The Netflix Nerd

EEEUUUGGHHH. I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START. I’ve been wanting to write about this for a few days now, but couldn’t bring myself out of the magical bubble that is the world of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before,”... Now that I’ve watched the movie three times (not even ashamed), read the entire trilogy of books from cover to cover, watched countless interviews with the cast on YouTube downloaded the soundtrack and been listening to it on repeat all week, I’m finally ready to share this magic with all of you and present you with ALL THE REASONS WHY YOU JUST ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO WATCH THIS MOVIE!

I’ve always been a sucker for a good love story, and little teen romance to take me back to high school days, and I gotta say that this one tops them all. I’m talking Troy & Gabriella, Noah & Allie, Harry & Sally .... sorry but Peter K & Lara Jean are THE IT OTP right now.  I seriously can’t get enough of these two  ... It has been a LONG time since a rom com has gripped me so hard, and made me feel so giddy and fuzzy inside. Seriously ... It’s made me fall in love with love all over again.

CAUTON : Consider this your (mild) SPOILER warning! Proceed at your own risk. 

Anyway : HERE ARE (at least some of ) THE REASONS EVERYONE HAS FALLEN INLOVE WITH EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS LOVE STORY ...

River Rats! Welcome back!!

I’m sooooo re-obsessed again after the last 3 episodes! Dayum!! …. It’s now just getting progressively better week by week and I am loving it…. Except the waiting every week in between. Ah, it’s killing me slowly.. I need more! and I need it now… after that ending this week … but I’m getting ahead of myself let me back track again.

< SPOILERS AHEAD> You have been warned.

So this week things certainly get interesting!

The episode starts with a little VARCHIE (still not feeling this , btw) and their out right defiance of the Blackhood, and like a personal contest to see how many places they can get nasty in * insert monkey covering eyes emoji here *  … sorry but this I could do without … It’s like so unnecessary and adds NOTHING to the (otherwise) incredible storyline!!  I mean c’mon, are we seriously just tryna fill the time here? … and of course the absolute ‘Cliché’ of the dreaded “L” word. < excuse me while I go off on a little rant here >

Honestly - what is so bad about telling some one you LOVE them? Like honestly , if you know please explain it to me … here’s what I think … Like , you’ve already done the nasty, you’re going steady, your friends all know about the admittedly ridiculous couple name … Why would a four letter word make you want to back off from all that? Like you’re all over eachother, you’ve been told to ‘Get a room’ have no issue going all PDA on each other but when privately one says ‘I LOVE YOU’ … It’s like “OH CRAP ABORT MISSION ABORT MISSION” … It’s a storyline which has been included in almost all iconic TV couple’s stories  ( Ryan and Marissa, Rory and Dean are just two which first come to mind, there’s been heaps more ) … I just don’t understand why it should cause the ‘end’ of a relationship, or rather the beginning of a downward spiral , I mean it’s just a word, and it’s a beautiful one at that - I mean I use it countless times a day, I tell people I love them every day, and there are a lot of things I proudly admit loving every day too (even if it’s coffee, pizza or Riverdale ;)) and personally if anyone told me that (especially someone I’m with and had already seen and been seen naked by) I’d find it endearing and an enormous complement! Like ‘Ahw, Thank You for saying that.’ … It’s comforting to know that some one cares about you, and that they’re comfortable to admit it! … Like why do people (or is it only in the movies? I mean do people really react like this in real life??) always get so scared of that word? I don’t get it. Never have, and as long as it continues, never will.

< right sorry about that, rant over >

So yea - the dreaded “L” word is spelling trouble for VARCHIE, meanwhile FP’s release is bringing BUGHEAD closer together as they plan a party in FP’s honour.  I’m so glad we’ve got more of Skeet in this episode - I love him! He truly stole the show in this one!

In the meantime, some new revelations are made as it turns out the ‘Reaper’ murders which took place was the same house that the Blackhood sent Betty too that time, and also that the “Reaper” had missed one family member (the third child had escaped) … turns out that ‘child’ was SVENSON (yes - the school janitor) … but when confronting him Archie realises it’s not him, he doesn’t have the ‘eyes’ of the Blackhood.

Of course, Alice is going with to pick FP up from ‘The Shawshank’ and I am loving the chemistry between these two in this episode. Alice is such a tease , and there is so much sexual tension in their scenes. I’d hate to see the ‘end’ of the ‘Coopers’ but I’m so feeling rebellious Alice coming out round about now.  You can tell Madchen & Skeet are seasoned Veterans. I love these two, and they kill every single scene.  That scene where he’s encouraging her to come to the ‘party’ … it’s too much. And of course Alice walking into the party like she owns the place, the complete boss that she is. I’m there for it , baby!! (and yea girl, I’ll shoot some tequila with you!)

HOW GOOD IS THAT SONG??? Oh my word!! I absolutely ADORED this version of MAD WORLD. It’s so haunting, and I’ve been listening to it on repeat since the soundtrack. Obsessed is an understatement.

FP comes through again saving face for BETTY … love this guy!! … but turns out his plans of retiring are over. Why?? Well to look out for Jughead and protect him from ‘the Snake Charmer’. This is too much for Jughead to handle as he feels responsible for wrecking his dad’s one chance to go ‘straight’ and also with Penny Peabody knowing that ‘Betty’ is Jughead’s ‘soft underbelly’ he feels that he has to cut his losses and decides to keep Betty away :(

“How many times Jug? How many times are we going to push each other away?” “Until it sticks” these words broke my heart. I’m dead.

But all is not too bad, as the next few minutes had my tears turning from sorrowful to hopeful. Varchie is over too, Veronica can’t handle the commitment - and where does this leave us? Well

‘A boy looks out his window, at the girl next door, and sees her as if for the very first time’.  I’ll just leave this here : 

So after Cheryl’s soul shattering experience in the last episode, I am beyond pleased to see her absolutely SLAY in this weeks episode. #CherylBombshell for the win. & I am so excited that after this episode I FINALLY feel like RIVERDALE IS BACK, BABY! I loved every second of this week’s episode!!

SO - what’s the drama? .. Well the first scene reminds us that TONI stayed over at Jug? . . .  Really, Juggie? Not even ‘broken up’ for ONE DAY, haven’t even confronted BETTY and THIS IS WHAT YOUR IMMEDIATE REACTION IS? … Sorry, Juggie, but major loss of Brownie points right here … I though Arch was the ‘playboy’. This again, much like Betty’s method of breaking Jug’s heart feels really out of character. Why are you writers doing this to me?

Betty starts to regret her quick ‘betrayal’ of Nick, realising that should the Blackhood kill him, the blood would be on her hands - as the Blackhood commends her for showing her ‘vulnerable’ , ‘dark side’ and in that moment of vulnerability becoming ‘Judge, Jury and Executioner’.

Then there happens to be arranged this little ‘Parent’s Committee’ meeting which has me seriously LOLing. Like - all this time the parents are like whatever - and now they suddenly want to step up to the plate. LMAO - but in all seriousness it’s cool to see them finally showing some concern for what ever darkness and drama is taking over Riverdale. It’s revealed that ‘JJ’ (Jingle Jangle’) is sourced from the ‘Southside’ according to Reggie, and Mayor McCoy vows to round up the Serpents to clear the streets of the ‘JJ’ … There’s a raid at South Side High, but Archie gets Jug out in time.

The Blackhood tells Betty that the maker of the ‘JJ’ is someone known as the ‘Sugarman’ and he wants her to identify this creep as his next target! Betty talks to Sheriff Kelller trying to find out if it could’ve been ‘Clifford Blossom’ , but he tells her that JJ only hit the streets after Clifford’s death. Betty, being convinced that the Sugarman had some connection to Clifford, confronts Cheryl about it. Cheryl finds a drawing she’d done as a child of her , Jason and ‘the Sugarman’ … She tries to confront Penelope (her mum) about it, but Penelope refuses to acknowledge it.

There are some tender scenes from Cheryl in this episode, she’s truly amazing. Madeleine … Massive props this epsiode. We really see a more ‘human’ side to her, Penelope is in a way accepting ‘hush money’ from the St Clairs, and this is breaking Cheryl’s heart. She tells her mum, ‘You could defend your husband against killing your own son, but you can’t take my side.” and she continues that seeing the rest of the family is ‘dead’… ‘I am alive, and I am begging you for once in your life to care about ME more.”  … It’s such a beautiful moment for Cheryl, and I couldn’t be prouder of her!  Nick shouldn’t be allowed to get away scott free.

It’s finally revealed that the ‘Lodges’ are still accepting money from the St Claire as well for their SoDale project - and Veronica can’t accept this. She eventually comes clean to Hiram and Hermoine that Nick tried his sexual predator stunt on her too, but was unsuccessful - and datum do I love the IMMEDIATE change in Hiram’s demeanour he enters total ‘Papa Bear’ mode - like who dare harm my daughter? … Clearly Nick St Clair is as good as dead ;) and they promise to accept no more money from the St Clairs.

There’s also this kind of Battle between ‘Tall Boy’ and Jug as Tall Boy wants the serpents to team up with the other gang, the Ghoulies. Jug doesn’t seem to think it’s a good idea. Jug and Arch go visit FP in prison and he advises them to challenge the Ghoulies to drag race … if the Serpents win, they don’t pair up with the Ghoulies, and the Ghoulies stop the drug business.  

Reasons I am LOVING this drag race story line … #1 comic reference having Betty in her overalls and working on cars. Yay! This is the Betty Cooper we know and love, and also a great ‘reunion’ of Bughead as Juggie tells her that even if she thought she was trying to protect him, she did ‘the only thing that could actually hurt him’ … My bughead heart be still! #2 Cheryl being the diva chick she was born to be , I LOVE THIS SCENE. She walks past Toni with such an attitude and is like, ‘Not Today, Cha Cha, I was born for this moment’ … and if those aren’t the truest words Cheryl has ever spoken. I’m LOVING it!!

They manage to scare the Ghoulies off with the help of the cops, and all is okay for the time being. Jughead and Betty have sorted things out, Betty’s also come clean to Veronica and they’re besties again as they team up to help Betty find out who the Sugarman is, and at the same time take control of Blackhood’s game. It’s finally revealed (through Cheryl and Penelope) that the ‘Sugarman’ is actually Mr. Phillips (Juggie’s new teacher in SouthSide) who is caught by Police and imprisoned , as tipped off by Betty who called Sheriff Keller instead of the Blackhood in a bold move to ‘steal’ the game. Of course, the identity still gets out there, and a scene ‘implicates’ that the Blackhood shoots Mr Phillips in his jail cell (but we never actually see the gun go off?) …. ‘Sweet Dreams, Sugarman’

It also comes to light that the ‘St Clairs’ had a ‘terrible accident’ (accident, my backside) and that Nick St Clair will be facing months of recovery, Veronicas cool response of “Oh Well. Karma’s a Bitch” is just epitomising her position as a ‘Lodge’ and for the first time in ages I have made respect for the girl! Actually adoring this dynamic  TRIO at the moment and wouldn’t mind a little ‘Lodge’ spinoff … they’re just epic and untouchable, and I love it.

Ah. Why do I have to wait for next week? … Any ideas as to who is the Blackhood?? I still can’t figure it out.  Comment some of your theories below. Oh and also, before I sign off for the day, is anyone else feeling this vibe between Reggie & Josie at the moment? Ep 5 and 6 both hinting at a new little ship happening over here, and I’m totally feeling it. Comment your thoughts below!

Wow. Wow. Wow. Rivedale has once again brought the da-rah-ma this week, and I’m loving it.

On a super serious note - I want to take a moment to acknowledge and thank the writers, producers and actors for shedding light on such a universally important issue right now. It’s truly great to see that girls can indeed kick some ass, and stand up for themselves against disgusting, misogynistic, sexist pigs like the likes of Nick St Clair !! Girl power for the win.

The GIRL POWER in this episode is absolutely giving me reason to live right now. I’m not just talking about the girl squad / pussycats totally beating up Nick St Clair’s sorry ass, but Alice and Betty Cooper bringing their A-Game this episode as well. Here’s a little look at how Riverdale’s girls kicked some serious butt this week.

First off, Alice’s article sending some major shade at the Lodges, I’m loving it. Gotta admit, the woman has guts!  … BUT her absolute prowess doesn’t end there. After Blackhood threatens Betty into publishing an article confirming ALICE as an ex Serpent! ( What? .. Kidding, we all knew this was the case) … but this leads to one of the most amazingly empowering moments for Mama Coop , as she performs what has to be one of the greatest entrances I have seen of TV.  Madchen Amick : ILYSM. Badass, and looking FINE AF!!!! …. YOU SLAY IT, SISTER!

The ‘drama’ between my beloved “Bughead” continues Thanks to Toni, the Serpents and the Blackhood.  

Jughead trying to join the serpents , and lying to Betty about it - Not cool, Juggie. But their little reunion at Pop’s - the cutest scene ever. These two are just adorable, but are they end game? I don’t quite think so. They’re just too different? or are they?

The Blackhood, not wanting to ‘share’ Betty is trying to isolate her from all her friends, and threatens her to break up with Juggie. Heartbreak. Don’t do it!! … Luckily, Betty isn’t going through this dealing with the Blackhood alone, as she confides in Archie. I’m so glad to have some more Betty/Archie scenes, I love these two together, and even if they’re not a ‘couple’ KJ and Lili bring an awesome energy and chemistry to the screen in their scenes together.  

I gotta admit, I did lose a bit of respect for Betty when she asks Archie to break up with Juggie for her - I mean c’mom B. That’s just cold blooded. Atleast man up and do it your self, a little cowardly, and I personally feel that Betty Cooper is too nice of a person to not take care of this kind of Business herself. Plus, she would’ve been way more gentle about it that Archie was!!

This leads to Betty losing the another one  of her friends, as instructed by the Blackhood, Veronica. Nick St Clair has a party, which goes horribly wrong!! Reggie bringing in the ‘JJ’ and everyone getting high - but luckily Betty walks out killing the Buzz. The night however doesn’t end there - bringing me to the most important / scarily real story line of this episode - that of ‘sexual abuse’ and ‘rape’ - if any guys are reading this right now - IT IS NEVER OKAY TO TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANYONE!! (and girls - same goes for you! cause I know this crap goes both ways) … Nick tries to come on to Veronica, but luckily she is strong enough to stand up to him, slapping him through the face like he deserves despite his threats / attempts to Blackmail her into ‘showing him a good time, as per Daddy’s instructions’.

The next day at the Open House he apologises to V and you think that would be the end of it, but NO. A leopard doesn’t change it’s spots. Cheryl arrives and Nick roofies her! This is just heartbreaking, and disgusting and so scary to how quickly things can go wrong. The drug leaves Cheryl absolutely powerless to this predator’s advances - but thank the forces of the universe - she has her girls looking out for her. They race up to to Nick’s hotel and give him the ass whooping he deserves before any harm can come to Cheryl.  Girls, you gotta stick together. Nick is sorted out , and Cheryl is saved!

To try and protect some one she loves, Betty asks the Blackhood to not go through with his diabolical plan, and he asks her for a name for some one else in exchange - to which she gives him the name of Nick St Clair.

In the mean while, Juggie passes his final test to ‘join’ the Serpents, and fresh of the back of his ‘break-up’ with Betty - allows Toni to kiss him :( Juggie - you’re killing me.  

This is like super super late - and I have no excuse except for life - and although I haven’t had time to upload my reviews - I haven’t missed any Riverdale!! So here we are with my review of EPISODE 4

Soo - this episode is largely focusing on Archie forming and cementing ‘The Red Circle’ against the Black hood which causes issues between him & Veronia and also an interesting new thread - that of a ‘relationship’ (or connection rather) between our favourite girl next door, Betty Cooper and the black hood!!

Let me briefly start with the whole Archie / Veronica thing - or should I say Archie & the Lodges. I honestly still don’t get how he can even want to be semi connected to this whacked out family, but hey that’s his prerogative -  try as I may, I just don’t understand how everyone let’s the lodges get away with this rubbish!!  . . .  Hermoine is clearly up to something, and absolutely wants Archie and Veronica to break up, and honestly,  I don’t even disagree.  Veronica luckily is not stupid, and being suspicious of her parents continues to remain loyal to Archie.

Now - apparently the Blackhood is committing all these murders ‘for Betty’ - like WHAT THE HELL? … I don’t know who the Blackhood is, and it’s killing me , but I can’t wait to find out. I do however love that this might mean we get to explore a bit more of the ‘Dark Betty’. and I’m really disturbingly interested to see where this story line goes.

Also best description of Betty Cooper (like absolute perfection!) so I have to quote her being described as ‘Nancy Drew meets Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’ … I love it!

Poor Juggie is getting pulled even worse as he becomes torn between the Northside & The Southside as he struggles with his identity. The whole ‘Blackhood’ code ciphering thing is also causing some da-ra-ma and with Juggie and Toni Topaz teaming up to work out the cipher I sense some trouble in the land of Bughead, and as much as I do love the pair of them, I actually am starting to feel that they’re getting a little tired, they’re just too different?  … i dunno, I’m one of the hugest fans of Lili & Cole’s chemistry , but really right now I wouldn’t mind seeing a little Toni / Juggie relationship to shake things up a little?

Finally, with Betty, Kev , Jug and Toni all working together they’re able to crack the Cipher and they rush to ‘Town Hall’ to warn the others who are all at the town meeting. Nothing quite goes down at the meeting, but there is an interesting little conversation between Hermoine & Hiram that takes place and I can’t help but think it’s an important little piece of information going on here when Hermoine is like , ‘I told you Fred would be a problem’ . . .  and Hiram is like, ‘ The people of Riverdale love and respect him’ … What , what , what are these two up too? . . . Hiram though, I gotta say, evil as he is, hot as hell and definitely intriguing!!

Yay yay yay! My favourite show of the year is back and this is how excited I am to have it back on screen.

Like seriously though, B is totally my spirit animal or soul sister or whatever you want to call it. (Gosh, I love her!)

First things first let’s discuss some of the newly introduced characters of the first two episodes and there have been quite a few.

The most notable one  of course being the one and only Mr Hiram Lodge (Mark Consuelos) . I’ma say it straight up, he’s a total DILF, but damn the man cannot be trusted. He’s so shady, and we’ve literally just met him. He’s blackmailed people, went directly against Veronica’s wishes,  lied to Veronica about it, and if that didn’t make me hate him already he had to go get rid of Smithers :’( I’m devastated. There is no lodge residence without Smithers, c’mon Riverdale!! Why you do this to me?

Another notable character is the change of REGGIE’s actor, of course, I miss Ross Butler :’( [on a side note: I can’t wait to see him in the next installment of 13 reasons why] ... but Charles Melton is great so far, and I’m loving that we still get our ‘Asian Dude Bro’ Reggie, and that it allows Reggie a bigger role in the show, as I’ve always loved the Reg / Arch dynamic in the comics. So I’m excited to see more of that this season.

There’s something about this season that’s already got me all like : TRUST NO ONE. And some one i’m finding particularly shady at this moment is MARY ANDREWS - now I know she hasn’t played a major part - but in Fred’s dream sequence about ‘Archie’s wedding’ there was a rather ‘foretelling’ scene.  Instead of being up front along side the family / bridal party: Mary was sitting in a row of seats along with ONLY BLOSSOMS, and when it comes to her close up she gives Fred a sinister wink. I kinda clicked, she’s got the Blossom look too... is she somehow linked with the blossoms? and did she collaborate with them to try and off Fred?  ... what are you doing in Chicago, Mary? and what are you doing to Riverdale? .... I think there are alot of unanswered questions here, and I’m looking forward to seeing this storyline unfold.

Some one else who I am hating right now is Hermoine Lodge , that woman is an itchy bee . She doesn’t even care about Fred, or show any remorse or emotion, sorrow, concern, and outright defends and lies to protect her vile husband - uh huh. These two are certainly up to no good, and I hope V will teach them a lesson. 

I never thought I’d say that Veronica would be my favourite Lodge, or that Alice (Cooper) would be my favourite Riverdale mom - but uhm yea, at this moment that is the case.

Some good things to come out of the first two episodes: ✦  Fred is still alive ✦  Miss Grundy is finally gone for good - HOORAY! ✦ BUGHEAD is still going strong ✦ The Pussycats & Cheryl’s version of ‘Milkshake’ !! I love this! ✦ POP’s is still OPEN. - I mean kind of DUH - there is not Riverdale without Pops Chocklit Shoppe

Some awful things to come out of the first two episodes: ✦ Archie and Veronica - just call it quits already - I don’t feel this ship. ✦ No more Smithers :( ✦ Midge was introduced and taken just as fast. Whyy?? I hate you Riverdale. (Just kidding , I love you, but still - why???!!) ... I really really wanted to see more Midge and Moose, and Moose beating on Reg for hitting on Midge. Why do you deprive me of this? C’mon! [Maybe they didn’t die she sighs hopefully - but - i’m sure they’re pretty dead] ✦ MORE AND MORE QUESTIONS - too many damn questions.

Share your opinions

WHO DO YOU THINK IS THE ANGEL OF DEATH? I’m pretty sure it’s that new, long haired Serpent, hired by the Lodges - but time will tell. I mean the serpents have done business with the Lodges before - remember the Drive In? .. that’s the theory I think at the moment ... but I guess we’ll see.

WHO DO YOU PREDICT WILL BE HIS NEXT VICTIM? I’m sensing a little ‘some one dies very episode thing going on here. So like : Who’s gonna be next? Maybe Dilton? He gave Archie a gun after all. 

Opie (Sons of Anarchy)

First off I’ma start by admitting that these films are completely and utterly out of my usual choice of entertainment .... (Hence why it has taken me 6 years to actually watch them! Yes - that’s right I only watched them ALL for the very first time this week!) .... and boy have I been missing out!! 

The hype around the latest release in this incredible series (WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES (2017) roused my interest and by chance I came across a marathon of the previous two films (RISE (2011) and DAWN (2014) ) and thought “Why not?” ... I honestly think it took all of the first 15 minutes of RISE for baby chimpanzee Caesar to completely steal my heart! I was instantly cooing and in love with this adorable little cutie. I was immediately hooked and couldn’t wait to continue the rest of the series to follow the unfolding of Caesar’s beautiful story.

How would I describe this franchise in three words? MIND-BLOWING , HEARTWARMING and beautifully TOUCHING! (Ok, ok it’s more than three- but even these don’t really do it justice!)

Now’s where I leave my “SPOILERS AHEAD” warning as I proceed dissect the franchise. So please - if you haven’t watched these films - don’t ruin their genius for yourself - go and watch them PRONTO!! ... You’re welcome.

I have been a Prison Break fan since my high school days! So needless to say I was beyond excited when a revival event series was announced, and was I impressed? The short of it : ABSOLUTELY!

In preparation for the new show I binged the entire first four seasons (thank you Netflix!!) to get myself back up to speed on where we last left off some of my favourite TV characters ever!!

So fair warning there are spoilers ahead - so if you haven’t watched yet - now would be the time to stop reading this and go and find your closest available source to binge watch the latest PB season before continuing this post... you’re welcome and enjoy!

Title : Bloodline Number of Seasons / Episodes: 3 seasons . 33 episodes. Produced by: Netflix Original.

Synopsis : How far would you go to protect you family’s perfect name? The Rayburn family ‘are not bad people, but they did a bad thing’ or two.  How many secrets, lies and cover ups will it take to tear this close knit family apart? Will they be exposed by the questions from outside forces? or will they turn on each other and implode from the inside? 

Okay. So seriously since Prison Break ... this has got to be one of the most twisting, thrilling and suspenseful shows I have watched, and it had me hooked from episode 1! The series has now come to a close with it’s third and final season and it did so brilliantly.

There are so many reasons to love this show but i’ll name just a few.

The script is incredibly written, and each character is given a specific role within the secret filled Rayburn family and they all full fill their roles to perfection! They all stay strong to their individual identities right through out the show and perfectly portray their characters.

The acting is just phenomenal! I loved that I got to enjoy seeing some of my favourite childhood actors in this. As a kid I used to love watching Kyle Chandler (John Rayburn) in the lead role in Early Edition and Linda Cardellini (Meg Rayburn) was also one of my favourites (Sam) in ER. So it was fun to see these two in different roles - and actually completely believe their new characters. They did amazingly! Ben Mendelsohn is beyond incredible as Danny Rayburn! It’s no surprise he won an Emmy for the role as it is the absolute perfect casting and he epitomises the character. Same can be said of the other Rayburn sibling, Kevin, played by Sam Shepard! and Sissy Spacek is incredible as Mama Rayburn! Even the supporting / guest actors are incredible in their respective roles. Each character feels so real and relatable and it’s so easy to connect to each and every one of them. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect cast in this show. 

This brings me to the story itself. It is so REAL. Family life is complicated, and there will always be drama and secrets - of course not nearly as much as in the Rayburn family , but family is family and we will go to any lengths to protect our own. The story is incredibly thought out and crafted , and the twists just keep on coming. They are unpredictable and thrilling at every turn and honestly gripping from the first to the final episode.

Another reason to love this show is the cinematography and set. My gosh. The production location in Florida Keys is out of this world beautiful and the setting of the Rayburn House right on the beach front is like a paradise. It’s absolutely exquisite. Hopefully I’ll get to vacation there someday! Ah - it’s perfection.  * the only part of this show I didn’t find realistic is how anyone living in this beautiful place could be leading such dark, mysterious lives.

Two of  favourite shows ( Riverdale and Bloodline) had come to an end and I was at a complete loss as to which series to binge next when Netflix came to my rescue , yet again, with the release of CBC  series ‘Anne with an E’

It’s a little out of my usual genre - I love the old timey , historical vibe to the stories and I am a massive fan of  ‘Period’ pieces especially such as Jane Austen movies (Pride and Prejudice book will always be my all time favourite) - but usually I find them a bit serious for my every day enjoyment, and have to be in the right frame of mind but this series was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I’ll be honest it took me two episodes to get fully into the story and once I did I couldn’t stop until I had watched them all. (There is only seven episodes so it didn’t take me too long). It might not be every one’s cup of tea but for some nostalgia and literary fans I’d recommend it.

I decided to watch it because I remember absolutely falling in love with the Anne of Green Gables books (author LM Montgomery) as a young girl in primary school and she was always a literary character that I resonated with and felt connected to.

Anne is an orphan girl with a rough history of horrible orphanages and foster families who comes to be adopted by an elderly brother and sister (a very unique and special family set up) Matthew and Marilla.

I couldn’t remember all too much of the books to be honest, but I felt the series reminded me of that beautiful character of Anne again, and I was once again entranced at the magical way in which Anne chooses to view the world. Although, I will admit I sometimes wanted to yell at her ‘Oh wake up out of your dream land that’s not how the world works’ but despite her crazy antics she always somehow was able to redeem herself in the end. I also did find her ever so slightly annoying and frustrating at times, and I don’t remember feeling like that in the books either, at the way she just flits around and talks at a hundred miles and hour, but having said that she wouldn’t be the charming character she is without these qualities.

There was a lot more sad and dramatic pieces than I could remember from the books, but it told a beautiful story over all. It was heartwarming, and the characters each managed to some how charm their way into my heart and leave me wanting more. Some of my favourite characters in the show were the ‘supporting’ characters - Gilbert Blythe and Jerry - I thought they were super cute and I hope to see more of them and their relationships with Anne as the story develops (if it gets renewed for another season).