The Badass Women of Television

The world of paranormal is hitting television screens hard this year, and the women leading the way are making us all want to join the fight! Here's a few of the badass gals in the supernatural and superfantasy shows. 

Sleepy Hollow

Nicole Beharie (Abbie Mills)

FOX

Lieutenant Grace Abigail "Abbie" Mills is a sheriff detective in the small, modern-day town of Sleepy Hollow. After being visited by the demon Moloch at a young age, she is the Second Witness of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse that was foretold in the book of Revelation, and one of the two main protagonists on the show. Abbie and Ichabod, along with their fellow comrades, must team up together to prevent the end of days from occurring.

Orphan Black

Tatiana Maslany (Sarah Manning)

BBC

Orphan Black is a Canadian science fiction television series starring Tatiana Maslany as several identical women who are revealed to be clones. The series focuses on Sarah Manning, a woman who assumes the identity of her clone, Elizabeth (Beth) Childs, after witnessing the latter's suicide. The series raises issues about the moral and ethical implications of human cloning and its impact on issues of personal identity.

True Blood

Kristin Bauer Van Straten (Pam)

HBO

*Final Season

Pamela "Pam" Swynford De Beaufort is a character in True Blood. As a human, Pam ran the Comstock Brothel in San Francisco. In 1905, she met Eric Northman and begged him to turn her into a vampire out of desparation. After a century together, Pam is fiercely loyal to her maker (Eric), and despite her relative youth as a vampire acts as his second in command in his duties as vampire sheriff of LA: Area 5. She is often blunt when explaining things or dealing with most people, regardless of their species. She has a very morbid sense of humor, with a sweet yet highly lethal charm. She can also be very cold and uncaring when dealing with people and seems apathetic to the concerns of others.

Helix

Kyra Zagorsky (Dr. Julia Walker)

Syfy

Helix is an intense thriller about a team of scientists from the Centers for Disease Control who travel to a high-tech research facility in the Arctic to investigate a possible disease outbreak, only to find themselves pulled into a terrifying life-and-death struggle that holds the key to mankind's salvation...or total annihilation.

Dr. Julia Walker is a Senior Scientist at the Centers For Disease Control and ex-wife to Dr. Alan Farragut. Brilliant and authoritative, she co-heads the rapid response team's mission to the Arctic Biosystems facility. 

The Walking Dead

Lauren Cohan (Maggie Greene)

AMC

Maggie Greene is one of the main protagonists and survivor of the outbreak in AMC's The Walking Dead. She is the eldest daughter of Hershel and Josephine Greene, and half-sister of Beth. A tomboy and a farmer's daughter with a steely personality and many skills including horseback riding and killing the crap out of walkers (zombies). Maggie proves herself a capable solider with deep loyalty to her loved ones. She is married to Glenn.

The Walking Dead

Danai Gurira (Michonne)

AMC

Michonne is one of the main protagonists and survivor of the outbreak in AMC's The Walking Dead. A Katana-wielding survivor who tends to work alone and keeps much of her past secret. Michonne is a killing machine who can handle herself in just about any situation. Deadly with her blade! 

Game of Thrones

Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen)

HBO

Daenerys Targaryen, sometimes called Dany by her brother Viserys, is a major character played by starring cast member Emilia Clarke, and debuts in the series premiere. She is the only surviving child of King Aerys II Targaryen, who was ousted from the Iron Throne during Robert's Rebellion. Her marriage to Drogo and subsequent interaction with the Dothraki people gives her the confidence and strength to lead and the belief in herself as the rightful queen of the Seven Kingdoms. She has proven herself as a leader and a conqueror through her swift and (for the most part) merciful conquests of the Free Cities of Astapor and Yunkai. She is the mother of dragons. 

Supernatural

Alaina Huffman (Abaddon)

Abaddon is one of only two remaining Knights of Hell, the other being her retired master, Cain. Abaddon is single-handedly responsible for the extinction of the original Men of Letters. She arrived in the present through time travel in her hunt for Henry Winchester and the key of the Order of Letters he was entrusted with, but failed to retrieve it, with Henry's grandsons Sam and Dean Winchester taking it instead. Upon discovering the shameful state Hell had fallen into in her absence, however, Abaddon abandoned her hunt for the key and began a crusade to take over Hell herself to remake the world as she saw fit—with herself as Queen of Hell, ruling over demons, angels, and humans alike.

Lost Girl

Anna Silk (Bo)
Lost Girl is a Canadian supernatural crime drama television series that focuses on the gorgeous and charismatic Bo, a supernatural being called a succubus who feeds on the energy of humans, sometimes with fatal results. Refusing to embrace her supernatural clan system and its rigid hierarchy, Bo is a renegade who takes up the fight for the underdog while searching for the truth about her own mysterious origins.- Written by M.A. Lovretta

So what shows are you watching/loving/can't wait to see? Any badass females you're digging? 

2014's Sexy Men of Television

2014 is shaping up to be a winner, not only in books, but television and film have some heavy hitters coming soon. Today, we bring you just a few of the very sexy men burning up the TV screens weekly. Please make sure to check your local listings for exact airing dates and times. Enjoy some man-candy on the house! 

Benedict Cumberbatch

Sherlock (BBC) 

A British television crime drama that presents a contemporary adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes detective stories. Created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, it stars the sexy and cunning Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman (The Hobbit) as Doctor John Watson. Nine episodes have been produced thus far and I can't wait to see what the next season has in store! 

Karl Urban 

Almost Human (FOX) 

In 2048, the uncontrollable evolution of science and technology has caused crime rates to rise an astounding 400%. To combat this, the overwhelmed police force has implemented a new policy: every human police officer is paired up with a lifelike combat-model android.

John Kennex (Karl Urban), a troubled detective, has a reason to hate these new robot partners. Almost two years previously, Kennex and his squad were raiding the hideout of a violent gang known as the Insyndicate, but ended up being ambushed and outgunned. Kennex tried to save his badly injured partner, but the accompanying android officer abandoned them both because their chances of survival were low. An explosion then took out Kennex's leg and killed his partner. 

Michael Ealy 

Almost Human (FOX)

Plays an older android robot called a "DRN", which was originally destined for the scrap heap. Created to be as close to human as possible, the DRN androids have trouble dealing with some emotional responses, which was the reason they were replaced by the logic-based MX units. Dorian (Michael Ealy), immediately proves himself unique, with a clear dislike of being referred to as a "synthetic". As Each episode goes by Kennex and Dorian's Relationship grows but how long can it last with one being human and one almost human.

Kevin Bacon 

The Following (FOX) 

The Following centers on former FBI agent Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) and his attempts to recapture serial killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) following the latter's escape from prison. Hardy soon discovers that the charismatic Carroll has surrounded himself with a group of like-minded individuals (whom he met while teaching and while in prison), and turned them into a cult of fanatical killers. When Carroll's son Joey (Kyle Catlett) is abducted by his father's followers, the FBI discovers that it is the first step in a wider plan for Carroll to escape custody, humiliate Hardy, and murder Carroll's ex-wife Claire (Natalie Zea).

Tom Mison 

Sleepy Hallow (FOX)

A supernatural/police drama with a modern-day retelling of the 1820 short story classic. Tom Mison as Ichabod Crane. A former professor of history at Oxford University prior to the American Revolution, he came to America with the British before switching sides and becoming a spy for the Colonials. Having beheaded the Horseman in 1781, he was brought back to life with the Horseman due to their blood mixing when they died. Despite his skeptical knowledge of the supernatural in life, he has been an invaluable resource following his resurrection due to his detailed knowledge of supernatural traditions.

Joe Manganiello 

True Blood (HBO)

I really don't think this man needs any words to go with the image…..just….yeah. *Le sigh*. Alcide Herveaux is a major character in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth season of True Blood. He is played by starring cast member Joe Manganiello. 

Alcide is a loyal, respectful and decent man who came from a poor family that worked hard to have the wealth they achieved. He always cares for his friend's safety and is also quick to take people under his wing.

Alcide was raised in a Were society that highly appreciates and respects women, which made him highly vulnerable to their (mainly Debbie's) manipulation. He has grown through his painful experiences from being a kind of naive man, to be more strong and mature. 

Jensen Ackles 

Supernatural (CW)

I grew up watching Jensen play Eric Brady on NBC's daytime soap opera "Days of our Lives". Now he stars as the sexy Dean Winchester on the CW series Supernatural. Dean is one of two brothers following their father's footsteps as "hunters" fighting evil supernatural beings of many kinds including monsters, demons, and gods that roam the earth.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau 

Game of Thrones (HBO)

Danish actor, producer, and screenwriter currently plays Jamie Lannister on the hit HBO series Game of Thrones. Ser Jaime Lannister is a knight of the Kingsguard, a position he has held for twenty years since he was a teenager, the youngest Kingsguard ever. He was appointed to the position by the Mad King, Aerys II Targaryen.

Phoenix Comicon 2013: Kristin Bauer van Straten panel

You know her and lover her as Pam from the hit HBO series True Blood. The undead goddess herself, Kristin Bauer, was at Phoenix Comicon 2013 and we made sure to park sheep tail for this lovely ladies Q&A. A portion of the panel is transcribed below. 

Question: Every year Pam's wit gets a little and a little quicker, do you have any role in this or is this all writers?
Kristin: That's 100% the writers. I have not changed one word. It's really a great position to be in where you're handed those lines. The wardrobe, the writing is really all those wonderful people. 

Question: In what way do you feel your character has developed the most of the series?
Kristin: I think that the big general arc has been to go from having no sentimentality or soft side at all to having deep venerability in moments. Manly with Eric, but that has been really amazing to have her underbelly exposed. 

Question: You work with a lot of attractive cast members, are there any funny cast moments you've had?
Kristin: We have endlessly funny moments, and then we are together again and we reminisce about them. Season 3, Bill and Pam had a fight, and then I silver him, and then I am on him. Sookie gets a chain around my neck and the stripper Yvetta gets ahold of me. And somehow, I am thrown across the room and somehow I am supposed to hit the stunt pole with my back. So the poor stunt girl had to run across the room, turn her back, fling herself through the air to hit the pole. We're watching on the monitor, and she kept missing the pole. 

*Audience laughs* 

So we'd see this person fly through the air and land "ugh!" She kept missing the pole. Take after take. To us, it became the- [laughing] just watching her fly. 

Question: What's your favorite color and is it the same as Pam?
Kristin: I really love pink as well and I don't even know if black is a color. I've gotten to like this black thing. Maybe it's easy or just goes with everything or looks cool on camera. 

Question: If you could have one change on the show, what difference would you change?
Kristin: First, it would have to be the name we could call it "The Pam Show". 

*Audience laughs* 

There's been things at times, I've loved everything but last year it was funny for me to not be in scenes with my buddies. So, I'm there in Fangtasia, getting to know Rutina (Tara) we actually had a lot of fun getting to know one another. But on my break I would go over to the Authority side. I would see them having a ball, laughing with each other. I would be like "Aww, do you guys miss me?" They would say [in dull voice] "Huh what, yeah yeah look you guys Kristin's here". 
So I would probably do every scene with people I know. Bill, Eric, Sookie, Pam and now Tara, I would throw in Jason and Jessica. So yeah, it would be the vampire show. With Sookie and Jason. 

Question: How do you feel about the show vs. the books?
Kristin: I haven't read all the books. When I got the role and realized after filming for a week or so I got the books, and I was reading as season one went I was reading the book. They were very similar with almost my dialog was the same, but subtly different and I thought "ya know, I am going to stop". I am just going to do the script because that's what I have to deliver. 
But when the show ends, in 14 years, I will sit down and read the books. I find that when I have a book I love, I am always disappointed with the tv show or movie. And vice-versa. Because you picture it a certain way. So I think it's nice that they are different. 

Question: Pam is now a vampire mommy, how do you think it has changed her and how do you think she feels?
Kristin: I think that Pam probably never wanted to be a mother and tried to just birth her and drop her off at the street corner. Put her in a basket and send her down the river "Good luck!" But, it really took holding Eric over her head to get her to do it. You repair my friendship with Eric and I'll save your friend. I think it was fun for Rutina (Tara) and I to find the subtlety of; I don't want you but now I am stuck with you but I can empathize with you. Because they are very similar characters actually. That was fun for us.
Then of course, it went from I hate you, I want to kill you to now I'm stuck with you to...your kind of hot. 

Question: What's the grossest scene you've had to film.
Kristin: It's always pretty fun too shoot that stuff. It's not as gross in person, it's funny actually. There's been a couple moments where it gets gross. In the first season when we had to stake Longshadow, he just vomited blood for minutes on Sookie. They put a hose up one side of his body and shot it from the other-side and Anna is such a trooper she just had to take it. The director said, that first shot I need you to take it with your eyes open. 

*Audience groans*

So, she knew what was coming and was like, OK. If you looked at it from your living room it looked gross. For us, you see a hose running over to a ladder, to the top of a ladder with two large men poring gallons of blood into a funnel. It's not gross. 

Question: Where do you draw from the complexity of the relationship between you and Eric? 
Kristin: I always approach things as; I read the scene and I get an initial feeling of what it should be and for me that's usually the one I go with. I find the more I think about it, it doesn't necessarily get better. I try to pay attention to that immediate impulse. What can I put in that Pam is feeling and what can I barrow that Kristin is feeling. What do I have to make up, and what exists. 
I got really lucky that Alex (Eric) and I really get along. If I have a scene where I am worried he might die, I think about Alex dying. Not Alex dying- 

*Audience laughs* 

But instantly I'm sad, I'm emotional about it. Then there are the areas where I have to make it up. Also, it feels like over the years the scenes we shot before are in there still. So if they are adding a layer, I'm good I've done it for a year. 

Question: Would you ever date Count Dracula? 
Kristin: There's been so many Count Dracula's, I feel like we need to discuss which Count Dracula. Like, is there a new one? 

[Audience shouts out Jonathan Meyers] 

What?! OMG. See what I mean, I'm out saving elephants I have no idea. Yesterday I found out there was a new Superman. 

*Audience laughs* 

He seems like he would be complicated. [Meyers] I like my men a little simpler. Wasn't Gary Oldman...right? Hmm, I wouldn't date him BUT if I was the love of his life and he proposed...sure. 

*Audience claps* 

And then, of course, I would totally date Count Chocula.

Question: What do you think of Twilight?
Kristin: I mean, I like...you know twilight's a nice time of day. Sometimes-

*Audience laughs and claps* 

The lights really pretty. Or when you're at the dentist and they give you that twilight, you feel kind of good. 

"Maybe I smile too much, maybe I wear too much pink. But please remember I can rip your throat out if I need to." 

Sheep Review: Deadlocked by Charliane Harris

This post is more of me telling you how much and why I love this series and why you should read it. I also talk about Deadlocked and there are no spoilers

by Sharon Stogner
co-creator & media relations


With Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), in town, it’s the worst possible time for a body to show up in Eric Northman’s front yard—especially the body of a woman whose blood he just drank.
Now, it’s up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl’s fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who’s out to make Sookie’s world come crashing down.


There are tons of reviews out there on this book already so no need for me to say what has already been said. Instead I will do one of my favorite things...gush and talk about this series and why you should read it. First I will say if I had to judge Deadlocked against the other books in the series it wouldn’t be at the top as far as main storylines go, but I don’t look at the books in this series that way. Instead I see them as a continuation of one fabulous urban fantasy story so I can't tell you what happened in each book. There is only one more book left (excuse me while a take a moment *sob*) and Harris has started to wrap up some secondary storylines, as well as setting up the events for the last book; the secondary characters seem to all be getting their nice and tidy HEAs, which is fine with me. The faerie story line appears to have ended with a surprise I didn’t see coming, which makes me sad 'cause I love those characters.

The big question is Sookie’s love life. Harris said in the talk I went to that this series isn’t one of those HEA romances. In this book Eric’s fate seems to have been decided and Bill has declared his feelings in a very romantic way. Then there is her best friend Sam, and while Deadlocked changes things for him dramatically, where Harris is going with this remains unknown. Has anyone given thought to the idea that Sookie's HEA might not include a man at all...maybe she will be happiest just being self sufficient and all the ones she loves in a good place.

Now, why do I love this series so much? Harris’ writing voice. I LOVE first person POV books and Sookie’s character resonates with me perfectly. I can slip easily into her head because we think so much alike. Maybe because I am a southern girl and her inner dialogue feels natural to me.

"There is something about JB, something warm and simple that's really appealing, especially when added to hid non-threatening good looks. He's like a great loaf of homemade bread."

"He was just being polite because I am Claude's cousin," I said. "Like hell! He was looking at you like you were chocolate-chip-cookie-dough ice cream," she said. "He wanted to eat you up."

I was pretty sure she was right, but maybe not in the sense she meant; not that I could read Bellenos's mind, any more than that of any other supernatural creature...but elves are what you'd call unrestricted in their diet..."

Will you like this series? Don’t judge the books by the TV show, they are hardly the same beast. The books have characters that don’t even show up in the show like Bubba. He is actually Elvis, but his transition into a vampire didn’t go so well and he doesn’t like it when people use his real name. Also, he eats cats.

Grab the first book Dead Until Dark and read a few pages or download a sample and see if you like looking at the world through Sookie’s eyes. Next year will be book #13 and the last. I will be sorry to see this world end, but like Harris said, it is time to move on.

I found this over on parajunkee.com and it definitely applies here

I give Deadlocked 4 Sheep

and the series as a whole 5 Sheep!

All the books in the Sookie Stackhouse series

Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse / Southern Vampire Mysteries, No. 1)
Living Dead in Dallas (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 2)
Club Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 3)
Dead to the World (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 4)
Dead as a Doornail (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 5)
Definitely Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 6)
All Together Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 7)
From Dead to Worse (Southern Vampire Mysteries, No. 8)
Dead and Gone: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel (Southern Vampire Mysteries, No. 9)
Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 10)
Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 11) (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood)

Sheree Atcheson’s Geek Chic: How to Look Stackhouse Sultry

Hi guys. It’s me again. I know, I know…I’ve been neglecting my geek-chic duties and I haven’t brought you all an article in quite some time. I apologise! But the main thing is that I’m here now and I’m bringing you exactly what you asked for. The lovely ladies over at ISmellSheep requested an article on a True Blood icon and I hope I haven‘t disappointed you all with my choice..

The unbelievably sultry Sookie Stackhouse.

Sookie is known for innocent looks, teamed with a killer power. Sookie’s outfits always tick the “wholesome southern american daughter” box, however, there’s always a sexy twist to them.

To kill the rock-a-billy look Sookie owns so well, always go for halter neck lines (especially for the bigger busted ladies out there). Not only will it give you that “cutesy american” look, but with a halter neckline, you’ll be vamped all the way up to sexy.

There are many ways you can enterpret the halter neck line . Here are a few options :

For the sexier option, go for a deep, deep red in silk. But don’t go too short, or you’ll defeat the purpose of the sexy, understated pin-up-esque look Sookie rocks so well. If you want to tone down the sexy, then just throw on some tights and you’re ready to go.

Or for a quirky option, try a pair of nude tights, with a black line up the back.

For a more everyday look, go for a checkered print, in a more relaxed fabric like cotton, and wear with white pumps or brogues :

And for the stop-everyone-in-their-tracks option, go for the ultimate luxury, and channel Sookie in this unbelievably gorgeous number, with killer satin heels :

Sookie not only wears dresses, but she also has her casual work wear look, which is totally understated sexy.

Now I know we all might not live in a climate where short shorts are suitable for everyday wear, but no worries, there’s always alternatives.

Firstly, a simple tight, white top will work perfect for this. Just something that highlights your silhouette and shape, without showing it off too much.

Now onto the bottoms. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere where shorts are a feasible option, then go for it. There are lots of different types of shorts out there, that will work for any body shape. Sookie goes for the short short/almost hot pant.

But if you’re not feeling as adventurous, there’s always the longer leg option, or even the high waisted option (which will even help give that hourglass shape because they’ll hold in any wee bumps).

And like Sookie, just throw on a pair of low-top converse and you’re set. If you’re going out, a pair of plain patent black stillettos will go down a treat.

Or if you want a wee bit of colour popping, try some red heels.

Now as I said, some of us live in places with a “slightly colder” temperature than where Sookie lives, so if you’re one of those people (like myself) then don’t fret! Instead of short shorts, try a pair of skin tight blue jeans/jeggings. Since it’s winter now, jeans might be a better option.

And everyone knows there’s very few things sexier than a plain white top, teamed with the perfect jeans and sky-scraper heels.

And if you want to make this look more suitable for everyday/work, just add your favourite blazer and you’re all ready to go.

One more option for a Sookie-esque look is this more girly look.

Team girly floral blouses, with brightly coloured a-line skirts for a 50’s inspired, classic look.

With Sookie’s look, keep accessories to a minimum. Try a fresh-faced makeup look with just a nude eyeshadow, a pale lip and a little mascara. Just use enough to accent your features, but not over-power them.

Well guys, I hope you enjoyed this article. I promise I won’t take as long to bring you another one as I did this time. As always, if you have any requests, drop me a wee message on here, or even on my personal modelling page ShereeAtchesonModel

Thanks again lads and ladies,

Until next time,

Sheree xx.