The Challenge: Free Agents

Photo Credit: MTV

MTV's The Challenge returns tomorrow night, and this season is set out to be one of the best! 

This will be the 25th season of the show and for the first time, it's everyone for themselves! 
Unlike past seasons, this time a random draw will select one male contestant and one female contestant to head into the elimination round against contestants chosen by that week’s winners. 


Here are some tweets from a couple of months ago:

The Guys                           The Girls

CT*                                       Laurel*

"Swift"                               Cara Maria*

Dustin                                Camila*

Johnny "Bananas"*             Nany*
Leroy*                                 Jessica*
Frank*                                  Devyn*
Isaac*                                   Jasmine
Zach                                   Theresa
Cohutta                             Jonna
Johnny                               Nia
Jordan*                              Jemmye
Chet*                                   Anessa 
Preston                              La Toya
Brandon                             Emilee

*Some of my favorites 

I'm ready to watch this season and I hope we see intense challenges, crazy elimination rounds, fights, and an epic final! 

Here is a video showing some of the best moments from past seasons, posted by Entertainment Weekly : 

Get More: MTV Shows

Review - From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series

This year during SXSW one of the screenings that I knew I couldn't miss was the premiere of "From Dusk Till Dawn" created by Robert Rodriguez. This series premiering on the new "El Rey Network" is a TV adaptation of the original film from 1996. 

I arrived at the venue almost two hours before the screening just to get in line to buy a ticket, since I didn't have a film badge. Before the screening, Robert Rodriguez said a few words about the show which got everyone excited! I have always enjoyed his unique film style and it was really cool seeing him in person for the first time!

Once the episode ended everyone in the audience seemed to have really enjoyed it. I was talking to the person next to me and we were both discussing what our favorite scenes were. I particularly enjoyed each scene with Richie Gecko, played by actor Zane Holtz. Richie seems to be quite an obnoxious psychopath, but he is able to add some humor to his character. His brother Seth, played by actor D.J Cotrona, is the less violent of the two. He seems like he is more rational and not as psychotic. I like their dynamic and I think that both of them together will really add a lot to the story. I am looking forward to every crazy thing they will be doing in each episode!

The characters played by Eiza Gonzales (Santanico) and Wilmer Valderrama (Carlos) are some of the ones that I am most excited to learn about. So far we know that they are both vampires and that Carlos is a drug dealer who is involved in a business deal with the Gecko brothers. In the second episode, there was a scene with Carlos which was completely unexpected but still funny. He is very calm and relaxed, so it will be interesting to see how his character develops once the story goes further. The same goes for Santanico, we have seen her in several visions that Richie has had and we can only expect that once they finally meet, something crazy will happen! She seems to be very powerful and I'm sure that her character will add a lot of intense moments to the story. Also, I actually got to meet both Eiza and Wilmer after the premiere, both of them were really cool!

One of the things that I like about the show so far is how the story is connecting all of the characters to each other. For example, in the second episode we learned who the Fuller family is and why they were heading on a road trip to Mexico. Kate Fuller (Madison Davenport) is planning to leave her family and then their road trip takes an unexpected turn. She ends up staying with her family due to something done by Carlos. He did that in order for the Fullers to cross paths with the Gecko brothers. We can also assume that Ranger Freddie (Jesse Garcia), who is chasing the Gecko brothers will eventually cross paths with the Fullers, Carlos and Santanico. I like the fact that each time that new characters are introduced, we are able to learn about their background and their individual motives. I really want to see how Ranger Freddie will try to stop the Gecko brothers.

Overall, if you are looking for a new show to watch, I definitely recommend this one! The cast is great and each episode is like a movie! 

No SXSW badge? No problem.

Here is a list of some free shows that you can catch if you happen to not have a SXSW Badge/Wristband. 

Shows at Butler Park (1000 W Riverside Drive): This year Auditorium Shores is going under some renovations, which means that no SXSW shows will be held there this year. Also, in order to go to these shows you'll need a free Guest Pass Wristband. You can pick one up ahead of time or at the site of the event. Here are some of the shows that have been confirmed already:

              

              Thursday: Vinage Trouble, Los Lonely Boys, A Jimi Hendrix Celebration (Times TBA)

              

              Friday: Foster the people (Time TBA)
              

              Saturday: Take Me To The River, Childish Gambino! (Times not set yet)

SXSW Pandora Discovery Den 

           This event will take place at The Gatsby(708 E 6th St) from Wednesday 3/12 - Saturday 3/15

Here is part of the lineup: Tyler, The Creator, Lucinda Williams, Mobb Deep, Albert Hammond, Jr., Bleachers, Wanda Jackson, Charli XCX, Black Lips, Cash Cash, Matisyahu, Rodney Crowell, Lindsey Stirling, Felice Brothers, Lee Fields & The Expressions, People Under the Stairs, etc. There are supposed to be over 35 artists that will perform at this event. In order to get into this show you'll need to RSVP at This Website  

Spotify House (March 10, 2014 – March 14, 2014)
                   This 5 day event will feature over 30+ artists. Including one of my favorites, 3ballMTY !!. You can see the entire lineup and RSVP here

Hype Hotel (Day Shows) 

                This event will take place from March 12-15. But you can only go to the shows that will happen during 12pm-6pm. The shows/ parties at night will require an official SXSW badge or wristband, only a limited amount of free wristband holders will be allowed. Check out the entire lineup and RSVP here: Hype Hotel

Sonicbids Official SXSW Party      

                    This event will be on March 14th from 11am- 5pm at Maggie Mae's. Here is where you can RSVP

The Cricket Experience 

               March 12-14, from Noon to 7pm.  This year Cricket Wireless is going to have a three day music event during SXSW, but they have not announced who the headliners will be. Here is where you can RSVP

The Fader Fort + Converse 2014
             This is one of the most popular events during SXSW, so you'll definitely want to RSVP.  Even sxsw badge holders will have to rsvp and not everyone will get on the list, so make sure to sign up as soon as possible! 

Red Bull Sound Select presents: 4 Days in Austin

             Some of the headliners for this event include: Sleigh Bells, Twin Shadow and Danny Brown. Since the event will take place from 3/12-15, you'll need to RSVP for each day that you want to go. Do that here 

Breaking American Challenge

That title was my lame attempt to be creative haha

           I have some time to kill before class and so I decided to write a short review on three of my favorite TV shows. I obviously have a lot more than three, but I'll just focus on some of the ones that I actually bought a season on DVD. 

BREAKING BAD

          

          To be honest, I jumped on the Breaking Bad train in 2013 months before the final season premiered. I heard a lot of talk about it, so I decided to start watching in on Netflix and after watching 3 episodes, I was hooked. One of my favorite things about this show was how there were a lot of memorable (shocking) scenes. *SPOILER ALERT* To name a few: When Walt blew up Tuco's office in season one, the time when Jesse shot Gale, the awesome way in which Gus killed off an entire drug cartel, when Walt kills Gus, when they kill off several prisoners within two minutes, and of course the moment when Hank finds a severed head on a turtles body, which then explodes. 

          I liked the way in which we see Walter White transform into Heisenberg, a man who becomes obsessed with money. I still don't know what to think about Walt, I like him, but then again he did some pretty terrible things. Jesse was perhaps one of my favorite characters that I liked from the beginning. Skyler and Marie were two characters that annoyed me, especially Marie. I would have to say that my favorite scene with Skyler was when she was getting coffee with Hank and their conversation quickly escalated. "Am I under arrest?!" I think a lot of people also enjoyed this scene, it was pretty easy to feel the tension in that coffee shop. 

          I wish I had started watching the show when it first aired back in 2008, so that I could have kept up with it week after week. Also, I will definitely be tuned in for the "Breaking Bad"spin off "Better Call Saul," which airs in November. 

AMERICAN HORROR STORY
       
          This is one of those shows that is gruesome, disturbing and horrifying. It is described as an anthology series, which means that each season follows a different story and the actors from previous seasons play new characters. So you really don't need to see the first season to watch the second or third season. I like this format because you get to see your favorite characters playing new roles. The three seasons have been Murder House (2011), Asylum (2012) and Coven (2013).  The first two seasons had crazy twists and turns, especially Asylum, which had exorcisms, alien abductions, serial killers, nazi scientists, demons and insane psychological experiments. But on Coven, the plot seemed more straightforward and not as dark.
          Coven was perhaps my favorite out of the three because during this season there was a lot of humor added, which was not seen in the past. The opening sequence was also quite amazing. Even though it did not have many elements that a regular horror show might have, there were plenty of disturbing and gruesome moments, usually involving Kathy Bates. There were times where I was literally closing my eyes or turning away from the screen lol.
          Overall, the acting, editing, writing and directing are great! The show is not what you expect and it will keep you guessing until the end.


MTV's The Challenge 

          This show is perhaps the longest series that I have kept up with, I began watching it when I was in middle school. For those that don't know how this show works, it is basically a competition show in which former cast members of MTV's The Real World and Road Rules compete for money, It usually airs after each season of The Real World ends. I became obsessed with this show after watching Real World: Austin, and i've been hooked since then. One of my favorite things about each season is that it always has a different format to the game. Sometimes the cast might compete in teams, by themselves or with a partner.
          The challenges that they do are cool to watch because not only do the contestants have to prove their athletic ability, but they must also prove that they can handle the psychological part of the game. Just imagine living in a house with a group of people who all want to win a large amount of money, at the same time, you are cut off from any outside communication and you are not allowed to leave the premises. This makes it entertaining to see how the contestants handle the pressure.
          This is a good show to watch if you like competition shows and I feel that it is a great motivator to get you to workout, at least for me it is lol. Also, MTV actually sent me an autographed poster from the finalists of Rivals 2!

Favorite Seasons: The Duel, Cutthroat, Rivals 1 & 2, fresh-meat 1 & 2, Battle of the exes
Favorite Cast members: Laurel, Camila, CT, Wes, Kenny, Cara Maria, Sarah, Landon, CJ, Johnny,                                             Diem, Mark
Favorite Real World Seasons: Key West and Austin
   

          

Saturday Night

Last night I wanted to go take pictures but I couldn't think of where to go. It had been a while since i've been downtown to take pictures and the last time I went, I had just bought my camera so I did not know how to use most of its functions. I like taking pictures at night because I like how the city lights turn out in photos, also because I like playing with the shutter speeds. Next time that I do a photo shoot, I want to go to either graffiti park or the 360 bridge here in Austin.

Late night at Central Park

Chelsea 

This is a picture of my friend Chelsea on our last night in NYC. We were on our way to Central Park but the three of us kept stopping to take pictures everywhere. By the time we found the ice skating rink in Central Park they did not allow us to go inside because they were about to close. We still managed to enjoy our last night there by going to Times Square with some friends we made along the way.

Austin, TX

NYC

Austin,TX

Sushi