The Queen vs. the Face, Heel, Hottest Thing, Rookie, Underdog Champion

As WrestleMania 41 rapidly approaches on April 19-20, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, WWE faces backlash over the problematic feud between Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women’s Championship. The rivalry, which prematurely thrust a veteran performer against a promising but inexperienced champion, has deteriorated into disorganized storytelling. WWE’s questionable decision-making has left Stratton vulnerable, highlighting her shortcomings rather than elevating her as a credible star. Without significant corrections, this matchup risks negatively impacting Stratton’s career trajectory and diminishing Flair’s reputation, underscoring deeper issues within WWE’s creative process.

The feud began through interviews where Tiffany admitted Charlotte inspired her to wrestle. Charlotte Flair, a 14-time women’s champion and the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble winner, returned triumphantly from a year-long injury hiatus (torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus suffered in December 2023). Her victory earned her the right to challenge for any women’s title. After considering other competitors—including Rhea Ripley and Giulia—she set her sights on Tiffany Stratton, the reigning WWE Women’s Champion. Stratton had prematurely ascended to the top by cashing in her Money in the Bank contract on Nia Jax on January 3, 2025, establishing herself ambiguously between a face and a heel—this ambiguity being the first of many missteps. While Tiffany excels as a heel, Charlotte Flair is naturally suited to that role, making Tiffany’s attempts at heel promos against Flair a complete misstep.

This matchup made little sense from the outset: Flair, the seasoned veteran with a storied legacy, versus Stratton, a cocky newcomer with only one title reign from a cash-in and no notable accomplishments to support her status. Flair’s experience and in-ring skill paired against Stratton’s flashy but inconsistent ring work created an unbalanced booking. WWE’s recent tendency to rely more on fan suggestions and recycled storylines has contributed to a feud widely regarded as a masterclass in missed opportunities, failing both to elevate Stratton and respect Flair’s legacy.

The feud’s failures are most evident in its promo segments. Flair consistently showcased her veteran savvy, leaving Stratton flailing. Problems began during a split-screen interview on the March 21, 2025, episode of SmackDown. Flair dominated, dismissing Stratton as an undeserving champion who only won via cash-in, labeling her a “pity pick” for WrestleMania. Stratton’s attempts to counter, accusing Flair of suppressing new talent, felt rehearsed and lacked impact. Tiffany’s inauthentic, repetitive delivery ultimately buried her in a critical moment.

This dynamic escalated on the April 4, 2025, episode of SmackDown in Chicago, where their face-to-face confrontation intended as a heated prelude to WrestleMania devolved into an off-script disaster. Flair struggled with the hostile, largely artificial crowd reaction, while Stratton’s improvisation emphasized her inexperience. Stratton inappropriately pivoted to personal attacks, referencing Flair’s real name (Ashley Fliehr), her father Ric Flair, and failed marriages. Flair, blindsided, retaliated by mentioning Stratton’s real-life boyfriend. WWE later edited out these controversial elements, implicitly acknowledging the segment’s failure. Attempting to elevate an unprepared Stratton at Flair’s expense reveals WWE’s misjudgment about her readiness for the spotlight.

WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray summarized the dynamic on “Busted Open Radio,” warning that Stratton would be exposed if Flair dragged her into deep waters. Social media echoed this critique, labeling the feud “dreadful fiction” in storytelling terms, and noting how damaging it was for Stratton’s credibility.

The physical aspect of the feud was similarly lackluster. Highlights included Flair ambushing Stratton post-match with a Figure Eight on March 7 and a brief pull-apart brawl on March 15 in Barcelona. Although these moments briefly ignited audience interest, inconsistent momentum persisted. Stratton’s dive from the entrance ramp two weeks before WrestleMania was notable, but her routine missed targets on high-risk moves further disappointed fans.

The booking failed to generate sympathy for Stratton or genuine heat for Flair. Flair’s dominance unintentionally portrayed her as an overpowering antagonist and bully, while Stratton appeared outmatched rather than cunning. The feud’s personal jabs felt more like reality TV than wrestling storytelling, reflecting WWE’s trend towards controversy over substance.

This feud represented a crucial opportunity for Stratton to establish herself as a main-event star. Instead, it risked derailing her momentum. At 25, Stratton’s potential was evident in her title win, but facing her idol at WrestleMania has clearly overwhelmed her, revealing her inexperience. Flair, 39, thrives at WrestleMania, and her insistence on not “being less than” has further exposed Stratton’s deficiencies. Stratton’s lackluster matches and shaky confidence have painted her as a performer still developing her on-screen presence, undermining her short reign.

The storyline also failed to enhance Flair’s legacy. Her return should have been triumphant, but the feud’s one-sided nature cast her as a gatekeeper stifling new talent—something Stratton herself noted. WWE’s unclear booking confused fans about Stratton’s role as a heel, face, victim, or bully. This ambiguity harmed audience engagement and further confused the narrative. WWE could have leveraged Flair’s experience to elevate Stratton instead of exposing her limitations.

Ultimately, WWE’s reluctance to adapt creatively has exacerbated these issues. Flair’s polished skills starkly contrasted Stratton’s lack of experience, and the creative team failed to provide sufficient support or depth. Stratton needs substantial improvement across the board, while Flair requires fresh character development beyond repetitive title feuds. The decision to let Tiffany improvise in Chicago was a failed gamble, making the feud uncomfortably personal.

With WrestleMania 41 approaching rapidly, there is little time to salvage this storyline. Although the match itself could deliver in-ring, the poorly executed build-up has been a disservice to both competitors. Unless WWE corrects course, this feud risks becoming a notorious example of desperate booking, negatively reflecting on WWE and its new TKO Group partnership.

The post WWE’s Creative Crisis: The Botched Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton Rivalry appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

First off, I was interested in watching these three series, but didn’t have the time yet to check them out.

I Have a Crush at Work

I don’t think any streamers picked up this office romance series, which is pretty surprising. I thought the genre was relatively popular. I haven’t really watched an office romance anime since The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague and was hoping to watch this one, but it wasn’t meant to be!

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 (Crunchyroll)

I never watched the first season, but as this season was airing, I kept hearing great things about it from friends. It’s apparently really well done and I appreciate series with longer episode orders so you get lots of story. Maybe I’ll get to it another time!

Sorairo Utility (HIDIVE)

After enjoying Rising Impact and Tonbo I was looking forward to watching another golf themed series. This one sounded like a fun initial twist on how the character finds golf. Next time I’m craving a sports anime I’ll try to check this one out! 

These twelve anime series from Winter 2025 caught my attention for many reasons and I was (mostly) very glad I watched them!

12) Anyway, I’m Falling In Love With You (Crunchyroll)

Honestly, this is one of the most boring anime series I have ever watched. The story follows a girl and her looking back on her younger life, bouncing between the present and past. The past is a time when a “virus” disrupted life, but they still found ways to be kids and fall in love. The show really wanted to ignore the “virus” aspect yet kept bringing it up? The show was so forgettable, I’d forget what happened by the time the episodes ended. Everyone was in love, but no one was making moves? It was just vibes. Really strange. It also will be back for a second season. Not sure if I will though!

11) Honey Lemon Soda (Crunchyroll)

This romance series had potential and moments where I was really pulled in, but it just lacked a cohesive thread as a whole. The main characters were flawed and it’s the point that they can grow and become better people. I just didn’t buy the romance aspect. The guy was cold often, which helped the main girl grow, but it was just strange at times. The way the adults were portrayed as well was odd. They also flew through storylines when they could have used more time to really flesh out the stories.

10) The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World (Crunchyroll)

When I read the description of this series, I knew I had to check it out. A power ranger essentially ends up in another world in possession of his power ranger technology, giving him the abilities he had in the real world in the new one. It was funny, had some fun fight scenes, and I appreciated the “magic” lore that began to grow as the series went on. I found myself wondering how the physics of the power ranger magic worked in the new world and if it still existed in the real world. Tonally it bounced all over, but it was still funny and charming.

9) My Happy Marriage Season Two (Netflix)

Season two of this romance started off with a great evil stepmother storyline. It was juicy and helped our main heroine Miyo grow even stronger as a person. She was so bashful and soft spoken in the first season, this arc allowed her to become more confident and want to become stronger. The second half focused on a bigger threat, and less on her personal growth, and even the main romance aspect of the series. It was all still there, but the bigger threat took the main time of the storyline. Seeing Miyo tap into her true potential all season long was the main draw. Beautiful, poignant and a delight.

8) Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms (Crunchyroll)

The romantic comedy series could have easily been a one joke story that they drove into the ground quickly, instead, it became more complex and the humor helped keep it fresh all season long. I loved seeing Medaka try to resist his obvious attraction to Mona. She still tried to get his attention all season long, and eventually was able to make small chips in his armor. It was charming and I loved the way the characters’ inner thoughts were portrayed. The series will return for a second season.

7) Sakamoto Days (Netflix) 

Part one of this series was full of great fights and funny moments. A former assassin has taken a quiet life as a family man running a business. When a bounty is put on his head, he successfully and often comically avoids the attempts on his life. He’s smooth, quick and always at attention, despite his new plumper body size. The characters around him are just as deadly, and are unintentionally funny. I enjoyed the first half of the story and look forward to when it returns this summer.

6) Link Click: Bridon Arc (Crunchyroll)

This new story is pretty much a prequel series, though its placement in the main storyline is later. There’s also some hints that we’ve been on an all encompassing time traveling plot even longer than we knew. We go to the past again, this time for an extended period of time. We see younger versions of the main characters and get to know them even more. Things begin to change in the timeline that are unexpected. In the end, it left me with even more questions. I miss the case of the week way the first season told its story, but it’s another compelling season of Link Click that I want to live in for a long time.

5) Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective (Crunchyroll)

If you take a medical show and mash it up with a detective series, you have Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective. A young gifted doctor helps solve unique medical cases by looking at the full pictures. She’s got her quirks and even though she is brilliant, she still questions her abilities, making her feel even more human. Some cases took multiple episodes to solve. Some stories were stronger than others, but I really enjoyed the vibes of this series. A few production issues led to delays, but I still looked forward to the next episode.

4) The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season Two (Crunchyroll)

This comedy series is seriously bonkers in the best way. Season two dials up the wacky even more, leading to even funnier episodes and jokes. We meet even more girlfriends this season, and each is quirkier than the last. It’s such a wild premise that it could easily fall flat and repetitive. My favorite arc was the baseball one. It was full of so much humor, great character development, and so many meta moments made me crack up. I’m so glad I kept up with this one! I can’t wait to see the Rentaro family grow even more.

3) Zenshu (Crunchyroll)

I almost didn’t watch this one going into the winter season. As an original story, it always runs the risk of losing its hold midway. Somehow, Zenshu gets even better as it quickly becomes self assured in the tone and story it wants to tell. It’s part isekai, part fantasy, part comedy and part drama. It is such a unique story story. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, because it’s a lot of fun seeing how it all goes down. I’m glad I went in blind. It made me appreciate the story more. The animation is on point, as it is MAPPA, and it is so confident in itself in every aspect. I hope we see more bold unique stories to come.

2) Medalist (hulu)

This one wasn’t even on my radar going into the Winter season. As I’ve said before, sports anime are some of my favorite series for a reason. I don’t think I’d normally watch a series about figure skating, yet, it is compelling and must see. The characters are precious, hopeful, and full of so much life. You can’t help but root for everyone. Inori and Tsukasa are such great characters. They’re adorable, funny and great at what they do. They also don’t shy away from their insecurities and past difficulties. Major performances are CGI animation and the transition might be a little jarring, but I grew to love it. They’re well choreographed, and the are a sight to see. I am so happy the series will be back for a second season!

1) Solo Leveling Season Two (Crunchyroll)

The first season was enjoyable, but season two takes the series to a new level. Jinwoo is exponentially growing in power, strength and ability. Episodes fly by with tons of action, sure a few slower episodes every now and then, but it is telling a lot of story in a short time. I almost wish some arcs could have been an episode or two longer just so I could have lived in the moments longer, but they were so good! The battles are intense and beautifully animated. I’m not sure how much more there is to adapt, but I hope we get more real soon! It is so intense, shocking and confident in itself. I need more!!

With the Spring 2025 season about to begin, I’m looking forward to checking out these new and returning series: Lazarus (adult swim/Toonami), Go! Go! Loser Ranger! (season two, hulu), Wind Breaker (season two, Crunchyroll), Witch Watch (Netflix/hulu/Crunchyroll), Mono (Crunchyroll), Yaiba: Samurai Legend (Netflix/hulu), To Be Hero X (Crunchyroll), Moonrise (Netflix), and Lycoris Recoil Short Movie. Hopefully I will be able to watch them all and I’m sure I’ll find even more unexpected ones to watch!

What were your favorite series of the Winter 2025 season? It’s never too late to start a new series! Here’s to more great anime in 2025!

These series and more can be streamed with English subtitles and some English dubs on various streamers including Crunchyroll, Netflix, hulu, Prime Video, Max, HIDIVE, and more.

The post Winter 2025 Anime Season Highlights appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

Introducing the women in their past forms and making sure to give a sample of the various roles they played within the group was a good call. I enjoyed seeing where they were back then and flashing to what their lives are now. While the members of the group are diverse, their sound is profoundly cohesive and explosive. We have Professor Sex/Brianna (Eve), a married woman with five kids and a wayward cheating husband that is revealed to have cancer directly after being caught cheating; Da Thrill/ Jill (Naturi Naughton), a repressed church-going Catholic that is revealed to be married but having an affair with a woman; Butter Pecan/Valeria (Nadine), the only member of the group to go on and find fame who is also a bit of a narcissist and eventually loses her job in daytime television, and last but not least, Xplicit Lyrics/Naomi (Brandy), an indie musician who is seemingly on her own to find a sound that suits her as far as her music. She also has an estranged teenage daughter (played by former Days of our Lives star Precious Way)

Upon hearing their song on the radio twenty years after splitting, the members come together at the request of an up-and-coming new artist, Lil Muffin (Pepi Sonuga) to perform for an award show. It is quickly revealed that Jill, Brianna, and Naomi are close, but Valeria believes all the girls are beneath her. It is also revealed that Naomi and Valeria have a rivalry over the attention of their former manager, Eric. Naomi also feels as if Valeria benefited from her talent, Jill and Brianna seem to be stuck in the middle of their two egos. I’m sure their dynamics will get very interesting in the coming episodes, especially because from the looks of it, Eric still has a thing for Naomi and Valeria is harboring feelings for him.

While everything appears to have fallen apart with the performance, after an altercation between Naomi and Valeria, surprisingly, Valeria comes back with her tail between her legs after being fired from her job for spiking her coworker’s drink. Diving into rehearsals with Lil Muffin, the women quickly show that they can still come together to produce incredible tracks. The energy, the flow, the intensity, the reflection of who they are now propelled the rehearsal into an amazing scene that only whetted the appetite for the performances to come.

While there is an immense number of comedic moments, I loved that there were also hints of female empowerment and support underneath the competitive layers. Most pointedly, there is a scene where Jill is confronted with her own past as a drug abuser when she sees the signs in Lil Muffin that she’s struggling and losing herself in the world of fame. Jill is also very supportive when Lil Muffin has an accidental drug overdose and gets her to help and a hospital. Lil Muffin’s Manager is not pleased and kicks The Nasty Bitches off the card for the performance and tensions run high when Valeria and Naomi confront Jill about her protective nature of Lil Muffin. This leads to Jill’s confession that she is attracted to women and is in love with one. The revelation brings the women closer, and Lil Muffin arrives, letting them know that she refuses to do the show without them. She is grateful for their help and admits to the world onstage that she would not be there without them and ends up giving The Nasty Bitches a feature alone in her time slot at the awards show.

To say they blew it out would be an understatement. With updated lyrics and a mature feel, the women each spit lyrics that would be worthy of any stage. I think I was most pleasantly surprised with the explosiveness of Xplicit Lyrics. Her verses and the way she delivered was amazing, and Jill outing herself in her lyrics was both shocking and exciting at the same time. And after an amazing performance, it was revealed that The Nasty Bitches would be going on tour with Lil Muffin, and I assume the rest of the season will center around their journey.

I am completely drawn in, due to the pilot and am anxiously awaiting the next episode. Bravo, the ladies did an incredible job, and I’m ready to take this ride with Queens.

Queens stars Eve as Brianna aka Professor Sex, Naturi Naughton as Jill aka Da Thrill, Nadine Velazquez as Valeria aka Butter Pecan, Taylor Sele as Eric Jones, Pepi Sonuga as Lil Muffin and Brandy as Naomi aka Xplicit Lyrics.

Queens is produced by ABC Signature, a part of Disney Television Studios. The pilot episode was written by Zahir McGhee and directed by Tim Story. Zahir McGhee, Sabrina Wind and Tim Story are executive producers. Swizz Beatz is executive music producer.

Queens airs Tuesdays (10:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. Watch episodes on demand and on Hulu the day following their premieres. Follow Queens (#QueensABC) on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

The post ‘Queens’ on ABC: Welcome to the Nasty World appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

In today’s podcast I break down episodes 5×07 (Fire In The Sky) and 5×08 (Lock and Key) with bestie, roomie, and my favorite co-lush Allie, while we drink wine (or champagne) and talk all things Riverdale.

Disclaimer: drink responsibly. Also, we are not endorsed by any of the alcohol brands that we mention, and most importantly, if you’re looking for unbiased, professional, family friendly content, this is not the podcast for you.

Also, please forgive the rustling, the meowing, and the occasional sound of a packet of crackers being opened to eat.

While originally this podcast was meant to breakdown 5×07-5×10 in one go, it ended up being just way too long so we’ve had to cut it into a two part event! Look for episodes 5×09 (Destroyer)-5×10 (The Pincushion Man) to be posted early next week before Riverdale returns on August 11th, and immediately after the episode airs make sure to check back as we drink our way through 5×11, Strange Bedfellows.

You can listen by clicking on the link below!

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ekm3g-10abeed

Fire In The Sky Episode Discussion: 0:00-50:42

Lock and Key Discussion: 51:16 -2:15:10

The post Wine & Whine: Riverdale 5×07-5×08 Edition appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

While working to honor the legacy of the Flair before her, Charlotte also became a trailblazer to cement herself as one of, if not the best. While so many of her matches are memorable and stay with us long after they’re concluded, nothing compares to WrestleMania. Each and every WrestleMania moment leaves us with a different feeling of astonishment when Charlotte appears.

Having had her first WrestleMania moment as a part of Triple H’s 2014 entrance, alongside fellow wrestlers Alexa Bliss and Sasha Banks, Charlotte would soon step into a moment that could completely be her own two years later at WrestleMania 32.

The match was a segway into the new era of women’s wrestling, as Charlotte entered the Diva’s Champion and exited the new Women’s Champion. Coming into the arena with her father by her side, Charlotte had everything to prove and everything to lose. To add to the momentous occasion, Charlotte donned a robe made out of material from her father’s final match. Something she shared with him just before their entrance. The match was a classic clash of the current titans for WWE’s women’s wrestling, and all three came in with the chance to take home the gold. The match itself was grueling, intense, and women’s wrestling at its current peak. Charlotte’s moonsault outside the ring was a moment that will always be remembered, taking out both of her challengers. At the conclusion of this epic battle, Charlotte reigned supreme, eventually tapping out Becky Lynch to take home the most coveted title in the women’s division. It was a beautiful WrestleMania moment.

At WrestleMania 33, Charlotte went into a fatal-4-way match as a challenger to the reigning Champion, Bayley, alongside Sasha Banks, and Nia Jax.

Teaming up with her opponents, Charlotte assisted in the elimination of Nia Jax as the first one out. Once Jax was eliminated, Charlotte hit one of the most memorable moves of the night, her corkscrew moonsault. From the top ropes, to the outside of the ring, she took out both opponents with one of her most majestic moves to date. Next, Charlotte locked horns with one of her biggest rivals, Sasha Banks, where Charlotte was able to rack up an elimination. With the match coming down to her and Bayley, The Queen was not able to pick up the victory. While we love a winning Queen, you can’t win them, all.

She may not have won a title here, but as far moments go, she owned the night. Charlotte became known for two things this night, her beautiful moonsault, and her entrances. Her green robe and gear would become one of her most distinguished looks as well as the fireworks that accompanied her just as she raised her arms, creating a magical moment where time seemed to stand still. And we love a woman that knows how to make an entrance.

WrestleMania 34, was the pinnacle of moments, for Charlotte.

As if the stars aligned, everything surrounding her match was perfect. She had the perfect opponent in Asuka, The Empress of Tomorrow, who would be bringing with her an unbroken win streak. Her entrance was a legendary full circle moment reminiscent of her very first appearance onscreen at WrestleMania. She entered on a throne with gold gladiators, and everything screamed royalty. In my opinion, this was her best entrance, ever. Even the symbolism of using NXT wrestlers as her escort proved that a good story could be told just through an entrance.

The match itself had so much anticipation on both sides. Would the Queen be ready for Asuka? Would Asuka be the one to shatter the myth of The Queen? Who was taking home the SmackDown title? In a tumultuous thirteen minute and five second match, Charlotte proved that she was ready for Asuka by tapping her out to the Figure-Eight. Another great moment was witnessing the respect that Asuka and Charlotte have for each other as the women shared an emotional embrace at the conclusion of the match. Both women put on a phenomenal match, but there could only be one winner. The Queen had her moment in the sun.

Continuing her legacy of WrestleMania appearances, Charlotte had a historic—never done before—match on the books in the form of an all women—winner take all—main event. With Fellow wrestlers, Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey, Charlotte would enter as the SmackDown Women’s Champion and the least favored to win. But since when has that ever mattered to The Queen?

Arriving at the arena with her most dramatic mode of transportation to date, a helicopter, Charlotte sported equally flamboyant purple gear that was custom made for the event. The tension was immense as the match kicked off, Charlotte engaged and several fantastic spots with both women. From an epic double spear to a chop off battle with Ronda in the middle of the ring, The Queen put on a show. The battle was close, all of the women got off some of their best moves, but this night went to Becky Lynch as she pinned Ronda to take home both titles.

Even without a win, The Queen earned her moment by doing what no other woman had done, besides the women she shared a ring with that night, she main evented an otherwise male dominated pay per view.

Leading into her most recent WrestleMania moment, Charlotte had to deal with the changes in the world. While she had a fresh new and exciting opponent in Rhea Ripley, the rest of the world was in a Global Pandemic, and the event would be crowdless. Coming off of the high of a Royal Rumble victory, Charlotte had her pick of the champions to challenge, but growing tired of the same rivalries, Charlotte took her time in selecting an opponent. She’d put off naming her pick for WrestleMania until an opponent came to her in the form of, then NXT Champion, Rhea Ripley.

While the two went back and forth about Charlotte accepting the challenge, the decision was made clear when Charlotte showed up at Rhea’s NXT Takeover Portland match and decimated Rhea and the opponent she’d just defeated. From that moment, up until the actual match, Rhea and Charlotte made menacing visits to each other’s respective shows, adding a lot of much needed animosity to the rivalry, seeing as these opponents had never met or shared a locker room before.

What makes this particular moment one of the greatest in my opinion, was the fact that these two amazing women were able to build something that came off very authentic and well put together with absolutely no crowd. It was the first time in the history of the Charlotte’s WrestleMania appearances that she would perform with no fans. The match was incredible. Each woman brought so much intensity and hunger to the table, it was arguably one of the best matches of the night, if not the best. To do such amazing work, out of your element is not something everyone can do, but Rhea and Charlotte defied the odds. And the Queen became only the second woman, behind Shayna Baszler, to hold the NXT title two times.

When Charlotte is mentioned, good or bad, the one thing that cannot be denied is her power. The mere mention of her name elevates the conversation. Her star power shines bright enough to make any match the focal point of any event. While Charlotte herself brings her best to her WrestleMania matches, you could also say she brings out the best in her opponents. While this year we won’t get that special feeling of a Charlotte Flair moment, what comes next for her can only get better. Each year she pushes herself to new levels.

People could argue for days, who Ms. WrestleMania is. There could be so many differing opinions, and some would be valid. But if we’re going off of talent, results, and sheer hunger there can only be one. Just as we came to the conclusion many years ago that Shawn Michaels was Mr. WrestleMania, the same can be said for Charlotte. The title isn’t based solely on wins or losses. The title itself describes a person who embodies the passion, the drive, the magnetism that inspires and electrifies their audience at each and every WrestleMania they’re present for. Her moments are our moments. Her moments are her legacy. Ms. WrestleMania is and always will be synonymous with the name Charlotte Flair. She earned it.

The post Why Charlotte Flair is the Undisputed ‘Ms. WrestleMania’ appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

Once a professional football player murdered his wife one June night in 1994, the audience for crime stories became a national phenomenon. We devour documentaries about OJ Simpson, Jon Benet Ramsey, The Menedez Brothers, Casey Anthony, Lacey Peterson, Charles Manson, and countless others. We crave Netflix shows like Making A Murderer or America’s Most Wanted that aired for 23 seasons. Delving into the psyche of these people is fascinating; and that’s what Bates Motel did for 5 seasons.

***SPOILER WARNING, If you did not watch the final episode of Bates Motel, read at your own risk***

It is important to understand that this was a story about 3 people, not 2; Norma Bates, Norman Bates, and Mother. Norman is a sweet, young boy when we meet him, but there is something dark inside of him that Norma is trying to subdue. Norma isn’t a bad mother, she believes that in time, she can make her son well. If she hides from him the things he has done, perhaps it will just go away. Once you realize that Norman is completely unaware of the things he does when “Mother” takes over his mind, you can’t help but feel sad for him. I feel sad for Norman every step of the way. He is mentally unstable and it’s not his fault. It isn’t even Norma’s fault. She is just trying to be a good mother; she has her own demons in life that she’s coping with and she believes deep down that she is doing right by her child.

There are many different kinds of love stories and Bates Motel is the story of a mother and son’s unconditional love for one another. Norma sacrifices her happiness for Norman and he sacrifices any independence for her. Dylan, Norma’s other son, is the outsider looking in on his mother loving and nurturing his brother in a way she never can for him. The circumstances of his conception, which we learn and are devastating to both Norma and Dylan, prohibit her from ever truly embracing Dylan the way a mother should. Dylan, however, remains the bright light in their dark world. You root for Dylan, you want him to find some peace and happiness outside of this chaos.

Bates Motel — “The Cord” — Cate Cameron/A&E Networks LLC — © 2017 A&E Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved

The absence of Norma in this final season was felt so strongly. While we still had “Mother”, the Norma who we all grew to love, died at the end of Season 4 and that is felt throughout. There is an incredible amount of praise that needs to be given to Vera Farmiga for creating such a distinction between the two characters. Mother is Norman’s manifestation of her in his mind; she is cunning and ruthless. Norma is sweet and sometimes lost, but she’s a fighter and she’s astonishingly hopeful. You want Norma to have something for herself and for as long as we waited and hoped for her life with Alex Romero, we knew. We knew it would be short lived because at some point she would have to die. She would have to become the corpse in the rocking chair.

Kerry Ehrin and Carlton Cuse did a phenomenal job writing this show, creating the world of White Pine Bay and introducing us to these characters. What could have been a caricature of the Psycho mythos, became something entirely separate.

I had envisioned the ending of the series to be Marion Crane pulling up to the motel and checking in, leading us into Psycho. Then I realized, somewhere in season 3, this was different and it would have but one ending; Norman would have to die. They plowed right through the events of Psycho and put their own touch on the outcome of Marion Crane’s fateful interaction with Norman Bates. It was a nice bait and switch and I appreciated not having a carbon copy of the film play out on my screen.

It was things like that which separated this story from Psycho, while still paying homage to it. In the end, Norman finally understand the truth, that he is responsible for the death of his mother and he retreats further into psychosis than ever before, completely unreachable. Dylan walks into that house, knowing this is the end for Norman. When that gunshot rings out, Norman drifts away in Dylan’s arms, and you know he is finally at peace. Dylan, our only survivor, is free to live his life with his wife and daughter. The burden of these secrets and these horrors, finally lifted off him.

The actors that graced us with their talents for 5 seasons cannot go unnoticed. Vera Farmiga (Norma Bates/Mother) and Freddie Highmore (Norman Bates) deserve recognition for their tremendous talents and I hope the network pushes for them come Emmy season. Max Thierot (Dylan Massett) is a treasure. What he does, particularly in that final scene, is nothing short of breathtaking and I hope he has a wonderful career ahead of him. Olivia Cooke (Emily Decody), Nestor Carbonell (Alex Romero), Kenny Johnson (Caleb Calhoun), and Ryan Hurst (Chick) rounded out a stellar cast that brought every emotion and nuance to these characters for 5 pretty perfect seasons of television.

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