Anjali Mandalia, TV Blogger

A blog dedicated to the best television shows around. Part of Yahoo TV and Entertainment UK.

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Riverdale: First Trailer For Archie Comics Series

The first official teaser for The CW’s newest drama Riverdale has landed. The show, created by Arrow and Flash maestro Greg Berlanti, is not a sitcom as the comics would suggest but an hour-long drama that seems to take notes right out of Twin Peaks’ book. Taking the characters immortalised in the Archie Comics, the show adds sex-appeal, mystery and intrigue in a subversive take on Archie. Check out the teaser below...

While the trailer doesn’t give us any details about the story, it does provide a first look at the iconic characters - Archie, Betty and Veronica - as well as giving us a feel of the show. We get glimpses of a shirtless Archie, a murder, cheerleaders, a fight, bags of cash, and Veronica in a black swimsuit. It also namedrops The Vampire Diaries and Gossip Girl, which gives an idea of the vibe the show is going for.

Riverdale will star KJ Apa, Cole Sprouse and Camilla Mendes, and will debut on The CW on 27th January 2017. Keep your eye out for a UK broadcaster.

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Six Reasons Why Jane The Virgin Is One Of The Best Shows On TV

Jane The Virgin is perhaps one of the most underrated shows, despite the big mark that its currently leaving on the television landscape. It’s a show that’s first and foremost about family and love, and features an incredibly diverse cast, a lovable father and one of the best actresses TV has ever seen. Here’s six reasons why Jane the Virgin is one of the best shows out there.

1. The leading women

The show is all about family and motherhood. When we first meet Jane Villanueva (Gina Rodriguez), she’s living at home with her grandmother, Alba (Ivonne Coll) and her mother Xiomara (Andrea Navedo). Three seasons on, Jane has her own kid, Mateo and has moved out of her childhood home, but her relationships with her family are still intact. They may have their ups and downs, as well as disagreements, but their bond will always be there. It’s the heart of what the show is all about. On top of that, the three leads are all single mothers raising wonderful kids. 

2. Rogelio de la Vega

Rogelio (Jaime Camil) may have come into the show with his own motives, but he’s grown into a loving father and grandfather to Jane and Mateo. He’s the comic relief of the show, is often a diva (who loves purple and sparkles) and is a big drama queen. But despite his busy schedule being the star of a successful telenovela show, he still has time for his family. Among the serious nature of family relationships that are rooted within the show, Rogelio is both a loving father and a true delight. 

3. Jane chooses her son over any man

Jane’s priorities are clear from the beginning - it’s all about Mateo and what’s best for him. Yes, Jane has two men pining for her but whether you’re Team Rafael (Justin Baldoni) or Team Michael (Brett Dier), you’ll always be on Team Jane. She knows exactly what’s important to her, and will move heaven and Earth for Mateo, making her easily relatable and admirable as a character.

4. The cast is incredibly diverse

Alba moved from Venezuela with her husband Mateo before Xiomara was born. She attempts to preserve their culture by only speaking in Spanish, with Jane and Xiomara replying in English, something many can relate to. Jane’s baby daddy Rafael is from Italian descent while his ex-wife Petra (Yael Grobglas) is from the Czech Republic. The cast is incredibly diverse without the diversity angle being forced - the show is about celebrating being different. That’s something refreshing to see in the current TV landscape.

5. The story lines are ridiculous and they know it

Yes, crime lords, face changing clinics and kidnappings are all part of the story. Among the serious, heart-warming scenes between Jane and her family, the show manages to spare some humour by parodying the ridiculousness of telenovelas. The show even has a hilarious narrator (Anthony Mendez) who acts as a gateway between the audience and the characters, often asking the questions that we demand the answers to.

6. Gina Rodriguez

The show’s lead Gina Rodriguez is both an incredible actress and an inspirational human being. She won a Golden Globe award for her role after only eight episodes had aired. Her character Jane is immediately likeable and relatable from the moment you see her. It’s hard not to admire her and a lot of that is down to Rodriguez, a brilliant actor who knows how to pull out all the emotional, comedic and thrilling stops. As complicated as her life is, Jane somehow manages to keep a calm poise, making Rodriguez one of the best actresses on TV right now.

Jane the Virgin airs on E4.

More:

Six Badass Women Currently On TV

Why You Should Be Watching Jane The Virgin 

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New Trailer For Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends Crossover

“Since we’re fighting aliens, I figured we get one of our own,” says Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) in the new trailer for The CW’s big four-night superhero crossover.

Dubbed ‘Heroes vs Aliens’, the extravaganza, which will see the story spanning across four shows, will kick off on Supergirl where The Flash will go over to Kara Danvers’ (Melissa Benoist) Earth to enlist the Kryptonian’s help. The extended trailer welcomes her to “the best team ever” as our heroes are forced to face off against The Dominators, an alien race hellbent on destroying the metahumans living on Earth.

Watch the trailer below...

New footage shows the enemy invaders as they land in their spaceships ready to face off against Team Arrow. Barry compares the new villains to “World War Z zombies” and that “no military can stop them”. But it seems like they aren’t the only threat. Deathstroke makes an appearance and it looks like he’ll have to face off with Sara Lane/White Canary (Caity Lotz). Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) has a new crossbow while Thea Queen (Willa Holland) is back in her vigilante costume. 

The exciting crossover begins with Supergirl, before seeing the story move on to The Flash, Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow. 

More:

Seven Things That Need To Happen In The Big Four-Way Superhero Crossover 

The Flash and Supergirl Are Doing A Musical Crossover Episode 

When The Flash Meets Supergirl: Seven Things That Need To Happen

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Doctor Who: Three Things We Learnt From The New Christmas Sneak Peak

A new sneak peek for the Doctor Who Christmas special landed during the BBC’s Children In Need coverage on Friday. Set in New York, the episode sees The Doctor teaming up with a masked superhero and a journalist to stop a deadly alien threat. The three-minute clip teases secret facilities, a superhero and a new villain. Here’s three things we learnt from the teaser.

1. A new ‘companion’

Charity Wakefield plays Lucy Fletcher, an investigative journalist for the New York newspaper the Daily Chronicle. Almost like a Lois Lane type character, Lucy is surprised to learn that the superhero is real. It looks like she stumbles upon The Doctor at a mysterious secret facility, and she tags along with The Doctor and Nardole (Matt Lucas) to stop the alien threat that has been teased. 

2. The Doctor has another new alias

Peter Capaldi’s Doctor introduces himself to Lucy as ‘agent Dan Dangerous from Scotland Yard’ or ‘The Doctor for short’. He’s always had an alias - in series nine, he referred to himself as Doctor Disco - and its likely that the episode’s title refers to him, Doctor Mysterio.

3. The superhero has a name

Until now, there have only been rumours of the existence of a masked vigilante roaming the streets of New York. The caped crusader has a name - The Ghost. When Justin Chatwin’s unnamed superhero was first introduced, there was a theory that we might be dealing with The Doctor’s old enemy the Great Intelligence. That might still be the case but we’ve now also discovered that his powers include flight, super-strength and invulnerability. 

Watch the teaser below...

The 60-minute episode titled The Return of Doctor Mysterio, will air on BBC 1 on Christmas day.

More:

First Trailer For Doctor Who Spin-off Class Arrives

Doctor Who Spin-off Class Has Premiere Date: Everything You Need To Know 

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Binge-Watching Guide: Star Wars Rebels

There’s an obvious reason to watch Star Wars: Rebels... it’s Star Wars. Sure, it may air on Disney XD and is aimed at a young audience, but it fits right in to he universe. Rebels has the look, feel and features music of the world that we know and love, offering scale in a different way to the ever-expanding saga. 

The mission-focused format of the show means that viewers are taken to new planets and introduced to new species. The show gives scope to the ways of the Force, focusing on the training of a young wannabe Jedi, all while exploring the very beginnings of the rebellion. The animation may be a turn off for some, but the show has firmly secured its place as a part of the Star Wars canon.

Here’s a run-down of the show.

Number of seasons: 3 (45 episodes)

Where to get your fix: The show is currently airing its third season on Disney XD.

Story line: Set fourteen years after Episode III and five years before Episode IV, Rebels follows a group of misfits who unite as they board a freighter starship called the Ghost. The hero of the story is Ezra Bridger (voiced by Taylor Gray), a 15-year-old street urchinand con-artist with Force abilities, whose parents were imprisoned by Imperial forces. He joins the rebel group as they begin to conduct covert operations against the Galactic Empire, and catch the eye of the Rebel Alliance.

Why you should binge: While Rebels hasn’t gone down the darker tone of its predecessor The Clone Wars, it’s far from being a show just for kids; its a lot of fun for all ages. The stories are kept simple, the villains are significant and the cameos are noteworthy. It neatly ties in to The Clone Wars and occasionally finds itself exploring the underlying themes of the wider Star Wars universe, keeping older audiences happy. 

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Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events: First Trailer For Netflix Series

Netflix have finally released their much-anticipated trailer for the upcoming adaptation of Lemony Snickett’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. 

Based on the internationally best-selling children’s book series by Daniel Handler, the show follows orphans Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire (played by Malina Weissman, Louis Hynes and Presley Smith) as they’re left in the custody of a mysterious, distant relative named Count Olaf (wickedly played by Neil Patrick Harris). After his intentions to steal the kids’ inheritance is foiled, Olaf employs various ridiculous disguises to wriggle himself back into their lives, causing mayhem for the Baudelaires and their subsequent guardians. Using their wits to outsmart Olaf’s schemes, they journey from caretaker to caretaker in an effort to stay away from him and find out the truth behind their parents’ death. 

A new poster has also been released.

The show promises a dark take on the novels and boasts an enigmatic performance by Patrick Harris, the perfect choice to take on the sinister and scheming Count Olaf. 

It also stars Patrick Warburton (Lemony Snicket), Joan Cusack (Justice Strauss), Alfre Woodard (Aunt Josephine) and Catherine O’Hara (Dr. Orwell).

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events will debut its eight-episode first season on Netflix on 13 January 2017.

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Seven Things That Need To Happen In The Big Four-Way Superhero Crossover

If this year’s superhero fight club is anything to go by, The CW have definitely assembled a stellar line-up of heroes to grace our screens every night of the week. But now, it’s time for them to finally meet within their respective shows. In an epic upcoming four-way crossover that will span over four nights, the story will feature in episodes of Supergirl, The Flash, Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow. Dubbed ‘Heroes vs Aliens’, the four-part extravaganza follows our heroes as they face off against the Dominators, a technologically advanced alien race hellbent on destroying the threat that Earth’s metahumans pose.

Entertainment Weekly magazine have provided us with our first glimpse of the upcoming episodes in a special cover accompanied with some exciting images. 

The new stills promise a collision of worlds, personalities, and a whole lot of fun. Here’s seven things that need to happen during the big crossover.

1. An explanation of Supergirl in the Arrowverse

When The Flash (Grant Gustin) met Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) in the show’s first series, it spent a lot of time explaining how the Kryptonian exists on a different Earth and therefore not a part of the so-called ‘Arrowverse’. Despite having the same creator as Arrow and The Flash at its helm, Greg Berlanti, the production team decided to keep Supergirl separate to the core shows, predominately because the first season aired on a different network. But the good news is that now that Supergirl has made the move over to The CW, she is now a part of the Arrowverse - though we do need an explanation! 

2. Cisco geeks out over meeting Supergirl

Since he didn’t get to go with Barry to National City last season, it looks like Cisco (Carlos Valdes) will now get the chance to meet Kara. Given his past encounters with superheroes and his love for metahumans, he’s going to have so much fun geeking out over her.

3. A geek team-up! 

How cool would it be if Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards), Cisco and Winn (Jeremy Jordan) all ended up in the same room? They’re the brainiest and geekiest characters in their shows, so it would naturally make sense if they team up to take down the bad guys from behind their computers, and bark orders at our heroes. 

4. Laurel Lance is... alive?

Last we heard, Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy) aka the Black Canary died a heroic death trying to stop Damien Dahrk (Neal McDonough). But this new still of her and sis Sara (Caity Lotz) tells us otherwise... what does it mean? How is she alive? And... is that a wedding dress? So many questions!

5. Tag-team!

Barry will introduce Kara to the rest of the heroes and naturally, it takes Oliver (Stephen Amell) some time to warm up to her. Let’s hope that there’s an epic stand-off with the Dominators that will see our superheroes team up for the greater good. 

6. Their costumes looking amazing side by side...

...Or they could easily look like they’re getting ready for Halloween.

7. Superman stops by? 

If everyone else will appear in these episodes, why can’t Superman (Tyler Hoechlin) stop by for a bit? One can only hope!

Watch a promo below. The crossover story line begins on Supergirl on 28th November. 

More:

The Flash and Supergirl Are Doing A Musical Crossover Episode 

When The Flash Meets Supergirl: Seven Things That Need To Happen 

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Three Reasons To Watch Young and Hungry

America’s latest comedy import Young and Hungry comes to E4. The series, which is executive produced by Ashley Tisdale, follows young food blogger Gabi Diamond (Emily Osment) as she is hired by wealthy entrepreneur and self-made millionaire Josh Kaminski (Jonathan Sadowski) to be his new personal chef. At the core of the story is the eccentric Gabi’s (played admirably by Osment) as she struggles to deal with her new boss and navigates her way through relationships, all while the show sports a strong supporting cast. Here’s why you should tune in.

1. Women run the show

Former Hannah Montana star Emily Osment is back on TV. Her character Gabi is a chef whose personal heroine is food icon Julia Child. Her new job as Josh’s personal chef is daunting - she’s never done anything like this before. Her life may be a hot mess but she never gives up on her dreams - even if her job gets complicated because of her romantic feelings for Josh. When she’s given the chance to choose between love and her career, she picks her work. Osment is charming as the fast-talking and fiesty young chef, giving a stand-out performance.

2. The love story is worth caring about

Romance isn’t the sole focus of the show but Gabi and Josh’s on-and-off relationship is fun to watch. But there’s a twist - instead of a cliche will-they-won’t-they, Gabi and Josh get together in the first episode, leading to complicated and definitely awkward situations later on in the series. Young and Hungry could have easily played it safe but the humour tends to skew much more adult than expected. 

3. Secondary characters

Unlike other sitcoms, the secondary characters are also worth caring about. Aimee Carrero plays Sofia Rodriguez, Gabi’s best friend and roommate. Carrero plays Sofia with feistiness, and her friendship with Gabi is the heart of the show. Kym Whitley plays Yolanda, Josh’s nosy, loud-spoken, sassy housekeeper while Rex Lee is Elliot Park, Josh’s publicist who openly hates Gabi.

Young and Hungry airs every day on E4, 4-5pm from Monday 14th November. 

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Victoria: Best Lines From The Show

ITV’s latest period drama Victoria rounded off the solid eight-episode first series with the news that the show is coming back for a second round, and a Christmas special was in the works. Created by novelist Daisy Goodwin, the series stars ex-Doctor Who companion Jenna Coleman, her first leading role, in a coming-of-age story chronicling the reign of 18-year-old of Queen Victoria. The story follows the strong-willed young Queen as she learns about the ways of government from her first Prime Minister Lord Melboune (Rufus Sewell) and eventually falls in love and marries her cousin Albert (Tom Hughes). 

With its lavish settings and costumes, Victoria is an instantly engaging drama with career-defining performances from Coleman and Hughes. Coleman boasts a punchy and effective persona of the young Queen who would go on to rule the country for 63 years. Despite her sharp wit, Coleman portrays Victoria as a little naive and playful, and successfully peels off her layers, revealing a private life that was only documented in the Queen’s real-life journals. Hughes adopts a smouldering glare, ‘tache and German accent to convincingly win over our Queen’s heart. His performance as Albert is effective, and he plays both the man who struggled in Victoria’s shadow and the one who stood up for what he believed in. His romance and courtship of Victoria is the sweetest, and boasted some of the most romantic scenes in the series. The show successfully accomplishes an accurate portrayal of the early life of Queen Victoria as a woman who stood by her morals as a modern feminist of her time. Here are the best lines in the show.

Victoria will return for a second series in 2017.

More on Victoria:

Victoria’s Tom Hughes: Four Career-Defining Moments

Everything You Need To Know About ITV’s Victoria 

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Four Reasons To Watch Younger

Sex and the City creator Darren Star has a new show, and it’s one you should probably watching. Broadway star Sutton Foster stars as newly divorced 40-year-old mother Liza Miller (Foster) as she moves in with her best friend Maggie (Debi Mazar) and tries to get her life back on track. As she struggles to re-enter the competitive publishing industry in New York, Liza pretends to be a 20-something and ends up snagging an entry-level job at a book publishing company, ending up at the mercy of her straight-talking boss Diana Trout (Miriam Shor). While the premise may sound outrageously over-the-top, the show follows Liza as she dates a 20-something year old man and attempts to fits in with the people around her, making her story somewhat relatable. Now in its third season, Younger not only focuses on Liza’s relationships, but female empowerment takes a central role. Here are four reasons to catch up on the show.

1. Hilary Duff is back on TV

Lizzie McGuire’s Hilary Duff has come a long way since her days on the Disney Channel. Here she plays Kelsey Peters, a book editor who works alongside Foster’s Liza. Despite being in a position of power over Liza, Duff’s Kelsey is encouraging, genuine and a good friend; an unexpected character at the cutthroat publishing house and the ruthless publishing world. 

2.  Sutton Foster is an everywoman

Foster could realistically get away with shaving a decade off her age but to paraphrase her best friend Maggie, “people believe what you tell them.” She is pitch perfect as Liza, a forty-something divorcee who convinces herself that she can start her life over as a twenty-something to land the job of her dreams. She not only fibs to those at work but also the people in her social circles. It’s her best friend Maggie who goes along with the new life that Liza builds for herself, though her newfound self-confidence becomes difficult when she becomes involved with a younger, hot guy Josh (Nico Tortorella). The relationships that Liza has proves that opposites attract and the show gives birth to a smart critique of workplace sexism and casual dating.

3. #SquadGoals

The main cast of girls are awesome. They work together, drink together and cover each other’s backs when one of them does something stupid. They always keep each other’s secrets, just like every girl group should. There’s no silly girl-on-girl drama or petty rivalries - the show is all about female empowerment through supporting one another.

4. It’s witty and fun

During its half-hour episodes, Younger finds time to progress Liza’s story and makes a point about how generations should be helping each other. The series manages to keep things light through genuinely funny writing where every character fights for what they believes in.

Younger airs on Sony in the UK. Keep your eye out for the third season.

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Three Reasons To Binge-Watch The Crown

Fancy pulling back the curtain to eavesdrop on the most private conversations of the word’s most famous monarchy? Netflix’s latest series The Crown does exactly that.

Premiering to triumphant acclaim, The Crown is based on Queen Elizabeth II’s epic reign. Starting in 1947, the show follows the early part of Her Majesty’s life including her wedding to Prince Philip, her ascent to the throne at 25 years old and her ailing Prime Minister Winston Churchill who grows too ill to govern a post-war Britain. 

Creator Peter Morgan (whose film credits include The Queen and Frost/Nixon) came up with the idea of The Crown while writing his 2015 Tony Award-winning play The Audience, starring Helen Mirren who starred as an elderly version of the monarch. More than just a classy soap opera to fill the gaping hole left by Downton Abbey, The Crown is television at its finest, an outstanding achievement on every scale.

Here’s why you should watch the show. 

1. The price tag

The 10-episode first series reportedly cost £100 million. Yes, that’s right, the price tag makes it the most expensive TV show ever made. Mega hits like Game of Thrones and Downton Abbey seem cheap in comparison. A huge portion of the nine figure sum was used on the wardrobe; the replica of the Queen’s wedding gown in the first episode reportedly cost more than the original dress...

2. The accuracy

The first episode opens as Princess Elizabeth’s future husband Philip Mountbatten is bestowed in the style of Royal Highness and the given the title of Duke of Edinburgh. They’re later married in a lavish ceremony before the story skips the births of their first two children, Charles and Anne. The second episode picks up in 1952 on the eve of Elizabeth’s coronation, following her father King George VI’s death and her immediate ascension to the throne, with later episodes focusing on key moments during the Queen’s life. The accuracy of the show invites the audience into a world that strips the shiny exterior to reveal intimate conversations from the most private people in the world.

3. The talent

The show has assembled an impressive cast. Wolf Hall actress Claire Foy is admirably quaint as the newly-appointed Queen Elizabeth II. The young monarch attempts to balance her private and public lives and grows more determined to make her marriage work in light of her new position. Former Doctor Who star Matt Smith is easily likeable as Prince Philip; he’s immediately charming as the foreigner who struggles to find his place and purpose as his wife becomes the most powerful woman in the world. John Lithgow convinces as Winston Churchill, a once-decorated war hero who can’t deal with his deteriorating health and the power politics at play within his own government during his second term as Prime Minister. But the standout here is Vanessa Kirby, who plays the role Princess Margaret, the Queen’s reckless younger sister who’s determined to get what she wants, envious of Elizabeth’s time in the spotlight and the power she holds. Other cast members include Mad Men star Jared Harris as Elizabeth’s father King George VI and Victoria Hamilton as the Queen’s Mother to round off a strong cast.

All 10 episodes of The Crown are available on Netflix now. 

More on The Crown:

The Crown: Best Lines From The Show

The Crown Gets First Trailer

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Everything That Needs To Happen Before Teen Wolf Ends

Since it was announced earlier this year that the next season of supernatural series Teen Wolf will sadly be the last, the clock has slowly been ticking down to the beginning of the end. The sixth season, which begins on MTV over in the US on 15th November, will see the show come to an end on its 100th episode in what should be a bittersweet ending for our heroes Scott, Stiles and co.

But before the curtain is drawn, the inhabitants of Beacon Hills still have more stories to tell, romances to tie up and missing characters who need to find their way back. Here’s everything that should happen during the sixth and final season of Teen Wolf.

1. Stiles and Lydia get finally get together

The idea of ‘Stydia’ has continuously been toyed with ever since the first season. Stiles Stillinski (Dylan O’Brien) has clearly had a crush on Lydia Martin (Holland Roden) throughout the show’s five seasons - they even *almost* get together at one point before finding their own romances. Even their parents have an on-off relationship. Could the last season lead to their happy ending? 

2. Derek comes back

An empty vacuum was felt during season five of the show when resident bad boy Derek Hale mysteriously disappeared as actor Tyler Hoechlin decided to leave the show to pursue other projects (he’s since appeared as Superman in The CW’s Supergirl). His decision to depart as a series regular from the show was felt during season five - there was clearly a void in the narrative. But is Derek’s return on the cards? How will they explain where he’s been? We want you back, Derek!

3. While we’re on the subject of coming back, Jackson returns

Jackson Whittemore (Colton Haynes) left for London at the end of season two after he was manipulated and into a monster. He left the show as a werewolf and set out to find a pack across the pond. Haynes’ enigmatic and egotistical character made the show all the more brighter and entertaining - though his presence is still sorely missed.

4. And where did Isaac go?! 

When the dearly beloved Allison Argent (Crystal Reed) died at the hands of the Nogitsune, her then boyfriend Isaac Lahey (Daniel Sharman) ended up leaving the show with her in season three. His sudden disappearance is unexplained, but that means he can easily come back to Beacon Hills for one last ride. 

5. Malia and Peter end the show on a good note

Ever since she found out the identity of her real father, Malia Tate (Shelly Hennig) has always resented her papa Peter Hale (Ian Bohen). They started off on a bad foot and their relationship has been rocky ever since. Peter isn’t exactly a father figure but hopefully they can mend their relationship before the show ends.

6. Scott finally has a happy ending

The hero of our story Scott McCall (Tyler Posey) has been through a lot. From losing the love of his life, while another chose to learn her craft of over him, he’s not had the best luck in relationships. He’s also had to deal with becoming an alpha werewolf, building his own pack and punishing those who betray him. A nice happy ending without dealing with monsters every week would be nice?

Teen Wolf’s final season airs on MTV in the US on 15th November.

Watch the trailer for the final season here:

More on Teen Wolf:

SDCC: Teen Wolf Announces Season Six Will Be The Last 

Dylan O’Brien Confirmed For Teen Wolf Season Six 

Teen Wolf Turns Five: Here’s The Five Best Episodes So Far 

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The Crown: Best Lines From The Show

Netflix debuted it’s latest series The Crown to a triumphant fanfare, wowing critics and audiences alike. Starting in 1947, the series explores the early years of Queen Elizabeth II’s (played by Claire Foy) reign as she focuses on her marriage to Prince Philip (Matt Smith) while dealing with the government and ailing Prime Minister Winston Churchill (John Lithgow). 

The £100 million 10-episode first season boasts an admirably charming Foy as the young Queen determined to make her marriage work as she attempts to balance her private and public lives. Smith is easily likeable as Prince Philip, who struggles to find his place while his wife is Queen and Lithgow’s Churchill is convincing as a Prime Minister whose deteriorating health causes power politics within his party. But the standout performance here is from Vanessa Kirby, who plays Princess Margaret, the Queen’s reckless younger sister who’s determined to get what she wants, envious of Elizabeth’s time in the spotlight. 

The Crown is an outstanding achievement on every scale. The costumes are intricately designed, the sets are impeccably accurate and grandeur while the cinematography is effectively intimate, taking the audience right into the heart of the drama surrounding the longest reigning monarch in the world. The script however, is second to none. Each episode picks important milestones and events during the young Queen’s reign and every line is delivered with conviction and intent. The Crown, Netflix’s bigger ever series is quite simply a brilliant show. 

Here are the best lines in the show.

More on The Crown:

The Crown Gets First Trailer

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First Trailer For Doctor Who Spin-off Class Arrives

While there won’t be a new series of Doctor Who this year, the show is getting a new spin-off in the form of Class, an eight-part drama headed to BBC Three. At the helm is young adult author Patrick Ness (A Monster Calls) with the show aimed at a much younger, teen audience. And now it has an exciting new trailer. 

The first episode, as the trailer teases, will feature the current Doctor Peter Capaldi, as it turns out that his time-travelling escapades have caused the walls of time and space to tear. Packing in the suspense, the trailer also showcases the young cast of characters, Charlie (Greg Austin), Ram (Fady Elsayed), April (Sophie Hopkins) and Tanya (Vivian Oparah) as they juggle the stress of their everyday lives.

The show, set in Coal Hill High School which has long been associated with Doctor Who, will also feature Mr Selfridge star Katherine Kelly as their physics teacher Miss Quill. Oblivious to the unnatural situation happening around them, the group are quickly tasked with fighting the monsters that are planning to wreak havoc on Earth. The trailer is promising, as its cast of fresh new talent looks to attract a much younger audience to the Whoverse. 

Meanwhile, new details about Doctor Who’s Christmas special have emerged. It seems like the Doctor is moving into Marvel and DC turf as he is set to team up with a superhero and a journalist (played by Wolf Hall’s Charity Wakefield) to save New York City from a deadly alien threat. The 60-minute episode titled The Return of Doctor Mysterio will see Matt Lucas reprise his character Nardole from last year’s Christmas special, while Orphan Black’s Justin Chatwin joins the show as a new character, Grant.

Watch a first look, behind the scenes of the Christmas special below.

Class will premiere its first two episodes on 22 October, BBC Three. 

Doctor Who will return to BBC One on Christmas Day.

Images: BBC

More on Class:

Doctor Who Spin-off Class Has Premiere Date: Everything You Need To Know

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Doctor Who Spin-off Class Has Premiere Date: Everything You Need To Know

While a new series of Doctor Who won’t be hitting our screens anytime this year (aside from the Christmas special), a brand new spin-off set in the Whoverse is coming to BBC Three. 

What’s it about?

Created by young adult author Patrick Ness, Class is aimed at a much younger, teen audience, complete with a cast of teenagers. Set in Coal Hill High School, they must juggle their own lives with the unexplainable situations that are happening around them, as the cracks in time and space begin to thin because of The Doctor and his time-travelling. Together with their physics teacher Miss Quill, they must fight the monsters that are planning to break through and wreak havoc on Earth.

Why is everyone talking about it?

Coal Hill High School has been a part of Doctor Who since the first episode aired in 1963. That’s where we first meet The Doctor’s granddaughter Susan Foreman (Carole Ann Ford) and two teachers, Ian Chesterson and Barbara Wright, who would go on to be the first travelling companions. More recently, Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) began teaching there, and the school played an important part in series eight. The current Doctor Peter Capaldi will appear in Class’ first episode, titled ‘For Tonight We Might Die’, expecting to kick off the story for the new show.

Who’s in it?

While there hasn’t been a whole lot of information on the characters, the show boasts a young cast featuring Greg Austin, Fady Elsayed, Sophie Hopkins, and Vivian Oparah, while Mr Selfridge’s Katherine Kelly takes on the role of Miss Quill.

When does it air?

The first two episodes of the eight-part series are set to air on BBC Three on 22nd October. 

Images: BBC

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The Crown Gets First Trailer

If anything can get us through the British winter, and fill the Downton-shaped hole, it’s going to be a lavishly set costume drama from Peter Morgan, the writer of the 2006 film The Queen starring Helen Mirren. The Crown, Netflix’s ambitious and most expensive show promises drama, intrigue and power politics in the 10-part series, following the early life of Queen Elizabeth II. The new full-length trailer features a young Elizabeth as she embarks on her reign as the newly crowned Queen as well as dealing with private conflicts between her new husband Prince Philip. Watch the trailer below...

What is it about?

Starting in 1947, just before the Queen ascended to the throne, the series is set to explore the first ten years of Elizabeth’s reign. Focusing on her marriage and dealing with the government, the show will follow the young Queen as she struggles to adjust to her new title as the head of the world’s famous monarchy. The trailer opens with the Queen on her honeymoon as she receives the news of her father’s death. “Long live Queen Elizabeth” are the words that echo throughout, as we are given glimpses of how her new role will impact her her new husband, Prince Philip, and affect her relationship with the prime minister, Winston Churchill. When she’s asked by Philip “Are you my wife or my Queen” on the eve of her coronation, she replies with the appropriately regal response, “I am both, and a strong man would be able to kneel to both.” We always knew she was a badass. 

Why is everyone talking about it?

The Crown is the most expensive TV show ever made, with Netflix having spent £100m on its 10-episode first season. To put that into context, that’s more than a season of Game of Thrones, while Downton Abbey seems like a bargain in comparison. A generous portion of the nine figure sum was used on the wardrobe - the replica of the Queen’s wedding gown reportedly cost more than the original dress...

Who’s in it?

The show has assembled an impressive cast, which includes Wolf Hall actress Claire Foy playing the newly-wed Queen Elizabeth II. Former Doctor Who star Matt Smith plays her Prince Philip while John Lithgow takes on the role of Winston Churchill. Mad Men star Jared Harris plays Elizabeth’s father King George VI, Victoria Hamilton as the Queen Mother and Vanessa Kirby takes on the role of her younger sister, Princess Margaret. Now that’s a stellar line-up to be excited about!

When’s it out?

All 10 episodes of The Crown will arrive on Netflix on November 4, each lasting an hour. Perfect viewing material to escape the winter!

Will there be another season? 

The show has already been renewed for a second season, though if the producers have it their way, the series will go on for a total of six seasons, spanning 60 episodes. But don’t expect Foy and Smith to carry on their roles with prosthetics - more age-appropriate actors are likely to be brought in to bring the Queen’s story up to date.

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Four Films Being Adapted To TV Shows

While films have often been adapted from TV shows, its quite rare when the coin flips the other way round. There have been a number of shows (some unsuccessful) that have made it on to TV; Limitless, Minority Report, Rush Hour, School of Rock and so now is has become increasingly popular to adapt films to the small screen. Here are four that are coming soon.

Westworld

Based on the Michael Crichton’s 1973 film, Westworld is currently gaining steam at HBO. The story follows a futuristic theme park and the robots that inhabit it, promising a dark journey and look into artificial intelligence. The eagerly anticipated show stars Anthony Hopkins as a series regular for the first time in his career. Alongside him will be James Mardsen, Thandie Newton and Ed Harris while J.J. Abrams and Jonathan Nolan are producing. The show will premiere on 2nd October on HBO in the US, and will air on Sky Atlantic in the UK soon after.

Taken

When Taken hit cinemas in 2009, little would have known that it would turn into a franchise. This three-film franchise has now spawned a TV series, as NBC have picked up the story of the former CIA operative Bryan Mills played by Liam Neeson in the films. The story is a prequel, before he married and had a a child that was kidnapped. The series stars Clive Standen as Mills and is set to premiere in 2017 in the US. 

Lethal Weapon

Another unlikely candidate for a TV adaptation is the 1987 classic Lethal Weapon. The iconic duo Roger Murtaugh and Martin Riggs are now played by Damon Wayans and Clayne Crawford in this reboot, following the buddy-cop antics of the mismatched pair. The show has already started airing over in the US on FOX and has been picked up by ITV to air in the UK.

Frequency

In this re-imaging of the 2000 supernatural film, police detective Raimy Sullivan (Peyton List) discovers that she is able to speak to her deceased father in 1996 through a ham radio. They attempt to work together on a decades-old unresolved murder case, but her attempts to save his life trigger a ‘butterfly effect’ which creates havoc in the present day. The show is helmed by former Supernatural showrunner Jeremy Carver and will air on The CW 5th October. The show has yet to be picked up by a UK broadcaster.