Grey’s Anatomy has guided me through the dark just like my parents and teachers. Here is to hoping that it keeps on inspiring everyone for as long as possible.
“The most amazing thing about Meredith, though, is that she takes all that pain, all that loss, and she turns it into drive: to save lives, to make things better. And despite all that she has lost, she continues to find joy in her work; as a surgeon, as a teacher, as a mother. That she managed to share that joy through her spirit of discovery, and of possibility, and of hope, right in the face of darkness, I am profoundly grateful for the lessons that I have learned from Meredith Grey.” – Jackson Avery
Grey’s Anatomy recently achieved a milestone when it aired its 300th episode. It has been twelve years and the journey does not end here. This is a show that has given me the strength of character and helped me march forward in the darkest of times. Meredith Grey and Christina Yang taught me how to face obstacles head on and never shy away from displaying courage. Alex, George and Izzie taught me to not be ashamed of my vulnerabilities. Derek, Mark and Lexie Grey taught me to open my heart and be ready to unconditionally love someone. With each tragedy that Meredith faced over the course of these fourteen years, she taught me to stand up no matter how dire the circumstances are.
The soundtrack has comforted me in my heartbreaks. The strains of ‘Chasing Cars’ has the power to make me weep at any moment just because of this series. Everyone who watched this series nurtured the dream to become a doctor. I obviously did not pursue this ambition but there are many people out there who were inspired by this show to take up this stream. Over the years I realised that it was not so much about becoming a doctor but about becoming a good human being. And I can never be more grateful to Shonda Rhimes for teaching me that.
Grey’s Anatomy has the power to transform a person’s life. It tells you to seize the day, to value the loved ones, to be more acceptable about other people’s weaknesses, to value life, to be selfless and to hope. All these lessons have proved crucial to me in the past and continue to do so. Over the years this reel family has become as real as possible to me. I have watched these characters struggle and have struggled with them. They have now become an indispensible part of my life. I only hope that I am able to experience my life with them for as long as possible.
Cheers to the many more episodes of this series that will colour our life.
We live in times of political turmoil and multicultural clashes fuelled by polarising and divisive rhetoric, even as the people of the world become more diverse and their identities less water-tight. This diversity and crossing of cultural, linguistic and other social boundaries is evident in the television most of us watch today – and that’s great news! In today’s context, when there is suspicion surrounding the “other” communities, and when they are being portrayed as external threats to cultural mores and security of nations by the political classes, this representation is not only a statement but also works to normalise the existence of these communities.
The annual Where We Are On TV report by GLAAD, which tracks the representation of LGBTQ+ characters on television, shows promising times ahead for diversity in media. While 2016 was the year of the Brexit, the shootings in Pulse, Orlando, and Trump’s election, it was also the year that television saw the highest percentage of LGBTQ+ series regular characters on broadcast television with respect to popular American TV shows. While there are still harmful tropes and stereotypes surrounding representation of the community, the report by GLAAD notes that there are visible efforts by most platforms to include characters that are also “…LGBTQ+ people of color (who have long been underrepresented), transgender men, characters living with disabilities, and people who live at the intersections of multiple marginalised identities.”
As someone who identifies as a queer woman, I understand the immense satisfaction of having your identity validated by a TV show, or seeing people you relate to making it big in the mainstream media. There has been a notable increase in the number of TV shows with LGBTQ+ characters in recent years, evident by the splashes it makes on social media. In the past few months, I have had the great pleasure of watching several TV productions of diverse genres, in numerous languages, and with LGBTQ+ characters from all walks of life. Skam, a Norwegian TV phenomenon that took the social media by storm in late 2016, was an absolute treat as it portayed a heartfelt coming-of-age of the 17 year old Isak Valtersen who had to come to terms with not just his sexuality but also his troubled relationship with his mentally ill mother. Another major character on the show was the mentally-ill bisexual love interest of Isak. Eyewitness, a USA Network adaptation of a Norwegian show, showed two teenage boys battling internalised homophobia and coming to terms with their relationship, while also embroiled in a police investigation for a triple homicide they witnessed.
Isak and Even in the third season of Skam
Merlí, a Catalonian show about an unconventional philosophy professor in a high school, has a major plotline involving the relationships between the professor and his gay son, and the relationship of the latter with his best friend. Popular TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Orange is the New Black, Shadowhunters and Supergirl also have major LGBTQ+ characters and plot lines.
Merli, the Catalonian TV about an unconventional philosophy professor
While it’s important to be conscious of the struggle of marginalised communities for their rights and identities, their increasing representation in mainstream media is most certainly a joyous realisation, and one that will, hopefully, fuel the fight for diversity and soon pervade into other realms of society.
It seems like a Particle Accelerator has exploded on the small screen because – it’s raining Superheroes and Super-villains! The Marvel, DC and the comic universe have come to life like never before and they have something for every fandom! From Gotham and Constantine to The Flash and Daredevil, and not to forget – Supergirl and Jessica Jones, both of which are breaking gender stereotypes; all these shows and more are here to bring all your superhero fantasies to life.
On Indian Television, Superhero craze has just started gaining momentum. It started with Arrow on Star World. Now, Colors Infinity and Zee Café have joined the league with airing Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Gotham and Supergirl! So without further ado, we bring to you a list of some Superhero T.V. shows that you should not miss!
Arrow
For me, it all started with this show. This show is the cornerstone and it has made the Superhero Universe into the landscape that it is today. With a back story of a Billionaire-turned-Superhero when hit by a tragedy, it all sounded pretty Batman-ish to the viewer. Though after watching the first few episodes, any thoughts of comparison flew out of the window and the adventures of the ‘Emerald Knight’ sucked us into its fun and interesting story-line. Oliver Queen became the new hotshot vigilante-billionaire-scarred-hero of the modern times, saving his Starling City by shooting arrows!
Arrow has a solid foundation with season 1 and 2. With an introduction of too many new characters and major deaths, season 3 and 4 have slightly lost focus and become a lot more crowded. However, the show is still promising and one can expect amazing stuff from coming seasons.
Catch season 4 of Arrow from 2nd August, 2016, Monday-Friday on Colors Infinity at 7 PM, in India.
Image Credits: http://www.wpaperhd.com/
Supergirl
If you love Superman and his Kryptonian genes then, Supergirl is bound to attract you. This is a show tracing the story of Superman’s younger cousin, Kara Danvers. Mellisa Beniost as the titular Kryptonian, is the best live in action Supergirl ever. Though season one has been a little low, it had its high points with some great villains straight from the deep end of the comic universe and a Flash crossover. Hang onto this show because it’s gaining momentum and has a lot of potential for future seasons with it entering the Arrowverse from season 2!
Catch season 1 of Supergirl, Monday-Friday at 10 PM on Zee Cafe, in India.
Image Credits: http://cdn.playbuzz.com/
Daredevil
Daredevil is Netflix’s first foray into the Superhero Universe. A show which has both shocked and thrilled the audiences with stellar performances by the actors, Daredevil is one show which is unafraid of venturing into the darkness of Marvel Universe. Also, it has created some unforgettable fight scenes and monologues in any superhero TV shows till now!
Moreover, Daredevil has helped to kick off Marvel’s Netflix expanded universe, which includes Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and a team-up series – The Defenders. It offers a grounded team of superheroes dealing with more everyday street level problems, and less in the sphere of inter-dimensional alien invasions or metahumans!
Image Credits: http://netflixlife.com/
The Flash
The Flash started off as a spin-off of Arrow but it quickly escalated and became the best Superhero show. A show which is totally committed to the most out-of-the-world elements of its comic book universe, The Flash features multiple universes, time travel, and a villainous psychic gorilla and Shark man!
Despite its cheesy, cliché elements and humour, it’s a superhero show to its very core. Flash remarkably tackles the serious themes of grief, loss, pain, separation anxiety and shows us that the almighty Superheroes aren’t bereft of their share of struggles and personal tragedies. The show is unafraid to delve into darkness with events of the murder of Barry’s mother or wrongful conviction of his father but, it resurfaces with hope. Barry retains his humour and humanity amidst all the chaos.
With introduction of multi-universes, the show is more promising with endless possibilities. The adaptation of ‘Flashpoint’, a pivotal ‘Flash’ storyline with Tom Felton joining the show as CSI Julian Dorn in season 3; It seems like this ‘scarlet speedster’ is here to stay and hell-bent on flashing on our screens for long. May the speed force be with The Flash, always!
Most of us, the ardent followers of Game of Thrones, every week, had a routine of finding the most apt torrent to download the latest episode, avoiding the social media till this episode can be devoured and then pervading the social media with expert comments or reactions about the same. But, now as all of us are struggling to finally accept the end of the dynamic season, let’s look at season 6 for the last time, to try to evaluate what all led to the season getting the sort of love and attention that it did.
Cinematically Pleasing
May it be the attack of the eerie yet interesting White-walkers, flashbacks of Bran, dragons flying above Meereen or the Battle of the Bastards, all of these scenes have been shot and presented on screen in a way that leaves its viewers awe-struck with the show’s glamour and grandiosity.
Battle of Bastards, Season 6 Episode 9
The Surprise Quotient
Season 6 has surprised the audience in many ways and has also solved a lot of mysteries which were left unsolved before. We were given a hint about Melisandre’s past (and that image in the mirror is something none of us are getting out of our heads soon enough), then there was the heartbreaking ‘Hold-the-door: Hodor’ reveal. Also, the last episode confirmed the long-floating theory by fans of Jon Snow really being a Targaryen.
Hold the Door, Season 6 Episode 5
Many (rather, Most) deaths in a season
Almost all the characters which people didn’t like or were coming in the way of the so-called main characters were killed off in bulk this season. ‘Battle of Bastards’ saw the most on-screen deaths with a huge number of military men dropping like flies and also the most vicious character Ramsay dying because of his own hounds. But, ‘The Winds of Winter’ killed far more named characters. Because of Cersei’s plan of using the wildfire bombs, she was able to get rid of her enemies’ like Margaery, The High Septon, and her cousin, Lancel Lannister. This episode also saw the death of the last living child of Cersei and Jaime, King Tommen; a sequence that kept up with the tradition of the death of a king in each season.
Winds of Winter, Season 6 Episode 10
Faster jumps between story-line
There was a lot of action and plot development in the season. We saw Jon’s resurrection which led to the resurrection of the Starks in the North, Sansa and Jon finally re-uniting, Arya striking off an important name in her list, Walder Frey and taking the revenge for the skin-crawling Red-Wedding, and Daenerys finally moving to Westeros to contest for power.
Oathbreaker, Season 6 Episode 3
Game of Thrones has now come down to a full circle
We know that a Stark (yes we can finally call him that) is now the King in the North after three painful seasons. We know that Daenerys has managed to unite the houses beyond the sea through a common motive of seeking vengeance against the Lannisters. We also see Tyrion rising to the position of the Hand to the Queen and Cersei finally sees herself where she dreamt to be at as a child which has also sent shudders down Jaime’s spine. Game of Thrones is back to the power being in the Hands of the Lannister Queen, Cersei and all hopes are being placed on Daenerys and Jon (Snow? Stark? Targaryen?). Arya has avenged her brother’s death and as brief as Benjen’s appearance was, we know Winter is coming and it shall be stronger than ever.
Yes. It has happened. Ten seasons. Innumerable magical moments. Life long memories. And Sandra Oh has bid the final adieus to Grey’s Anatomy and her on screen shade – Doctor Cristina Yang.
As fans across the world cope with the departure of one of the strongest characters of television and the GA fans wait for the next installment of show starting from September 25th,2014 here is the journey of Cristina Yang’s life and her friendship with Meredith Grey in twelve highlights.
1. The getting along of the ‘Twisted Sisters’
The beautiful relationship of Meredith Grey & Cristina Yang that went through all phases of happiness, gloom, success, failures, irrevocable personal losses and proud professional highs has had to its credit an equally dramatic start. Both of them, as interns at Seattle Grace Hospital, were working upon the same case. Grey got to be the intern who performed the surgery which Yang longed for. However, the professional competitiveness soon subdued, for the relation had to thrive.
Cristina – “We don’t have to do that thing, where you know, I say something, and then you say something, and somebody cries, and there’s like a moment…”
Meredith – “Yuck”
2. My person, my soul mate, my sole partner in crime
As Meredith drowns in a lake while rescuing a patient in an outstation medical emergency, Cristina gets worried over her sudden disappearance. Cristina, on being questioned about her anxiousness by her husband to be Dr. Preston Burke says, “She’s my person. If I murdered someone, she’s the person I’d call to help me drag the corpse across the living room floor. She’s my person.”
3. All they could do, was to keep breathing!
Dressed in a white wedding gown, Cristina Yang is all set to get married to Preston Burke. The man she loved, for whom she got her eyebrows plucked and the person for whom she performed dozens of extra ordinary Cardiothoracic procedures she wasn’t authorized to, left her at the altar on their wedding day. Yang gets overwhelmed and Meredith consoles her and gets her out of the wedding gown. However, this incident inspires Yang to stand up, for all she says after she retains her composure is, ” He is gone, I am free, Meredith.”
4. Have some fire and be unstoppable!
Cristina who had been the significant pillar for Preston Burke when his hand injury had rendered him incapable of performing surgeries, got no mention when the latter won the prestigious Harper Avery award. This along with her disturbed personal life, made her grow ruder day by day. On being questioned about her well being by a fellow, she said what became, one of the most famous quotes of the show.
Lexie Grey: “Are you okay?”
Cristina Yang: “Don’t ask me if I’m okay. Have some fire. Be unstoppable. Be a force of nature. Be better than anyone here, and don’t give a damn about what anyone thinks. There are no teams here, no buddies. You’re on your own. Be on your own.”
5. The ‘Cro-wen’ Paradox
Cristina Yang gradually falls in love again with a trauma surgeon, Dr. Owen Hunt who joins work at hospital after a tough life as a surgeon in the army. The spark between the two is amazing, the love is bold and passionate. However, their life isn’t that easy, courtesy Owen’s initial aggressive flashbacks and their different desires from and meaning of life.
6. Had I known how to save a life!
As a shooter enters the premises of Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in a bid to murder all the surgeons to avenge his wife’s death, Dr. Derek Shepherd is shot in chest. To save the life of her friend’s husband Cristina performs a surgery with gun at her temple with amazing grit and smartness. This by far continues to be, one of the strongest moments of the show.
7. I know she likes the trauma
The act of shooting and operating at gun point leaves Dr. Yang traumatized for months. Not being able to come to terms with the excruciating pressure, she gives up medical practice and finds alternative employment, including bar-tending at Joe’s bar. However, as Derek takes her off on a fishing spree, she catches a giant one. As she feels the taste of success and rush of adrenaline again, she realizes what is missing from her life after giving up surgery. That moment of tears of happiness from Cristina Yang’s eyes, priceless!
Cristina Yang after quitting medical practice, bar tending at Joe’s.
Cristina’s wake up call, the adrenaline rush from fishing, that drives her back to work.
8. The continuous consuming interrogation by Teddy Altman
After months of training under cardiac surgeon Dr. Teddy Altman, Yang has to perform an emergency surgery on Altman’s husband due to her pre-occupation. Cristina puts the best of her medical skills to test, but the patient dies. When informed about Henry’s death, she asks Cristina to repeat the procedure followed time and again to evaluate it. She says, “You did all what I would have done in that OR, Don’t be sorry.”
One of the most emotional scenes of the series, it shows the actress’s talent of conveying most in the minimal words.
8. Seattle Grace Mercy ‘Death’, the place where bad things happen
Post the plane crash that claims the lives of two major doctors of the hospital and with terrorist attacks and shootings in backdrop, Cristina Yang gets sick of the place replete with deaths, dearths and disorders and decides to leave the hospital for a job elsewhere. However, her tuning with Meredith is the same, relationship is no where strained, they stay in touch. The catch phrase “You’re my person” comes up again, Yang gradually overcomes the fear of planes and ultimately gets back to her parent hospital to revive it from a financial crisis. ( now called the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.)
9. Somebody that I used to know!
Competition, jealousy and ego can ruin all relations. The same happened in the relation of ‘the twisted sisters’. As Meredith became a family woman, Cristina’s career scaled new heights. Consequently, there were things said and interpreted, all of which envisaged a cold war. However, soon came a face off, where in things got cleared.
10. If love could be ‘enough’ to keep people together!
Cristina and Owen were deeply in love, but sadly there wasn’t a way in which both of their lives could run in parallel without making the compromises that would alter their individual definitions and existence. Hence, Cristina found that the best way was to let it go.
11. Tall towers, false shadows: The Harper Avery fiasco
One of the most hyped and prestigious awards in medicine, the Harper Avery Award – 2014 had Cristina Yang as a nominee, she being one of the five forerunners. However, the internal politics at the Harper Avery Board and Board’s relation with the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital screwed up the chances of Yang winning the award, even though her 3D conduits had the jury’s vote.
12. This is not the end, this is not the beginning!
While addressing a conference about her 3D conduits in Zurich, Yang meets Preston Burke again, the man who once left her at the altar, offers Yang to takeover for him at a research hospital in Switzerland. Yang knows this is the next step for her, gradually finishes over her work and dealings at Seattle and shifts her base of operation to Switzerland bidding adieus to her companions of over ten years with some ‘stay in touch’ promises, compassionate hugs,pieces of advice, emotional goodbyes and the last ‘Cristina -Meredith’ 30 seconds dance party.
It is rather magical how both of the friends have been there for one another in all times, despite of difference of opinions, attitudes and cultures. Even though the television saga would continue to go on without her, but for sure, both the friends would continue to influence each other’s lives for ever. For that’s what friendship means, to be together, even if not physically around.
Thank you Sandra Oh for the beautiful, motivating and unforgettable portrayal of Dr. Cristina Yang.
You’ll be always remembered and thoroughly missed!
Happy friendship day to all our readers and Grey’s Anatomy fans!
Featured Image Credits: Meredith Grey Quotes ( Facebook Page)
March 31st, 2014 would certainly be a ‘red letter day’ in the history of American sitcoms. While one legen-wait for it-dary show went off air forever and its famous characters bid their adieus to their fans, another show that might be the new ‘apple of all eyes’ in the years to come kick started its journey. The much talked about show ‘Friends with Better Lives’ premiered just after the series finale of ‘How I Met Your Mother’ which had left some fans heartbroken, dissatisfied and wanting for more. The much talked about show is written by the writers of famous American show ‘Friends’ and is being successfully promoted on the established brand value of same.
The Positives
FWBL revolves around six friends, thirty something of age, all at different stages of life, each of whom thinks that the other has it better. Talking about the leads, Bobby and Andi– the happily married couple and parents of a toddler, Will – a divorcee, Kate – a single career oriented woman who has not found the right match yet and the ‘just engaged’ couple – Jules and Lowell.
The pilot episode is woven around characters of Bobby, Will and Kate played by Entourage fame Kevin Connolly, James Van Der Beek and Zoe Lister Jones, known for their amazing comic timing as they never miss a beat to entertain and tickle the audiences. Being on spot with his dialogue delivery, Kevin Connolly has delivered an excellent performance. The pilot belongs to Zoe Lister Jones who plays Kate, the single unlucky with dating woman, who is the highlight of the episode and might be the person around whom this show could revolve.
The Neutrals
The show yet again revolves around three men and three women, and so far looks like it talks about their personal relations, ups& downs. From the comic perspective the show looks promising, but the storyline looks like ‘old wine in new bottle.’ There isn’t a catchy theme song introduced yet, that can be the USP of the show like ‘I’ll be there for you’ for Friends & the HIMYM theme tune.
The Negatives
Sitcoms do not usually garner much of positive response in their pilots because of the sheer disability of the people to understand and recognize the characters and their relations. FWBL needs to have more character development in the next few episodes for audiences to be able to relate to and care for. The show can overcome the familiar story line challenge and and could become something special if the group solidifies,strengthens into a strong dynamic where viewers begin to identify with the characters and relate them to people in real life.
The Overall View
Watch the show as an independent comedy, not drawing comparisons from any of the classics and you will certainly not be disappointed. Another reason to watch it would be the amazing star cast The channel CBS has not been quite successful with their new shows but FWBL with some excellent writing and by not going for the obvious jokes and gags, could be the next big thing.
The Official Trailer of ‘Friends with better lives’
Guest post by Abhinn Khanna Abhinn Khanna is a fourth semester Commerce student at Delhi college of Arts & Commerce and an avid TV series and movies buff.
Summer vacations are already underway and if you are not the unlucky ones who are wading their way through Delhi University admissions under the hot sun and now the water logged roads, count your blessings and write a thank you note to your stars. Now, for some it is essential to stretch those limbs and exercise that derriere after they have been on the receiving ends of their mother’s love and affection,via the stomach, but if you are anything like your’s truly, you shall dump that piece of spandex and hop into a pair of comfortable, roomy, colourful pajamas, open that laptop, log into the neighbour’s unsecured WiFi, and make yourself mighty comfortable on the bed, because tables are for pansies.
Holidays are an opportunity to watch sitcoms and movies we just could not during the semester, and this is exactly what we are going to do.Here is a friendly guide of TV series which you can spend your time watching and enjoying.
1. Da Vinci’s Demons
Now, if the name itself is not enough to heighten your intrigue, the fact that is a historical fantasy packed with a whole lot of action, mystery, sex and violence should make you running for that DVD. In complete opposition to it’s title, the series has little resemblance to the life of the man behind the name but, what it does have, is this young artist/inventor/engineer battling Draculas, solving complicated puzzles using his sheer brilliance and of course, investing himself in a love triangle. Just lovely! Directed by David Goyer, co-writer of ‘ The Dark Knight’ trilogy, season 1 is a whole of 8 episodes, a complete fix for a lazy weekend.
2. Sherlock
If Benedict Cumberbatch grew on tree, I would have a whole orchard of him. As if the accent is not swoon-worthy enough, he is also an amazing actor.You might remember him from Star Trek Into Darkness as Khan Noonien Singh, and he will also be portraying famed news-leaker, Julian Assange, in The Fifth Estate. Sherlock is a contemporary adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s work, in which Sherlock and Watson use the modern day technology available to them to solve crimes. So there are websites, blogging, Google maps and nicotine patches. There are two seasons with a total of six episodes. The third season is currently under production.
3. Orphan Black
Tatiana Maslany deserves an Emmy for her performance. Being cited as one of the best show to be aired on television recently, BBC’s Orphan Black is fast paced with a fierce plot that almost keeps you at the edge of your seat. What Priyanka Chopra failed to deliver with her tragically flop film What’s your Rashee?, Maslany achieves it and some more. Sarah Manning (Maslany), is a young British mother living in Canada. A small-time con artist, she sees her doppelganger commit suicide by stepping in front of a train, after stealing the woman’s purse and identity, Sarah the con artist becomes Beth the cop, scrambling to fool her partner and discovering more women who look just like her. Maslany does justice to every role she portrays, be it the hipster or the suburban mom, it is hard to believe that it is one woman playing all the characters. Watch this sci-fi series for the future of cloning and for Tatiana Maslany.
4. Awkward
High School, boys, embarrassing parents, conniving Asians, love triangle or quadrangle (depending on the episode) and a whole lot of awkwardness, 15- year old Jenna Hamilton is victim of a freak accident which everybody thinks is a suicide attempt and thus begins her journey of awkwardness. The series is easy to watch, a light comedy and with typical teenage elements. Best thing about the show is the sarcastic and snarky voice-over and the counsellor, yes the fanny pack wearing counsellor. Currently in it’s third season, watch it if nostalgia sets in or a break from too much mind work is needed.
5. Downton Abbey
This one is for the ladies. Downton Abbey, a British period drama set in and after the World War II easily draws you into the life of the Crawley family and their servants. At the beginning of the season, Titanic has just sunk, taking with it the Downton heir and leaving the house in jeopardy. The series seems familiar and there just might be episodes which are disinteresting, but it manages to captivate and soon, you find yourself rooting for the lovers and hoping for the best. The series is currently in it’s third season.
Also, must watch:
Hannibal, Girls, The Americans, Games of Thrones, Bate’s Motel, GO ON
Pretty Little Liars is about a group of five girls (Alison, Hanna, Emily, Aria and Spenser) who are best friends and live perfect lives in a small town called Rosewood. Their life turns upside down when the leader of their posse, Ali, goes missing. The story begins when the Police find Ali’s body after three years of her disappearance and the four friends start getting devious messages about their secrets that they would much rather forget from an anonymous person signing off as A.
Personally, I liked the TV series much more than the books, probably because I saw the TV series first. It’s crisper and far more gripping as compared to the books. Books start to get boring and repetitive in between, especially when they go into flashbacks reliving a particular memory again and again for four different perspectives revealing just a tiny new detail. The TV series keeps you glued to your chair and makes it impossible to even blink. A major flaw in the TV series is that the age of these girls is shown to be 14, but their deeds are beyond their years. But the book portrays them as 16 thus making it believable.
Their love lives and personalities are portrayed very differently in the books as compared to the TV series. Hanna is made to look rather evil and Emily is way too timid and meek. In the books, the four of them never become friends, even though their lives often intersect. The thing I like about the books is that each chapter is written from a different girl’s perspective and therefore gives you insight into each of their lives.
However, the books lack drama and suspense. The twists and turns showed in the TV series are far more interesting and fascinating (Even Sara Shepard, the author, is hooked to the TV series).
Having seen the TV series first, I fell in love with Toby and my heart broke when he died in the book. Ezra and Aria broke up way too soon for my liking. And I hated the fact that Wren cheated on both Malissa and Spencer both. Having formed my loyalty to the TV series first, loving the books as much as the show is difficult. None the less, the books are definitely worth reading!
1. Da Vinci’s Demons
