What I'm Watching -- Fall 2015!

Hey, guys! As you should know by now, television is one of my other obsessions. So today, rather than talk books, I thought I'd bring you my thoughts on all of the fall shows I am/will be watching this year! I'll go through my shows day by day and let you know why I'm excited, or what I think so far!

Monday

Dancing with the Stars: Honestly, I probably wouldn't be watching this show if I wasn't living at home right now. But my parents are ABC reality junkies, so Monday nights are pretty much taken up all year-round by DWTS, The Bachelor/ette, and Bachelor in Paradise. However, I will say that this season has been fun so far. I love Bindi Irwin and the PenaVegas. This one is definitely my guilty pleasure for the year.

Tuesday

Agents of SHIELD: This show is so perfect. Definitely one of my favorite shows. A lot of people had mixed feelings about this show when it first started, but it has grown and developed into something amazing. The season 3 premiere was this week, and let me tell you this: it may have been a premiere episode, but those were some finale-level feels happening. Seriously. Can't wait to see what happens this year, especially in conjunction with the upcoming Captain America: Civil War. 

Scream Queens: Okay, I know I probably shouldn't like this show. And yes, some of the insults and language are a bit much for primetime television. It's a little uncomfortable sometimes, But at the same time, the mystery is very intriguing, and there are some characters I genuinely adore already. And in the two-hour premiere, I was already blown away with a crazy twist that I did not see coming. So I'm excited to see where it goes from here, and how they keep the mystery alive. Also, there are some pretty funny moments that don't rely on stereotypes or gross language. Like the moment when Pete cut a circle into the glass window in the door, then ended up breaking all of the glass when reaching for the door handle. I laughed out loud then and at other moments, so I'm in for the long haul!

Wednesday

Empire: YAASSSS. My mom and I finally gave into the hype this summer and binged the first season. It is SO GOOD. This week's premiere was, as always, game-changing. So much went down in only 42 minutes! The characters are all amazing, because not a single one falls into the purely good or bad category. They are all just doing what they think is best. There are moment when I'm like "FAMILY" and other times when I just want to strangle everyone involved. And that's when I know a show is really a favorite; when I get invested enough in the characters and story to cry or yell at the TV. 

American Horror Story: Hotel: This one doesn't start until next week, but I am SO excited for it. I'll admit that I haven't even finished Freak Show yet. (That will have to wait until its DVD release.) But I loved Asylum and Coven, and Hotel looks absolutely brilliant. The cast is perfection, so I'm highly anticipating its premiere. 

Thursday

Scandal: A perennial favorite. As a Jake/Olivia shipper, I was not happy with last year's finale, so I was desperately awaiting this season for the other shoe to drop. The premiere was fantastic, blending the overall story arc with the return of the serialized "case of the week" aspect. Truth be told, I just can't get over how much I love these characters. And I just want to see what directions their lives go in episode after episode. This one's a real nailbiter, too. I just love it. 

How to Get Away with Murder: The sophomore season of this show started last week, and it was just as insane, if not more, than it was last season. And that cliffhanger? Whoa. These are morally ambiguous characters, but I can't help but fall in love with them. Especially Connor and Wes. And it is always a pleasure to see what twisted thing Annaliese is going to get up to next. This season is going to be another doozy!

Haven: Next week, the final arc of episodes begins. That's it, folks. This show is coming to an end. And I am so ready to find out how it all goes down. But at the same time...I'm not ready at all. *sob* As interesting as the plot is (and it SO is; so many fantastic twists and turns), it's really the characters that steal the spotlight. All of these main characters hold a very special place in my heart, and it might just break when this is all over. I'll be mentally preparing for the end from now on. 

Elementary: This one doesn't start for another month, but I am obsessed with this show. Last season ended on a completely heartbreaking note, and I was so upset that we had to wait so long for it to be resolved. This season is going to start on a heavy note, and oh my God I'm almost crying just writing this. I just need my Sherlock to be okay! Can't wait for this to start up again so I can see how Joan and Sherlock are handling this. 

Supergirl: This doesn't start for over a month, but I am very excited. I'll admit, I was a little hesitant about it when it was first announced. Melissa Benoist was pretty blah on Glee's season 5, so I wasn't sure about her role as Kara Zor-El. But the trailer for the show just look like a ton of fun. Plus, I had no idea that Jeremy Jordan was going to be in it, so that right there is reason enough for me to check it out. I'm very intrigued to see how it will fare. 

Saturday

Doctor Who: Okay. So I really need to catch up on this show and finish watching Series 8. But I really do want to catch up in time to see the Christmas special this year, because RIVER SONG. (!!!)

Sunday

Once Upon a Time: SUCH A FAVORITE. I've been angsting over this show ever since the spring finale. And the premiere this past Sunday definitely did not disappoint. As you should know, I have a crazy amount of ships on this show, and I just love all of these characters to death. With the addition of Merida this year, I'm still so interested to see what's going to happen for the residents of Storybrooke. This show also gives me ALL the feels. Just so much love for this show.

Quantico: This is a new show for the season, and probably the one I've been the most interested in since upfronts in the spring. The premiere was last Sunday, and DAMN. It was incredible. The mystery is definitely already twisting in ways I don't expect, and the characters are extremely intriguing. I can't wait to see how it's all going to go down, and how these relationships develop throughout the season. I'm already thinking this is going to be a new favorite!

Tell me: what shows are YOU watching this fall? Are any of your favorite shows on my list as well? Let me know in the comments below!

Discussion: Favorite TV Ships!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today is a day to celebrate love in all its forms! But today, I'll be taking a small break from bookish discussions and revealing some of my favorite television ships EVER! Keep in mind that not all of these pairs are actual couples. Some of these may never happen, but a girl can wish, right? Let's jump right in! 

Once Upon a Time (aka the show with ALL the ships)

Captain Swan (Captain Hook aka Killian Jones and Emma Swan)

This is one of my strongest ships. I ship these two SO hard. As you may know, I have a serious soft spot for bad boys, so I've loved Killian from the moment we first met him in season 2. And ever since, I have been waiting for he and Emma to get together. Because he's a bad boy with a serious heart of gold. And who can resist a British pirate calling you "love?" 

Outlaw Queen (Robin Hood and The Evil Queen aka Regina Mills)

I've been pulling for them ever since Tinkerbell tried to lead Regina to him in an effort to find a happy ending. They're so fantastic together, but it's a star-crossed love, and it's that constant struggle to find an happy ending that keeps me rooting for them!

Rumbelle (Rumplestiltskin aka Mr. Gold and Belle)

I've loved Rumple for a long time, and his role as the Beast broke my heart. It's been a long, hard road for these two, and their journey isn't over. But I still keep hoping they can find a happily ever after at the end of things. 

Charming Snow (Prince Charming aka David and Snow White aka Mary Margaret)

This is a given, right? There's pretty much nothing that can tear these two apart, but I never get tired of their relationship, which is an impressive feat for a couple who has been together for pretty much EVER. 

Willice (Will Scarlet aka Knave of Hearts and Alice)

This is my most far-fetched ship of all. These two started out in the OUaT spin-off, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, which didn't do well and got canceled. But since the creators had always planned on having a self-contained story within the first season, the show ended with a definitive happy ending for our two main couples. However, I was rooting against that happy ending because I never shipped Will and Alice with their own love interests. I shipped them together. They were there for each other through everything, and they were willing to make sacrifices for each other along the way. I always thought that they would have made a more believable couple. I still do. And now that Will is on the mother show OUaT, I'm hoping that we may eventually get to explore this possibility! (And just ignore the end of Wonderland entirely. Ha!)

Sherlocks

JoanLock from Elementary

I know. I didn't mean to. I really didn't. I started the show thinking, "Oh, a female best friend. It'll be great! And it doesn't have to be romantic." But the longer it went on, the more I changed my mind. She's the only one who's really there for him, all the time, and he needs her. And I think she needs him, too, she just doesn't know it yet. So yes. I think it DOES need to be romantic. And stat! 

JohnLock from Sherlock

Yep. I'm one of those people. A JohnLock shipper. I really can't even explain this one. I'm not usually one who ships straight characters together, but man. These two just seem like they're in denial. And it needs to happen. Hehe. 

Other Shows

Emily and Nolan from Revenge

This is just pure fantasy, I know. But I love them and their relationship so much, I think they should just screw the rest of the Hamptons and run away together. (And since I don't really watch this anymore, I may just wait until the series is over to look up who Emily ends up with. And if it's not Nolan, it had BETTER be Jack. Because history. And feels.) 

Nick and Jess from New Girl

Since day one. Haven't watched consistently since season 2, but damn. That kiss. I watched it like a dozen times in a row after that episode. 

Audrey and Nathan from Haven

Also since day one. Especially since that one moment. And especially, ESPECIALLY since that other moment. Vague, I know. But I don't want to give you spoilers! If you haven't watched this, GO DO IT. Seriously, one of my best discoveries of 2014. 

Abbie and Ichabod from Sleepy Hollow

Now I haven't watched this season yet, but based on the first season alone? Forget Katrina. Boo Katrina. IchAbbie all the way. And if it doesn't end up that way, I will be very upset. 

Jake and Olivia from Scandal

Of all the ships on this list, this is probably the one I feel the strongest about. (Other than my ultimate below...) I would MUCH rather Olivia stand in the sun with Jake than make jam in Vermont with Fitz. If I have to hear about Vermont one more time, I'm going to lose my damn mind. 

Beth and Jack from Stalker

I mean, these two are adorable in real life, so why wouldn't they be adorable on the show? I just think they would be such a good couple. 

Rory and Jess from Gilmore Girls

I mean, we obviously all know that Lorelei and Luke belong together. That's a given. But it is certainly my headcanon that Rory meets Jess again in the future, a few years down the road, and they finally get back together and stay together forever. And don't try to tell me otherwise. 

AND MY ULTIMATE SHIP AND OTP IS...

.....

....

...

..

.

LOGAN ECHOLLS AND VERONICA MARS

"Our story is epic. Spanning years and continents. Live ruined. Bloodshed. Epic"

Seriously, though, I can't with the LoVe feels. That quote, that one right there, pretty much sums up how I will always feel about Logan and Veronica. (I'm going to take the leap this year sometime and start reading the books!) 

Tell me: What are some of YOUR favorite TV ships? Do you agree with any of mine as well? Let me know in the comments below! 

Movie Trailer Bonanza!

Hello, everyone! I've been gone for a while. Sorry about that! My computer started having some major issues and long story short, it died. Luckily, I was able to get all my documents, music and pictures off of it before it bit the dust completely, but I had to purchase a new one. So I'm writing to you from the new one! I'm still working on getting it all set up again, but in the meantime, I decided to take a break from the bookish things again and bring you my thoughts on some recently released movie trailers!

As you might know, I'm a HUGE movie junkie. I'm usually the first in my family/friends to hear about major movie news. So when new trailers get released, I am ALL over them. Today, I thought I'd share four recently released trailers for upcoming movies and tell you my thoughts on them!

Cinderella

Release date: March 13, 2015

Starring: Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter

Thoughts: We've known about this new live-action adaptation for over a year, so it's nice to finally see a glimpse of the finished product. It looks positively gorgeous. The colors, the costumes, the whole feel is just magical, which is perfect for a fairy-tale princess. Richard Madden is delightful as the Prince and I almost didn't recognize Cate Blanchett at first, but she looks perfect as the Wicked Stepmother. Helena Bonham Carter is a blonde, but it totally works and I'm super excited to see her Fairy Godmother. I don't know much about Lily James, but she does make quite a perfect Cinderella, so I am excited to see this. However, the trailer shows us almost the entire plot (minus the happily-ever-after), so unless director Kenneth Branagh has some fun tricks up his sleeve, it doesn't look like this will be life-changing. But it still looks like a fun way to bring the magic of Cinderella back to the screen for new generations! 

Pitch Perfect 2

Release date: May 15, 2015

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Skylar Astin, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow

Thoughts: First reaction: AHHHHHHHHH. OH MY GOD. Because I love Pitch Perfect so much and I just can't wait for more. Really, my only problem with this is that Anna Camp and Brittany Snow's characters were seniors in the last movie, and they had graduated by the very end. So...how are they back? Is this not technically a school event? Is this just a free-for-all? Because I'm totally okay with that, but I just need a little bit more clarity people! Otherwise, brilliant. Cannot wait.

Actually, on second-watching, it does look like this isn't a school thing. It's just a big a capella thing. Period. So, YAY. I'm totally down with that. MORE AWESOME MASHUPS. 

Jurassic World

Release date: June 12, 2015

Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D'Onofrio

Thoughts: Oh. My. Goodness. You may not know this about me, but I will pretty much watch Jurassic Park every time it's on TV. Even if I just saw it the night before. I LOVE Jurassic Park. The characters, the concept, the dinosaurs, THE MUSIC. I love it. So suffice it to say that I'm SUPER DUPER EXTRA EXCITED for this movie. It's been a long time coming, my friends. Chris Pratt is on a roll, and I love Bryce Dallas Howard. And the park looks AMAZING. I'm definitely hoping we get to explore that park even a little bit more in the movie before it all goes to hell, because it looks like a veritable playground. And of course, the dinos. I have to admit that I'm partial to the half-CGI/half-animatronics from the 90's, but I was pleasantly surprised by the new dinosaurs. They don't look nearly as bad as I was imagining. The stripped-down piano version of the theme song in the second half of the trailer totally made me feel nostalgic for the old movies, and excited for the new one at the same time. Can't wait! 

Pan

Release date: July 17, 2015

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Garrett Hedlund, Levi Miller, Rooney Mara 

Thoughts: I am a big fan of Peter Pan. It's just one of my favorite classic stories, and I have loved almost every screen adaptation. So let's just say...I'm not sure about this one. I'm a little...dubious? That's a good word for it. Dubious. The whole Blackbeard thing might be a cool idea and I adore Hugh Jackman, but it looks a little...cartoony. The whole thing surrounding this movie was that it was supposed to be a slightly darker take on a Peter Pan origin story. Nothing about this trailer looks dark. Except maybe the clown pirate involved in the kidnapping. What was with the clown pirate? 

Levi Miller is a perfect Peter Pan. He is totally my favorite part of this trailer because he is SPOT ON. I was SO excited for Garrett Hedlund as Hook...until I saw the trailer. What IS that accent? Can someone PLEASE identify that accent for me? I can tolerate a lot, but I really don't appreciate the changes they made to Hook. James Hook is supposed to have gone to ETON. He is supposed to be cultured and value honor and good form above all else. So WHAT IS THIS? 

And don't even get me started on Rooney Mara. I love her as an actor, but casting her as Tiger Lily is still pissing me off. She is SO WHITE. I suppose that Neverland is a fantasy setting and "Indians" there don't have to be the same as "Indians" in real life, but still. Would it have KILLED them to get a Native American actress? Or at least a POC? And what is that big headdress she's wearing? Help me, I'm confused. 

Wow. I didn't realize how mad at that trailer I was until I started blogging about it. So I guess the next move is just to sit and wait for the next trailer and the movie itself. We will see how I feel about it then! 

Tell me: what are YOUR thoughts on these new trailers? Did they make you excited for these movies, or put off? Let me know in the comments below! 

Top Ten Tuesday (7): Movies to Get You in the Halloween Spirit

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely ladies at The Broke and the Bookish!

So not all of these are strictly Halloween-themed because some are just straight-up horror films, but I do what I want! Scary movies always get me in the Halloween spirit. :)

Disclaimer: Not all of these movies are "great" movies, critically at least. Some of them are definite guilty pleasures. But I GREATLY enjoy all of these! Also, it was really hard to narrow this down to just ten. So I fudged a little...

10. The classics: Halloween, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare on Elm Street. I'm lumping these all together because it's hard to put one slasher flick over the other, but these are all such classics in their own right! So I just HAD to include them. 

9. Stay Alive. This is super corny, but I still love it for some reason. It's just fun, and seeing Frankie Muniz in a scary movie? PRICELESS. 

8. The J-Horror craze: The Ring and The Grudge. For both of these movies, I love the originals AND the American remakes. After these movies came out, my mom and I got really in J-Horror for a while, and every time we were at Best Buy, we bought all the Asian horror films we could find. Some were great finds, and some were so not great, but these are the two that started it all! 

7. Zombieland. Zombies are like my FAVORITE paranormal creature. (Seriously, I own more zombie books than any other creature.) And this one has it all. Awesome zombies, tons of humor, clever dialogue, and a little bit of heart. SO GOOD. 

6. Thirteen Ghosts. I know this didn't get great reviews, but this is another one that I can watch all the time. Matthew Lillard is fabulous, and the ghosts are super awesome. And bonus: the DVD has a special feature that explains the backstory of every single ghost. Which is so awesome. 

5. Paranormal Activity. All of them. The first one, especially, was super original. It's a fairly short movie, but almost nothing happens for almost the entire movie. And then all of sudden, all hell breaks loose. And it is fantastic. And the sequels are more of the same, so it gets a little less original every time, but they're still a lot of fun. 

4. The Cabin in the Woods. JOSS WHEDON. Need I say more? Yes? Okay. This is a fantastic scary movie, but it TOTALLY turns the genre on it's head. It's scary but it is HILARIOUS. And full of attractive men. (Okay, so I'm a little shallow. It's fine.) 

3. Scream. This is a modern classic, and I still love it. Even though I know who the killer is and I've seen it a million times, I will watch it pretty much every time it's on TV. Because it's still that good! It manages to be a really great horror film while being super satirical at the same time. 

2. Oculus. This is a brand-new favorite of mine, but MAN, did this movie just get under my skin. It has the scare/jumpiness factor, but for the most part, it's a slightly quieter horror film. So much of the scary is psychological, and the non-linear structure is SO COOL. Like nothing I've seen before, and the second it ended, I knew it was one of my new favorite scary movies that I can watch over and over again. 

1. The Nightmare Before Christmas. This is one movie that is basically a must-watch for me for both Halloween AND Christmas. It's definitely part of my childhood, and it just wouldn't be either holiday season without this movie. So it gets the number one slot! 

Tell me: what are YOUR favorite Halloween or scary movies? Let me know in the comment below! 

Favorite TV Shows

I'm almost finished with Shiver, so I'll have another review up soon. But for today, I thought I'd take a mini-break from talking about books and talk about something else I'm completely obsessed with: TV shows! I have about 50 TV shows on my Netflix queue, and I watch probably way too much TV live, but I absolutely love it! And I'm always discovering new shows to check out. Today, I'm just going to mention a few of my absolute FAVORITES, and a couple new shows that have already captured my heart.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: I'm a diehard fan in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so of COURSE I was going to make the jump to the TV show when it started last year. And when I realized it was a Mutant Enemy show (which is Joss Whedon's production company), I knew I would absolutely love it. While Joss is not actually the showrunner, his brother and sister-in-law are, and it has all the hallmarks of a Whedon production: twisty plots, loveable characters, and ridiculously snappy dialogue. It's so much fun to see who from the MCU will make fantastic cameos in the show, both in person and just in reference. It's also great to see how the show and the movies get tied to each other. Last year, the show and the MCU became inextricably twined together, with the show foreshadowing the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and the movie having huge plot ramifications on the show. I've always been desperate to see the movies as soon as they released in theaters, but watching this show has made seeing the movies on opening weekend almost a necessity, and I'm totally okay with that. 

Once Upon a Time: Fairy tale retellings are pretty much where it's at, and I've been obsessed with this show since before it even started. I love the way this show twists all of the most familiar tales into this amazing mythology specific to the show. For instance, Rumplestiltskin is not only the land's most dangerous sorcerer, but he is also Captain Hook's crocodile, as well as the Beast to Belle's beauty. I've loved their take on the Wicked Witch, and though I was wary of how they'd pull it off, I am, so far, very intrigued with season four's Frozen storyline. Also, this show has no end to its swoonworthy men, featuring Sheriff Graham (*sob*), August W. Booth, Prince Charming, Neal Cassidy, Robin Hood and my personal favorite, Killian Jones, aka Captain Hook. This show pretty much has it all! 

Red Band Society: This one is a brand new show for the fall 2014 season, and I'm already in love with it. I was a little wary about it at first, but after watching the first episode, I knew I was hooked. The show has so much heart, obviously, but it's also funny as hell, thanks in great part to Octavia Spencer's fabulously snarky Nurse Jackson. All of the kids are fabulous, and of course I love Dave Annable. This is one new show that I just can't wait to tune into every week! 

Doctor Who: Confession: I just became a Whovian last year. But in that year, I watched all seven seasons of the new series, catching up in time to watch the 50th anniversary special live with the rest of the world. And God, do I love it now. I cried, I laughed, I gasped. I just couldn't stop watching it. I've been horrible at keeping up with this season (Saturday nights are usually spent watching movies, not TV), but I've got On Demand, so I can catch up whenever I've got time! Confession 2: Christopher Eccleston is MY Doctor. As much as I adore David and Matt (and Peter, at least in the two episodes I've seen so far), I will always have a special spot in my heart for the leather jacket-wearing Doctor who brought the series back. (The first series finale KILLED ME. Buckets of tears.) 

Scandal: This should come as no shock. Many people love Scandal. I am just one in the crowd. Though you may be shocked to hear that I ship Jake and Olivia, not Fitz and Olivia. I love Fitz, but once Jake came in the picture, I was all over it. Also, this show has made me absolutely loathe the state of Vermont. 

How to Get Away With Murder: This is another new show for the fall 2014 season, but it's a Shonda Rhimes show, and since I love Scandal so much, obviously I was going to tune in for Viola Davis. Also, Dean Thomas (Harry Potter), Officer Bennett (Orange is the New Black), and Paris Gellar (Gilmore Girls) are all on this show about lawyers and murder. How could I NOT love it?

The Mindy Project: Last spring, I discovered my love for this show. That means that I missed the first season and a half, but I'm totally hooked. I love Mindy Kaling and her sense of humor, and DANNY CASTELLANO. Chris Messina is seriously perfect on that show. His dance to Aaliyah's "Try Again" was one moment in TV last year that I literally replayed at least a dozen times. Here, just watch it. You'll fall in love with Danny Castellano, too. 

American Horror Story: I only joined this show during the second season, Asylum, but man it is SO GOOD. My mom and I are horror buffs, so a show like this was right up our alley. I love that every season is different, so we get a complete story every year. I also adore the actors on the show. Jessica Lange is a goddess, and Evan Peters is so wonderful (and adorable.) Freak Show started last week, and I'm loving it so far! 

Haven: Why is that Syfy Original Movies are SO BAD, but their shows are SO GOOD? One of my professors watches Haven, and my mom loves Stephen King, so I decided to start this show on Netflix earlier this spring. I flew through the first three seasons in a few weeks, then the fourth season released on Netflix in August, just in time to marathon it before the fifth season started. Now we're in the middle of season five, and it's still so good. I've always loved Eric Balfour. And I have shipped Audrey and Nathan for SO LONG. This show plays on all my feels so well. 

So that's just a FEW of the shows I love so much. If any of these interest you at all, I definitely recommend giving them a shot! Most of the earlier seasons can be found on Netflix streaming, too. 

Tell me: do YOU watch any of the shows mentioned above? Or what other shows do you watch that you recommend I try? Let me know in the comments below!