To Fandom With Love

Yes my friends we have finally reached the end of these fandom posts. For some you may be sad, while others may rejoice that we are done.

But how do you close a posts like these? Ones that talk about fandoms you love? How do you truly show how wonderful they have been? Well in the words of Eric Matthews (Boy Meets World) “I could tell you what I think about you, but it would just come out a bunch of words. And I know, nobody could say it better than a little girl named Lulu” (with my help of changing the words slightly).

Those school girl days of telling tales
And biting nails are gone
But in my mind I know
They will still live on and on

But how do you thank someone
Who has taken you from crayons to blogging?
It isn’t easy, but I’ll try

If you wanted the sky
I would write across the sky in letters
That would soar a thousand feet high
To Fandom, with love

A Fandom who taught me right from wrong
And weak from strong
That’s a lot to learn, what
can I give you in return?

If you wanted the moon
I would try to make a star
But I, would rather you let me give my heart
To Fandom, with love

 

 Wishbone

Wishbone was such an awesome show. It made a huge impact on my life and made me interested in classic literature.

The show was about a dog named Wishbone, his master Joe and his mom (Joe’s dad passed away) and his friends Sam and David. In every episode it covered something happening with the characters and related it to a classic. When Wishbone would tell the story, he would always be the main character.

They did Robin Hood, Pride & Prejudice (which I will be reviewing), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Rip Van Winkle, Ivanhoe, Frankenstein, just to name a few. It was an excellent show.

I can’t stop watching!

They also had a fantastic book series that tied in to the show which was just as good. All of them made reading seem like so much fun, and encouraged us all to do it.

I wish they had more shows like that on TV now for kids. Or put it up on Netflix or Amazon Prime.

 

Whitechapel

I came upon Whitechapel when I was browsing Amazon Prime  and thought it sounded interesting, plus starred Rupert Penry Jones who plays Captain Fredrick Wentworth in Persuasion (2007).

I started watching and was immediately HOOKED!

This DI (Detective Inspector) Joe Chandler is sent to Whitechapel, London. At first he encounters issues as he cleans up the department (literally as he is a germophobe). Others are upset that they choose to bring someone new in, rather than promote one of them.

Someone is killing in the manner of Jack the Ripper and DI Chandler mobilizes his whole team to try and catch him.

It was amazingly well written, and the following seasons were just as good. But sadly, like Copper, it didn’t last more than three. I don’t know why as it was fantastic!

X-Files

I loved the X-Files. I started watching because my sister was into it, but it quickly became something I adored as well. It is about FBI Agent Fox Mulder who is the one who investigates anything unusual or strange in the country. He has made quite a lot of enemies and is paired with the always logical doctor, FBI Agent Dana Scully.

To see who you are, go here.

She quickly fell for him, just as the viewers did, and becomes sucked into the craziness of the X-Files.

I love David Duchovny…

So romantic!

And had to stop watching when he left/was abducted by aliens. I know they came out with a new version of the show, but I haven’t seen it. I’m scared it won’t be as good.

X-Men

I am  a HUGE X-Men fan. I started getting into them through the Saturday morning cartoon show and from there I got into the comic books, X-Men Evolution, etc. I’ve read the X-Men Encyclopedia a gazillion times, and don’t get me started on how awesome they are or you will never be able to shut me up. My favorites have to be Gambit and Rogue, they are the absolute best.

For more on X-Men, go to The Wearing of the Green: 17 More Irish Heroes

Young Justice

This show wasn’t around a real long time (sadly only two seasons) but was AMAZING!!!! It told the story of the younger group of DC characters and was totally awesome.

We have Conner, a clone of Superman who not only wants to know more about being like him, but how to be anyone. It’s hard when so much of you is based off another person, and because of the mix of human DNA you aren’t even exactly like him.

M’gann, Jon the Manhunter’s niece, who wants so desperately to fit in on Earth and has a secret she’s keeping from everyone else.

Artemis, half-Vietnamese girl who is trying to go down a different path than her father.

Robin, trying to live up the caped crusader who gives him a home, while at the same time finding his own place in the world.

Kid Flash, nephew to the Flash, and an extremely smart and overactive kid. Not only has he recreated the accident that gave Barry his powers, but is eager to be just as good a crime fighter.

Aqualad, super cool as he has had an incredible upgrade in his powers.

I hate that they canceled it after the second season as the characters are awesome, the story-telling incredible and much more adult as the characters grow, and intensely suspenseful. Loved it!

Another TV show canceled too early.

For more on Young Justice, go to I Always Knew and I Didn’t Care: Usual Suspects, Young Justice (2012)

But of course this really isn’t the end.

As I continue to live I am sure that will be new things I become obsessed over and the fandom posts will rise once again. For now thank you all who have come on this journey, I hope that you have enjoyed my review of the things you loved and that maybe you were inspired to check out a few things you had never heard of before.

For the previous posts, go to:

Back to the Fandoms

Fandom Love

Fan-do or Fan-don’t. There is No Fan-try

Fanning All Over the Place

The Fans and the Furious

A Fantabulous Post

Fantastic Fantasies

A FANtastic Voyage

The Fan, The Girl

The FANtom Menance

Fantom of the Opera

Fun & Full of FANcy

I’m So FANcy!

It’s Fantastico!

It’s A Fan World After All

Old Fandoms and New Fancies

Please Excuse My Dear Fan Lady

Portrait of a Fangirl

Return of the Fandom

Simply Fantastic

The Strange Case of a Fangirl and Her Fandoms

A Study in Fandoms

To Kill a Fangirl

We Will Fandom You

What a Fanatic!

A Whole Lot of Fanfare

You Can’t Keep a Fangirl Down

You Can’t Keep a Fangirl Down

Here we go again! I have been having a short break from posting these, but I am dedicated to finish them at last.

Jules Verne

Jules Verne is an incredible author of science fiction. I have loved everything I have read of his work. Besides being an excellent story teller, Verne was just miles ahead with his ideas and inventions. My favorite books are 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in 80 Days. I think they have the best characters and action of all his books. And if you are interested, I reviewed them in December as part of my 30 Day Challenge.

If you haven’t picked up one of his books, you should today.

For more Jules Verne, go to The Great Depths of the Ocean are Entirely Unknown to Us: Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Longmire

Who loves westerns?

ME!!!

Yep, I do. So when I hear of a Western TV show, I immediately want to check it out and see if it something I would love. Like this show.

I started watching this show with my sister and fell in love with the characters and the setting. I had lived in Wyoming for four months and thought it was beautiful, so seeing it here; not only do I understand the culture and people but where they go in the show.

The TV show is based off a book series in which Walt Longmire is sheriff of Absoroka County. In the first season he is trying to work through the grief of his wife and fight to keep his job as Sheriff as a deputy is campaigning against him. Walt loves to read and is every observant, a Western Sherlock Holmes.

Besides that, he has to deal with a tribal chief that hates him (since he was the one who put away the previous chief, a dirty cop) and a corrupt and clever buisnessman who would like to remove him.

Besides the character of Longmire, we have his best friend Henry Standing Bear played by Lou Diamond Phillips. I love Phillips/Henry! The way he talks, his manners…oh just everything about his, he is fantastic! He often helps Longmire out whenever a case involes the reservation or has something to do with Native American cultures.

Besides them you have the adorable Deputy Ferg, who is just a cute, cuddly, bear of a guy. Then there is Deputy Branch Connelly, who is the son of the most powerful man, but does his best to forge his own path and fight against the control of his father. Then there is Deputy Victoria “Vic” Moreitti, ugh I hate her. She is a horrible person and I wish she was the deputy that was written out.

A great show that you should definitely check out.

Raising Hope

My ex-boyfriend showed me this show when we were dating, but he picked the episode near the end of the series, so I was confused and didn’t get it. I kind of decided not to keep watching it as I thought it made no sense.

However, one of my very good friends was really into the show and would put it on every time we would hang out.

So the show is about James Bon Jovi “Jimmy” Chance is in his early twenties and a slacker. He left school before graduating, works for his dad, and spends most of his time getting drunk with his friends.

About life.

His mom and dad, Burt and Virginia, had him when they were in high school and have made a lot of mistakes over the years in raising him as they have no clue in what they are doing. All live with Virginia’s grandmother, Maw Maw, in her house. Maw Maw suffers from dementia and they have to care for her as she swings in and out.

Everything changes when Jimmy has a one night stand that turns out to be a serial killer. Before they give her the death penalty, she gives birth to a daughter, this little girl being given to Jimmy to raise.

What?!

So now they all band together to try and raise this girl, when three of the adults have no clue and one is not in her right mind.

Throw in some other great characters: Sabrina, rich girl trying to “make it on her own” grocery cleck; Barney, the dorky but heart of gold store manager; Frank, a strange coworker; an evil cousin, Delilah; and more.

Will Jimmy be able to raise her right? Or will he make the same mistakes as his parents?

It is hilarious, and the best thing of all: the relationship between Burt and Virginia. They are just the cutest couple ever.

For more on Raising Hope, go to I Only Care That You Succeed: How I Met Your Mullet, Raising Hope (2014)

V

I first became aware of V when they remade the show in 2009. My mother wasn’t pleased as she had been a fan of the original. Well in honor of it, the channel SciFi, now SyFy, decided to show the original V for a whole week. That week it played an endless loop of V.

I was out of school and watched it, continuing with every episode to remain rooted in the couch as I had to watch more. It was that good.

So the show is about these visitors from space who arrive and want to be our friends; assisting us in anything that is needed. However, that proves to be false as we are not their friends, but their prey. Eventually the visitors take over, but there is a collection of people who form the resistance, and fight against the Fascists.

It was a great show and I highly recommend it for any SciFi fan.

Veronica Mars

I started watching this TV show when I spotted it on a list of shows everyone should watch. I saw one episode and was sucked in, finding it hard to stop watching.

Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) used to be one of the popular crowd as she was daughter of the sheriff and dated the most popular guy in school, the town’s hero and millionaire, Duncan Kane. She is also best friends with his sister, Lily Kane. Everything started going wrong when Duncan just seemed to dump her with no explanation.

Lily sets out to try and find out what is happening, but doesn’t get back to her on why. She ends up being murdered. Veronica’s dad, Keith Mars, starts searching into what happened, and when he arrests Lily’s father for the crime: he is ousted from his office, his wife leaves him, and both he & Veronica become pariahs.

Instead of leaving town, the two stay and her father starts a private detective business. Veronica helps, even though her father doesn’t really want her to. With every episode she solves a crime, while the whole season she searches for who the real killer is, not believing the guy they arrested is the real guy.

I loved the first season, as the second and third were sadly just not as good. But that first one was fantastic!

The Veronica Mars Movie was also great as it was just what the fans wanted. It tied everything up just perfectly.

While I started watching for mysteries and great characters, I continued to fall in love with them and the Veronica Mars + Logan.

At first Logan has been cruel with his anger and hurt over everything that happened with Lily-her cheating on him, her death, Veronica’s father not solving the crime. However, the two become friends again when Veronica helps Logan look for his mom. We see Logan becoming the person he was before again. Things come to a head when Logan saves her from gunpoint, with them making out, and later dating. They keep their dating a secret at first, but when the secret is out we see that Logan has decided that the things he cared about before; popularity and status, aren’t nearly as important as the girl he loves. She’s his girl and if anyone has issues with her, they need to get out the door. I just love the two of them! So cute!

For more on Veronica Mars, go to I Don’t Care What You Think, She’s My Girl: A Trip to the Dentist, Veronica Mars (2005)

For the previous post, go to The FANtom Menance

And Stay tuned for part 27

 

The FANtom Menance

 

So it has been a while since I last did a fangirl post. All I can say is sorry! Unfortunately life cannot always be structured the way I wish.

Oh well

So here we go with a few more of my favorite things.

Star Wars

Words cannot describe how much I adore Star Wars, although I have tried pretty hard in the past to explain it. While Episodes 1-3 & 7 had a few good moments, nothing will beat the original. Episodes 4-6: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, & Return of the Jedi will always be number one to me.

I can’t remember exactly when I first watched the series, I know I was young because when the Phantom Menace came out in 1999 I was only seven and a diehard Star Wars fan.

Episode 4: A New Hope is one of my all-time favorites. I just love the characters and the dialogue. Everything about it was just so perfect. I mean you have the adorable Luke who you can connect with his dreams and hopes. The hunky Han Solo, a rascal but has a heart of gold:

Wanted in my life

Darth Vader who was one of the best villians ever! Powerful, charismatic, scary, and has the best theme music and voice of all time.

I mean we don’t know anything about him. but we do know he is not a man to be messed with.

And then there was of course, the one woman I aspired to be like and who’s traits I tried to fold into my own personality: Princess Leia.

I mean she was just SOOOO cool! Here was a Princess that was intelligent, powerful, strong, political, beautiful, a problem solver, rebel leader, could hold her own against torture, willing to fight and die for what she believed in, could handle a variety of weapons, a quick thinker, witty, rescues herself (with a little bit of help) etc. She was just altogether AWESOME!!! I couldn’t think of a better role model to any young girl. Thank you George Lucas and Carrie Fisher.

The Empire Strikes Back was just an amazing film as well. The action, the great continuation, yet giving it its own flavor; and that reveal. I mean you all know what I’m talking about (that have seen the film) but I won’t say just in case for those who haven’t watched it. Although that’s just crazy talk. I mean join us Star Wars fans already!

Or should I say Star Wars side?

And then we have Return of the Jedi. In here we see the final progression of Luke’s character. First we have an idealistic young man, turned pilot, turned rebel, turned Jedi padawan, to Jedi Knight. He has been able to conquer the force in a short amount of time and ready to continue on. But first he must face one person and defeat the dark side.

Return of the Jedi has some of the best moments in it. Like when Luke saves his father by believing that his father still is a good man, and willing to fight for him; even dying if necessary to reawaken the human side the the dark side ate long ago. Completely refusing to give in to the dark, this causes his father to receive the redemption and return to him, even if it was for a moment. Sometimes saving and helping others isn’t going in and beating people up, sometimes it is making sacrifices and risking yourself for others.

I of course am such a fan that I have a huge collection of Star Wars items. If it is something that has to do with the original series, I’m all over it like butter on toast. And I mean anything!

These three films are fantastic. Anyone who tells you different is a liar and unenlightened.

I mean even Jane knows what’s up!

Yes:

For more on Star Wars, go to Anger Management

Trekkie

There are those who say that it is impossible to love Star Trek and Star Wars and here is what I say:

Majorly

You can love both and I most definitely do.

In fact I am not just  fan of the Original Series, although it is my favorite, I have watched every single reincarnation of this show. It is a lot to cover so I will try and hit the highlights.

Of course the original is the best (and BTW Thursday marks the 50th anniversary). I loved Captain James T. “Jim” Kirk as I thought he was just amazing! Strong, powerful, intellectual, eloquent, charismatic, a problem solver, and what a hunk! He would think through every decision making sure that he chose the best for his crew. But if he had to, he would get his hands dirty.

Then we have Spock. Logical, efficient, unable to understand sarcasm, etc. I also liked that he was biracial too, there are not enough characters out there that are for those of us who also are to connect to. And even with that Vulcan personality and his looks are not what you would categorize as a dreamboat but he definitely is one.

Then we have Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy. The best thing about Bones is his wit and sarcastic nature. I love all his sayings, I mean every word that drops from his mouth is just so sassy and fun. He is so hilarious and part of the dream team that made Star Trek a hit.

Then we have Star Trek: The Next Generation. And let’s all face it, as much as I thought Captain Picard was the best; for me it is all about Data. What an awesome character and just downright hilarious.

I also had such a thing for Riker. I think it was that beard.

Although he was quite the hunk without the beard as well.

Deep Space Nine was okay, but not a fav so let’s keep going. Voyager was alright, my favorite character being Neelix, the cook. He was just the sweetest thing.

 

Enterprise was also okay, but not nearly as good as TOS.

The new movies that came out were done very well, much better than the revamped Star Wars. The only thing I don’t like is that they made the new Kirk a little more brawn and less brain. Oh well, you can never repeat the original.

While Star Trek may go through numerous changes, I’ll always love it.

For more on Star Trek, go to After These Messages, We’ll Be Right Back

Xena: Warrior Princess

As I mentioned in a previous post that I was a huge fan of Hercules: The Legendary Journey, it was only natural that I would watch its counterpart.

I thought Xena was pretty cool and one awesome warrior, although I did think she needed a more covering outfit to fight in. I mean seriously, they always put women in these outfits that are not the best for crime fighting.

Growing up I never saw a lesbian relationship, I always thought of the two as BFFS, going out and fighting to help others. I still don’t think of them that way, but I guess to each fan their own view?

Anyways, I still remember it being a big part of my childhood.

So I’m sure some of you are thinking what a loser.

And it’s awesome.

For the previous post, go to Return of the Fandom

And Stay tuned for part 26

Return of the Fandom

So we are back with our usual scheduled fandom posts. Here are another group of things I have fandomed over. I hope they strike your FANcy and that you check them out for yourselves.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Go here to see what movie you are

I am a huge Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (TMNT) fan.

In fact, as I am currently writing this I am wearing my TMNT shirt. Yeah I fandom to the extreme.

Not in a sewer extreme, but you get my point.

So for those of you who for some strange reason might not know who the Turtles are; they are a group of four boy turtles who are raised by a rat named Splinter. He named them after the great artists: Donatello, Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo. They come across some mutagen, and become more humanlike. Splinter teaches them ninjutsu and they become vigilante superheroes; saving the people of New York. One of their biggest villains is the leader of the Foot clan and the man who killed Splinter’s owner,Oroku Saki, also known as the Shredder.

So I grew up watching the ’80s TV show and while very silly it was a lot of fun. You have the four turtles who are reared by Splinter, solving crime and kicking Shredder butt. For those of you who have never watched this, Shredder is aided by his two dumb as rock minions, RockSteady and Bebop, a mutant rhino and warthog; along with a banished brain alien from Dimension, Krang. They also aasist April in outwitting her annoying, egotistical, jerk of a coworker, Vernon.

The boys team up with the awesome April O’Neil, along with her friend Irma (who has a crush on one of the turtles. Even though she is older and a girl). And of course the amazing Casey Jones, vigilante athlete.

And let’s not forget that the show had one great theme song!

Now while I liked the show, I LOVED the TMNT movies of the ’90s. I used to watch them over and over again;

And my sister, friends, and I would act them all out. I was always Donatello.

The first two in the series: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991) were the best in the series. The characters were played perfectly. In the first film we have a great introduction and backstory into how the turtles were created and learned to be ninjas. In the second they see the return of Shredder and having to fight other mutant beings.

The third one they go back in time to Japan. It isn’t horrible, but not as nearly as awesome as the first two.

In fact I urge you to watch the 1990 film as it really was just so, so, so, so amazing.

I hated the newer film TMNT (2007) as it sucked and made no sense at all. And don’t get me started on the Michael Bay version, as they look creepy and I hate Megan Fox. In fact I have decided that this October I am going to review all the live action TNMT films. As they have been mutated, they fall under a horror film.

But besides those horrible later depictions, I have always loved the turtles and wished they were real and that I could hang out with them.

For more on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, go to Pizza Power

 The Thorn Birds

So my friend was really into the Thorn Birds, I had never heard of it before. She suggested we watch it,

but unfortunately she didn’t own it, it was too much for us to buy, and our university library didn’t have it. But our county library did, although only on VHS. Luckily I had a VHS player so that was okay.

Strangely, someone else was watching the mini series while we were. We had to wait for the next installment, almost like how it would to watch it when it aired.

So the series is a historical romance. It begins in the early 20th century when the Cleary family moves to Australia. Paddy Cleary and his wife have four sons and one daughter, Meggie. Paddy’s sister, Mary, owns a huge ranch, and offers him a job there.

When they arrive the meet the very handsome priest, Ralph de Bricassart (Richard Chamberlain), who has been sent to the ends of the earth for insulting a bishop. He is very ambitious and has befriended Mary in order to woo out a dig donation so he can go back to “civilization.” Mary lusts after Ralph and wants him, but he refuses to break his vows for her.

Not everything is happy in the Cleary family. Mrs. Cleary, Fee, loves her oldest son Frank the most and ignores her other children, except for treating Meggie cruelly. Paddy loves his sons, except Frank, and ignores Meggie as well.

The youngest son, Hal dies; and Frank is revealed to not be Paddy’s son, but the child of his mother and her lover. When he left her and she found out she was pregnant, her wealthy family married her off to the stablehand who was in love with her. After this comes out Frank leaves the home to find his own fortune.

Meanwhile, Ralph has been taking care of Meg at the parsonage; making sure she has the attention and care a child needs. Meg idolizes Ralph and crushes on him. Meggie grows, the two develop feelings for each other and Ralph tries to stay far away from her. Mary notices the attraction and writes two wills, one in which Paddy inherits 13 million and one where it all goes to the Catholic Church. She gives both to Ralph who must decide on what to do.

There is a lot more betrayal, love, bad decisions, and drama in the series, but I don’t want to give it all to you. It was a pretty good show, with interesting characters. A little soap operay, but still interesting. And of course the main reason why I kept watching, Richard Chamberlain. That man was built to perfection.

Touched by an Angel

This was one of my favorite TV shows of the ’90s. I used to watch this all the time.

The TV show is about three angels who are sent on Earth to help bring guidance or messages from God. The first angel is Monica (Roma Downey) who is young and inexperienced angel. She takes on an every day job to get closer to her person, and approaches them when they are in the crossroads of a decision. Her older mentor Tess (Della Reese) is there to make sure she doesn’t reveal herself to be an angel too early.

There was also the angel Andrew (John Dye) who I absolutely loved, but was always sad to see as he was the Angel of Death, there to take a life to heaven.

It was a truly great and inspirational show. Netflix and Amazon, bring it to streaming!

Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks was an awesome show that had, sadly, a very short run. It was directed and written by David Lynch who loved to do things about beautiful perfect places, that have secrets and dark things under the surface.

It starts with a young, perfect, beautiful, straight-A student, Laura Palmer body being found. Why would anyone want to kill her? It turns out that her murder is similar to others that have occurred, bring in FBI agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlen) to investigate.

When he gets to the town he discovers a crazy group of characters as he searches for the truth. Everything from adultery, betrayal, prostitution, investment schemes, drugs, etc. lie underneath the peaceful scenery.

Agent Dale Cooper, how can I describe him?

To see who you are, go here.

is the absolute best as he is adorable, strong, brave, courageous, poetic, intelligent. Just dreamy…I love him.

There are a lot of great supporting cast too. I really like Audrey Horne. Little rich girl, but trying to be more. I just loved her and Dale together, but I know it would never work as she is too young. She is a really great character.

I also loved the Donna and James storyline, but the actress who played Donna originally was replaced. I liked the first person better.

Some people think this show is too “dramatic” but it revolutionized TV, and a lot of later mystery shows we have today never would have been created. Without its groundbreaking there would be no Veronica Mars, The Killing, Pretty Little Liars, etc.

And for those who are major fans like me, you’ll love the Psych parody episode, Dual Spires in which a large portion of the original cast was willing to guest star.

And I am so excited that it is coming back. I just can’t wait until it is up!

For more Twin Peaks, go to Stranger Things Have Happened

For more on the Nostalgia Critic, go to Gypsy Justice: Thinner (1996)

For the previous post, go to The Fan, The Girl

And Stay tuned for part 25

We Will Fandom You

So yes we are back with the fangirl posts! Here we go with another four!

Alias

Alias  was a show that came out in the ’90s, produced by J.J. Abrams and starring Jennifer Garner. Jennifer Garner played Sydney Bristow, college student getting her masters in literature by day; incredible CIA operative by night.

My interest began not with the show but the prequel novels. I reserved a book in the library thinking it was a part of another series I was reading. Well one book got me hooked, and after reading all about Sydney’s adventures in SD-6, finding out that her dad has secretly been a spy as well, etc.; I decided to watch the TV show.

Now the thing that surprised me was that the novels are radically different than the TV show. So the show starts off with Sydney having just become engaged to her boyfriend Danny. When he starts talking about them having children, Sydney decides to tell him the truth. Danny of course freaks out, but later calls Sydney when she is out on a mission and leaves a message that they will make it work.

SD-6 does not want information out and kill Danny. When a heartbroken Sydney starts thinking about quitting, and is almost killed by SD-6; her father drops the true bomb. SD-6 is not the real CIA. The person in charge left the CIA and started SD-6 to undermine it and achieve their own means.

Sydney decides to become a double agent, working for the real CIA to take down SD-6.

So Sydney has a full plate between studies, being a best friend, and keeping all three (school, SD-6, CIA) lives separate from each other. Things get sticky when one of her best friends, played by Bradley Cooper, who is a journalist, starts investigating and is put on the SD-6 radar. She also has a partner that is growing a bit suspicious, and a man who doesn’t like her and wants to take her down.

Oh Sydney and Michael, I ship those two so hard!

But you spend so much of the series unsatisfied as they can’t date and work together sort of thing.  And then he’s with Laura, but eventually they get back together which makes me very happy.

For more on J.J. Abrams, go to I Feel A Great Disturbance in the Force: Star Wars, The Force Awakens

Gossip Girl

So this was something that I struggled with whether or not I should include on this list. I liked it, but at the same time I had quite a few problems with it.

So the show is about the upper East side in New York. The p0werful children of the powerful families, whether old or new money. We follow the lives if Serena Van der Woodson, one of the popular girls at the best prep school, She has been gone for a while, but back and finding it hard to get back into the groove of her old life.

Then there is Nate Vanderbilt, dating Queen Bee Blair Waldorf. He is good guy, who wants people to like him. Only problem is, he likes Serena and even though he is dating Blair he is trying to get with her.

Blair Waldorf is the Queen of the school and has huge goals in mind. She’s happy to have her best gal pal back, until the truth comes out about Nate and Serena, and their past indiscretions. She ends up turning to Chuck Bass and sleeping with him, him later being her partner in crime to secure her queendom and take down Serena.

Charles “Chuck” Bass is the son of Charles Bass, part of the new money group. He has grown up alone with a father that would sooner cry marble than ever show his son love. Chuck spends all his time with booze or girls; or being tall, dark, & brooding. Yep, he’s one of those guys who only needs the love of a good woman to make him want to be the best. He falls for Blair but when she dumps him for Nate again, he goes down a tailspin.

And then we have our wild card, Dan Humphrey. He’s from Brooklyn on scholarship. He has been in love with Serena, but always on the outside looking in. Serena and him start dating and he finds himself brought into the in crowd even though his best friend Vanessa wants him out and Serena’s mom, Lily, wants him away from her daughter.

Then we have Gossip Girl, no one knows her identity but she knows everything about everyone and posts it online.

So I really enjoyed the first season of this show until Georgina came, ugh hate that actress. Once she came in I didn’t like how the dynamics changed, how they seemed to find all kinds of reasons (and really stupid ones) to try to keep all the couples you wanted apart, and how everything was all about the drama (with some real outlandish plots). Like the screenwriters were the same people who wrote the spanish soap opera on Psych.

One of my biggest issues I had with the show was Nate dating 17 year-old Sage Spence. Even though in the state of New York that is legal, how could he do it? How could anyone see that as a good idea, especially someone trying to be a professional. I wouldn’t want to work for someone who is one year above rape. That was a horrible story plot.

Now the main reason I continued  watching sporadically because of four people. First I loved Serena’s mom Lily, and Dan’s dad Rufus having an old romance and trying to get back together. Rufus was so hot and adorable! I loved when they got married but hated that the writers broke them up. Really? Lily would go back to Charles Bass when he was a total jerk and horrible to her? Or in the end remarry her ex-husband William Van der Woodson who was trying to make her think she had cancer just so she would get back with him? After she discovered that lie how could she possibly trust him again? It makes no sense! And the fact that Rufus would side with Charlie AKA conwoman Ivy, rather than his own wife Lily?

And of course the real reason I put through the drama, was for one thing:

Chuck and Blair! I hated how they got them together and they were so awesome, and then the writers broke them apart. But at least they fixed them in the end married with a cute baby boy.

For more Gossip Girl, go to For a Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic

One Tree Hill

I had the same problems with One Tree Hill that I did with Gossip Girl. I liked the first season, but after that my watching became sporadic. Too much drama, relationships that you want together breaking up for the worse reasons, on and on. You know what I’m saying.

So the show revolves around the town of Tree Hill, North Carolina. Nathan Scott is the son of the famous basketball player, Dan Scott. He rules the school with his girlfriend Peyton. Meanwhile on the other side of town, Lucas, Dan’s other son, lives with his mom Karen. Dan got Karen, head cheerleader and high school girlfriend, pregnant but left her for higher things. Shortly after, Dan got his rich college girlfriend pregnant and married her.

Lucas best friend is Haley James, a tutor and waitress at Lucas’ mother’s café. The other light in Lucas’ life is his uncle Keith, who takes care of him like his father should.

Everything changes in Lucas’ life when some ballplayers get suspended and Coach Whitey recruits him for the team. All of a sudden everyone is into him, including head cheerleader Brooke Davis.

Nathan starts attacking Lucas and pranking him to get him to quit. Peyton and Nathan break up when Peyton publishes a comic about Nathan in a bad light, it is under a pseudonym; but Nathan recognizes himself.

Nathan is starting to fail some of her classes, and looks to get Haley to help tutor him. It starts out as a way to get to Lucas, but soon Nathan falls for her and she for him. With the pressures from his dad continuing, Nathan leaves home and befriends his older brother, Lucas.

Things get intense as they have to deal with drugs, drunk driving, school shootings, etc.

So there were a few things I did not like about this series. Number one was Peyton Sawyer.

I thought her character never made sense, how could a punk artist ever desire to be a cheerleader; she isn’t the right type to be super popular, she’s written more as one of the outsiders. I thought her character wasn’t right for Lucas and never bought their relationship as they had no chemistry. I hated how she tried to get with Lucas while he was with Brooke, horrible friend, just horrible.

So who kept me watching? Well Brooke:

I  loved Brooke and how her character changes to be such a strong woman. I really wanted her with Lucas or Mouth, I thought they were better for each other.

Also Nathan and Haley:

I loved how  Haley valued him as a person rather than a ballplayer. I loved how Nathan worked hard to be her dream guy and was willing to wait to have sex with her. I loved how he encouraged and supported her every dream.

I hated when she left with that stupid Chris guy and threw her marriage away. Haley when you married you made a vow that your life wasn’t going to be just about what you wanted but what the both of you wanted. But in the end they stay together!

For more One Tree Hill, go to Move Along

Queen

Queen is a band that needs no introduction. They were created in the 1970s and had so many amazing songs. I just love them, maybe a little too much.

The music and lyrics were just amazing, these artists were true geniuses.

It would be hard to choose one song, all are amazing. My top favorites are: A Kind of Magic, Another One Bites the Dust, Bicycle Race, Bohemian Rhapsody, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Don’t Stop Me Now, Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy, I Want It All, Killer Queen, Radio Ga Ga, Somebody to Love, Under Pressure, We Are the Champions, and We Will Rock You

I haven’t reviewed a Queen song yet, but will.

For more on Queen, go to In Rhapsody Over Clint Eastwood

For the previous post, go to Fan-do or Fan-don’t. There is No Fan-try

And Stay tuned for part 23