All American, Coven Academy, Neagley, The Ark & More’s Characters Deserve Our Attention — So Listen Up

Are you locked in and loaded, ready to see which characters got our attention this week?

We have quite the list of them, and if you want to see more of what our TV Fanatics have to say or how they feel about these characters, then click around the site and find those reviews and editorials.

This week, All American and Coven Academy endeared us while RJ Decker and The Ark made us proud, so dive in below!

Spencer James (All American)

All American’s series finale highlighted Spencer’s growth and felt like a love letter to his relationship with Olivia.

Spencer hasn’t appeared much in the last two seasons, but he longed to return to Crenshaw and raise his children near his family and friends. Crenshaw was home.

Spencer has always had to work for his dreams, and he needed to show the New York Bobcats that he understood the importance of family legacy and football. He didn’t want to abandon them.

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His mother and Billy Baker instilled those morals in him. And Grace was still there fighting for him.

Football might have been a big part of Spencer’s life, but Olivia and those twins were his world. You could see the adoration in his eyes as he held each one.

That’s why he retired: to take a more active role in their lives. He’ll always be remembered.

Briar (Coven Academy)

I was excited to see Malina Weissman in Coven Academy since playing Briar gave her something to sink her teeth into. 

Briar is such a complex character, and she needed to adjust quickly to her surroundings. She never knew she had magic, and her agitated emotions fueled her magic.

It was entertaining to watch her try to win over her new friends, since she was tough, sarcastic, and didn’t want to let anyone close after her mom. When she revealed her fears during a summoning spell, it brought her closer to Sasha and Tegan.

Even though Briar was the newest member of the coven, she often felt like the leader, though her ideas often landed them in chaotic situations. Her heart was usually in the right place.

That heart was torn between a rebellious warlock and a recently turned vampire. Either choice could land Briar in more trouble with the feuding factions.

I appreciated that Briar showed maturity and didn’t automatically choose the guys over her friends. It was refreshing to see sisterhood rule.

Jake (Coven Academy)

We’re casting a double spell of Coven Academy magic since both Briar and Jake bewitched us. Malachi Barton impressed us with his layered performance as a protective, rebellious warlock.

Jake related to Briar because he thought his dad died when he was young, and he longed to learn better spells to rescue the missing girls and help Briar solve the mystery about her mom. He was a protector at heart.

Jake was fearless and reckless, walking into danger without thinking of the consequences to himself. I admired that.

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He only cared about Briar, and their banter and detective skills sold the show. His loyalty was his undoing, since the imposter took advantage of it, taught Jake dark magic, and even praised him when Jake killed a vampire.

Jake missed having a male role model and thought it was the respected Mr. Cole, not a cast-out loser, William, who was also his father.

Jake showed his maturity when he turned to his romantic rival, Ollie, for help in saving Briar. It was no longer about one-upping each other. Only Briar living mattered, and that earned him a place in my heart. – Laura Nowak

Emi Ochoa (RJ Decker)

Emi got off to a rough start with RJ Decker when we quickly learned she helped land him in prison for something he didn’t do.

Even as she continued to evolve, that past hung over the pairing despite all the forgiveness and grace RJ eventually gave her. That’s why RJ Decker Season 2 Episode 2 was such an interesting hour.

With Emi also experiencing going to prison for something she didn’t commit after being not only accused but set up to take the fall for her father’s death, it had Emi deeply reflecting on what she did to RJ in the first place.

The self-reflection added new layers to Emi and was a great way to keep a character who could still feel on the outskirts, while also helping her feel interconnected as she continues to find herself in a meaningful way outside of her dynamic with RJ.

Honorary Mention: Augustine

RJ’s knack for making friends in high and low places never gets old, and a spokesperson for the Haitian militia is just another example of that.

Augustine and RJ had an instantly intriguing connection, with the latter understandably wary and fearful, and Augustine the perfect blend of polished, poised, and menacing all at once.

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A man who is two steps ahead and just as charmed by RJ as the rest of us is a great character on its own surface. And it seems he’s one hell of a cook too.

Seriously, can RJ share that Shrimp Creole recipe?! I’m asking for… myself. Totally myself. Sue me, I’m a foodie.

Cathy (East of Eden)

We had an interesting perspective on East of Eden and how Netflix brings this adaptation of the Steinbeck novel to life.

One thing was unmistakable: Florence Pugh’s performance as Cathy.

“Zoe Kazan’s departure from John Steinbeck’s treatment of Cathy is welcome, but the series spends too much time explaining cruelty that Florence Pugh makes compelling enough,” Kshitij Rawat shares in his East of Eden Season 1 Review.

“John Steinbeck, who wrote the novel, introduces Cathy with the idea that someone can be born with a “malformed soul.” We’re asked [in the adaptation] to judge her before we really know her.

And yet, Cathy is a riveting, albeit tragic, character who held our attention all the way through. A “Pugh makes that attention worthwhile”

Sharon (The Ark)

We got a strong hour with The Ark Season 3 Episode 10, and most of that was precisely because of Sharon’s arc.

“Sharon experiences a multitude of human emotions.

She hopes the cure will work, feels relief when it does, fears a dangerous side effect, and feels desperate to solve the problem.”

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The full hour delivers great performances, intrigue, and heart, and Kabir also stands out in a season that seems determined to let her shine.

But it’s Sharon who truly steals our hearts and the hour. At least, if you’ve read Alexandria Ingham’s glowing, Dean Devlin-approved review, you can count on that.

Keno (Neagley)

Yes, we’re still on Neagley, and you should be too because it’s just that brilliant!

It also just got renewed for a second season, so now there are NO excuses not to check out this delightful extension of Reacherverse that still has us in our feelings and gearing up for a rewatch.

Neagley is a true lead who dominates the series and carries it with grace, grit, and emotionality, but that’s not to say she doesn’t have one hell of a supporting cast.

Because Jasper Jones’ Keno is one hell of a scene-stealer and the type of character that will stick with you for the rest of the year, NO, we’re not taking arguments on this.

A street kid with a heart of gold, a chip on his shoulder, and something to prove, Keno stands out in the series: charismatic, hilarious, and the kind of character who makes you reevaluate how you see the world around you and the people in it.

So, if you haven’t watched Neagley yet. And again, why the hell not? Do it for Keno. Check out our spoiler-free 5 ⭐ Neagley Season 1 review if you need more convincing.

Molly Pigeon (Anna Pigeon)

Being the older sister is hard. And Molly has her hands full with Anna, who is hurting, grieving, wild, unpredictable, and has a knack for landing in trouble.

But that’s why Molly coming to visit her sister was great content and was a great way to explore the stable, loving forces behind the hurricane that is Anna Pigeon.

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Molly poured all her love into Anna and raising her, but what’s interesting is that she doesn’t know who she is outside of keeping her sister in check.

We have a woman who never planned on becoming a mother to her sister — a woman who probably still has her own unhealed trauma from never getting a loving parent herself.

And it’s complicated, riveting, and Tricia Helfer is a QUEEN, so that made every part of Anna Pigeon Season 1 Episode 9 worth diving into!

The post All American, Coven Academy, Neagley, The Ark & More’s Characters Deserve Our Attention — So Listen Up appeared first on TV Fanatic.