When our illustrious leader and Editor-In-Chief, Andy Burns, asked his admiring Biff Bam Pop! staff for our choice of the best of 2013, I was hesitant. I had five of my favorite TV shows already lined up and I only had to pick the best episode for each one.
It would be a piece of cake, right? Hell no! How could I pick the best episode of “The Walking Dead” when I love each and every episode, same with “American Horror Story,” “Defiance,” “Orphan Black,” and “Bates Motel“? Did I flip a coin? Nah! Did I choose wisely? You judge after the jump.
Defiance Episode 12: “Everything is Broken”
“Defiance” is one of the better science fiction shows on Syfy, and features humans and aliens living together on a radically changed earth after a long and brutal war. On Episode 12, all the pieces fall in place. Mayor Amanda Rosewater (Julie Benz) loses the election to Datak Tarr (Tony Curran). Stahma Tarr (Jaime Murray) kills Amanda’s sister Kenya (Mia Kirshner). Nolan (Grant Bowler), the local lawman, is shot and killed protecting his alien daughter, Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas) from Colonel Marsh.
Irisa escapes from Marsh and releases the power inside her, which heals Nolan. Colonel Marsh is killed by Datak Tarr, and the Earth Republic Army takes over the town of Defiance. Biff Bam Pop! did a two-part interview with the talented Jaime Murray and got the inside scoop on what makes Stahma tick. The show returns in June 2014 on Syfy.
Orphan Black Episode 6: “Variations”
This episode of “Orphan Black” was hilarious. Yeah, I know it’s supposed to be a serious science fiction series about clones, but, episode 6 was a ‘Keystone cops’ type of show. The marvelous Felix (Jordan Gavaris) and clone Sarah (Tatiana Maslany plays all the clones) help out one of many clones when Alison knocks out her husband Donnie (Kristian Brunn) with a golf club, before tossing him down a flight of stairs and torturing him with her scrapbooking hot glue gun. Alison thinks that Donnie is part of Dr. Leekie’s (Matt Frewer) gang. Problem is the neighbors are at the door for a potluck dinner and Alison is drunk as a skunk.
Street wise Sarah pretends to be Alison while Felix plays a butler leaving the neighbors confused as hell. Things go from bad to worse after Vic (Michael Mando) and Sarah’s boyfriend Paul (Dylan Bruce) show up at the party. Sarah has to keep the other clones safe while protecting her daughter Kira (Skyler Wexler). The science behind the series and its pros and cons of cloning are accurate, but the plots need more action. “Orphan Black” returns to BBC America on April 19, 2014.
Bates Motel Episode 8: “A Boy and His Dog”
In the first seven episodes of “Bates Motel,” you’re able to blank out the fact that this angelic faced teenager grows up to be a serial killer. Norman (Freddie Highmore) is the victim of his crazy mother, right? Norma (Vera Farmiga) is crazy alright, but Norman is no angel and his darker side comes out when he realizes that Bradley (Nicole Peltz) isn’t interested in him after she and him did the nasty thing. Angry at Bradley, he lures his dog into oncoming traffic.
The Bates family has problems: Norman’s school recommends a therapist; Sheriff Romero (Nester Carbonell) is on to Norma killing the former owner of the motel; Norman’s older brother, Dylan (Max Thieriot) works for the town’s drug cartel; Mr. Abernathy (Jere Burns), the man in room #9, is involved in human trafficking, and good old Norman practices taxidermy on his dog. Luckily for Norman he has a loyal friend in Emma (Olivia Cooke). “Bates Motel” returns with a new family member in 2014 on A&E.
American Horror Story: Coven Episode 8: Head
Out of the three seasons, I think season 3 of “American Horror Story: Coven” is by far the best. How could it fail with three top notch actresses on board? Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett make being devious and scary look freaking great. Surrounded by AHS’s recurring cast, our three divas keep their fans asking for more. Facebook and Twitter went wild after Fiona (Jessica Lang) killed Madison (Emma Roberts) and Cordelia (Sarah Paulson) was blinded by acid. When Marie Laveau (Angela Bassett) sent her zombies to attack Miss Robichaux’s School, and Fiona had Myrtle (Frances Conroy) burned at the stake, I was wondering if this show could get any crazier. It did!
While Fiona got down and dirty with the Axeman (Danny Huston), Marie Laveau gets her revenge on Delphine and leaves a package at Fiona’s door. Poor Delphine! She’s a bitch, but you can’t help loving her. Delphine is missing her body and she’s stuck with the Voodoo Queen. Hank (Joseph Hamilton) went postal at Laveau’s Beauty Salon, but now worries; nothing stays dead in New Orleans. The war is on between the witches and the witch hunters. “American Horror Story: Coven” returns on January 8th on FX at 10 PM with a possible appearance by the fabulous Stevie Nicks.
The Walking Dead Episode 8: “Too Far Gone”
Season 4 of “The Walking Dead” served up several shocking episodes. It was a season of bad choices made on both sides. On the mid-season finale, episode 8, we witnessed the long lasting effects of the choices made by both Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and The Governor (David Morrissey). Carol (Melissa McBride) made a choice to keep her friends safe by killing what she considered a threat to the group; Because of Carol’s actions, Rick made the choice to banish her from the group, and The Governor made a choice that caused the very person he promised to protect to fall victim to a walker.
We were tricked into thinking that The Governor had changed his ways, but we were fooled. As soon as he could, The Governor eliminated anyone in his group that challenged him, and then he went after the people living at the prison by holding Michonne and Hershel as pawns. His ruthless actions caused the death of several people on both his team and Rick’s. We thought that Rick was a goner, but Michonne (Danai Gurira) put an end to the Governor. A string of poor choices and now Hershel (Scott Wilson) is dead, Megan (Meyrick Murphy) is dead, The Governor is dead and maybe even baby Judith. The series returns in February on AMC, but I’ll be mulling over episode 8 for quite a while; it was a heartbreaker.
Conclusion
So, my little zombie snacks, I gave you my best five episodes. Did I make the right choice? You tell me.
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