Once Upon a Time (TV Series): Season Premiere

The Savior

Long Live the Queen

Once Upon a Premise:

A curse broken, a hero reborn.

A young woman with a troubled past is drawn to a small town in Maine where fairy tales are to be believed.

It borrows elements and characters from Disney films and popular Western fairy tales, including Hansel and Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin, Little Red Riding Hood, The Prince and the Pauper, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinnochio, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians, The Sword in the Stone, Robin Hood, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Hercules, Mulan, Brave and Frozen.

Once Upon a Review:

I love how intricately each fairy tale is woven into a modern one. This is the only show where Flashbacks are not annoying and halting to the action. It’s a writers dream. My best friend recommended it to me and I’ve been hooked ever since. Often spending whole days just watching a season.

 

My favorite portrayal has got to be Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold. The unbelievably complex web of events that he manipulated for the singular goal of the love of his son is magical in its own right. I am in awe of the way his character is deviously one step ahead of everyone. The sheer amount of years it took him to accomplish his goal is a MUST SEE. Now that is a true villain that makes you route for him. No one is as powerful or as knowledgeable about magic as he is but the way in which he uses it is what draws you in.

The twists and turns this series takes is nothing short of amazing. At one point I was like, whaaaat?! 

Granted the series has suffered lately from bad plotlines and uninteresting character arcs but the initial magic of the show has never been forgotten and it is my hope that they will get back to that soon. The coolest part has got to be the way they remake the characters we all know and love. I won’t tell you who but some of them even turn out as villains! You get to see the flip side of their ‘heroic’ journey and why they are the way they are. The creators of the show go to great lengths to make sure each tale is more originally deviated from than the last.

If you love twists and remakes of your favorite fairy tales, this show is a must see for all ages and draws you in like no other.

Personal rating: 8/10

  Once Upon a Season 6:

The season 6 premiere aired this Sunday on the 25th September 2016.

Just when it looks like Storybrooke can enjoy some peace, once more it is threatened by dark forces. The malevolent Mr. Hyde, now separated from Dr. Jekyll, has arrived and brought his fellow inhabitants from the Land of Untold Stories.

Who will save the Savior?

Emma Swan, our resident bad ass super hot & beautiful heroine, is set to face some of her most enduring trials yet.

To make matters worse, Regina's dark half - the Evil Queen - continues to exist despite her heart being crushed; unburdened by a conscience, the Evil Queen has declared war on the heroes.

"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"

One of my all time favorite quotes/phrases which roughly translates into:

"Who will Guard the Guardians?"

One of my favorite bloggers Elayna Fernandez aka The Positive Mom recently attended an exclusive, all expense trip/event to go behind the scenes on the Once Upon a Time set. There she got to see a screening of the Season Premiere episode.

She wrote an awesome post on her experience there called:

What It Really Means To Be A Savior #OnceUponATime

Elayna~ "As a matter of fact, my favorite quote by Eddie was about faith":

“The thing about faith is you have to choose to have it, and if you need proof then you don’t really have it.”

You can follow all the event posting & Elayna via the Hashtag #ABCTVEvent 

Watch the Season 6 Trailer Here:


© Enricoh Alfonzo ~ Alfonzo Words

• I’d love to keep connected with you! 

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~Be Kind to One Another~ Ellen Degeneres

Supernatural (TV Series): Review

An enemy that will stop at nothing... A family that will risk everything.

Funny quote: Sam – “Dude, I'm not enabling your sick habit. You're like one of those lab rats that pushes the pleasure button instead of the food button until it dies.”

Bring on the awesome! It’s finally time to talk about one of my favorite TV shows around.

I have been a fan since episode Uno and have never missed a season, often re-watching them just to watch those brothers dust all manner of nasty that goes bump in the night.

DeviantArt Gif Cred: deino_erd

Eric Kripke, the creator, says the core of the show is two brothers who hunt monsters. Hell Yeah, it is! I frickkin love this show. I’ve never had a brother but I’ve always wanted a big brother I could look up to. Dean Winchester fills this role in spades, he’s badass and willing to sacrifice anything to keep his brother alive. They’ve taken on vampires, werewolves, wendigos, ghosts, demons, gods, even angels and they keep on coming. This is the perfect twist to those congested crime procedurals they keep throwing around hoping for a hit. It starts out with Sam & Dean combing newspaper articles and obituaries for clues to possible monster attacks. If they find something convincing enough, they drive to the location in Dean’s infamous black 1967 Chevrolet Impala which he refers to as ‘Baby’. Once there, they get to dress up as various officials in order to investigate what’s usually a crime site. Their go-to personas are FBI agents with rock aliases for names. (I know, awesome!). 

DeviantArt Cred: MarWash

The show has kept its fans always wanting more and is a testament to Supernatural having surpassed Smallville as the longest-running North American science-fiction series with a renewal for a 12^th season. The best part is I know two brothers that are just like Sam & Dean. I have been trying to get them to watch the show for years. One day I will succeed.

Interestingly enough the show was meant to end at season 5 according to the creator and with way, the events of season 5 played out…. The finale truly was a standalone and the series could have ended there with amazing finality. But by then the actors Jared Padalecki (I know crazy surname) and Jensen Ackles who play Sam and Dean respectfully, had done too good of a job gaining followers. The shows fans would not let it die, they wanted more of the brothers. So the producers kept the show going, granted the plot lines have been exceedingly more untethered to any known mythos but who cares, more Supernatural forever I say.

Included on the bonus DVD is a documentary of the actors on set and how much fun they have. It makes you want to watch them on screen that much more. Jared and Jensen are known for their off-set shenanigans. 

Pic Cred: borgmama

A must watch is the end of the “Yellow Fever” season 5, episode 6. Where Jensen does an insanely hilarious lip sync version of “Eye of the Tiger” song. If you YouTube the bloopers you’ll see just how funny these guys are.

DeviantArt Cred: Eajna

My favorite mythical being that the brothers have ever faced is Death. 

This dude is definitely one of the most powerful beings in the Supernatural universe even claiming to reap God one day! The actor provides such mystery that you can’t help but wonder just how vast his power is. Though the fact that Lucifer bound him does annoy me on his limitations. 

Speaking of ‘Ol Lucy, finally, now here is a Satan with some juice! When you see him almost annihilate every ruling pagan god of their respective pantheons, it’s like whaaaat?! Naturally he brought the fear to the brothers tenfold mostly because Sam was destined to be his one true vessel. I have to say, though, I am not a fan of the actor who played him. After seeing Mark Pellegrino, as some wannabe vampire leader on the Almost Human US TV series, I just can’t get with him playing the first Archangel. His individual characteristics just didn’t pull me in as believable. He had the power but he didn’t act like it. Not in the same way Death did. The actor looked too bored. 

I loved how the angels aren’t portrayed as neither good nor bad but lost soldiers who are always seeking a leader, searching for God. The show depicts how following orders without question can be, literally, apocalyptic… With the introduction of Castiel played by Mischa Collins, the brothers get firsthand experience into the motivations and powers of an angel.

Here is some amazing concept art of the Winchester brothers as Angels. (No spoilers don't worry)

DeviantArt Cred: peace4all & griffouine

On the most interesting side, as long as the show keeps up the monster hunting formula I foresee a brilliant future ahead for the show. I am grateful that Jared & Jensen have set aside whatever other projects they want to do and have decided to stick with the show.

It’s X-Files with more action and less conspiracy.

It’s the modern Twilight zone with less science fiction and more paranormal fiction.

Mike Hale of The New York Times also named the series on his top ten list for the year: "Supernatural is currently among the wildest and most entertaining series in prime time."

Personal rating: 10/10

In the days to come, I will add more reviews of my favorite TV shows and Movies. 

Let me know your thoughts about the show. All views are welcome.

If you enjoyed this post, show support for the Talented Artists credited in the pictures, by clicking on the link & commenting/sharing their work. Thank you!

Epic sketchbook fanart by Lala_mot on DeviantArt.

Here are some fun Memes I've made for you to play around with :-)

© Enricoh Alfonzo ~ Alfonzo Words

• I’d love to keep connected with you! 

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~Be Kind to One Another~ Ellen Degeneres

The Flash (TV Series): Review

"My name is Barry Allen, and I am the Fastest man alive."

The fastest man alive isn’t a just comic book anymore.   

Barry Allen wakes up 9 months after he was struck by lightning and discovers that the bolt gave him the power of super-speed. With his new team and powers, Barry becomes "The Flash" and fights crime in Central City. 

Barry Allen: What is happening? What is going on? 

Cisco Ramon: You were struck by lightning, dude. 

Barry Allen: What? Lightning gave me abs?

A well-adapted version of a fan-favorite comic book series, the Flash has well-rounded characters, unique plots, and twists with the right amount of spectacular superhero vs. super villain showdowns.

Although during certain fights you can clearly see, that the Flash is pure CGI, the rest of the show makes up for this. Grant Gustin as the Flash, heavily carried the show in the first season, with Cisco Ramon a close second. But since then, more characters have started to show some promise. Doctor Harrison Wells in this second season is way more entertaining and provides a much-needed depth to the character.

I was pleasantly surprised when Grant Gustin sang on the show, though too short a scene, it was still pretty cool. Only through minimal investigation (Google) did I find out that the he acted in the TV Series, Glee. More of that singing, I say. I enjoy how Barry has to use this one power of Super Speed in different ways in order to take on the baddies. To say that they have practically thought of every which way to use the speed force is an understatement. Who knew having a hero with one power would be so popular and yet there you have it.

What is it with the super powered always falling madly in love with the human women? Seriously, it’s got to stop. What do they even do for them I wonder? I was almost bouncing with joy in the new animated Justice League films because Superman wasn’t all into Lois Lane for a change. More on that in my next post.

The show was well received by critics. The Website, Rotten Tomatoes reported a 96% approval rating with an average rating of 7.4/10 based on 55 reviews. I agree.

I’m not too jazzed that so many people know this guy’s secret but I am open minded about it, maybe it is time for a change. Often when things like this happen the shows barely address it. The TV Series Chuck is a prime example, do you know the number of times Chuck should have gotten shot or worse? It’s insane. It makes the whole government assassin genre look like nerd play. Don’t get me wrong I loved the show, yet it annoyed me at how trivial they make lethal matters. It’s the same with the Flash. Hello? Someone get kidnapped already or at least show that keeping the Flash’s secret is a tough thing to do.

I love Cisco’s portrayal in this series. He’s such a fan boy when it comes to the villains and the heroes. It’s no wonder why he’s so popular. Plus if you read the comic books, you’d realize he’s one of the most powerful characters there is, in the Flash-verse. Can’t wait for him to truly discover that on the show!

Bring on the popcorn and get ready for a comic book fantasy world come to life. It’s no Superman or Spiderman but it is its own! The Flash, oh yeah.

DeviantArt Cred: marconelor

Personal rating: 7/10

In the days to come, I will add more reviews of my favorite TV shows and Movies. 

Let me know your thoughts about the show. All views are welcome.

If you enjoyed this post, I’d be honored if you’d help it spread by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter or Facebook/Tumblr. Thank you!

~Be Kind to One Another~ Ellen Degeneres

Top 10 Best Superheroines of All Time

A Superheroine is defined as is a type of heroic character who possesses extraordinary talents, supernatural phenomena, or superhuman powers and who is dedicated to a moral goal or protecting the public.

So without extraneous explanation, here are the 

Top 10 Best SuperHeroines of All Time:

1. WonderWoman

DeviantArt Cred: artdude41

The demi-god warrior princess of the Amazons, think Zena but impressively more. Her depiction as a heroine fighting for justice, love, peace, and gender equality has led to Wonder Woman being widely considered a feminist icon. Diana Prince is without a doubt the badass numero Uno on this list, taking on gods, aliens and all manner of baddies with true Amazonian prowess. In her latest appearance on the animated film Justice League: War, she proved able to go toe to toe with Darkseid himself. It's a must watch. Her battles are as entertaining as her cadence. She first appeared in legend in 1941 and will now be given her first feature-length film in 2017! 

Origin: DC Comics created by the American psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston and first drawn by H. G. Peter.

2. Black Widow

DeviantArt Cred: Armando-Huerta

Adding to the mythos of appeal for Batman, is it any wonder that she has been so popular lately? Natasha Romanova is a human female, highly trained in the art of assassination. Hence the humble name. She's been ranked as one of the greatest comic book characters of all time. She is also an accomplished ballerina. Displaying an uncanny affinity for psychological manipulation, the Black Widow is as deadly as she is irresistible. Not always known for being forthcoming, Natasha is always on mission with more secrets up her sleeves than the CIA. We just couldn't get enough of her in the Avengers & Captain America films. 

Origin: Marvel Comics Created by editor and plotter Stan Lee, scripter Don Rico, and artist Don Heck.

3. Ms. Marvel

DeviantArt Cred: JPRart

Some might recognize her, some might not. She's worth mentioning at 3 due one of the most talked about debuts in comic book history. Kamala Khan is an American-Muslim Teenager from New Jersey, USA who has the crazy cool ability to Shapeshift. Her primary go-to adaptions of this power include elongating her limbs (stretching) and size manipulation. Comic book fans will know that she has Inhuman genes that were "activated" by the Terrigen Bomb. She ships the "Spidey-Marvel" relationship of Spiderman & her idol Carol Danvers. #OTP Having been well-received by the public & critics alike, Marvel Comics has shown yet again that it wants to include groups of the American population that have yet to be personally inspired by their heroes. The coolest part about all of this is that one of the chief creative editors for the character is a Muslim woman named Sana Amanat.

Quote: "Fabulous. Now I'm in trouble, too. This has to have happened for a reason. I saved one life, Does it stop there or do I go on? Maybe this is what I've been waiting for. Maybe I'm finally part of something... bigger."

Origin: Marvel Comics Created by editors Sana Amanat and Stephen Wacker, writer G. Willow Wilson and artist Adrian Alphona.

4. Hit-Girl

DeviantArt Cred: emmshin

Mindy McCready is the youngest by far on this list yet still one of the most lethal. Granted the character is extremely violent for her age & has received her fair share of controversy against that quirk. Hit-Girl still comes out swinging with one of the most entertaining reads out there. She takes out the baddies with a decisive flair that is akin to Deadpool's own eccentric magnetism. I for one hope there will be many more an appearance from her. 

Origin: Marvel's Imprint Icon Comics created by artist John Romita, Jr. and writer Mark Millar.

5. Supergirl

DeviantArt Cred: Artipelago

Cheers to all the fans, Supergirl finally has her own TV series which they have not stopped raving about. I do give it props for debuting a realistic version of the Martian Manhunter. In one of the animated movies, Batman analyzes that Kara Zor-El's genetic structure may allow her to absorb more of the suns rays than even Superman, effectively making her stronger than the Man of Steel himself. It might be poppycock but still she does have her powerful bouts of freedom. Always wanting to make a name for herself apart from her iconic cousin, will she succeed? Root for her. 

Origin: DC Comics created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino.

6. Erza Scarlet

DeviantArt Cred: AthenaWyrm

Finally! A female anime character that was not over-shadowed or side-stepped by the male characters. We've seen so many anime shows where the female characters have only a few moments to shine before they are delegated to the supporting character role. She's smart, beautiful & one of the strongest characters from the manga/anime known as Fairy Tail. To give you but a glimpse, during a tournament for the honor of her Guild (Think magical community), one of the challenges was a house of Monsters. Each participate would have to challenge a number out of the 100 monsters within the house. In surprise, Erza challenged all One Hundred Monsters at Once! This only goes to show that she is a true superheroine, willing to do anything to protect the "Muggles" as well as the people she loves. She has one of the coolest powers invented, able to magically equip herself from an arsenal of weapons & armor. 

Origin: Fairy Tail Manga created & illustrated by Hiro Mashima.

7. Storm

DeviantArt Cred: TyRomsa

Can I just say, I'm in love with this artwork! It's is the perfect depiction of this Elemental Goddess. Who could very well annihilate entire cities if she so desired. Ororo Munroe is anything but so destructive. Constantly having to inhibit her emotions least her power become uncontrollable. The plus side is that she is incredibly wise & empathic towards others, having understood the strain a mutant power can be to maintain at calm levels. She's one of the most prominent X-Men with legendary exploits. We cannot wait for the X-Men: Apocalypse film in order to see her again. 

Origin: Marvel Comics created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum.

8. Buffy Summers

DeviantArt Cred: odysseyart

Back before Vampires twinkled like diamonds in the sunlight (Stephanie your books still rock!), there were honest to mother Mary, undead Vampires without souls. One girl in all of the world was chosen to grant them justice. The Slayer. Gifted with supernatural strength & reflexes, Buffy could fight even the oldest of old & come out victorious. Being that she was in high school, made her somewhat of a teen icon to young girls everywhere. Her romance with the en-souled Vampire Angel became the stuff of legend. The original uncut version of Bella & Edward. Except here, Bella Kicked Ass! It sucks socks that the TV series is over but you can still catch up on Buffy via the graphic novels released. The series creator wanted to deviate from the female horror victim stereotype & did he ever succeed in fifty shades of spades! Buffy is a strong female cultural icon.

Origin: Feature Film created by Joss Whedon.

9. Motoko Kusanagi

DevinatArt Cred: AnthonyFoti

Recently you may have heard something along these lines about the character: "ScarJo is playing her? Nooooooooo! They can't do this to us. Wasn't Black Widow enough for her?" 

This statement stems from the terrible past experience the public has had when an anime has been adapted for film & non-Asian cast members are chosen. In hope, this adaption might do the anime justice. Motoko is from a famed anime series called Ghost in The Shell. She is an augmented cybernetic human employed as a field commander in the fictional law-enforcement division. Being strong-willed, physically powerful, and highly intellectual, she is well known for her skills in deduction and hacking. Even with her insanely powerful skills, Motoko draws you in with her inate humanity and feminity. She believes she has an obligation to use her abilities for the benefit of others. It's a brilliant anime series to follow. 

Orgin: Anime/Manga Series created by Masamune Shirow.

10. Ellen Ripley

DeviantArt Cred: Schwester27

No list of Superheroines, worth its salt can be complete without listing Ellen Ripley. In an age where it was considered absolutely absurd for a female to lead a science fiction film, Sigourney Weaver, cemented her legend in cinematic history by bringing impossible power to the character of Ellen Ripley. Heralding her films for challenging gender roles & illutrasting that a female could be just as must of an action star as any actor before them. Ripley is often considered one of the most significant female protagonists in all of cinema, and is a prominent figure in American popular culture. 

John Scalzi, film critic and president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, wrote in 2011:

She’s not a sidekick, arm candy, or a damsel to be rescued. Ripley isn’t a fantasy version of a woman. Science fiction film is filled with hot kickass women doing impossible things with guns and melee weapons while they spin about like a gymnast in a dryer. As fun as that is to watch, at the end of the day it’s still giving women short shrift, since what they are then are idealized killer fembots rather than actual human beings. Ripley, on the other hand, is pushy, aggressive, rude, injured, suffering from post-traumatic syndrome, not wearing makeup, tired, smart, maternal, angry, empathetic, and determined to save others, even at great cost to herself. All without being a spinny killbot.

Origin: Film Series created by Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett.

*********************

If we simply Must take a tally here, we've got Film/TV Series at 2, Anime/ Manga series at 2 with DC Comics at 2 & Marvel comics topping out again at a whopping 4 characters! Well, I'll be a son of a gypsy Queen, who would've thunk it? 

In the next post, I will list Top Ten Best Supervillains of All Time.

If you enjoyed reading this post, check out this post on Superman Vs. Spiderman!

I would be honored if you would share/like/comment below. 

© Enricoh Alfonzo ~ Alfonzo Words

• I’d love to keep connected with you! 

Follow on Twitter | Like on Facebook | Join my Instagram community | Watch me on Pinterest | Subscribe to blog post Updates |

~Be Kind to One Another~ Ellen Degeneres

Lucifer (TV Series): Review

The Devil has a Heart.

Can Satan be redeemed?

In a hilarious modern twist to classical mythology, Lucifer Morningstar has got his own TV series. In this mythos, The King of Hell has taken a vacation from ruling the tormented souls in the Underworld and has taken up residence in Los Angeles no less. There he owns a club called Lux, an up-scale domain of depravity and lustful connections, true to his style hey? Through an assassination attempt, Lucifer meets the feisty detective, Chloe Decker who seems to be immune to his one of his four powers on earth – compelling people to reveal their innermost desires to him. His other powers include immortality, strength & scary demonic illusions. ‘Ol Lucy becomes fascinated with solving crimes with Chloe, reveling in the punishment portion of the job.

To no surprise, the One Million Mums website under with the American Family Association (AFA) has taken up a petition against the show with a campaign saying the show "will glorify Satan as a caring, likable person in human-flesh." The group has been labelled a Hate group on more than one occasion, taking up an issue with portrayals such as Marvel & DC adding gay/transgender heroes to their superpowered roster. You get the picture. Parents do have every right to be concerned about the elements their children are being exposed to, being that it is Their children after all but when are they going to learn that controversy Sells! People get bored, especially in this internet, social media crazed generation. They want new, they want against the grain/outside the box stuff. Nobody made E.L James, author of the Fifty Shades series, a butt load of money because she wrote about a safe, moderate romance.  I laugh because it was tagged as “Mom porn”. I wonder what those One Million Mums had an issue with then?

Back to topic. The actor who plays Lucifer is Tom Ellis, the debonair English charm he brings to the character is definitely a plus for the show. It brings a uniqueness to the character and suits the Devils antics. However the stereotypical “cop solving cases with a CI (confidential informant)” has left me concerned about the show’s future. I mean after the Mentalist, can there really be anyone better? That portrayal is still fresh in our minds. It would need to die down before another could captivate us. The crime procedural dramatic is just too played out. I want a show where you can’t see the killer coming. Like in the TV Series Scream. Now that is a killer I never saw coming!

So far there has been only one full-blooded angel shown, Amenadiel who has been tasked with putting Lucifer back on the throne of Hell to control those damned souls. He looks like this.

Ok, I have to admit those wings are wickedly cool but like the Constantine TV series awhile back, the angel is boring with no depth.

I have to admit Lucifer is just one of those shows I follow hoping for a better twist or more entertaining plots. Like a badass battle or a fully powered Lucifer. I mean hello, he’s frickkin Lucifer! The only angel who could hold a candle to him, was Michael and this is all he has left? Not cool bro. I understand the premise, having heavens most hated angel turn mortal and experience being a human as if it was all his Father’s grand plan for him. Sigh. In all honesty, I have yet to see a Lucifer who truly embodies the status of Satan. Portrayals have so far been too “Human”. It really is time that we see the ultimate evil that is Satan and not a washed down version. Don’t you think?

On the plus side, Tom Ellis really makes the show worth watching. He’s witty, funny and doesn’t take anything seriously. Now I understand what a "devil may care attitude" is. He makes you want to watch more.

Next Episode: "#TeamLucifer", airs April 18, 2016.

Rotten Tomatoes gave the series a 49% approval rating, with an average rating of 5.2/10 based on 35 reviews.

Personal Rating: 7/10

In the days to come, I will add more reviews of my favorite TV shows and Movies.  

Let me know your thoughts about the show. All views are welcome.

If you enjoyed this post, I’d be honored if you’d help it spread by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter or Facebook/Tumblr. Thank you!
What post would be complete without an Angel-winged Lucifer. Epic Artwork by Tricksterkat209

Update to this Post:

The season finale brought with it the twist I was looking for! Thoroughly enjoyed the episode & it's plot. Pushes my Personal Rating to 8/10. Excited about the next season!

~Be Kind to One Another~ Ellen Degeneres