December Music Rec Post

I wasn't sure I was going to start posting here at Fandombouquet until the New Year. In fact, this may be my only post in December. I can happily say that I completed this year's NaNoWrimo successfully. (I stopped counting words at around 55k, but there are more than that. Significantly more.) However, I am currently stuck in the exact middle of the novel, and I've determined that the only way to solve this problem is to keep going and make December's goal "finish the damn draft." So, that's what I'm going to do, and I'll warn readers now, I get testy and distracted when I'm this focused on the finish line. That's especially true when there's a deadline involved, even if it's a self-imposed deadline.

I had to post this week, though, because I discovered an absolutely gorgeous new Christmas album, and it would have been criminal to keep it to myself.

How Not To Succeed At NaNoWriMo

Just thought I would come by and clean up the garden a bit. It's late fall now and there are a lot of dead leaves blowing around. While I'm here, I might as well provide a little insight into what has sapped so much of my attention lately. (Or not).

Brief Update

The Fandom Garden is looking a little neglected, so I wanted to let readers know that I'm still here. October has gotten away from me in the process of preparing a new project for Nanowrimo. In November, most of my time will go to that project, and unless I suffer a catastrophic meltdown of brain tissue, December will be spent on (hopefully) finishing the first draft and then cleaning it up.

I haven't seen much of interest in the new crop of shows this TV season. I will say, however, that I'm quite impressed with Castle's third season--although less impressed with Beckett's new hair. There's a new season of Sanctuary starting and I'm excited about that, but reserving judgment for the time being. The only new fandom I can say we'll be seeing in the garden is Hawaii 5-0. It's passed my "three episode" rule with flying colors and I can't wait to catch up on the season once Nano is over!

Expect to see regular updates again in January, starting with Music recs for the new year. Until then, I wish everyone happy fandom pursuits.

Five-O or No?

I've been off the radar for a few weeks, and I apologize to readers. I can't even blame my internet connection this time. I've been distracted with preparations for NanoWriMo, watching Blade Runner, (I received the 5-Disc Ultimate Collectors Edition box set as an early birthday present and I came up with this great idea to do a blog post comparing all five movies) and trying to catch up on the summer TV shows I had been watching before the fall season started. All of this (except Nano) was motivated by Fandombouquet, and yet I managed to forget to post here.

I've got a half finished post in the Thirteen Things series, but I have a burning need to interrupt my nicely ordered schedule. Why, you ask? No, actually you're probably not asking that. You've read the title of the post. So. As you can probably guess, I watched the pilot episode of CBS' re-imagined Hawaii 5-0 this week.

September Music Rec Post

My internet problems appear to be solved. Thank you, Brian from the phone company! Anyway. On with the show. I'm about halfway done the "Thirteen Things" theme I started in late August, but I'm going to take a break this week because I've decided to start doing a monthly music rec on the first Sunday of the month.

I've been slowly but surely updating my list of music, and if you take a look on the music page, you can see that my life is a testimony to eclectic taste and adoration of music across genre. (And as of this post, I haven't even finished updating the C's!)

The more I work on the music page, the more I realize how much wonderful music I've been exposed to, both from growing up around people of different age groups and backgrounds and, in the past ten years or so, making friends through the internet who have even more varied tastes than myself. I feel privileged to live in a time and culture where we have such a marvelous variety of styles and genres.



I hemmed and hawed about what to start with for a while and then I just said, "the heck with it" and started with the first album on the list.

Announcement

The Fandom Garden's going to be quiet for a few weeks. My internet access is really sketchy. Hopefully I'll be able to pick up the current series again in early September.

13 Things You Should Watch (But Probably Haven't) Part 1

I was going to do this in one post. Then I remembered how wordy I am and how much I don't like it when bloggers go on and on in their posts. So I decided that if I'm going to do lists of any description, I need to break them up. So, for the next few weeks, you lucky people get to hear me ramble at length about obscure and underrated TV and movies!

I have a terrible time ranking things if I have to make more than three choices. So, I'm going to list these alphabetically. It's not so much a ranking as just a list with a little description. Not all of them are genre-related, but most are.

These movies and shows are not without flaws. They're simply not well known; underrated; unfairly maligned; or ignored in favor of inferior works that are similar in theme; etc. Do they qualify as masterpieces or "the best ever" in their categories? Not necessarily. Watch them anyway.

13 Things You Should Watch (But Probably Haven't) Part 2

This is going to be a short post. I had a migraine this week, and my plan to cover more of these entries was derailed. Still, these are interesting movies and I recommend that readers take a look. More next week.

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Index Post: The Five Faces of Robin Hood

This week I ended my first blog series, entitled The Five Faces of Robin Hood. It's been both a challenge and a fun experience for me. I'd like to thank everyone who read and commented on the series while I was writing it.

Below is a list of links to all the posts for easier navigation.

Week 1: Intro | Week 2: Nate Ford| Week 3: Alec Hardison| Week 4: Parker|Week 5: Sophie Devereaux| Week 6: Tara Cole|Week 7: Eliot Spencer

The Five Faces of Robin Hood: Eliot Spencer

Eliot Spencer is larger than life. He's a tank of a guy who can get on a boat full of gun wielding thugs, count them up while he's being escorted around and then count them all down again while beating the crap out of them to save his teammates. He can also cook, sing, play baseball, charm the ladies, and outrun mobs of screaming fangirls--uphill!--all while delivering witty one-liners and engaging in witty repartee with Alec Hardison.

He is a blast to watch. The writer in me experiences "character envy" just about any time Eliot does something. He's the kind of character who can say more with a facial expression or a raised eyebrow than most people say in their dissertations. Yet at the same time, I can't think of an instance when he didn't speak his mind if it was necessary. Although he doesn't like to show it, he also has a remarkable capacity for compassion. In short, Eliot is really, really awesome. He's the most overtly Robinesque of our six Robin Hoods: the former soldier turned outlaw turned vigilante who rushes in to save the day and sends the Sheriff's men running for their lives. Okay. Maybe he's a little more of Little John than Robin when you consider that he's also huge and prefers to use his fists where Robin preferred a bow. Either way, he's still the one who most closely fits the analogy that this series has been making. So, today Eliot is Robin. But is he relatable? Can he be someone's personal Robin Hood the way that Hardison and Tara are mine?

The Five Faces of Robin Hood: Tara Cole

I have the same affinity for outsiders that I do for underdogs. I'm trying to decide whether one is an extension of the other or if I just identify with outsiders and therefore gravitate to them. Either way, I'm going to issue the warning that this post may not be the most balanced look at Tara. I like her too much.

Bringing a new or "replacement" character into an ensemble cast is rarely successful. Why should it be? Fans become invested in the interpersonal dynamics on a show as much as they do the lives of the individuals or the development of story arcs. It's impossible to introduce someone else without changing those dynamics to some degree.

The Big Valley

Another show that I was first exposed to as a kid. Having seen the first season on DVD a couple of years ago, I was most impressed by the beauty of the landscapes and the visual elements of the show. Given that it ran in the 1960s, it's understandable that The Big Valley comes off as a bit contrived and predictable to modern viewers.

Still, I am a sucker for family dynamics, and the close-knit nature of the Barkleys still appeals to me as an adult. It's an enjoyable show, and even if the episodes do tend to follow a formulaic pattern, I continue to find myself drawn into the lives of this wonderful family.

My favorite characters were Victoria and Heath. Victoria appealed to me for her strength and charisma, and--predictably enough--because she was a woman who maintained her own authority and ran a large business empire in a time period when most women didn't do such things. Heath was compelling as the outsider who had to earn the respect of the Barkleys' employees and other people in the community. This aspect seemed to be played down in later seasons, but it was a prominent part of the s1 plot.

Beauty and the Beast (Fandom Listing)

I will never forget when I first discovered this show, some time late in the original run of Season 1. It's because of Beauty and The Beast that I first became interested in fandom activities as a cultural phenomenon.

Like Babylon 5, this was a show that I couldn't watch regularly when it was on television. That said, Vincent and Catherine's story was a compelling one that I took every opportunity to catch up on.

My favorite characters were Catherine and Father, so like most fans, I was unhappy with the show's final season. However, I did think that the character of Diana Bennett had a lot of potential. It was unfortunate that she had to be introduced the way she was.

I picked up the DVDs a few years ago, but I'm still waiting for an opportune time to watch the series from start to finish.

Ships

Vincent/Catherine

Bewitched (Fandom Listing)

What can I say? Who doesn't love Bewitched?

I have to admit that I don't generally enjoy sitcoms, but this was a show my family watched when I was growing up. Sam appealed to me because she wanted to do things her own way, regardless of what her mother or even--at times--Darren thought about it. Yet, she was consistently loyal to and protective of her husband. I probably also enjoyed the way that Darren was typically in need of rescue by his wife instead of being the show's hero and saving the damsel in distress.

Roddenberry's Andromeda (Fandom Listing)

I am a Roddenberry fangirl, and I won't apologize for it. So, I suppose it was inevitable that I would come to enjoy Andromeda. That said, I was a bit reticent about the show when I started watching it.

As with Star Trek, I enjoyed the ideas that the series often explored. However, I had a hard time seeing Kevin Sorbo as a starship captain. For the majority of season 1, I kept seeing and hearing Hercules when Dylan spoke. The rest of the characters were what drew me in to the show, which I ended up watching in its entirety while it was running on what is now Syfy along with my favorite show, Stargate SG-1.

My favorite characters were Beka and Rhade, but one way or another I found myself drawn into everyone's lives and the evolution of interpersonal dynamics on the show.

Ships

Dylan/Rommie
Andromeda/Balance of Judgement
Beka/Rhade

All Creatures Great and Small (Fandom Listing)

One of the few British shows I enjoy, this show is based on the novels of Alf White, who wrote under the pen name of James Herriot. The episodes can be a bit slow paced, but the characters are enjoyable and warm. At this point, I've only watched the original three seasons, which ran from 1978-1980.

The show and the novels that they were based on were based on Herriot's experience as a veterinary surgeon in a small country practice prior to the Second World War. Herriot begins as an assistant in the family practice operated by Sigfried Farnon. As the show progresses, he works his way up to being a full partner.

The show may be a bit dated since it was produced in the late 70s-early 80s. Animal lovers and anyone who appreciates character driven storylines will appreciate it.

The Five Faces of Robin Hood: Sophie Devereaux

I kept wondering what title I should use for this entry. After all, Leverage fans learned a while back that the name Sophie Devereaux is really just one of an undetermined number of aliases used by the crew's main grifter. Her real name remains a mystery to viewers, although most of the team learned it at the beginning of season 3. I toyed with calling the post The Five Faces of Robin Hood: The Grifter Formerly Known as Sophie, but that sounded awkward. Then I thought about calling it The Five Faces of Robin Hood: Grifter #1, but that didn't feel right since the whole point of the Five Faces series is why viewers are able to identify with the characters on a personal level. Finally, I decided that I was spending too much time trying to come up with a clever title and just followed the formula I'd established in previous posts.

The Five Faces of Robin Hood: Parker

Remember the "crazy kid" in school? The one who sat in the back of the room and either didn't talk or didn't make sense? The one everybody said was an alien or maybe the one who told everybody that he or she was from Neptune? Remember the sexy cat burglar in the movies? The one who wore a catsuit so tight it was a miracle she could move let alone scale buildings or do backflips over laser beams in the bank vault? The one who steal anything, any time, and was rarely in any danger of being caught? That's Parker. Seem incongruous? That's the point.

The Five Faces of Robin Hood: Alec Hardison

Alec Hardison is without a doubt the Leverage character with whom I feel the strongest sense of identification. So much so, in fact, that I had a difficult time figuring out what to write about in this post. After all, I reasoned, who wouldn't feel that way about him. Then I remembered that not everyone would understand why hiring a bunch of girls to dress up in gold bikinis and fight with lightsabers is not only hilarious but awesome. Not everyone pumped a fist in the air and yelled, "Yes!" when Hardison gave what is becoming the battle cry of geeks worldwide:

"Age of the geek, baby! We run the world!"

The Five Faces of Robin Hood: Nate Ford

There is something about an underdog that draws me in even if I know that rooting for him is going to be painful. Sometimes it's all right, because there's a formula in place that dictates who's going to come out on top. That isn't the case with Nate Ford, but I'm in his corner anyway.

Leverage: The Five Faces of Robin Hood

It's a simple premise. Take five people who don't trust each other, give them a common foe, and force them to work together. It's been done a hundred times on ensemble shows. Why does it need to be done again? And why has Leverage struck such a chord with its audience?

Brooklyn South (Fandom Listing)

Brooklyn South

One of only a handful of modern police dramas I have enjoyed, this series was produced by Steven Bochco, who is more well known for his work on a similar show in the 80s: Hill Street Blues. Unfortunately however, CBS was unable to find a niche for this one. The characters were wonderfully drawn, and the show was well written, but it suffered from poor ratings and was cancelled after a single season.

I only discovered it after having watched another show with Yancy Butler, who plays Officer Anne-Marie Kersey. I had the good fortune of being able to pick up the series very cheap (about $10) and I'm glad I did!

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Castle (Fandom Listing)

Castle

I checked this show out in 2009 because I was curious about the protagonist being a writer. Although the first season has some twitchy moments, I have to congratulate the creative team, because I've lost count of the times I found myself echoing Castle in his "writer" mode. There were even times I said his lines before he did. The most compelling character for me, though, is Kate Beckett, and she's the real reason I decided to tune in for season 2. I wanted to know what happened to her and if she found her mother's killer. I'm not sure at this point that we'll ever have the answer to that question, but I'm definitely glad I stuck around. Season 2 was top notch, and I'm eagerly waiting to see where things will go in Season 3.

Ships

Castle/Beckett (What else?)

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DCAU (Fandom Listing)

DCAU (DC Animated Universe)

I'm including all the DCAU shows that I watch in a single post because they have the same continuity, so I consider them to be a metaseries.

I will say upfront, I'm not really into comics. I gave up reading them when I was a kid because I didn't like having to wait so long between issues and when I realized that different writers have handled the same comic at various points in history, I felt like I never knew what the "real" story was.

Weird? Maybe. But that's how I felt at the time.

Out of curiosity, I have used the internet to trace the stories around particular superheroes or hero teams that I like, and usually enjoy a good superhero movie, but I can't speak to how well something does or doesn't stick to the comic plots/characterizations.

DCAU Shows I watch:

Batman: TAS/The New Batman Adventures

BTAS is my favorite. I stuck out The New Batman Adventures just to see what happened, but I wasn't thrilled.

Superman: TAS/The New Batman/Superman Adventures

This series didn't quite live up to BTAS, and I think it's gotten a worse reputation than it deserves for that reason. It was still a good show in its own right, and I enjoyed it.

Batman: Beyond

I wasn't sure how I felt about this concept when the show started, but Terry McGinnis won me over despite himself.

Static Shock

One of those shows I wish would have lasted a LOT longer.

Justice League (JLA/JLU)

Given the choice, I prefer JLA, but again, I stuck with the story and I enjoyed it.

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Battlestar Galactica 2003 (Fandom Listing)

Battlestar Galactica 2003 (BSG)

I'm including this show because my completest nature won't let me leave it out. Despite the widespread acclaim the series has received, including having been named among Time Magazine's Top 100 TV Shows of All Time, it has the dubious distinction of being one of only four shows I ever quit watching after I had watched two full seasons and become invested in the lives of the characters. This is even more remarkable because Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell are two of my favorite actors.

So, if you are a BSG fan, you can start sending me hate mail now, because if I ever post about this one, you will not like what I have to say.

Ships

(Yes, I did have some before I quit the show, and in my happy place, they still exist.)

Roslin/Adama

Kara/Lee

Saul/Ellen

Six/Gaius

Dee/Billy

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Battlestar Galactica-Original (Fandom Listing)

Battlestar Galactica

Another show that is a fondly remembered part of my childhood. My favorite character was Adama. Between this show and Bonanza, Lorne Greene became permanently embedded in my subconscious as the model for father figures. The other big draw for me was the brother dynamic between Apollo and Starbuck.

It's on the list of shows I'd like to watch again, but until I do, I'm not going to be able to offer much commentary.

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Bionic Woman-Original (Fandom Listing)

The Bionic Woman-(Original) (2)

This was my very first fandom. As most of my readers will probably know, it was a spin-off of The Six Million Dollar Man. Jaime Sommers appeared as a love interest for Steve Austin and was so well received that she was given her own series, which ran for three seasons. My affection for the show is based on a child's perspective and admiration for Jaime Sommers, so I can't offer a very balanced commentary. Hopefully, I'll get to watch the show again as an adult.

Ships

Jaime/Steve
Jaime/Chris

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Bionic Woman 2007 (Fandom Listing)

Bionic Woman 2007 (3)

This show was one of the most unfortunate casualties of the WGA strike in 2007-2008. Although it was highly anticipated, the show struggled to find an audience and was ultimately cancelled after only 8 episodes. The premise and characters deviated quite a bit from the original, which I suspect was off-putting to some fans, but it far less different in spirit an tone than the reinvisioned Battlestar Galactica is from its source material.

I fell in love with it from the outset, and I believe that if the strike hadn't blown the entire 07-08 TV season off course, it would have found its footing. The characters were rich and complex, the relationships believable, and while the plot seemed too convoluted at times, this could have been remedied if time and care had been taken.

Ships

Jaime/Antonio*

Sarah/Jae

Ruth/Jonas

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Babylon 5 (Fandom Listing)

Babylon 5 (1)

I discovered this show during its initial broadcast run on TNT. I was in my teens at the time, and since no one in my family liked it, I could only catch episodes here and there. Despite this, the show stayed with me and has become a strong influence on my science fiction. In 2010 I finally had the pleasure of seeing B5 in its entirety from start to finish. It is a remarkable experience and one that I recommend to anyone who enjoys the unfolding of a story. Season 5 has some weak spots in comparison to the other four, but from listening to the DVD commentaries, I gather that JMS was told to wrap up his storylines in s4 and subsequently got the greenlight for a final season. With that information in mind, it's pretty clear that the problem with season 5 is the loss of momentum from the previous year.

Ships

Sheridan/Delenn *

Susan/Marcus

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Leverage: The Awesomeness of Us.

There is a strange and marvelous phenomenon sweeping the fandom garden. It's called Leverage, and if you haven't heard of it yet, you will. Actually, if you haven't heard of it yet, all I have to say is, you must live in an alternate reality.

Leverage runs on TNT, and I am about to explode with anticipation of tonight's season 3 premier. I love this show, folks. I love it in a way that is scary because I swore to myself that, after SG-1's cancellation, I would never allow myself to get this invested in a fandom again. Well, so much for that. Good job, Rose--or maybe, good job Leverage writers...

Whoooooooooo are you?

That's the question of the hour, isn't it? The short answer is that I am a long-time fan of speculative fiction, movies and television. The longer answer is that I am a picky person who chooses her fandoms and fan-related activities carefully. I won't jump on every bandwagon that comes along, but when I do decide I like something, I will devour it until I know (almost) all there is to know.

And I have opinions. Lots of opinions. So many opinions that I decided I should find a place to write them all down. Hopefully, in the process I'll find a few people with similar ones to share with me.

I'm generally open minded, and I welcome intelligent discussion, whether or not you agree with what I have to say. Remember, though. I said intelligent. That means, if you have nothing to say except , "Ur rong! U suk!", you should find an adult education center and learn to speak in complete sentences, then find something else to do with your time.

Enjoy your stay!

(Oh, and anyone who can tell me who said, "Whoooooo are you?" gets today's secret prize.)