5x5 (Part 1)
as a result of this meme (which is still "open" or whatnot), i have been making lots of lists! which is awesome, i like lists. even when the decisions are (if slightly superficial) very hard. this is about 1/3 of the questions, because i ramble a bit on each answer.
(for sweet_like_choc )
top 5 tv episodes
"I think you need a doctor."
5. "the parting of the ways" (doctor who)
even though rose's transformation resembles buffy's transcendence in "primeval" in more ways than one, this is still a spectacular season finale, and a wonderful goodbye to christopher eccleston as the ninth doctor (and the introduction of david tennant at the tenth!). highlights include The Kiss (pictured above), the reveal of bad wolf, mickey driving a giant truck, everything jack says, a whole lot of daleks, and more.
"It's just an object. It doesn't mean what you think."
4. "objects in space" (firefly)
river's psychic introduction as she moves across the ship in the teaser is absolutely gorgeous and a wonderful model of using point of view in film. the episode is inspired by the existentialist writings of jean-paul sartre and is actually very philosophical. (listen to the great dvd episode commentary for more about this!) it is b
"I make good life choices - mostly because they’re forced on me - but I make them, and I find myself in unpleasant situations all the time."
3. "caged bird" (wonderfalls)
possibly my favorite season finale ever, this episode wraps up the series cleverly and completely. it breaks your heart and then puts it back together, and (excepting sharon's romantic endeavors), ties up all major plotlines very nicely, while still leaving room for future conflicts. (...to be explored in fanfiction?) um, plus the ending makes me squee.
"Let's blow this bitch back to the Bush years."
2. "epitaph one" (dollhouse)*
i had my doubts about dollhouse, i'll admit- even the season finale "omega," while enjoyable, was not spectaular. however "epitaph one" makes up for all that, and more. the episode is set in 2019, and things have gone kablooey. the main cast is used sparingly, which makes us appreciate them more, and the episode speaks of huge (and dark) implications for the technology used in the dollhouse, putting the whole show in perspective.
*this is my non-spoiler-y summary. there will be spoilers when it is brought up again later in the post.
"I walk. I talk. I shop. I sneeze. I'm gonna be a fireman when the floods roll back."
1. "restless" (buffy)
this episode, made up almost entirely of dream sequences, pulls out almost every trick in the book of cinematography. it portends future events in the series and discusses what a slayer really is. it features buffy facing her slayer origins and proving herself independent (one of my favorite btvs themes), and it has the cheese man. it is clever, unexpected, hilarious, mysterious, and wonderful.
(for
shah_of_blah )
top five songs used in tV/movies (with links!)
5. "these boots were made for walking" (blackpool)
my love for blackpool cannot be explained in brief, so i won't even try. suffice it to say that the series is just wonderful. david tennant and david morrissey are cast as enemies, and this song is a bit of a western showdown...with a tango. it's a very fangirly favorite, and if you've ever liked david tennant, musicals, or this song, you should go WATCH IT NOW. : )
4. "slipping" (doctor horrible's sing-along blog)
nph sings and it sounds like sondheim- in my book, this is code for "it has to be good." the lyrics are super-clever, the tone changes on a dime but still manages to stay dark, and i just adore it.
3. "hiphopopotamus vs. rhymenocerous" (flight of the conchords)
they try to rap! it is hilarious! that is all. oh, and it's good in concert AND on the show... i'm not sure i can even pick a favorite version!
2. "good morning" (singin' in the rain)
winning over all disney films, this movie was my childhood, and this song was my favorite. honestly, i'm not positive why, though the dancing is pretty darn cute and it is a very optimistic and cheerful ditty. the video link has spanish subtitles, in case you are so inclined.
1. "the sound of silence" (the graduate)
this is a gorgeous song, and a beautiful film. my favorite bit of editing in the movie is during the "april come she will" sequence, but this song is so pretty and epitomises the movie so well it easily wins out.
(for
clockwork_jo )
top 5 firefly episodes
"he robbed from the rich and gave to the poor..."
5. janyestown
there's a statue of jayne. wash gets drunk. simon thinks kaylee is "pretty pretty." and they still manage to have a serious, though-provoking ending.
"i'm going to the special hell..."
4. our mrs. reynolds
christina hendriks. kissing. vera. deception. book popping around corners, and really slutty myths.
"Take me sir. Take me hard."
3. war stories
because torture creates the wittiest banter? erm... hey, free soup!
"I don't think of myself as a lion. You might as well, though - I have a mighty roar."
2. objects in space
hey, bet you didn't see this coming! it's one of the best episodes of tv, but it's not my favorite episode of firefly. it is genius, though, and all those things i said the first time i mentioned it.
"Sir... you paid money for this? On purpose?"
1. out of gas
by and large my favorite firefly episode. this show is about family and this episode is about how that family came to be, and what it means. wash has a moustache and we didn't see kaylee coming. mal sees serenity for the first time and has True Love. they come back for mal.
(also for
clockwork_jo )
top cannon ships
"And you feel like, if he sees you that way, maybe you can be..."
5. jaye/eric (wonderfalls)
you really get the sense this pair is right for one another, even though they have completely different natures. eric brings out the best in jaye, and though about a million obstacles (many of her own making) get in the way, it's worth all the drama to see them happy and together.
"I'm burning up a sun just to say goodbye."
4. the doctor/rose (doctor who)
this is an epic pairing if there ever was one. the doctor is 900 years old, and in all that time he's loved one girl. this show is pretty generous with it's death count, but you can count the times these two have kissed on one hand. on the other hand, the love is clearly there, and hugs and hand-holding make up the difference. the pairing is also just really fun, and as silly as it is angsty.
"So a kiss is out of the question?"
3. ned/chuck (pushing daisies)
just kidding, this is the most epic love story ever. it transcends death (shuh, you "who" people), and they can't even touch. ned/chuck moments not only make me warm and fuzzy inside, they're also clever and unexpected. and did i mention the warm and fuzzy?
"I might not show respect to your job, but he didn't respect you. That's the difference."
2. mal/inara (firefly)
this pairing has all the angst- it brings the classic battle of the sexes to a t. it's obvious each of them loves the other, but their ways of life are so completely different that they often don't see eye-to-eye. they're almost an impossible couple, which in my opinion makes them one of the very best.
"A werewolf in love."
1. willow/oz (buffy)
don't get me wrong- i basically love anyone the writers paired willow with during the course of btvs, whether it be oz, tara, or xander (yeah, kennedy not so much). but oz and willow is a particular favorite, because oz saw the eskimo girl and wondered who she was. he really brought willow out of her shell, and she in turn helped him though some serious life changes. when i found out seth green left btvs to do an austin powers movie i may have been mad at him for about a month, but that's only because i love this pairing so very much.
(for elluithauren )
top 5 bands
for all my love of musicals, music isn't my specialty. these are my favorite bands, but i'm not totally sure i can explain why. so sorry if this list is more silent than most...
"But oh, my love, though our bodies may be parted / Though our skin may not touch skin"
5. the decemberists
"The arena is empty except for one man / Still driving and striving as fast as he can"
4. cake
"Oh what a thing to do / And it was all yellow"
3. coldplay
"Say what's the complication? / It's only conversation"
2. the feeling
"I'm your only friend / I'm not your only friend / But I'm a little glowing friend/ But really I'm not actually your friend"
1. They Might Be Giants
I'll be back with more soon!
(for sweet_like_choc )
top 5 tv episodes
"I think you need a doctor."
5. "the parting of the ways" (doctor who)
even though rose's transformation resembles buffy's transcendence in "primeval" in more ways than one, this is still a spectacular season finale, and a wonderful goodbye to christopher eccleston as the ninth doctor (and the introduction of david tennant at the tenth!). highlights include The Kiss (pictured above), the reveal of bad wolf, mickey driving a giant truck, everything jack says, a whole lot of daleks, and more.
"It's just an object. It doesn't mean what you think."
4. "objects in space" (firefly)
river's psychic introduction as she moves across the ship in the teaser is absolutely gorgeous and a wonderful model of using point of view in film. the episode is inspired by the existentialist writings of jean-paul sartre and is actually very philosophical. (listen to the great dvd episode commentary for more about this!) it is b
"I make good life choices - mostly because they’re forced on me - but I make them, and I find myself in unpleasant situations all the time."
3. "caged bird" (wonderfalls)
possibly my favorite season finale ever, this episode wraps up the series cleverly and completely. it breaks your heart and then puts it back together, and (excepting sharon's romantic endeavors), ties up all major plotlines very nicely, while still leaving room for future conflicts. (...to be explored in fanfiction?) um, plus the ending makes me squee.
"Let's blow this bitch back to the Bush years."
2. "epitaph one" (dollhouse)*
i had my doubts about dollhouse, i'll admit- even the season finale "omega," while enjoyable, was not spectaular. however "epitaph one" makes up for all that, and more. the episode is set in 2019, and things have gone kablooey. the main cast is used sparingly, which makes us appreciate them more, and the episode speaks of huge (and dark) implications for the technology used in the dollhouse, putting the whole show in perspective.
*this is my non-spoiler-y summary. there will be spoilers when it is brought up again later in the post.
"I walk. I talk. I shop. I sneeze. I'm gonna be a fireman when the floods roll back."
1. "restless" (buffy)
this episode, made up almost entirely of dream sequences, pulls out almost every trick in the book of cinematography. it portends future events in the series and discusses what a slayer really is. it features buffy facing her slayer origins and proving herself independent (one of my favorite btvs themes), and it has the cheese man. it is clever, unexpected, hilarious, mysterious, and wonderful.
(for
shah_of_blah )
top five songs used in tV/movies (with links!)
5. "these boots were made for walking" (blackpool)
my love for blackpool cannot be explained in brief, so i won't even try. suffice it to say that the series is just wonderful. david tennant and david morrissey are cast as enemies, and this song is a bit of a western showdown...with a tango. it's a very fangirly favorite, and if you've ever liked david tennant, musicals, or this song, you should go WATCH IT NOW. : )
4. "slipping" (doctor horrible's sing-along blog)
nph sings and it sounds like sondheim- in my book, this is code for "it has to be good." the lyrics are super-clever, the tone changes on a dime but still manages to stay dark, and i just adore it.
3. "hiphopopotamus vs. rhymenocerous" (flight of the conchords)
they try to rap! it is hilarious! that is all. oh, and it's good in concert AND on the show... i'm not sure i can even pick a favorite version!
2. "good morning" (singin' in the rain)
winning over all disney films, this movie was my childhood, and this song was my favorite. honestly, i'm not positive why, though the dancing is pretty darn cute and it is a very optimistic and cheerful ditty. the video link has spanish subtitles, in case you are so inclined.
1. "the sound of silence" (the graduate)
this is a gorgeous song, and a beautiful film. my favorite bit of editing in the movie is during the "april come she will" sequence, but this song is so pretty and epitomises the movie so well it easily wins out.
(for
clockwork_jo )
top 5 firefly episodes
"he robbed from the rich and gave to the poor..."
5. janyestown
there's a statue of jayne. wash gets drunk. simon thinks kaylee is "pretty pretty." and they still manage to have a serious, though-provoking ending.
"i'm going to the special hell..."
4. our mrs. reynolds
christina hendriks. kissing. vera. deception. book popping around corners, and really slutty myths.
"Take me sir. Take me hard."
3. war stories
because torture creates the wittiest banter? erm... hey, free soup!
"I don't think of myself as a lion. You might as well, though - I have a mighty roar."
2. objects in space
hey, bet you didn't see this coming! it's one of the best episodes of tv, but it's not my favorite episode of firefly. it is genius, though, and all those things i said the first time i mentioned it.
"Sir... you paid money for this? On purpose?"
1. out of gas
by and large my favorite firefly episode. this show is about family and this episode is about how that family came to be, and what it means. wash has a moustache and we didn't see kaylee coming. mal sees serenity for the first time and has True Love. they come back for mal.
(also for
clockwork_jo )
top cannon ships
"And you feel like, if he sees you that way, maybe you can be..."
5. jaye/eric (wonderfalls)
you really get the sense this pair is right for one another, even though they have completely different natures. eric brings out the best in jaye, and though about a million obstacles (many of her own making) get in the way, it's worth all the drama to see them happy and together.
"I'm burning up a sun just to say goodbye."
4. the doctor/rose (doctor who)
this is an epic pairing if there ever was one. the doctor is 900 years old, and in all that time he's loved one girl. this show is pretty generous with it's death count, but you can count the times these two have kissed on one hand. on the other hand, the love is clearly there, and hugs and hand-holding make up the difference. the pairing is also just really fun, and as silly as it is angsty.
"So a kiss is out of the question?"
3. ned/chuck (pushing daisies)
just kidding, this is the most epic love story ever. it transcends death (shuh, you "who" people), and they can't even touch. ned/chuck moments not only make me warm and fuzzy inside, they're also clever and unexpected. and did i mention the warm and fuzzy?
"I might not show respect to your job, but he didn't respect you. That's the difference."
2. mal/inara (firefly)
this pairing has all the angst- it brings the classic battle of the sexes to a t. it's obvious each of them loves the other, but their ways of life are so completely different that they often don't see eye-to-eye. they're almost an impossible couple, which in my opinion makes them one of the very best.
"A werewolf in love."
1. willow/oz (buffy)
don't get me wrong- i basically love anyone the writers paired willow with during the course of btvs, whether it be oz, tara, or xander (yeah, kennedy not so much). but oz and willow is a particular favorite, because oz saw the eskimo girl and wondered who she was. he really brought willow out of her shell, and she in turn helped him though some serious life changes. when i found out seth green left btvs to do an austin powers movie i may have been mad at him for about a month, but that's only because i love this pairing so very much.
(for elluithauren )
top 5 bands
for all my love of musicals, music isn't my specialty. these are my favorite bands, but i'm not totally sure i can explain why. so sorry if this list is more silent than most...
"But oh, my love, though our bodies may be parted / Though our skin may not touch skin"
5. the decemberists
"The arena is empty except for one man / Still driving and striving as fast as he can"
4. cake
"Oh what a thing to do / And it was all yellow"
3. coldplay
"Say what's the complication? / It's only conversation"
2. the feeling
"I'm your only friend / I'm not your only friend / But I'm a little glowing friend/ But really I'm not actually your friend"
1. They Might Be Giants
I'll be back with more soon!