and that was an amazing book, with a wonderful ending. I highly recommend it!
3.  I mean, the good guys prevailed, but I'd expected more of a ride off into the sunset type of ending. The ending of this reminded me of the ending of BBC's 2006 Robin Hood (which I'd been thinking about since I read that Lucy Griffiths (Marian from that show) will be in Season 5 of True Blood): tragic, but not wrong.
4. The writing style is like nothing I've ever read before, and I do read a fair amount. 
5. This book is very hard to describe. I'm not sure if I even liked it. I don't dislike it and I don't regret buying it and reading it. I enjoyed reading it, I suppose, and I'm glad I did...but I'm not sure if I liked it per se. I don't know how I feel about it, and I'm the type that I feel most truly my impression of a book right after I've read it, so if I don't know now, I'm not going to know.

Who Should Read It:

• I honestly can't say; this book really stumped me. 

Final Score: -/10 I'll leave this one open. 

Next, I'll either be reading Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell or Middlemarch by George Eliot. 

The North Remembers - Game of Thrones

AAAAAH! Season 2 premiere! Ah!!!!! You should be watching this!