My argument for why Olivia Pope is quite possibly the best Leading Lady of all time.

I often unashamedly admit my love for the leading lady too many times. I just have such an affection for women who lead a show, who are the matriarchs of their own world. These women can be lawyers, mothers, teachers, TV executives, deputy directors of Park and Recreation, doctors, nurses; they can be anything they want and still  be the most powerful person, the most dramatic person, the strongest person, the most vulnerable person.

Shows that feature a female lead have multiplied over the last decade, in fact for the first time ever the biggest night on American TV (Thursday) on one of the biggest networks (ABC) there are 3 shows all dedicated to the lives of women. We should take a moment to bow our heads to the Queen that is Shonda Rhimes who wrote all 3 of them (Scandal, Grey's Anatomy and How to Get Away With Murder).

However I am not here to talk about all the leading ladies in my life, I am here to talk about one in particular - Olivia Pope. Played by the beautiful, talented Kerry Washington. I will stand up and say that she is the most well written female characters of all time. Olivia is what is known as a 'Fixer', she takes on people's problems and makes them go away, although these aren't any small problems - we are talking about world wide scale political scandals. She puts her neck on the line every time she takes on a client, she saves lives and reputations. However she isn't one without her own scandal - she did have an affair with the President of the United States for quite some time. We can't be mad at her for this though, at the end of the day she is still human - she has needs just like the rest of us.

What I love the most about Olivia is her humanity, yes she fixes problems for some of the worst people in politics but she doesn't do it without letting them know exactly how she feels. No one gets away scot free. She will show her disgust if she is disgusted, but she will show her sympathy if she feels for the person. She has one of the most level heads in the game, she sees what people see and what people want to see. My favourite moments of hers is when she breaks, when she shows her emotions and she shows just when it gets too much. She maybe be a hero to a lot of people but she isn't super by any means. Her weaknesses are her family, her love affairs and her fellow Gladiators.

She can be forgiven for having weaknesses, for instance she must come from one of the most disturbed, fucked up TV families of all time. Her father is the commander of a secret government division that doesn't exactly follow the law, and her mother? Well, she is cold blooded killer. It's amazing Olivia came out so strong at all. Her Gladiators (co-workers) are a weakness to her because they have become her family now, they are the people she leans on and the ones she wants to help. Her relationship with Huck pulls at my heartstrings everytime. She takes broken people and builds them up again, and the love she develops can only be compared to that of a family. Then there is her other weakness - love. She is in love with the married President of the USA. They had their affair and it ended (or has it?!) They both need each other and they can't walk away.

I made quite a bold statement to say she is one of the most well written female characters of all time, but I will stand by it unless something goes dramatically bad. She breaks all the stereotypes, she creates a new president.

A scene from the last episode - the acting ability and strength of character floored me

Olivia and Huck

And please just for a second can we applaud the amazing costume designers of the show

2013/14 TV Winners and Losers

It is a dark time in the TV world. Many shows have wrapped for the summer so we are left in a comatose state until september when all major American Networks grace us with more yummy TV goodness. Of course we are all left with our fingers crossed that our favourite shows will return. If I could just have a moment of silence for 'Suburgatory', the amazing show lead by the equally amazing Jane Levy has been cancelled in the worst way - there was no final episode, no big tearful send off and many questions left unanswered, may you rest in peace (or get bought by a rival network). As good as TV has been this last season there has been some doozies. Below I have picked my winners and losers for the fall 2013/14 schedule.

Winners

Orange Is The New Black

How could I talk about this last years great TV and not mention this little nugget. All 13 episodes were put online at the same time so my binging qualities were fully nourished. This year we saw a lot of growth from all the major players. My favourite story-lines may have been finding out about Morello and Suzanne some more. Great acting, great plots and beautiful ladies - nothing else required.

Veep 

I never had any doubts this show would get better and better. Julia-Louis Dreyfus is perfection and deserves the multiple awards she has received for this role. She is written perfectly and for a show about American politics it doesn't slap you in the face with it, it is more about the movers and shakers in the political world more than what they do. Couldn't be happier that where we left the show she is the President. 

Parks and Recreation

Leslie Knope is possibly the most inspirational character in TV history. A strong willed woman, that only wants to use her powers for good. She just wants to help people. This year did not disappoint. What I liked about this season, especially towards the end, was that she finally is looking out for herself and now we got a glimpse into what her future with Ben will be like. With the small jump into the future in the last 5 minutes of the finale this show could go anywhere now, and I for one am very excited.

Playing House

This show came out of nowhere, I didn't even hear about it until a few episodes in. It is my favourite kind of comedy - plenty of laughs mixed with a few tears. It has touching moments a plenty with full on belly laughs. It is purely a show showing the power of friendship, a friendship so huge that they are sharing a life together. Plus it has Valerie from 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch' in it, so it's nice to know she is still working.

Big Brother Canada

I am a reality show junkie, so of course I watch other countries versions of Big Brother. This years Canadian version was so good, full of game players, shady folk and good people. Heather, Ika, Neda and John were my favourite players, they each played the game right, often the victim of cliques but still prevailed with their dignity in tact.

Other hits

Brooklyn 99

Saturday Night Live

Ink Master

Project Runway: Under the Gunn

New Girl

Girls

The Mindy Project

2 Broke Girls

Mom

Baby Daddy

Modern Family

Scandal

Losers

Glee

I have watched every episode, until this season. For me it has lost its magic. Maybe I have grown up or maybe it just isn't the shame anymore. A show that started out with taboo subjects, great musical performances and heart wrenching characters has now just turned into an even more unbelievable show. I get that shows aren't always realistic as they need to entertain but I just feel Rachel's storyline too far fetched - to the point where I just didn't care anymore. All I do now is watch the YouTube music videos. I actually have no clue what happened in the second half of the season.

Grey's Anatomy

Another show I gave up on, I lost interest. This show is famous for its key scenes and amazing storylines yet this year I didn't find any. It came to a point where I put them on for background noise, and then that eventually stopped. Then they let Sandra Oh leave?! She was the saving grace of this show that may have peaked 3 years ago.

The Vampire Diaries

 For me, every show that starts in High School but lasts longer than High School generally loses its appeal and magic (Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Saved By The Bell, Sister Sister, The OC, Gossip Girl, Glee for example). The storylines take a huge leap into adulthood and suddenly these characters are grown. I got lost in this show if I am honest. There was influx of new characters and new situations that I seriously didn't know what was happening. Plus I was so tired of all this doppelganger nonsense. I did however watch the final just to see how it wrapped. I had no idea what happened. Someone may need to hold my hand and talk me through it.

The Big Bang Theory

First things first, I love this show and it will always have a place in my heart. The only reason this made the loser list is because I wanted more from season 7. We have known these characters for 7 years now and yet there has been no development. They are still pretty much the same from season 1 except Raj can now talk to women. A few issues I had were -

• Penny and Leonard are now engaged yet nothing has changed
• Sheldon and Amy have made no progress, would a woman like Amy wait this long?
• Raj is still an insecure mess even though at one point he was dating two women at the same time.
• Sheldon is still living as if he is single - quitting his job and then leaving home (again, why would Amy put up with this)
• Nothing really happened with Howard and Bernadette - they were just there or mainly occupying the B story of each episode. 

I still laughed at each episode and some favourite moments from the series occurred, but as a loyal fan I just wanted more. Some episodes felt lazy and just filler.

Orphan Black

I couldn't have sang the praises of the first season enough, it was new, exciting and a story that has never been told. The acting was superb and everything was on a level that it seemed believable. Then season 2 started, I was lost from the get go. There was a lot going on and I couldn't keep up. It is a show where you have to pay attention to everything, from the foreground to the background it feels, blink and you miss an integral part of the story. I was watching episodes and then had to read a review to know what I just watched. A couple of episodes in and I gave up, it was too much work.

Other misses
Sleepy Hollow
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D
The Crazy Ones
The Walking Dead
Awkward

And the best supporting actress is ...

Main characters are great, but the characters I enjoy the most are the supporting roles. I think this because they are allowed to be the eccentric ones, the crazy characters that can say and do anything they want. In any show you need the comic relief, if it was left to the main characters then shows would be pretty boring and we would get over them pretty fast. So as the ever helpful person who is obsessed with lists I have taken the time to talk about 10 of my favourite supporting actresses (my top 10 male supporting actors might follow later).

1. Shoshanna Shapiro (Girls)

I know we are supposed to believe that all four 'Girls' are the main characters but lets face facts - Lena Dunham's favourite character is Hannah! She gives her own character about 80% of the screen time (I'm not mad about it at all - the show is amazing). My favourite character is definitely Shoshanna, to describe her in a sentence I would probably say she is woman with a unique look on the world, slightly naive, slightly immature but extremely loveable and hysterical. If you want a sneak peak of how great this character is then watch season 3 episode 2 - she was perfect.

2. Bonnie Wheeler (Baby Daddy)

Probably a show you have never watched or even heard of. It came out in 2012 in America and it is rather funny. The basic premise is that a young guy has a one night stand and 9 months later the mother drops off a baby and then she bolts. This show has many good moments and about 99% are Bonnie's. She is the Grandmother to the baby. She has no inhibitions, reckons herself as a bit of a cougar and she is absolutely hilarious. I hope to be as shameless as her as I age.

3. Amy Farrah Fowler (The Big Bang Theory)
Why this character was not written in from the start I will never know. She is perfection. I will forever be looking for my own Amy. She is a sexually frustrated scientist on her way to been comfortable in social situations. Her personality is flawless and her wit is beautiful. I love you Miss Fowler.

4. Dalia Royce (Suburgatory)
She is the dry, emotionless ultimate mean girl. She is played perfectly by Carly Chaikin. She makes me laugh every time she in screen. She doesn't care who she upsets aslong as she gets what she wants - and she always gets what she wants. There are so many great supporting female characters on this show but she is my favourite. She also has her moments where she touches you and she has brought a tear to my eye a few times.

5. Christina Yang (Grey's Anatomy)
For me she is the star of the show. Playing best friend to the title character can put her in a box of being the supporter and confidant - however she broke the mould. She is a sarcastic, straight talking son of a gun. She takes no shit and knows what she wants. My favourite thing will always be her wit, she just doesn't care.

6. Carol Miller (The Millers)
She could probably be considered a main role but lets be honest - its all about Will Arnett on that show. Carol plays his mother who is currently going through a divorce and she moves in with him. Cut to a montage of them being on the treadmill together - talk about laughing out loud, it got me. My favourite scene, possibly of any show, has to be when she and her kids almost re-enact the famous speech from 'A Few Good Men' - video below.

7. Karen Walker (Will & Grace)

The ultimate supporting character in my books. The bitch with a heart. She is the funniest character from any show. My love for her is unconditional - I don't know what else to say.

8. April Ludgate-Dwyer (Parks and Recreation)

The Queen of deadpan comedy and witty one liners. In a show with Amy Poehler in, it has been a challenge for me to notice other people (my love for Amy is deep and its real) but April stood out from the get-go. I think I resonate with April quite a lot as I have similar attitude as in I don't like doing what I should be doing, I question and moan whenever I am forced to do something. The fact she found love with Andy just multiplied my admiration for the girl.

9. Madison Montgomery (American Horror Story: Coven)

In a show jam packed with amazing actresses it was hard to choose one. I am so happy Ryan Murphy cast Emma Roberts in this role. She plays the heartless bitch flawlessly. She has been through a lot of shit in the show (been killed probably was the lowest point) but she got back up again (literally) and stuck a middle finger up to the world because at the end of the day its her world and we are just living in it. I really hope she is the Supreme.

10. Bonnie Plunkett (Mom)

She is the mother of the main character Christy. Bonnie is an ex-alcoholic and ex-drug addict, who has changed her ways and is now living on her daughter's couch. She is blunt, honest and  a strong willed woman. She takes no flack and will fight for everything that is important to her, plus she does it with hilarity and style. Her one liners make this show for me and she is with no doubt my favourite character from the show.

TV Deaths

For me a death scene can be the making of a TV show. If they write it right then you know you have a great show. If the death actually affects you emotionally than that is a sign of a good writer. TV deaths always affect me more than a death in a film. I think this is because you have watched these character's development and you have unwittingly become invested. Also you watch how it affects the rest of the characters and this can be just as devastating. Saying good bye to a character can feel like someone you know. Below I have written about 11 character's death' that really got to me and stuck with me.

Ben Sullivan (Scrubs)

He wasn't a main character and he wasn't even a secondary character, he only appeared in 3 episodes. He was the friend of Dr. Cox, he gave us an insight to a more personable and softer side to Dr. Cox. For me his death was a shock, I never even saw it coming. I fell into the trap of believing what I was seeing. We were led to believe that Dr. Cox was having a good time with his old pal and they were on their way to a birthday party - when in reality Dr. Cox was going to Ben's funeral and a way to cope was to imagine his friend was right by the side of him. I was floored and in shock when a sullen J.D appeared and asked him 'Where do you think we are?'. I tip my feathered hat to Scrubs - they blend comedy and drama perfectly.

Cassie (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

Again she wasn't a main character either, she was only in one episode. We were introduced to her and had to say goodbye to her in 42 minutes (I know she later appears as The First but that doesn't count). Basically the premise was that Cassie believed she was going to die on a certain day, Buffy being her guidance councillor believed she was suicidal - then Buffy later found out that she was to be a sacrifice in a demonic ritual. Buffy goes in and kicks some demon ass, saves Cassie, everyone is happy, Cassie is wrong and she will live. Seconds later Cassie falls to the floor and dies due to an unknown heart problem. The truly heartbreaking moment of the episode is when Buffy tries to convince her to live and Cassie tells her she wants to and lists all the things she wants to do in life, but will never get to.

Eli (Desperate Housewives)

Another character that only appeared in one episode, but he actually lived amongst the ladies for years. In the 100th episode we are introduced to him as the handyman who did so much more. He was a huge part of the ladies lives and we are shown through flashbacks just how much he was. The saddest moment is before he dies and in a flashback we see him talking to Mary-Alice just before she commits suicide - and then we see him outside as they take her body away, he is just standing there crying. My heart dropped - grown men crying always gets me. He was a great character and I am so glad we were introduced to him.

Batley (Emmerdale)

He was the pet of Edna Birch. She was a hard as nails pensioner who listened to the Lord and no-one else. Batley brought out the softer and more loving side to her. It was a real friendship and a companion for her in her lonely life. It was absolutely heart-wrenching when she had to say goodbye to him. I don't really watch soap operas, but for me this scene was beyond. Me and my whole family cried at that very moment.

Anya (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

Anya was always one of my favourite characters on Buffy. After appearing in season 3 as a vengeance demon, then later becoming mortal, then falling in love with Xander, to being a shop keeper and then finally becoming a demon again, she supplied so much humour. My favourite scene from Anya (which incidentally isn't a funny one) is when she can't grasp the idea of death when Buffy's mum dies. She asks all the questions that aren't supposed to be asked - Emma Caulfield's acting was top notch. Anyway, Anya is one of the victims of the final battle in season 7. All fans knew that we were going to lose a major character, I for one did not think it would be Anya. She is sliced almost in half from behind moments before Sunnydale falls in to the Hellmouth. She was an amazing character, and if they do make a movie in the future I will be truly upset if they don't at least acknowledge her.

Prue (Charmed)

This death came at such a huge shock, in the Charmed world it seemed as if the sisters were invincible. Yes they get hurt and damaged but they always get back up. In the last scene of season 3 Prue was thrown through a wall - but this time she didn't get back up. The death was a little bit sullied by the fact that Prue had to be killed off because Shannen Doherty was fired. However, this did not stop the show from growing. The saddest scene is when Piper can't handle the death and screams at Prue's burial place, blaming her for leaving her. I always wished that Prue came back for a cameo in some form - its the supernatural world so I am sure they could have worked something out.

George (Grey's Anatomy)

This was another huge shocker aswell, we didn't even see the incident which ultimately ended his life. Instead we are shown a John Doe appear in the hospital and then we find out at the same time as Meredith when he draws 007 (his nickname) on her hand as he can't speak. He later dies in surgery. He was such a major character that was there from day one, he is a character that I got invested in because I didn't think I would have to say goodbye to him on the show. I always wished him and Izzy got together, but also I understand why it wouldn't have worked. The scene where we last see him with Izzy is heartbreaking. What happens is they are both wearing their best and they get into a lift together - metaphorical of the idea they are moving on.

Denny (Grey's Anatomy)

If there is one thing I can guarantee I will get from Grey's Anatomy is water filled eyes and a snotty nose. They are geniuses when it comes to writing a devastating storyline, but for me this tipped me over the edge. Denny is a character who is waiting for a heart transplant, he falls in love with his doctor, Izzy, and she also falls in love with him. She has a plan to cut his wire to a machine thats keeping him alive so he will be rushed in to an operating theatre and receive a heart that is meant for someone else. Doesn't really go to plan, and Denny dies. The soundtrack is 'Chasing Cars' by Snowpatrol and it just added to the devastation. Watching Izzy's reaction and morning was really hard - Katherine Heigl should of won every award.

Joyce (Buffy The Vampire Slayer)

For a show that is about a girl saving the world hundreds of time, they sure know how to knock us out with a death scene. 'The Body' is up there with one of my favourite  episodes of Buffy ever. It is so pure and perfect. Joyce is Buffy's mum and she finds her dead on the couch - ironically for Buffy there was no supernatural/demonic element within the story of Joyce's death, so this left Buffy powerless. It was a human part of life that Buffy had no control over. The worst scenes for me where when Dawn is told and when Buffy finds the body - they break my heart. The show was amazingly done, the lack of soundtrack in some parts gave a really realistic feeling to a horrible reality some people have probably faced. It wasn't a dressed up episode, nothing was overdone - it is probably the most human episode of the series. 

Paul Hennessy (8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter)

What truly made this episode truly devastating and hurt so much was the fact that the actor had actually passed in real life, the death of the character had to be written in to compensate for the loss of the actor. They could have gotten another actor but this would not have been right, John Ritter made that character. In the show we see the family find out what happened and then we see the funeral, its hard to watch because you know these emotions are real - they are actually mourning. All the actors did an amazing job and it will forever go down as one my favourite shows of all time.

Finn Hudson (Glee)

This again was another death that was incredibly hard to watch as Cory who played Finn actually died in real life. What I like about the episode is that we were never told how he died - I really liked this because at the end of the day we didn't need to know, we all know the tragic reasons in real life. This episode was hard as it felt like we were just watching a lot of actors mourn on camera. Yes they had words but there wasn't any acting involved for some characters as it all came from the heart. The songs chosen were great aswell and fitted the sombre mood of the show perfectly. I will stand and applaud Lea Michelle as she did an outstanding job. Its hard enough having to go back to work after losing a loved one but to have to do it on camera, sing about him and talk about him - I can't imagine the strength it must have taken just to walk on to the set where she met her husband to be.