![]() "They made a tonic" isn't just a compelling way to begin a story. For many of us, it was the beginning of an obsession with one of the most provocative and captivating series of narratives in the 21st century. A mere few days ago, it gripped tight to curious readers as the opening chapter of a guidebook to monstrous creatures. This past Friday the 13th it became the introduction for millions to The World of Lore through Amazon Prime and Aaron Mahnke's chillingly true storytelling series Lore. Experiencing Lore in any capacity is like sitting in chilled autumnal air around a campfire while your cool uncle spins yarns of folktales and wonder. There's a creepy comfort in the immersion, and the stark truth behind the unbelievable stories remind us that the world is full of weird and wonderful things. Lore gives its audience tales that are gripping, enticing, and eerily more real than we'd like them to be and the six part program captures that spirit. Season one provides viewers with diverse tales documenting iconic to little known pieces of folklore, presented in a stark mixture of documentary style storytelling beautiful animation, and dramatic recreations. Narrated by the master himself, Mr. Aaron Mahnke, the show proves that the wait is truly worth the outcome and the world isn't always what it seems. It's the perfect addition to your season of scares and a powerful testament to the love fans have for this world. This... is Lore.
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![]() Last year's surprise hit from FOX, The Exorcist, captivated audiences with it's stark storytelling, beautiful cinematography, and undeniably masterful cast (not to mention some neat fan-service for fans of the source material). It was my favorite new show of 2016, binge-worthy to the fullest, with some of the most well-developed and impeccably acted characters in recent memory. Starring Ben Daniels and Alfonso Herrera as Father Marcus and Father Tomas (respectively), the show followed the journey of two priests on a mission to rescue a terrorized family. It was hard not to fall in love with these two souls and crave more narrative. Fox created something so breathtaking (both in aesthetic and in creep factor) with it's modernized continuation of the cult and horror classic, and fans have been eagerly anticipating the premier of the second season with bated breath. Tonight we saw the premier pick up mere months after Father Marcus and Father Tomas' crusade against the forces of hell on earth beckoned them to leave Chicago. They go on the holiest of road trips, going cross country to wherever they are called to go - like Supernatural with more attractive accents. It hit the ground running, possessions in full swing and faith wavering, and introduces us to a new family in need of some help. John Cho joins the cast as Andrew Kim, alongside his wonderfully weird group of foster kids, who find themselves on the cusp of crisis. It plays the emotional game by switching from a frantic exorcism to calming family life effortlessly and proved to be a strong premier for one of, if not the best, horror show on television in the last few years. (As always, minimum spoilers ahead). ![]() If you're even the slightest bit familiar with this blog you know I am all about the paranormal investigation genre - and Kindred Spirits on TLC is by far the highest recommended on my list (which is saying something, I've seen every episode of Ghost Adventures - twice). So, needless to say, I was more than excited for the second season premier last night, especially when I found out Amy and Adam were going to be investigating the Borden House. Naturally I grabbed my package of pumpkin spice cookies, threw on a sweater, made some tea, and curled up in the darkness of my living room when the clock struck 9. It was worth the wait and I couldn't be happier. If you're unfamiliar with the concept of the show, Kindred Spirits features longtime ghost hunter pros Adam Berry and Amy Bruni on a journey to investigate and help distressed families who believe they are dealing with paranormal phenomenon. It stands out amongst the icons of the genre by showcasing the caring, emotional side of the business while still giving you all the intense, jaw dropping moments of solid proof that fans of the genre crave. It balances emotionally charged moments with historic focused investigations, credible evidence, and a ton of heart, making it a strong competitor for best paranormal show on television. (If you want to know more about the show as a whole, here's my review of season one). So, how did the duo's investigation of the Borden House pan out, and what should we expect from season two going forward? I'm a sucker for any type of paranormal investigation show. Give me anything with shaky hand-cams, over-the-top reactions, and the smallest possibility of maybe seeing a spec of something go by a night-vision camera and I will be all over it faster than you can blink. It started with Ghost Hunters at a very young age, probably close to ten years ago at this point. Now it's a multi-night, weekly tradition for me to get as many episodes of Ghost Adventures in per a seven day span as I can. Give me your Ghost Adventures/Labs/Asylums/Hunters - give me your parody series like Ghost Provokers and your retellings of the Warren's most notable cases. I don't care how many lame reenactments, faked evidence, or over-the-top jump-scares they throw at me - I'll watch it. So, obviously, it didn't take much more than a small, still-standing advertisement in the corner of a web-page to take notice of a very odd and unexpected little gem called Kindred Spirits. I was instantly intrigued, especially since TLC is the last television station I would ever expect to throw a paranormal show at me, what with being the cable queen of trashy 'everyday life' content that they historically were known to be. So naturally I sat down and loaded up the series premier and was pleasantly surprised at what I discovered. Three episodes later and it's become a much loved part of my weekly routine.
2007 was one of those years that just kind of stands out in my mind. No real clue why, it just always has, but I can only very vividly remember three fundamental things that happened those 365 days. I moved to the city that claims ownership of one of most haunted locations in the world, I graduated high school, and on October 17th the Ghost Adventures Documentary premiered on Travel Channel. The Goldfield Hotel was the location, and the three super awkward and over the top main cast members forever became etched into my mind. I couldn't tell you why, especially since back then I was convinced that the only authentic paranormal investigation show was Ghost Hunters and these guys were just in it for the publicity. But this documentary became important to me. There was something about it, something about Zak, Aaron, and Nick that captured my attention and my heart. Flash forward to today and we've just been blessed with the premier of the thirteenth season of Ghost Adventures. The series has aged like a fine wine that I have become addicted to. Anyone who knows me well knows that I adore this show - I text almost exclusively in Zak Bagans gifs and I've had the same picture of his smiling face as my phone background for almost a year. My VuDu library consists of nothing but seasons of this show. The cast is undeniably lovable, the evidence is incredibly hard to debunk, and it's an immensely fun program to watch. Looking back on the last nine years and twelve seasons makes me nostalgic and even more excited for this current season.
The show has come a long way since the three novice investigators stepped foot into the Goldfield Hotel. Now a team of four (including adorable AV Techs Jay and Billy as full-time members) this last season included some of the most compelling evidence and shocking scares to date. From the Black Dahlia House, to the return to the Winchester Mystery House, to the introduction of Zak's very own Haunted Museum, season twelve was by far their most professional and impressive. It's hard to not love this show. Both skeptics and believers alike adore it, for a variety of reasons. From the scientific devices and methods used by the team to the incredibly in-depth look at the history of each location to just how real the cast is, it's hard not to enjoy yourself. The cast consists of some of the most incredibly down-to-earth people you'll ever see on television, especially this day and age. They're humble and take time out of their every day lives to stay in contact with fans on Social Media and their incredible friendship shows through the program. Thirteen seasons is nothing to scoff at and the GAC shows no signs of slowing down - they enjoy each other's company, continue to pioneer new methods of paranormal investigation, and have some of the most dedicated fans of any currently running reality show. |
AuthorJust your average geek chic gamer chick into all things ghostly and geeky (and vice versa) Archives
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