Things that me happy POST
I decided to make a giant what makes me happy list and inflict it on my f-list, lol. Today I needed to be reminded of things that I am happy about and that I look forward to, especially with some additional work woes that are making my back pains ache even more, so I want to share what is making me happy and what I have to look forward to over the holidays.
I want to start with the fandom related stuff, so I'll start with that and go by fandom.
Merlin
1. The cast all has wonderful chemistry with each other and the characters love each other so much. I am inching toward having a gen OT4, I haven't had one since the early days of SG-1.
2. Morgana- everything about her is love. I adore the actress and the way she plays Morgana. Morgana herself is beautiful and complicated, both hard and soft, and her strength does not lie in her swordsmanship (even though some icons indicate that she seems pretty good with that) but in her intentions and the will she has to protect the people she cares for.
3. Morgana and Gwen- I have been yearning for a female friendship that I can easily see as more for so long and this show delivers in spades. They genuinely love each other and I give a lot of credit to the show for putting so much effort into developing a friendship between two women that has nothing to do with clothes, make-up or boys. Thank you.
4. And of course you know I would never forget the boys, they have a destiny and I love how Merlin resisted it in the beginning because he did not like Arthur, then nature took its course and those boys bonded and became close. Whether it's gen or not, the evolution of this relationship has delighted me in so many ways.
5. I think TV needs some more fantasy shows that take themselves half-way seriously like Merlin. Merlin is light-hearted but you can tell the creators care about the stories they are telling, and that is sadly lacking from a lot of sc-fi or fantasy themed North American shows.
True Blood
1. Can I say hell-yeah for a show with such fantastically realistic interactions between their characters? Especially for someone like me who grew up in a small town. Charlene Harris and by extension the producers and writers for the TV series have done their research. Whether it's an argument between Sookie and her brother, daily customer interaction with someone at the restaurant with Sookie or Lafayette being his general wonderful self when Sookie or Tara are involved, I am invested. And I just saw episode 1x09 and the character interaction between Jason and the male vamp he kidnapped is sublime and perfect in every way.
2. Sookie and Bill are het canon and it isn't forced or just plain sucks. These two have mad chemistry and yay, Sookie didn't become dumb or obsessed because she slept with Bill. She's still herself but happier, because she loves him and he makes her happy. Go figure TV land, woman be in love and still be fabulous and not pathetic. Bill and Sookie are so smokin' together, it's no wonder the actors hooked up in real life. The other canon relationships on this show are pretty awesome too.
3. Another show putting their all into a believable friendship between two women. You'd swear, if TV land were any indication, women only interacted if need be or not at all. Tara and Sookie are awesome BFF's, I haven't seen the last couple of eps but I hope that remains true.
4. I wasn't wowed by the plot in the first ep, and I still am lukewarm to it, but the character-driven style of this show rocks my world. It's so rewarding because everything pays off and makes sense.
The Sarah Connor Chronicles
I love this show so much I have to be careful, because this can get long,lol.
1. There isn't a single character on this show I am not invested in. I mean,I made it clear how much I hated Riley but the writers turned her around real quick. I've only seen up to episode 2x09 or 2x10, but I couldn't believe how quickly they rescued the character for me.
2. This show writers women who are damaged, have issues and it has nothing or very little to do with men. The best part, they aren't weak because of it, and sometimes they cry or screw up, but they still do the best they can. They have flaws and are allowed to be amazing without being a freakin' Mary Sue. My heart really goes out to Jesse, who I don't trust but her pain and obvious issues it me hard.
3. I know I tend to go off about how women are treated on TV shows, but in reality men are treated no better often enough. Not the case on this show, the men are real and strong but vulnerable and scared, like any human being would be in the situation they are in. Derek and Ellison have so much love for me, and my poor John who has to be a general of a war he wants no part of before he even graduates from high school. The gender differences seem natural on the show and plays a significant but not overwhelming role in how these characters behave, clearly religion, training, family and experiences also play factors in how these characters behave and that is why their reactions are organic and real.
4. When I was growing, I have always been fascinated with beings that felt differently from us, or did not feel at all. I always found the concept of controlling your emotions, turning yourself on and off fascinating, probably due what I was going through as a child, so I have always loved stories about androids, angels and aliens. TSCC's androids do not disappoint, I love how for one moment I can relate to them but then they throw me for a loop and remind me that they are unpredictable in ways that are very human but not and so different from us. Cameron, Cromartie and Weaver fascinate me; and I love how they are drawn to humans as much as they are a danger to them.
Supernatural
1. I put SPN on the same list as X-Files excluding the latest movie and season nine as a show that has always been dependable. I like that when the show has problems, someone fixes it and the season enders are always actually awesome.
2. I had my crisis of faith with this show, I've been burned by Kring and Joss Whedon too many times to count, but so far Kripke has some sort of plan, or he seems intent on following up what he has set up for years. That make me as a fan feel rewarded and justified in supporting this show for years with my viewership, fannish involvement and money. It's a great feeling.
3. I miss Layla, Sara, Meg, Hendrickson, Gordon, John, Mary, Jess, first Ruby, Andy, Ash, Ellen, Jo and the list goes on. But kudos to creating so many guest characters that I give a damn about. That is extremely impressive.
4. Dean and Sam; the heart of the show of course. I love that this season brings it home that they are each other's constant, but they are following diverging paths that I firmly believe that will end with these two on more common ground. I want Sam to overcome his demon blood, and I want Dean to realize his worth, and yay for the show addressing that, minus the mess that was 4x10.
5. Bobby, Castiel and Uriel; Thank goodness for characters that aren't dead that are awesome. I am not going to go into Dean and Castiel but, I will say they have somehow become the OTP of all OTP's for me. They don't even need to do much but be in the same room with each other and there is so much I can meta on with a glance and a few, meaningful words.
6. The mythology for this show fills me with so much glee, and the inclusion of angels has made everything more epic. Castiel and Uriel are what angels are suppose to be dammit, and thank you for someone getting that right since The Prophecy. Even though I have a soft spot for Michael from Xena.
Honourable mentions: BSG, X-Files Season 1-8, Buffy Season 1-2, Angel Season 2 and 5, Criminal Minds, CSI NY, Farscape, Moonlight,
Anime
Far too many too mention, but I will list the one's that make me so wonderfully happy.
The constants: One Piece, Naruto, Bleach
1. Gankutsuou
2. Ergo Proxy
3. Junjou Romantica
4. Saiyuki Reload
5. Getbackers especially season one
6. RomeoxJuliet
7.KKM
8.Cowboy Bebop
9.Ghost in the Shell
10. Hellsing
11. Full Metal Alchemist
12. X-1999
13. Toward the Terra
14. Gundam Wing and Seed
Newer anime totally that will become epic:
Darker than Black, RD Sennou, Claymore, Kaiba, Seirei Moribito, Michiko to Hatchin, Soul Eaters ( can't believe I forgot this one), Ghost Hound, Saiunkoku Monogatari
Anime I have yet to see that I am sure I will love:
Red Garden, Hellgirl, Gai Rei Zero, Tytania, and a shit load of others.
BBC show that I will love but will check out over the holidays: MI:5 Spooks season 7.
Things that will make me happy over the holidays:
1. The gym: I love the gym , perfect place to deal with my aggression without punching people. And I feel so relaxed and zen after.
2. Music: Whether it is Slipknot, Yo-Yo-Ma or an anime soundtrack or move/tv score, music just centers me.
3. Sleeping in: 'Nuff said.
4. Food: Hmm, whole wheat pancakes and buttermilk pancakes with organic syrup, shortbread cookies made with real jam and brown sugar, turkey, etc... Oh, I can't wait.
5. Reading: I have a pile of manga and great novels waiting for me. And let's not forget the yuletide fics and other fics being posted.
6. Family and friends: While my back is healing, it\s quiet time with the family and friends.
7. No work: Self-explanatory,lol.