What You Should Be Watching Now

These holidays I'm trying really hard to start (and hopefully finish) as many television shows that I have been meaning to watch as possible. So far I've started Mad Men and the second season of The Wire which I have been meaning to do for a long time. As hard as I am trying to get through these, I'm also struggling to keep up with what's on television at the moment.
But here's what I think you should be keeping up with that's currently airing on television:

• ARROW (Season 2): Billionaire Oliver Queen spent five years shipwrecked on an island and has come home to be a masked vigilante by night. It's based on DC comics, and in the latest episode there is a new character named Barry Allen who I hope gets plenty more screen time because he is gorgeous. The show is a little bit cheesy and over dramatic but it's well worth it just for the Oliver/Felicity scenes this season that have been making me swoon and laugh at the same time.
• SLEEPY HOLLOW: Based on the short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"written in 1820 by Washington Irving but it's based in the modern day. Basically it's about Lieutenant Abby Mills who solve supernatural cases with the newly resurrected Ichabod Crane from the 1700s. I'm not entirely fussed on the crimes that they solve and how they go about it. The reason I love it is because of the relationship between Mills and Crane, which is really cute and hilarious at the same time. My favourite parts of the show are watching Crane learn about modern day life and his reactions to it. 
• MASTERS OF SEX: A obstetrician and an ex-nightclub singer work together in the 1950s to learn more about human sexuality. Okay, so with this one there are only two episodes left now, but if you haven't bothered with it yet, start now. It's got a great cast, including Michael Sheen (from Diana, Midnight in Paris, Twilight etc) and Lizzy Caplan (Mean Girls, New Girl) who are the main two and I could basically just tell you to watch it because these two are amazing, but there is also the fact that it's fresh, interesting and very clever. 
• ELEMENTARY (Season 2): Modern day Sherlock Holmes and Joan Watson, set in New York. This show just keeps getting better and better. I love everything that they do and I cannot say enough good things about this show. Everyone needs to watch Elementary, it's just so perfect. Ten extra points for Johnny Lee Millers (Holmes) facial expressions. 

• REIGN: Queen Mary Stuart of Scotland is sent to France because she has been promised to Francis, the Dauphin of France since they were little. I don't think it can even be called historical fiction because they've basically just used the same names and then made the stories completely their own (and the costumes are all stunning but couldn't ever be called accurate). I was recommended to watch it by a friend and I'm so glad they told me too, it's quickly become one of my favourite shows at the moment (probably a second to Elementary). I look forward to it every week now, and Toby Regbo who plays Francis is a very large reason for this. 
• THE CARRIE DIARIES (Season 2): Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City when she was a teenage girl. I'm loving this show more now it's in its second season. I have to admit the last few episodes of the first season really started grating on me because it got so repetitive with Carrie and Sebastian's relationship. I am a massive lover of Sebastian and his character but the whole "Is he good enough for her? Are they from two different worlds?" thing got a little boring after a while. Just decide and move on already, Carrie! Now the young Samantha has been introduced and I am loving her, but I'm a little bias because she was my favourite in SATC too. 

Also, I've also decided to make a page for shows that I'm currently watching and how up to date with them that I am, and shows that I want to watch. I feel like there should be so many more recommendations on this list but I don't watch them so I'm not able to. I want you to know that I don't leave shows like Sons of Anarchy or The Walking Dead (which I know are currently on TV at the moment) off the list because I don't like them, it's just because I haven't got to watching them yet. 

Let me know what shows you're loving at the moment in the comments!  

Suits Marathoning

One of the main reasons why I love movies and television is because, as cheesy as it sounds, they show me new worlds. Whether it's the world of Harry Potter, Skyler White or Vincent Vega, you are exposed to new characters, ideas and settings I had never imagined myself. 
When I'm marathoning a television series, or I'm watching one movie over and over again, it's because I want to escape this world and belong to their's for a little while. I want to work alongside Lisbeth Salander and solve murders or I want to be a journalist along with Freddie and Bel for The Hour. 

Lately though, I've been catching up with Suits. If you haven't heard of it before, it's about two lawyers: Senior Partner Harvey Spector (Gabriel Macht) and his Associate, Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams). Except there is one problem: Mike never went to law school. It's a beautiful mix of drama and comedy. I believe it's also one of those rare shows that gets better with age. I loved season one when I was watching it, but it's improved each season. Currently, they are in a mid-season three break and I'm really wishing it would come back right now. 

I'm also wishing that I was secretary in a big law firm. Not the big shot lawyer, no, that's not very me. I want to be Donna, Harvey's Girl Friday. I am fully aware of the reality of the situation, but the series never shows those parts. What it does show is Donna (Sarah Rafferty) being totally awesome, wearing stunning outfits, drinking coffees and gossiping. And did I mention she gets to work with Harvey Spector? 
So a law firm has been the latest world to imagine I was in, strange as it sounds. 
Does anyone else do this too? Let me know in the comments!

Fringe Season Five

I owe Fringe a lot.
Before Fringe I absolutely hated anything labelled 'science fiction'. I wouldn't go near it. One night, around five years ago, when I was about sixteen years old, I was up very late one night and flicking through the channels looking for something good to watch. I came across something which interested me, but I had no idea how much of it I had already missed. It ended up going on for quite some time, so I figured that it was a movie. By the end I was on the edge of my seat, but when the credits suddenly started rolling, I was so confused. The cliff hanger was too much to be a movie, so it had to be a television series. After some googling I found that I had actually been watching the repeat of the first episode of a new sci-fi series called 'Fringe'.
I now owe Fringe my love of Sci Fi.

This show is very close to my heart. That is why, as usual, I stopped when I got afraid it was getting close to finishing (Just in case you don't know, Fringe ended earlier this year). I decided not to watch it, and to prolong Fringe for as long as I could hold out.
I have recently been watching Arrow and on one episode I was absolutely delighted to see Seth Gabel play "The Count". Gabel had been one of my favourite characters in Fringe (it's hard to put them in order but he would be extremely close to number one, if not one), called Lincoln Lee. This may sound so corny but seeing him made me remember how much I missed him, and I realised I had to finish the last season. I had to see how it ended, so I began it, Episode 1 of Season 5, at two in the morning.

I don't want to spoil too much but overall, Season Five was definitely not my favourite. I didn't really get the whole 'Observers' as evil storyline because for the past four seasons we've only really had September as an Observer and he was so lovely. I also never warmed to Etta, I understood why but I didn't like how she was so cold. I didn't like that there was none of the old cast like Broyles, Lincoln or Nina (yes, there were glimpses but not enough!) and I also didn't like that Olivia and Peter weren't as close as they had been.

After that little rant, I want to say that if you have watched the other four seasons of Fringe you will enjoy the fifth, it is a nice finishing point. I'm not sure if there will be anyone out there that has done what I have and watched four seasons and then stopped for some reason, but if there is some of you then this post is for you!

If you haven't watched any of Fringe, please give it a go. It really is quality television with fantastic actors on it (all the main cast are amazing) and a really great, in depth plot. Seriously though, I would like to emphasise how good the cast is. It's got Joshua Jackson who you would know as Pacey from Dawson's Creek, Australian actress Anna Torv who played Nikki in The Secret Life of Us, Australian actor John Noble who has been in everything from Home and Away to Lord of the Rings. That's just the main cast, along with that Lance Reddick was in The Wire and Leonard Nimoy played Spock in the original Star Trek series (and the latest movies too). That cast should be enough for anyone to start watching right now. Do it!

Let me know whether you watch Fringe or not and what you thought about the last season. I love hearing your thoughts! x

Arrow

Warning: This post contains small spoilers.

You might remember not so long ago I went through an enormous phase of just talking about Teen Wolf. I'm still not really over it, I've just had to move onto other things, but lately I've been trying to see what other projects the cast have been doing and watching those.
I watched Dylan O'Brien (who plays Stiles Stilinski) in New Girl and I'm going to watch The Internship, which he is also in, later this weekend. The other show I wanted to watch was Arrow. One of my all time favourite characters from Teen Wolf was Jackson, played by Colton Haynes. Now, I say 'was' because he left the show last year to join the cast of Arrow. So although I'm devastated that he's left, I decided the only way to make me feel better was to watch him on his new show.

The problem was, he came into Season One at episode 15 - so I had quite a task ahead of me before I was rewarded with Colton. I had watched the first episode a few months back, and I had liked it but for some reason I had never got around to watching the next episode, just another case of too many shows and too little time. So I started it up again and found what I expected to be a chore actually not quite so terrible. Basically the premise is that billionaire Oliver Queen (played by the gorgeous Stephen Amell) was on a boat with his father when it hit stormy seas and the boat sunk. He and his father survived but his father soon died too. Oliver makes it onto a deserted island and the show starts after he is rescued from the island five years later with a mission that his dying father gave him to save the city.
It's actually based on a comic book, so it's not really expected to be believable or anything like that. He turns into a Batman-esque vigilante who, like Batman, doesn't use a gun to bring down the bad guys.
Although the writing could really do with being a little less over the top, the characters are very likeable and the plot is quite interesting. Each episode has flashbacks to the time he spent on the island, and over the course of the season you see a glimpses of why Oliver is so determined to be a better person.
When Colton Haynes did arrive in episode fifteen as Roy Harper, I was shocked. I had totally forgot he was even meant to be in that episode. However, I did find that the episodes that he is in, I enjoy better.

Arrow Season Two started last week, and there is another new episode out tomorrow. The first episode of the new season was really good and made me really excited to see how the rest of the season goes. I also spotted the stunning Dylan Bruce who plays Paul in Orphan Black.

What do you guys think? Have you given Arrow a go? Is there a show you only started because an actor you loved was in it? Let me know in the comments!

Teen Wolf is Over . . . Now What?

If you're like me and you've been watching Teen Wolf a little bit obsessively lately, then you'll probably have found yourself at a bit of a loss after Monday night's mid-season final. To help you (and myself) out, I've compiled a little list for you to have a look at and hopefully you'll find your next favourite show in the Teen Wolf break. 

You're missing the supernatural - Have a look at Fringe. It's named after an area of science known as "Fringe Science" which is basically all these weird, wacky and non-mainstream experiments. While you won't find any wolves with six packs, what you will find is experiments more like one where Isaac goes into the ice bath to recall his memories in "Chaos Rising". Other things include an alternate reality, shapeshifters and glyph codes. The cast is absolutely amazing too including Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, Seth Gabel, Lance Reddick and Leonard Niomy. Seriously, it's worth watching just for the acting.
Honourable mentions: Vampire Diaries.

source: cyborgias

You're missing the relationships - Yes Game of Thrones could belong in the drama category, and it does have fantasy/supernatural elements to it, but the main reason why I think Game of Thrones is so successful is because of the detailed and amazingly realistic relationships that every single one of the thousands of characters have. For some reason, even though there are so many characters, it just works perfectly. The relationships have me grinning from ear to ear one second to sobbing my eyes out the next. I won't ever stop saying it: you have to watch it.

You're missing the whodunnit - You want the crime solving element of Teen Wolf again? Miss testing out your skills? Try Elementary. As a die hard fan of the BBC's Sherlock (you should definitely watch that too if you haven't seen it) I wasn't even going to give this a try when it came out last year. Only I kept hearing good things about it and so I reluctantly gave the first episode a go. Although I wasn't hooked straight away, the second half of the series really picks up and had me looking forward to watching it each week. Now I have to admit that I cannot decide between the two and that is something I never thought I would say. 

source: targaryen-prince

You're missing the drama - You want drama, here it is: Breaking Bad. If you are missing the on-the-edge-of-your-seat, "what's going to happen next" feeling and you haven't seen this series, then you need to start watching now. The show is currently airing it's last season, which is really a shame, but there are five beautiful, heartbreaking, drama-filled seasons to love. Once you start watching you won't be able to stop, you'll be clicking on the play button episode after episode, and I have to confess that I lost a lot of sleep watching this series, so you've been warned.
Honourable mentions: Orphan Black.

You're missing the comedy - New Girl. It has me laughing out loud every episode without fail. This show makes me want to leave home and live with three guy roomates just in case they turned out to be exactly like Nick, Schmidt and Winston. I would even be happy with just a Nick. He is seriously my dream guy - hilarious, awkward and looks like Jake Johnson. Season Three begins in a few weeks time, so it's a good time to start if you haven't yet. 
Honourable mentions: Misfits. 

source: wenchyfloozymoo

Other suggestions: Teen Wolf (1985) - the film that the television series was based on. There's a Scott (played by Michael J. Fox), a guy named Stiles and a Coach. I've never seen it, so I can't say whether it's worth watching, but obviously the creators of the tv show saw it's potential.
An American Werewolf in London (1981).
Or you could just start again, and begin re-watching Teen Wolf from Season 1. I wouldn't mind doing that myself actually. 

What I am doing is catching up with Breaking Bad, which I am currently up to the third season and finishing Orphan Black. What did you guys decide? 

Skins: Fire, Pure, Rise

"And next weeks episode sees the end to the Skins generation".

That was what I heard when I finished episode five of Skins Season Seven, the first part to Cook's two episode story. It hit me like a ton of bricks. Because I'm the Skins generation, and I don't want it to end.

I'm sorry I haven't written any other posts this week but I kept sitting down to write this one and I couldn't. I had to think about Skins and what it meant to me, and for the life of me I couldn't put it into words.

For me, Skins was the first show I ever watched weekly, trying to find a link on youtube for the episode that hadn't been taken down because of copyright issues already. I fell in love with Sid easily and quickly, and with baited breath hoped that Tony would tell Michelle he loved her and they would stay together forever. I almost didn't think it was possible but I loved the second generation of Skins more than the first. I loved Freddie more than I could ever explain to anyone, and when he died I think I actually mourned him. Skins taught me how to love a fictional character.

I tried watching generation three but I just didn't love the characters anymore and stopped towards the end of their first season. When I heard there was to be a series seven, and that Effy, Cassie and Cook would be back, I felt so overjoyed. A proper send off for the show I had loved for four years.

I really enjoyed both Effy and Cook's storylines but Cassie's just dragged on and on. All the things I had loved about her had disappeared. I didn't know who that girl was, she felt like I was just watching someone who I'd never met before and happened to look like Cassie and have the same name. I felt absolutely no emotional attachment to her.

One thing I did love about the whole series was the times it referenced the previous seasons. I loved seeing Lily Loveless return as Naomi Campbell, and Kathryn Prescott as Emily Fitch. I loved it when Cook confessed he'd killed someone and when Cassie said she'd travelled around America with her boyfriend. But that was it. I would have liked a little more than just that. Not like it had to be every second line or anything, and I didn't mind that only Effy's had other characters in it but I was just expecting a little more than what they gave.

However overall, I think they did a great job, and I know that I feel more content now saying goodbye to Skins than I would have if they had just ended it at series six.

Orphan Black

Tonight I wanted a little bit of a break from Teen Wolf, mostly because I feel like I'm rushing through it and I want to savour it more. So on a whim I decided on a whole new show altogether and that was Orphan Black. 

source: melemneme

I've heard a lot of things about this show and all of them have been good.
Naturally, I decided to check things out for myself just to make sure. 

From the opening scene in this drama I was hooked. I wanted to know more. I needed to know more.
I went from one episode to the next and had to stop myself from watching the third one, otherwise I was going to end up in the same situation I had just tried to avoid with Teen Wolf. 
Before I wrote this, I just wanted to do a little bit of research on the show, only to find a few reviews that stated that everything really begins in episode three. So this is more of a post to say that if everything does really begin to unfold in the next episode then I'm amazed because I'm not sure how much better this show could get. The suspense from the first two episodes is already killing me, and so is watching the actress Tatiana Maslany. She is absolutely perfect so far and it hasn't really even delved into the whole twin story yet. 

source: melemneme

I can't wait to see where this show goes, I'm both nervous and excited. I know what I'll be watching tomorrow night. 

Have you guys finished Orphan Black already? Should I be pacing this one too or is it just too good to resist? 

Teen Wolf

source: heavinisfalling

My best friend, Jess, started watching Teen Wolf about a month ago (which was during exam period, a time where we both always seem to find new shows to start . . . weird, huh?) and said that I should check it out. Convinced, I started it a few weeks later, watched a few episodes and thought "yeah, that's alright" but never got around to continuing it. If you've read any of my posts from the last couple of weeks you'll have noticed that I've pretty much solely been watching New Girl and Luther. Tonight I thought I would mix it up a little and try Teen Wolf again. It wasn't that I hadn't enjoyed it, it was just that I felt there were more interesting programs to watch. I had a little bit of uni work to do and thought this was a show that I could put on in the background and get some of my readings for astronomy done. Now I have a whole different view. Around episode four of the first season, this show heats up. The storyline takes a more dramatic turn and there is suddenly a story arch that I'm invested in and want to keep watching to find out the answers. So now I've accomplished absolutely no university work tonight but I am just past half way through season one and so excited for tomorrow night when I get home from work and I can sit down a watch the rest of the season. I can't wait to see where this show goes. 

Am I a little late on the Teen Wolf bandwagon? Do you guys already watch it? Let me know in the comments! 

Week in Review #2

Hei hei lovely readers, 

I hope you guys have had a fantastic week! I've been visiting friends in Melbourne and it's been such an amazing week. I ate so much delicious food, caught up on some reading and dvds and did plenty of shopping (the photos are from the shopping I did). Here are just a few of the things I have been loving this week:

(Loved) Reading: I am still reading the Mortal Instruments series. Last night I finished book three City of Glass. I was just trying to think about which one so far has been my favourite, but I can't decide! Out of all of them so far I finished the second one the fastest, but I loved the first one because you're getting to know everything and then there is one hell of twist at the end which I'm still getting over. The third one is amazing too because there are so many questions finally answered. I stayed up most of the night because I just couldn't put it down. I'm just waiting (not so patiently) for the film now!

(Loved) Television: I watched three episodes of Luther in a row on Monday. Then I was annoyed at myself because I was going to Melbourne later in the day and couldn't watch the season finale on Wednesday until I got back on Friday. While I was in Melbourne I bought season one of New Girl. I fell into a sort of NG vortex after that. I watched episode after episode. I had to pull myself out of it for work on Saturday. These two shows have been my life this week (aside from exploring Melbourne, of course). 

(Loved) Film: This week Jess and I watched a couple of films on a girly night in with the friends I was staying with in Melbourne. One of them was 21 Jump Street which is one of the most hilarious films ever. I remember going to see it in the cinema with Jess and we were just so surprised at how funny it turned out to be, and how Channing Tatum was suddenly a comic genius. I feel as though it's a really clever, stupid, silly comedy. If that makes any sense at all.

(Loved) Random: I just downloaded the app Candy Crush. I've heard a lot about it before but had never actually remembered to download it. Work was utterly quiet on Saturday, and so when one of my friends from work brought it up I immediately went to install it. I've been hooked since! Sadly, I'm currently waiting to get my lives back but it's kind of worked out as a good thing because I'm not sure this post would have gone up in time otherwise. Also loving the Best Song Ever by One Direction which came out earlier this week. I've got it on repeat while playing Candy Crush . . . it's probably a good thing uni goes back tomorrow, eh?


Please let me know what you guys have been loving this week in the comments. I love hearing from you! 

Luther

I've spoken about Luther before on my blog, and you can bet your bottom dollar this won't be the last time.

source: blurrymelancholy

At the time of writing this, I've just finished episode one of the new season (three). After waiting what feels like an eternity for it to finally air, I have to be honest, I was feeling pretty nervous about what the show would be like and whether I would love it just as much as the previous two seasons. 
It seems I didn't have to be worried at all.
The things that make Luther one of my all time favourite series are still there. The flawless cast headed up by the always perfect Idris Elba, the gripping storylines and the beautiful lighting. One adjective I love to use is "perfect". But how else can I describe this show? Faultless. Ideal. Immaculate. Impeccable. Splendid. Sublime. Superb. Unequaled. 
I know Luther is an amazing crime show because I'm not only fascinated by the murder plot but also the "personal" story arch that is always mandatory in crime shows these days. Usually I'm so involved in catching the killer and figuring out who dunnit that I hate it when they cut to the detective's love story or their personal issues going on at home. I don't care, no one wants to see that. Luther is different in that whether it's the crime or the personal arch, I don't care, I just want more of it. This turned into a dream come true in the last episodes of season one, which I think I could say with some conviction that these are two of my favourite Luther episodes ever. 

source: enamorism

The one teensy little thing that is missing from this episode is Alice Morgan. I saw her in the trailer, so I know she's coming sometime this season, now where is she? I should have seen this coming, they are probably only going to bring her in for the last episode. I'm such an idiot for thinking it was going to be partners in crime Alice and Luther again. 
If you haven't started season three yet, or you haven't seen any Luther at all, I implore you to start! 
As usual, let me know in the comments what you have been thinking. Have you been loving Luther too or is this season not up to the usual standard?

So You Want to Start Watching Game of Thrones

A Guide To Starting Game of Thrones

Lately all your friends are talking about is Game of Thrones. What are the hell are they on about? What is a Daenerys? A Baratheon? An Unsullied? Do the Lannisters always pay their debts? More importantly, what is a Lannister? You don't want to feel left out but you are not completely sure that the show is for you. What they are talking about sounds seriously weird. Read on! Basically I've just compiled a list of things that I think are important to know and make sure before you get into it if you are a little apprehensive. 

Before we get started, I would just like to say that no matter what kind of genre of television you like, I can guarantee you will love this show. I have not heard of anyone who doesn't. No one I know has started it and been like 'meh, I didn't really like it, I'm not going to watch it again'. It's got mystery and crimes, it's got romance (although some is a little incestual!), it's got action and politics, it's a tragedy and a comedy (definitely more a tragedy though). 

Also, in this post there will only be very minor spoilers, which are revealed in the first episode anyway. I will write when there are going to be spoilers before any of these just in case you really don't want to know. I talk mainly about the television series, but also a little of the books. I sort of go off my own experience which was to watch the first season of Game of Thrones and then I started reading the books while waiting for the second season to start. I've just finished the third book (A Storm of Swords) and am up to date with the current season airing on HBO.

Now all that stuff is out of the way here is what you need to know:

This awesome show is based off George R. R. Martin's book series, known as 'A Song of Ice and Fire'. Currently there are five books published, with two more expected to complete the series. The television series is known as 'Game of Thrones' which is actually the name of the first book in the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series. 
HBO are currently airing the third season, based off the events in the third book 'A Storm of Swords'. The first season aired in 2011 and the second in 2012 and each have ten episodes that are just under an hour in length. We are currently up to the fifth episode of season three. If my maths is correct, and you start watching them straight away (and don't leave it until another week goes past!) then you will be able to catch up in 25 hours. That's only a day and one hour, and personally, I think that's a day well spent. Forget sleeping, Game of Thrones is calling. 

Now, when I got into this show it was because my friends at work had been watching this show from the beginning (I think I started when Season 1 was about half way through) and some had even begun reading the books. I had a lot of help from them to understand the show. I think if you are watching the show without reading the books you do need some sort of help. This is because there are just so many characters. Reading the books, you'll get used to it and sooner or later the names begin to sink in. It does take some time though, especially as new characters are always being introduced too. However, watching the television series it's a little harder because a) you don't have the full background the books provide and b) if you are watching it each week you don't have long enough to really delve into it and get used to remembering who is who. I'm not trying to say that you need to read the books to watch the series, but don't expect to get by on just the television series and you'll understand everything perfectly. There are just way too many plot lines and characters for that to be possible, so it is understandable if you don't get it immediately. 

Game of Thrones is essentially a medieval fantasy. It is medieval in the fact that there are different "houses" and families. There is a Lord of each house and they live in castles etc. The costumes are medieval and so is the manners and customs of the characters. It is fantasy because there are things such as dragons, and "Others" weird supernatural people, and there is some magical elements to the storyline. It's a fantastic combination of the real and the magical. 

All the main action in Game of Thrones is set in a land known as Westeros. Each chapter in the books takes on a different point of view, and the television series is very similar. This is because the main characters are set out all across Westeros and so you get to see the plot unfold from all different angles and characters. 

In the first couple of episodes all you really need to know is that there are four main houses in Westeros: the Baratheons, the Starks, the Lannisters and the Targaryens. Okay, deep breath, this is where it gets difficult (and a little bit spoliery). Robert Baratheon is the King of Westeros and he is married to Cersei Lannister. Robert and Cersei have travelled with their children and a bit of entourage up north to visit the Stark family at their home known as Winterfell. Basically, Robert is there to ask Lord Eddard (Ned) Stark to be his Hand. A "Hand" is basically the King's right hand man, and does a lot of the boring, important political stuff that the King doesn't really want to do. Robert and Ned have been best friends for years. The whole reason why Robert is the king is because together they led a rebellion around seventeen years earlier against King Aerys Targaryen (also known as the Mad King). All the Targaryens were killed except for two of Aerys children: Viserys and his sister Daenerys. At the start of Game of Thrones they fled Westeros and are now grown up into young adults, living in the "Free Cities" across the Narrow Sea. Viserys is trying to build up an army in order to take back the throne which he believes is now rightfully his. Got all that? 

This is my favourite character: Renly Baratheon. 

So now you know all the basics, here are two questions you need to ask yourself:

1. Are you prepared to become obsessed? This show is addictive! You won't think so at first, or I didn't, it took a few episodes to get in to but it's only because the storyline can be a little confusing and there are so many characters. Once you've got a good understanding, you are going to be on your way to obsession. 
2. Are you prepared to put in some time? Like I said earlier, if you want to catch up to the current season, you have to watch about twenty five hours worth. Sounds like a chore, right? Trust me, you'll be wishing it was more soon. Apart from the time watching the show, if you do decide you want to read the books too (which I also recommend) they are a huge series. The books are massive, with tiny print and so far there are five of them . . . with two more to come. You are going to need some time. 

Okay, so now that I've given you a little bit of the low down and you've answered the questions above, here are some of the reasons why you should be watching it:

1. There is no predictability. None. You might think you know what's going to happen; but you don't. You better get used to it.
2. This show has strong female characters. It is not some typical medieval show where women are shoved to the back and only play a part in the romantic parts of the story. If you want that kind of show, don't even bother starting this one. In this show, "the women are the strong ones".
3. There are amazing actors. Ned Stark is played by the one and only Sean Bean. And one of Cersei Lannisters brothers is played by Peter Dinklage. Seriously though, everyone in this show is a perfect actor and the casting is just amazing. There has not been one casting decision which I have not agreed on 100 per cent. 

Anyway, this has been a really long post but even if it just gets one person watching Game of Thrones, then I've done my job!

x

And Now His Watch Has Ended

Hei hei, 

How are you guys? I've had a very long day at work today but came home to catch up on Doctor Who from yesterday, and Game of Thrones that came out this morning (in Australia). A great way to end the day if you ask me. 

This is just going to be a quick post about some of things I thought about the latest Game of Thrones episode "And Now His Watch Has Ended". If you haven't watched it yet (why are you here?) don't read this because this is all spoilers or you won't really understand what I'm talking about. Also, this is basically just a rambling post and I'm writing this at nearly two in the morning so you'll just have to excuse me today. 

Source: fygot

• How cute are Jaime and Brienne?! They just have the most adorable friendship, and although this is my least favourite part of their little adventure to Kings Landing, I still absolutely loved it. 
• I thought the silence from Jaime after Brienne asked him why he saved her and told them the lie about the Sapphire Isles was very beautiful, and more telling than anything Jaime could have replied. Plus, the fact that he starts eating again after her little speech just hits me right in the heart.
• I did not like her comment "you're acting like a bloody woman". I am thinking, however, that perhaps Brienne said it because she was trying to use things she thought Jaime would relate to and understand, and  saying that would help Jaime to see he was being ridiculous. Not because it was something she herself really believed women were like. At least I'm hoping this is what the writers meant. 
• What was with the story from Varys? Yes, very interesting and it's a good backstory for him. Yes, good on you Varys for finally being able to get revenge. But do I care? No, not really. We could have had Robb in the episode during that time. I would have appreciated that much more. 
• It's like the Pod story from last week (which unfortunately continued again this week, if only for a little tiny bit when Varys is talking to Ros - whom I like very much). Do I care about Pod and his amazing sex life? No, not at all. Why do we have to waste time with this? Will we find out what Pod really did? I don't really care. I would actually prefer not to because it's just wasting more valuable actual POV character time. 
• LOVED the Margaery/Joffrey scene. I thought that was brilliantly done. Especially when you put it together with the Olenna/Varys scene and add the Margaery/Sansa scene. Tyrell's have the power. 

Source: fygot

• I do NOT like how they have paired Sansa and Loras. I knew this would happen. I understand why they did it, because it saves some time and doesn't add another character (Willas Tyrell). Just like they cut the middle man Ser Dontos and have made it only Littlefinger. I understand why they do it. But I don't understand why they got to all that trouble only to add scenes like the Pod and Varys ones I've just ranted about. They are picking the wrong things to cut and add and it really frustrates me. Loras is meant to be a Knight of the Kingsguard and therefore cannot marry Sansa. I know they haven't said this in the television series, but really? They can't add this in but we can have Olenna going on and on about how "Growing Strong" is the worst house motto for like five minutes? Funny, yes. As is the Pod story. It is also unnecessary. 
• Interesting little flashback scenes they are doing with Bran. A couple of weeks ago it was Robb and Jon and now it's Catelyn. I actually hope we get to see more of these, it makes Bran's storyline a bit more enjoyable. Otherwise it's just Jojen being really cryptic and weird. 
• Great scene with the Hound and Arya. So looking forward to next week to see the actual fight with Dondarrion. I'm also interested to see how it plays out because I remember being a little confused with the details of that part in the book. Hopefully it clears that all up. 
• I CANNOT TALK ABOUT THEON. I'm tearing up again just thinking about it. All I have to say is this: "My real father lost his head at Kings Landing". 
• And also Alfie Allen and Iwan Rheon are amazing actors. 

Alfie Allen

• I had totally forgot about that whole Night's Watch scene. I remember now reading the book and just being totally shocked and couldn't put the book down during that chapter. This scene was just as good, and took me totally by surprise. 
• Burn Goodman. Who is he meant to be? Is he an actual character or is he just there for a filler type character? I love him as an actor. I mean how can you hate someone who has been in both The Hour and The Dark Knight Rises? But who exactly is he? 
• No Robb or Talisa. However the preview for next week looks promising. 
• Daenerys' scene was absolutely perfect. I think this is my favourite of her scenes ever. It's up there with the one where Viserys is "crowned in gold" in Season 1 and the House of the Undying in Season 2. I think it might just beat them both. 
• Seriously though, she was perfect. I loved that no one else spoke during the epic scene either. There was a little from Missandei and Kraznys but other than that it is solely Daenerys. It's a real "you go girl" moment.
• Overall I cannot believe that we are half way through the season. Unbelievable. It's going too quickly!
• I think this is the best episode yet, however, there will definitely be better as this show is improving with every episode. Although I've been quite negative with some of my thoughts, I love this show with all my heart and I'm only so hard on it because I have such strong feelings for it. 

Hope you all enjoyed the episode too, and I'd love to hear what you thought in the comments :)

Now time for bed! 

Have You Been Watching Hannibal?

Killing must feel good to God, too. He does it all the time. Are we not created in his image?

source: misha-collins

This show is clever. It's very clever.

If you have not yet watched an episode, then go. Seriously, go and and watch it. So far you are only three episodes behind, and that's not much to catch up on. Don't forget to come back though!

NBC's Hannibal is definitely in my list of favourite shows at the moment. Every single episode has had perfect dialogue, beautiful cinematography and skillful acting. It is sharp and I am absolutely loving it.
I know it might sound weird when I say that the cinematography is beautiful, but really, it is. Their use of colours and lighting is just stunning and so rich.

Source: ladymargaerytyrells 

So maybe you're not into watching cannibalism? Understandable. I have seen Silence of the Lambs (which Hannibal is meant to be the prequel to), I watched it because my mother made me when I was around fifteen. My mum is kind of obsessed with scary/horror films and she was just trying to educate me on the "classics". Admittedly, I did watch most of it through the tiny cracks of fingers as my hands were covering my eyes when I would get too scared. It is because of her that I grew up watching crime shows (real life and drama series) from a very young age, and I share her enthusiasm for them (not so much the horror films though, to her disappointment). So I'm actually glad this show has come along, because I think it's just the next step up. Yes, it is definitely worse than CSI. Yes, it is definitely worse than Criminal Minds. Yes, it is worse than Luther.

Source: libranta

Have you guys seen Luther? I love that show. If you are nervous about watching Hannibal because you're worried it might be just that little bit too gruesome, just ask yourself of whether you could deal with worse than Luther? Nothing massive, just lots more blood (especially in the first episode) and more graphic crime scenes. Have a look at some of the photos I've posted and see whether you could look at them for a little while longer.
If you haven't seen Luther either so you can't compare it, then go. Seriously, go and watch it. And while you're there just have a think about what you've been doing with your life so far.
All that said, most of all the episodes so far are talking. You have moments where Will Graham (portrayed perfectly by Hugh Dancy) will re-enact the murder in his imagination to try and fit the pieces of puzzle together in his head and sometimes he dreams scary details of the murder but the majority of the episode is always the discussions between characters.
I can assure you that you will not regret starting to watch this show. Even if it is just for the fact that you get to witness Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lector. The subtleties in his face are just a privilege to watch. This man can act.

Source: hiddlesy

If you do watch the show, let me know what you think, I would love to hear some more opinions!
Also, if you are up to date with the episode, you might want to check out NBC's Hannibal website before watching next weeks episode. They are cutting what was meant to be the fourth episode of the show because the creators felt that due to the events in Boston this week it was perhaps too disturbing. Important clips for the shows continuity will be put up on the shows website. From what I understand the full episode will be available when the DVD comes out.

Current DVD Wishlist

I wish it was Christmas again. I don't know about you, but at the moment I have so many things I want to buy but can't possibly afford. I shouldn't complain, because I could buy them, however I've banned myself because I'm saving up for my trip to Europe in June. I know, poor me, right? Instead, I've compiled a list of everything I'm wishing for at the moment and so when I get back I can print out my list and buy them one by one (or how I usually do, which is three or four at a time). 

By the way, if there is an * then I haven't seen it yet, but I just want to buy it because I know I'll love it. 

1. Community Season Three
2. Game of Thrones Season Two
3. Mad Men* (any season, but I'd prefer to start with one)
4. Pulp Fiction
5. The Borgias Season One* (I've started it!)
6. Girls Season One*
7. The Avengers
8. Crossfire Hurricane
9. Sherlock Holmes (1 and 2 please!)

The one I absolutely want to buy, and I might just give in before I get to Europe is Game of Thrones Season Two. 

ESPECIALLY now that Season Three has started. It's like throwing it in my face every week: "hello, you haven't bought Season Two yet, what are you doing? Don't you want to look at Renly and Loras together again? Remember when Renly was alive, and Loras wasn't  all sad, with his sad little smile and remember when Margaery was married to Renly rather than engaged to the creepy Joffrey?". Yes. I do. However, I would also like to be able to afford food on my three week trip to Europe. Otherwise it might be a little problematic.

Anyway, hopefully sometime later this week I'll be able to write about Game of Thrones a bit more! I've just handed in my last thing before the mid-semester break, so now I'll have some time to sit down and write! How exciting, I know you guys are looking forward to that. 

What DVD's do you guys want to buy at the moment? Or are you like me, and you've banned yourself too?

x 

Catch Up

Happy Easter! 

It's actually only just the start of this Easter long weekend, which I am so happy about. I'm using the weekend to catch up a little on all the uni things I've sort of fallen behind on and to hopefully watch a few more movies I've been meaning to see for a while. Today my plan was to finish my essay on Egyptian shabti figures, but that didn't really work out, unless I somehow manage to write another 600 words before I go to bed and it's already midnight (read: unlikely). 

Instead, however, I've had a lovely day and I shouldn't be complaining that I didn't get my essay done. My family and I went out for lunch near the beach and I ate way too much (which is pretty much my story for the whole day). For desert my brother and I shared a Snickers cake, which the whole time I was wishing that we weren't sharing and that I had my own slice, or even my own cake of. 

When we came home I tried to work on my essay but instead I watched Moonrise Kingdom, which I will hopefully be reviewing sometime soon (let me try finish this essay first!). Then dinner, which was takeaways and I finished that off with a whole packet of Cadbury Marshmallow Eggs and a bowl of Rocky Road ice cream while watching Argo (which I will also get around to reviewing someday soon). 

This week has been pretty up and down for me. Work was absolutely shitty for a couple of days and it totally drained me. I only got to the gym once this week, but managed to get out for a run one night. I've been eating okay, thankfully, if you don't count todays overload! The gym was closed today, but open tomorrow so I might go in the morning and hopefully work off some of these marshmallow eggs. I have a hieroglyphs test on Wednesday and my essay on shabti's is due on Thursday so I doubt if I'll get back on here before then. 

That said, however, this week is the return of two of my favourite television shows in the entire world. Tomorrow is Doctor Who and Monday is Game of Thrones. So if I'm so inspired I might have to come on here and type a review straight away. To be honest with you guys though, I haven't really be excited for either of them. I know, I know, I just said they were my favourite in the world, but both shows just took away my favourites too. I loved Amelia and Rory Pond. And I loved Renly, the one and true King on the Iron Throne. I just wasn't looking forward to either of them in the same way that I usually am. I do know, however, in my heart of hearts that it's going to be okay, and that I'll watch them and wonder what the hell I was so worried about. Photos of Margaery are helping to put my heart back together after Renly broke it, and the beautiful creations like the one made by the talented oswiny are helping to heal the wounds that Amy left. 

So guys, have a happy long weekend! Enjoy watching the new shows that are coming out this week and don't forget to tell me what you think!