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Post by Brady Brown on Feb 7, 2014 21:44:28 GMT -6
REVIEW: 1.09 - "Celestial""Hellbound" definitely took a nice little breather episode, answering a lot and questions and helping establish the show's mythology. I really enjoyed this episode for those reasons - Alyson's past is slowly starting to unravel and the mythology of magic is being explained. The reveal of Solaris surprised me; I mean, I had no idea who he was to begin with, but I didn't expect him to be the portal James and Adam needed. Then, it turns out he was easy to sympathize with. No one ever stays with him; everyone wants to kill him, and he just wanted people to talk to. Part of me wonders if he'll ever show back up, because I still have the crackpot theory that he is Alyson's grandfather.  Now, getting on to the newest character to the "Hellbound" cast. Talia Manning was not who I expected her to be. I didn't think she was going to be a geeky witch, but I must say she was really fun to read. I hope she shows back up, because she was a breath of fresh air for the cast. We get some comedic relief from Adam, but Talia is a lot more bubbly. She seems to be so open to having Alyson as a witch sister, and she was very, very likable. She might go well with Adam... omg, I already have a love triangle for Adam/Alyson/Talia. MAKE IT HAPPEN. #Adyson #Tadam So, James and Adam still have the nest chemistry on the show, and that's not just because they've been sharing the most time together. I'll say it again, but they're like bickering brothers, which is hilarious. And the fact that they wound up back in the New World naked was absolutely brilliant. Adam had a great piece of dialogue with "Listen mate, I know one of us might be getting a kick out of this, but the other one is getting a little uncomfortable..." and I can't wait to see what Alyson has to saw to waking up next to two naked men, unless they take her somewhere else and become fully clothed. Though, the former may lead to some... interesting interactions with Alyson and Adam, HAHA! Finally, I want to talk about the mythology, because I did not expect there to be as much as there was. I love that the pentagram symbolizes the five elements. Also, all of the background from the Old World is very interesting, and I feel like we'll be getting more of it, because I don't think the Queen is going to sit back and be done with James and Adam. Gatekeepers were also introduced, and I can't help but think that Alyson isn't too far away from making some pretty big portals herself. We'll have to wait and see, I guess.  Not as fast and action-packed as last week's, but this episode was definitely needed. It was a nice breather and the way the mythology was expanded made the episode really stand out from the rest. And with the introduction of a new character, I can't wait to see what "Hellbound" has in store next, how the mythology will expand, what new characters will be introduced, and how they will interact (*coughcough* Adyson *coughcough*) Keep it up!
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Post by Jamison on Feb 9, 2014 21:09:04 GMT -6
REVIEW: 1.08 - "Outlaws"The pace definitely kept going in this episode - fast, using every single scene to get sh*t done. That's what I love about webisodes, there's no time to waste. And "Hellbound" is certainly making use of its webisode nature by creating even more mystery in its second episode back. This arc almost feels like a completely different sequence compared to the first one. The tone is a lot darker, the pace is much faster, and the development of the characters and mystery is a lot stronger. Well done! I think that's what I love about the webisode format. And the more and more I write in this style, the more used to it I become. This episode was particularly fun to write because it's probably one of the more fast-paced episodes of the sequence, not that it slows down immensely action this one, but this was definitely a 'turning point' kind of episode in terms of pacing. And the whole vibe changes a lot as well, like you mentioned -- "the tone is a lot darker, more mystery, etc..." I'm so glad you're like the way Alyson is being written. During arc one, I had no idea how to write her character. I didn't feel as comfortable writing her scenes as I did for say, James. But now that her arc is developing and changing directions, it's become a lot easier. I know she's only been in prison for a week, but I really wanted to harden her up a bit after that experience. You'll see that hardness coming through in future episodes as well. Interesting theory about Gray Beard, there. Obviously, I won't tell you whether you're right or wrong but... interesting. Hold on a little bit more. I think you'll be surprised what we end up doing with Gray Beard. James and Adam's relationship is one of my favorite to write. It's true, they are like brothers. And there's a scene coming up with those two that really cements that relationship, and just how deep it can go. Since I'm responded to this review after you've read and reviewed the next episode, I guess I won't comment on that. But Melanie is definitely a mystery. There are a lot of question that will arise about her "death," and they'll all be answered before the end of the sequence.  Thanks for the awesome review, Brady! I'm glad you're liking it so far. And omg, you found Raj creepy, BEFORE he got infected by the vamparasite? HAHAHA! Sorry. |
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Post by Jamison on Feb 9, 2014 21:26:20 GMT -6
REVIEW: 1.09 - "Celestial""Hellbound" definitely took a nice little breather episode, answering a lot and questions and helping establish the show's mythology. I really enjoyed this episode for those reasons - Alyson's past is slowly starting to unravel and the mythology of magic is being explained. The reveal of Solaris surprised me; I mean, I had no idea who he was to begin with, but I didn't expect him to be the portal James and Adam needed. Then, it turns out he was easy to sympathize with. No one ever stays with him; everyone wants to kill him, and he just wanted people to talk to. Part of me wonders if he'll ever show back up, because I still have the crackpot theory that he is Alyson's grandfather. Writing this episode, I got particularly nervous because it's a really 'talky' script. So much exposition, that while needed, I thought might come off as boring. But I'm sooo glad you didn't feel that way. I can confirm that Solaris does indeed return in the next few episodes. Whether he'll make it through the sequence, you'll just have to wait and see. Ahh, Talia. You haven't even seen the full character yet, haha! She definitely someone with two sides. I'd even go as far to say she's got split personalities. One is very "bubbly and sweet" and the other is very cold and serious, when need be. I remember telling you about her character and a possible thing with Adam and you were like" BLAH! NO!!!" haha. So, I'm glad you've at least opened up to the possibility. Then again, she might not be around for as long as you'd hope... LMAO There's another scene between them in the next episode, that pretty much takes place in the same few minutes as that, and it's just hilarious, to me at least. Makes me think these two are a little too comfortable with each other being nude together. lmao! Yes, you will be getting a lot more. Episode 7 was sort of an re-introduction into the world. 8-10 establishes this huge mythology, and the final two episodes of the sequence will see the story really taking off since all (or most) the important backstory will have already been revealed. You'll be seeing even more of Alyson's magical heritage in sequence two, and episode ten will fill you in on A LOT of details surrounding the connection she has with James and how he already knows about her being a witch. Again, thanks for the read/review. Soo glad you're enjoying the sequence!! |
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Post by Jack Malone on Mar 2, 2014 17:41:46 GMT -6
"Outlaws" Review So Adam and James are on the run from the Queen and stumble upon our first sorcerer, while Alyson gets a "vision" of sorts from her deceased mother and realises that she's not as safe inside prison walls as she was outside. This was a really intense and interesting episode of "Hellbound". The Adam and James banter is always great, and you really nail their interactions to the tee. As much as their banter could have been chopped down a little, the unfiltered back and forth is what I love and you write them so well that I don't even care. My favourite line actually came from this: ADAM Well, I guess that’s the downside to being only half vampire. You’re always there to watch the people you love die.
JAMES What’s the downside to being half human then?
ADAM You actually care when they do. Its probably the aspect of James' character I love most, and the whole reason why making him this 'hybrid' version of a vampire was so appealing about starting this show in the first place, and I love that you tackled that whole theme in such a beautiful way with these pieces of dialogue. It kind of hits you hard, and addressing the people he's lost and Adam kind of taking that into account was a development between these two that I think will only enhance their relationship and interactions for the future of the series. Their fleeing from the Queen led them too "Gray Beard" who I felt could have been the cliffhanger of their arc in this episode, as opposed to introducing it all in this jam-packed outing, but expanding the mythology was something I know you wanted to achieve with this sequence and this character definitely did that. I'm excited to see what role he could play later on, and its definitely an interesting angle to explore now that we've seen vampires, hybrids, the order, the queen, and even hinted at 'lycans'. As for Alyson's story, I think the vision was really well done. I had no idea what was going on, and I don't know if she's tapping into some unknown power, or there's a greater explanation as to what happened, but it definitely came true. I think the suspense of something going to happen that night was all that was needed, because the jump from introducing Raj, to then seeing him infected and flashing back to it occurring with the parasite, etc. I don't know. It just wrapped too well together, and expanded the story from a 10 page episode, to an almost 20 page script. Despite that, there's only six episodes to achieve the mythology goal, and wrap up sequence one, and so I can kind of understand. Overall, this was a superb episode. I loved the dual storytelling of all three "outlaws" and I'm about to jump on board and read the next one right now (I'm playing catch up). Hahaha. Good work, man! |
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Post by Jack Malone on Mar 2, 2014 18:27:26 GMT -6
"Celestial" Review
Aw man, this episode was insane. To be honest, I'm not even sure if it was discussed or not, but I was actually legitimately surprised on the reveal that Alyson was a witch, and I like that the episodes of this sequence thus far all came together in that final moment where the portal opened from the amulet and all three of the main characters were finally together (albeit she was on the ground unconscious, but still). This episode also introduced the character of Talia Manning, who seems like someone I can trust and hopefully it remains that way because I don't think Alyson could handle anything more being pulled out from under her. I like the "sisters" comment, and giving Alyson that sense of family that was otherwise diminished with the loss of her mother (who too was a witch? Whaaaat?) Her storyline has just amplified so much that I hope readers who previously disliked the character at least appreciate and understand her more and her importance on the show. Good job!
As for the Adam/James aspect of the episode, I really liked the reveal of 'Solaris' and the layers added to his character. As Brady said, there was a level of sympathy created for him, and he's basically like an LCM bar (Australian ad reference but basically if you have one in the ad, all the kids start rushing you because they want it, not the friendship/companionship) and its kind of sad that James had to resort to threatening to find another gatekeeper if he wouldn't, essentially abandoning Solaris anyway and ugh. That was painful. But I love that a seemingly normal 'sorceror' developed into such a layered character that we unfortunately had to say goodbye to so damn quickly. It makes me appreciate the last episode even more for setting all of these aspects up. I still think you tackled about 3-4 episodes worth of material in just 2, but it paid off nicely. There are moments where it feels like 'mythology' overload, like so much information and so many details are being thrown out at us that its hard to absorb, but the real moments and development for the main characters, and the culmination of these stories were all tackled brilliantly, so at the end of the day that's what's important.
But yes- love, love, loved this episode!!
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Post by Brady Brown on Mar 8, 2014 18:42:12 GMT -6
REVIEW: 1.10 - "Sanctuary"Really enjoyed this episode of Hellbound! Not my favorite so far, but definitely a strong entry for the sequence. This time around, we get the reunion between James and Alyson and it was nice to see them being able to pick up just like nothing happened. It's almost hard to believe that this entire sequence has occurred in a weeks' time - so much has happened! Anyway, with the introduction of a new character, this arc is really proving to outdo the first. First, I want to talk about Siobhan. All we really know about her is that she's an ambassador of some kind and that she's not a vampire. I really enjoyed reading her interactions with Ephemera; their snarky attitude towards one another reminded me so much of best friends turned foes. That's gonna be my crackpot theory for right now, haha - they were totes BFFs and something happened and now they're foes. Idk, just go with it. The relationship still are the best part of the show, in my opinion. Adam and James still have the most chemistry, and, like I said above, it was nice to see Alyson easily incorporated into the trio mix. Hopefully we'll see more of that in the future despite a little... obstacle that happened at the end, haha. Also, I freakin' loved the plot of this episode! I've always loved when the heroes have to go into the woods to stay safe, but let's be real no one is going to stay safe in the woods, and plus I really enjoyed the cabin vibe. Can't wait to see how the next episode is going to come about now that the city seems to know that sadistic-looking creatures are falling from the sky. Plus, James went vamp-crazy in front of Alyson, and I'm interested in seeing the repercussions from that. Plus Adyson is still my OTP, and I ain't even mad that Jack Malone is a hataaaa.
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Post by Brady Brown on Mar 8, 2014 19:19:56 GMT -6
REVIEW: 1.11 - "The Ties That Bind"This was definitely a game-changing episode that set up a nice foundation for the finale. I've got to say, I never really guessed that James was the one who killed Melanie. I can't remember if it ever crossed my mind, but it was a nice little shock when he was revealed to be the killer, as well as Adam being there with him. Also in this episode, I really got a sense of the power Ephemera holds. Before she gave Alyson her memory back, I never really seemed to view her as a threat; sure, she had the scary features, but I never really remember her acting like a maniacal Queen. So props for showing her true power! Hopefully that all made sense. Speaking of Ephemera, it was interesting to read of how she turned James (which was a surprise in it's own). I will say, however, that it would have been nice to see a flashback actually showing that event occurring. But besides that, Ephemera and Alyson's interactions in the episode were great - I loved when she fell from the trees and unintentionally begin to break Alyson's face (another way of showing she's not just all talk). Funniest part of the episode by far was when Adam nonchalantly snapped James next. Knowing they're going to come back, it's a nice little comedic break, but hopefully you don't overuse it *casually eyes TVD* Anyway, I'm also interested to see how Solaris' story evolves, now that he's willing to give information to Siobhan, who I'm also equally curious about. She seems to be able to pose a real threat to Ephemera, so a showdown between them would be epiiiiiiiic. Just sayin'. All in all, great penultimate episode. There were a tad bit more SPAG errors than in past episodes, but nothing too major. Onward to the finale!
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Post by Brady Brown on Mar 8, 2014 19:51:32 GMT -6
REVIEW: 1.12 - "New World Disorder"So, um, holy f*cking sh*t. That finale was insaaaaaaaane. So much happened, so much was revealed, I can barely process my thoughts so if this review is just a jumbled mess forgive me. Anyways, let's just start off with the biggest reveal of the entire episode - Talia Manning seems to be the long-lost sister - Grace - of James. Holy hell, I did not see that coming at all! Props for making that such a smack in the face. Moving on, I loved the scene where James was saying his goodbyes to Adam. "But... I don't want you to die." OH MY GOD THE FEELS CHRIS WTF. They're seriously brothers and it reminds me almost of an older version of Scott and Stiles, I don't really know right now. I'm so frazzled from the reveal I just talked about. Also speaking of Adam, THE GRAND THEFT AUTO REFERENCE, HAHAHA! Adam is seriously the best and I love the random comments he makes that stick out because they're so stupidly hilarious in the best way. Anyway, back to Talia (I still cannot get over that reveal, omfg). She took Alyson somewhere and I can't help but hope that they have to come back and help Adam and James in defeating Ephemera and her army of crazy vamps. I'm curious to know how she even knew that Alyson was being held captive? I don't know, I just seriously can't wait for S2 right now, aaaaaah. Overall, this episode was fantastic. The evil cliffhanger has me begging for the next sequence, and I can definitely say that this arc topped the last arc by far! So many more questions have arisen and hopefully we get some new characters next sequence that can answers them! Greaaat job, Chris (even though you're kind of an evil guy for that end like tf)!
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Post by Jamison on Mar 9, 2014 20:37:59 GMT -6
"Outlaws" Review So Adam and James are on the run from the Queen and stumble upon our first sorcerer, while Alyson gets a "vision" of sorts from her deceased mother and realises that she's not as safe inside prison walls as she was outside. This was a really intense and interesting episode of "Hellbound". The Adam and James banter is always great, and you really nail their interactions to the tee. As much as their banter could have been chopped down a little, the unfiltered back and forth is what I love and you write them so well that I don't even care. My favourite line actually came from this: ADAM Well, I guess that’s the downside to being only half vampire. You’re always there to watch the people you love die.
JAMES What’s the downside to being half human then?
ADAM You actually care when they do. Its probably the aspect of James' character I love most, and the whole reason why making him this 'hybrid' version of a vampire was so appealing about starting this show in the first place, and I love that you tackled that whole theme in such a beautiful way with these pieces of dialogue. It kind of hits you hard, and addressing the people he's lost and Adam kind of taking that into account was a development between these two that I think will only enhance their relationship and interactions for the future of the series. Adam and James seem to be the most popular relationship on the show. I don't know if it's because it's the one we read the most of, or because their dynamic is so good, but I feel really comfortable writing them for some reason. Their relationship really grows by the end of the season, and their friendship is sort of cemented. Sure, they will still bicker all the time, but they will put everything out there, and be able to move forward as 'brothers.' Which should be fun to do in sequence two. Gray Beard or Solaris (since you've read the next episode) was sort of a last minute addition, to be honest. They were supposed to just find an actual portal back to the new world and be done with it, but I thought the episode needed more. So, his character came to me as a way to sort of expand the mythology, and all these ideas and opportunities came up, and I just decided to take them. This episode was actually the reason I extended the page count from 10 to 15-20, lol. I didn't feel as though I could chop anything down, and still be able to do what I wanted to do in six 10-page episodes. It was either sacrifice some character moments, non-plot related dialogue (which i think is so, so important) or trim some of the exposition, which was needed to explain all the crap that's going on in these episodes. haha So yeah, I know it's something I need to work on, so I'll keep that in mind when writing sequence two. (Hopefully you'll be tagging along to keep me in check!  ) I'm so late with these replies. OHMYGOD! But thanks, Jack! |
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Post by Jamison on Mar 9, 2014 20:47:13 GMT -6
"Celestial" ReviewAw man, this episode was insane. To be honest, I'm not even sure if it was discussed or not, but I was actually legitimately surprised on the reveal that Alyson was a witch, and I like that the episodes of this sequence thus far all came together in that final moment where the portal opened from the amulet and all three of the main characters were finally together (albeit she was on the ground unconscious, but still). I THINK we talked about it! God, I hope so. I thought I made sure you signed off of everything, but that might have been a hallucination or something I was gonna do, but forgot to. oh god. haha Well, I'm glad you were surprised, either way. You will be seeing Talia Manning again, for sure Whether she turns out to be something Alyson can trust 100%, or if she's got some secrets of her own, is yet to be seen. The more and more I mapped out the mythology of the show, the more and more I wondered how Alyson could fit into that myth, instead of on the outside of it. So, I came up with the magical ancestry, and a prophecy that'll come into play very soon. [/quote] Awww, now I feel bad for Solaris, where I didn't really before. But that's because I know a few more details about him that have yet to be revealed. Details that may hint that he brought a lot of his problems on himself. lmfao! I might just be blowing smoke here. But ANNNYWWAAYY. You haven't seen the last of him. He shows up once more this arc, but he'll be back and explored a great deal more in sequence two. Yeah, I need to work on balancing it all, like I said in the last reply. HELP ME, JACK!! Thanks again for the feedback! |
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Post by Jamison on Mar 9, 2014 20:57:58 GMT -6
REVIEW: 1.10 - "Sanctuary"First, I want to talk about Siobhan. All we really know about her is that she's an ambassador of some kind and that she's not a vampire. I really enjoyed reading her interactions with Ephemera; their snarky attitude towards one another reminded me so much of best friends turned foes. That's gonna be my crackpot theory for right now, haha - they were totes BFFs and something happened and now they're foes. Idk, just go with it. I like reading your little crack pot theories. Yes, some of them are way off base, but I'm sure one of them has been pretty damn spot on (or at least in the ballpark). Won't be telling you which one, of course! But yes, their interactions were fun to write. Because you think Ephemera is this all power vampire, with no one to answer to, then his woman comes walking in barking orders and threatening people. Putting the Queen in her place, because she's not the one with the real power; The witches are. So, that's going to be interesting to develop more as the series goes on. And I just remembered you've read the finale, so I won't reply to these as if you haven't. lmao I wonder if you still ship Adyson now that you've read episode 11?? haha Jack and I were on Twitter DM's talking about it when you and Karl were talking about Adyson like "Damn... I wonder what they're gonna think of it when they know the whole truth. Will they still ship it? Won't they??? hMMMMM/ |
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Post by Jamison on Mar 9, 2014 21:10:45 GMT -6
REVIEW: 1.11 - "The Ties That Bind"This was definitely a game-changing episode that set up a nice foundation for the finale. I've got to say, I never really guessed that James was the one who killed Melanie. I can't remember if it ever crossed my mind, but it was a nice little shock when he was revealed to be the killer, as well as Adam being there with him. Also in this episode, I really got a sense of the power Ephemera holds. Before she gave Alyson her memory back, I never really seemed to view her as a threat; sure, she had the scary features, but I never really remember her acting like a maniacal Queen. So props for showing her true power! Hopefully that all made sense. James being Melanie's killer was something Jack and I planned from the very beginning. I don't think it was going to revealed so soon, but given our plans for sequence two, it made the most sense. There might be more to it though. We know the Queen ordered the hit on Melanie, and that she's the one who sired James, so perhaps there was more at play there. He may not have had his agency when taking Melanie's life. So, there's light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to a James/Alyson/Adam friendship in the future. In ref to Ephemera -- Oooooh, you aint seen nothin' yet! I plan on showing him being turned in a scene next sequence, so sit tight for that scene. It's definitely coming! And since the vampires are essentially shape-shifters, it might not be Kate Beckinsale's Ephemera that turned him. Yeah, that's the first thing I thought about writing the snapped neck bit. "Side note: Don't completely beat this into the ground ala Vampire Diaries." lol Siobhan may not be a huge physical threat herself, but she represents the witches of the Old World, and they are not to be triffled with. I can't wait to fully introduce them. Yeah, I was pretty lazy with editing this episode in particular. I think something was going on, and I just said "F*CK THIS!" and then forgot to go back and fix things when I had time again. lol Thanks BRADSTER!!! |
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Post by Jamison on Mar 9, 2014 21:26:41 GMT -6
REVIEW: 1.12 - "New World Disorder"So, um, holy f*cking sh*t. That finale was insaaaaaaaane. So much happened, so much was revealed, I can barely process my thoughts so if this review is just a jumbled mess forgive me. Anyways, let's just start off with the biggest reveal of the entire episode - Talia Manning seems to be the long-lost sister - Grace - of James. Holy hell, I did not see that coming at all! Props for making that such a smack in the face. Yeah, I really REALLLYY tried hard not to give that reveal away. I thought people would piece it together when Talia was introduced that episode, and Alyson conveniently didn't speak about her to James in the cabin. Also, the Grace/Talia name change was meant to throw you guys off. So, I'm glad it was surprising! haha! I feel good about that. Also, the exposition from Siobhan in this episode revealed that only the first born of a magical family gets the power. Talia is a witch and James' older sister. Siobhan also said that even though she doesn't have magic, she has magical blood and that's all that matter. Which connects back to James' blood being able to turn vampires; because it's magical blood. I don't know if that was made apparent enough, so I think I'm gonna make a thread containing all the mythology was thrown out there this arc so people an refer back to it instead of going "hhuuh??" when something comes up later. Wow. I went off on a tangent there didn't I? Oh my god!! I never thought about them being an older, Scott/Stiles and now that you've mentioned it, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna tailor my writing to accentuate their similarities, while still keeping them two different dynamics of course. haha! Adam is totally the kind of guy who likes to spend his downtime playing video games, and watching TV. He did make a Doctor Who reference in a previous episode. haha! He's a huge geek, and I plan on bringing that side out of him more next sequence. James may have been trying to find his sister all this time, but I don't know if Talia wanted to be found by him. The last time they saw one another, he was killing all of her friends so, they may have a bit of a rocky relationship in sequence two. And now that she's with Alyson, they might even take up an antagonistic role next sequence for James and Adam. But with the world going to complete shit now that vampires have invaded the New World, I think it's safe to assume that they'll have to work something out. Also, how Talia knew she was being held captive? She mentioned a connection she had to Alyson. A presence she had always felt, but wasn't able to find. When she finally found her in "Celestial," the bond they formed was really cemented, and that "sisters" comment she made was more literal than we're lead to believe. Coven sisters, or members of the same coven are connected in a pretty big way, which is something I'll explain more next sequence! Thanks for sticking with this show, Brady! Glad you enjoyed it for the most part, and I hope S2 is even more entertaining! |
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Post by R.A. Picking on Oct 30, 2014 11:43:56 GMT -6
1x01 - I started reading 'Hellbound' today and I must say that I'm totally intrigued by the show and can't wait to read more. I will let you know that I will do reviews but I'm not as detailed on the reviews. I also like it because it's a webisode and I'll be able to attack more episodes at once. Lol. I will say that the characters are very interesting and it's only the beginning of the season so I know that things will of course progress and get better, or at least that is my assumption. I don't watch many vampire type shows but I will say that I'm intrigued and will definitely check it out.
8/10
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