Connie Allen

I'm a writer, cinephile, avid reader, and pop culture enthusiast. I love historical dramas, and fantasy/sci-fi series. Currently living in SoCal.

Most commented posts

  1. The Bitter End. Retrospective: The White Queen “Long Live the King” — 4 comments
  2. Black Sails – “XII” Retrospective. War Games — 2 comments
  3. EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Screenwriter Kayla Alpert About Flowers in the Attic and Petals on the Wind — 2 comments
  4. Season Of The Witch. Retrospective: Witches of East End “Today I Am A Witch” — 1 comment
  5. Are We There Yet? Retrospective: Black Sails – “IV.” — 1 comment

Author's posts

Aug 08 2015

Dominion – “Son of the Fallen” Retrospective. In the Name of the Father.

<i>Dominion</i> – “Son of the Fallen” Retrospective. In the Name of the Father. 1

War is always an imminent threat in the world of Dominion, but in “Son of the Fallen,” the stakes are higher than ever with Julian’s (Simon Merrells) sinister plans for Vega, and Senator David Whele’s (Anthony Head) thirst for revenge.

Aug 01 2015

Dominion – “A Bitter Truth” Retrospective. The Fear is Real.

<i>Dominion</i> – “A Bitter Truth” Retrospective. The Fear is Real. 2

“A Bitter Truth” isn’t just a suggestive title for the latest episode of Dominion, it also serves as the perfect description for all the events that take place within it.

Jul 25 2015

Dominion– “The Narrow Gate” Retrospective. Blood and Sacrifice.

<i>Dominion</i>- “The Narrow Gate” Retrospective. Blood and Sacrifice. 3

So far, so very good—the second season of Dominion doesn’t disappoint with its grittier and more in-depth exploration of its world in “The Narrow Gate.”

Jul 09 2015

Dominion Season Premiere – “Heirs of Salvation” Retrospective. A New Hope.

<i>Dominion</i> Season Premiere – “Heirs of Salvation” Retrospective. A New Hope. 4

Although Dominion is primarily an action driven fantasy series, the main theme, faith, is hard to ignore, especially in its season two premiere.

Jun 16 2015

News: Starz Takes On American Gods

News: Starz Takes On <i>American Gods</i> 5

You can do the happy dance now because it’s official! Neil Gaiman’s novel American Gods is finally making it to the small screen. Published in 2001, it’s been a long time coming for the Hugo-awarding winning book to find a forever home on a cable network.

Jun 07 2015

Bitten – Season 2 Finale “Scavenger’s Daughter” and “Fine Temporum” Retrospective. Live and Let Die.

Bitten – Season 2 Finale “Scavenger’s Daughter” and “Fine Temporum” Retrospective. Live and Let Die. 6

The end is here…for the second season of Bitten, that is. In what turns out to be an action packed, bittersweet two-part finale, the witches from the Winterbourne coven and members of Jeremy Danvers’ (Greg Bryk) North American pack unite to save their species from extinction—leaving the fate of some major characters up in the air.

May 30 2015

Bitten – “Dark Arts” Review. More Unfinished Business.

<i>Bitten</i> – “Dark Arts” Review. More Unfinished Business. 7

If something looks too good to be true, it’s because usually it is. So, it doesn’t surprise me to learn Aleister’s (Sean Rogerson) story line is far from over after the events in “Bad Dreams.” In “Dark Arts,” Aleister returns with a vengeance; but like most things involving the homicidal warlock, there’s a catch.

May 24 2015

Bitten – “Bad Dreams” Retrospective. What Dreams May Come.

<i>Bitten</i> – “Bad Dreams” Retrospective. What Dreams May Come. 8

The second season of Bitten continues to impress me with its many surprise endings and attention to detail. The werewolf series doesn’t hold back with its weekly gore, sex, and drama. “Bad Dreams” appears to be no exception until the attention switches to the growing relationship between Nick (Steven Lund) and Paige (Tommie Amber Pirie).

May 17 2015

Bitten – “Nine Circles” Recap. The End of the World…Almost.

<i>Bitten</i> – “Nine Circles” Recap. The End of the World…Almost. 9

Even though The Undoing—the apocalyptic ritual prophesied to end all witches—is the main problem for the core characters this season on Bitten, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.

May 10 2015

Bitten – “Rabbit Hole” Retrospective. Howl at the Moon.

<i>Bitten</i> – “Rabbit Hole” Retrospective. Howl at the Moon. 10

Bitten wastes no time getting to the nitty gritty in “Rabbit Hole” when Elena (Laura Vandervoort) and Savannah (Kiara Glasco) face greater dangers in Aleister’s (Sean Rogerson) remote compound. And, while at Stonehaven, Nick (Steve Lund) and Paige (Tommie Amber Pirie) embark on a journey that ends with some surprising revelations.

May 03 2015

Bitten – “Dead Meat” Retrospective. Can’t Keep a Good Wolf Down

<i>Bitten</i> – “Dead Meat” Retrospective. Can’t Keep a Good Wolf Down 11

Weird medical experiments, necromancy, and sexual magic are just some of the topics addressed in “Dead Meat.” And here I thought the human world would be the greatest obstacle for the characters in the second season of Bitten. It is, but in a completely different way. So, brace yourselves, folks, because you’re about to be served a whole slew of twists and surprising outcomes in ”Dead Meat!”

Apr 26 2015

Bitten – “Hell’s Teeth” Retrospective. Bite Back.

<i>Bitten</i> – “Hell’s Teeth” Retrospective. Bite Back. 12

“Hell’s Teeth” couldn’t be a more appropriate title for the latest episode of Bitten where surprising alliances develop, and lives are lost in gruesome ways.

Apr 19 2015

Bitten – “Bad Blood” and “Scare Tactics” Season 2 Premiere Review. A Whole New Otherworld.

<i>Bitten</i> – “Bad Blood” and “Scare Tactics” Season 2 Premiere Review. A Whole New Otherworld. 13

It’s been months since the season one finale of Bitten left viewers at the edge of their seats with Philip’s (Paul Greene) shocking death and the kidnapping of Logan’s (Michael Xavier) very pregnant significant other, Rachel (Genelle Williams). In a whopping two hour season premiere, Bitten returns with a vengeance in “Bad Blood” and “Scare Tactics,” delivering action packed story lines as well as introducing some new characters along the way.

Apr 12 2015

Lifetime Movie Seeds of Yesterday Retrospective. The Final Chapter.

Lifetime Movie <i>Seeds of Yesterday</i> Retrospective. The Final Chapter. 14

As the conclusion to V.C. Andrew’s Dollanganger series that began with Flowers in the Attic (Flowers), Lifetime presents the final installment, Seeds of Yesterday (Seeds). Although there technically may not be any incest or children locked in attics in Seeds, this television movie has as much juicy drama as all three of its previous stories.

Apr 05 2015

Lifetime Movie If There Be Thorns – Review. Dark, Disturbing, and Everything You’d Expect.

Lifetime Movie <i>If There Be Thorns</i> – Review. Dark, Disturbing, and Everything You’d Expect. 15

Lifetime continues to bring V.C. Andrews’ Dollanganger literary series to life with the third installment of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns (Thorns). Make no mistake, there are so many twists and turns in the movie, you may want to re-read the book in order for some of the things that occur in Thorns to be believable.

Apr 04 2015

Interview: Jason Lewis and Rachael Carpani Talk About If There Be Thorns and more!

<i>Interview</i>: Jason Lewis and Rachael Carpani Talk About <i>If There Be Thorns</i> and more! 16

In what will hopefully be a memorable television event, Lifetime Network is bringing to life the final installments of the Dollanganger book series by famed author V.C. Andrews—If There Be Thorns and Seeds of Yesterday. The series spans decades full of surprising twists and turns in the lives of Cathy and Chris Dollanganger, wonderfully portrayed by Rachael Carpani and Jason Lewis, respectively. Both Carpani and Lewis were kind enough to answer my questions.

Mar 28 2015

Black Sails – “XVIII” Season Finale Retrospective. Judgment Day.

<i>Black Sails</i> – “XVIII” Season Finale Retrospective. Judgment Day. 17

After all the bloodshed, betrayals, and reversals of fortune in this season of Black Sails, the season two finale saves the best moments for last in “XVIII.” As the culmination of Captain Flint’s (Toby Stephens) doomed journey to fulfill his dreams nears, as well as the outcome of Captain Vane’s (Zach McGowan) dangerous rescue mission, “XVIII” provides closure to several major story lines while kicking the door open to new ones with some significant cliffhangers.

Mar 21 2015

Black Sails – “XVII” Retrospective. You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet!

Black Sails – “XVII” Retrospective. You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet! 18

I am emotionally spent after watching the latest installment of Black Sails. I can barely find the right words to describe my feelings, but one thing is sure—“XVII” blows you away. You need to view it twice just to wrap your head around all the intense events that take place. As the penultimate episode of the season, “XVII” sets the stage for plenty of riveting moments and unforgettable action sequences that leave you in awe.

Mar 15 2015

Wuthering High School — TV Movie Retrospective. Wuthering Sigh.

<i>Wuthering High School</i> — TV Movie Retrospective. Wuthering Sigh. 19

After the success of bringing V.C. Andrews’ best-selling book series Flowers in the Attic to television audiences, Lifetime is adding a classic novel among its programming list of adaptations with Charlotte Brontë’s Wuthering Heights .

Mar 14 2015

Black Sails  – “XVI” Retrospective. Monsters or Men?

<i>Black Sails</i>  – “XVI” Retrospective. Monsters or Men? 20

Never underestimate the kind of punch Black Sails can deliver in an episode, especially if it is anything like “XVI.” As the latest installment of the dramatic pirate series, “XVI” is methodical with its storytelling; it begins gradually but escalates quickly to a series of violent and disturbing conclusions.

Mar 07 2015

Black Sails –  “XV” Retrospective. No Turning Back.

<i>Black Sails</i> –  “XV” Retrospective. No Turning Back. 21

If there’s anything to be learned after watching the latest Black Sails episode, “XV,” it’s that you can’t trust anyone. What you think you know about certain characters change in the blink of an eye.

Feb 28 2015

Black Sails – “XIV” Retrospective. Oh, What a Tangled Web!

<i>Black Sails</i> - “XIV” Retrospective. Oh, What a Tangled Web! 22

The stakes and danger remain high as Captain Flint’s (Toby Stephens) attack on Nassau puts everyone’s lives at risk, including his own, in the latest Black Sails episode, “XIV.”

Feb 21 2015

Black Sails – “XIII” Retrospective. Know No Shame

<i>Black Sails</i> – “XIII” Retrospective. Know No Shame 23

Make no mistake about it; your jaw will hit the floor several times during the latest episode of Black Sails. So, take a deep breath and prepare yourself because “XIII” gives you emotional whiplash, and it isn’t pretty.

Feb 14 2015

Black Sails – “XII” Retrospective. War Games

<i>Black Sails</i> – “XII” Retrospective. War Games 24

In the aftermath of Captain James Flint’s (Toby Stephens) return to Nassau, “XII” explores the imminent danger Flint poses for everyone in New Providence as Captain Charles Vane (Zach McGowan) refuses to relinquish power.

Feb 08 2015

Black Sails – “XI” Retrospective. Holy Hell!

Make no mistake about it, the second season of Black Sails isn’t just about taking what’s yours, but the dividing lines for an all-out war.

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