Day 30 - Saddest character death

LEOOOOOOO *bawls like a child*

Oh, Leo. I wept like a child. It didn't help that I already knew he was going to die because they had a brief announcement at the beginning of an episode earlier being all "John Spencer died earlier" and we were all "OMG NOOOOO LEOOOOO" and then I wept every time I saw him in the credits. It was so much worse for the anticipating and the knowing it was going to happen.

And I might mention a certain death in Serenity, were I not firmly in denial about it. IT DID NOT HAPPEN LA LA LA LA LA.

That's it for the meme! I will attempt to talk more in future.

Day 24 - Best quote

BSG: Adama: "Missed you."
Roslin: "Me too... I love you."
Adama: "About time."

Buffy The Vampire Slayer: "A trade. Intriguing... no, wait, boring. PULL OFF HIS KNEECAPS." Some villain of the week.

Castle: "Mom, we are totally doing battle on the field of honor." From Castle.

Doctor Who: For old!Who, I am torn between: One: "Where's your spirit of adventure, hm?"
Ian: "It died a slow and painful death when those bats came out of the rafters." and
"That is the dematerializing control. And that, over yonder, is the horizontal hold. Up there is the scanner, those are the doors, that is a chair with a panda on it. Sheer poetry, dear boy. Now please stop bothering me." Also from One.

For new!Who, it's definitely Current UNIT Guy: "Latest firing stock; what do you think, Doctor?"
Ten: "Are you my mummy?"

Dresden Files: Harry: "Somebody doesn't want me asking questions."
Murphy: "I don't want you asking questions."
Harry: "You own a shotgun?"
Murphy: "Several."

Firefly: Zoe: "Sir? I'd like you to take the helm, please. I need this man to tear all my clothes off."
Wash: "Work, work, work..."

Leverage: Parker: "I want to cut off his arms. And his head. I want him to die. Can we make that happen?"
Eliot: "I could... I"m just sayin', you know, I could."

Lie to Me: Loker: "I would like to sleep with you."
Lightman: "Ah, Eli Loker, Ria Torres. He's harmless, just always speak the truth about what's on his mind. What do you call it again?"
Loker: "Radical honesty."

MASH: Anything that comes out of Hawkeye or BJ's mouth. Seriously.

Middleman: "I'm as serious as a German film festival, Dubbie!" From the man himself.

Pushing Daisies: Anything out of Emerson's mouth, but especially: "Well, that idea might make a stupid idea feel better about itself."

Sarah Jane Adventures: Luke: "I just hooked your cell phone up to the computer and I found what I think is a shuttle! We can get to it and fly back to earth."
Random Girl: "Yeah, but do you know how to fly a shuttle?"
Clyde: "No, but he can hook a cell phone up to an alien computer! Give him a break."

Stargate: Bounty Hunter: "And you, O'Neill, well, you're considered a pain in the nikta."
O'Neill: "Neck?"
Teal'c: "No.

Xena: The writing for this show is not the best, so none here.

X-files: "I'm not going to ask if you just said what I think you just said because I know it's what you just said." From Scully, naturally.

West Wing: Danny: "We're both about to fall off a cliff. And I don't know what I'm gonna do with the rest of my life, except I know what I don't wanna do. And on Inauguration Day, you're going to be released from that glorious prison on Pennsylvania Avenue, with..."
CJ: "No human skills?"
Danny: "Seems to me..."
CJ: "I should punch you in the face."
Danny: "That's what I'm talking about."
CJ: "Keep going..."
Danny: "So, if I'm gonna jump off the cliff, and you're gonna get pushed off the cliff, why don't we hold hands on the way down?"

White Collar: Either "I'm an internationally known art thief and tonight I am here to rob you - cheers! " or "We know why I am naked - why are you?" Both of which are unsurprisingly Neal.

Day 22 - Favorite series finale
You know, I think it's The Palindrome Reversal Palindrome, from The Middleman. Not because it was intended to be a series finale (it wasn't); those actually tend to disappoint me. I mean, the BSG finale got Adama/Roslin so painfully right but it got almot everything else so painfully wrong, and Firefly never really had something that you could call a finale, and poor Pushing Daisies had to cram two seasons into three episodes and didn't do so well. Middleman didn't really have any arcs or dangling plotlines to wrap up, just an emotional arc, which it did nicely. And while The Palindrome Reversal Palindrome did leave some hints for future episodes, it wasn't anything GLARING. Nothing got left to chance, and we saw Wendy as happy, secure and with a wonderful job and boyfriend, painting a portrait of her older brother cum father-figure, knowing that she's a hero and so is he, and that for just this moment, everything is right with the world.

It was and remains a lovely feeling. Definitely my favorite.

Though I do love Tomorrow, the West Wing's finale.

Just not as much.


Day 23 - Most annoying character
Josh Lyman, from the West Wing.

*ducks*

To clarify, he is my least favorite major character on a show. I dislike him because he's oblivious, because he's kind of dumb for one of the smartest people in the world, because I frequently wanted to hit him because of the way he treated Donna (although in the first and fifth season finales and Noel, I did want to hug him and tell him it would be okay, but who didn't?), and because he was really a little bit obnoxious. My least favorite type of person.

Day 21 - Favorite ship

*sigh*

*hauls out the list of favorite shows again*

BSG: Adama/Roslin. Everyone please act surprised for a moment.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer: I am constantly torn between Willow/Oz and Willow/Tara. I love them both like candy you guys. Perhaps Oz/Willow/Tara? I could see this...
Castle: Ryan/Esposito. *shifty eyes* Look, I know I should be shipping Castle/Beckett, and I do, but in a sort of "eventually" way. They're Harry and Murphy in the first couple books. They should totes be together, but not yet, because they're not ready for each other yet. Ryan and Esposito, on the other hand... but only if Jenny either approves or has an amiable breakup with Ryan. I do not approve of demonizing significant others. Speaking of, props to the show for not demonizing Demming! I'll have him now that Beckett's broken up with him. *yoinks*
Doctor Who: Ian/Barbara in Old, Martha/Tom Milligan in New. YES I AM STILL BITTER.
Dresden Files: Harry/Murphy. Again, please act surprised.
Firefly: Wash/Zoe. I love me the happily-married couples.
Leverage: Parker/Hardison OTP! They ship themselves.
Lie to Me: Ria and her boyfriend whose name I cannot remember but who is awesome with her.
MASH: *shifty eyes* Hawkeye/Margaret Houlihan. *runs*
Middleman: WENDY/TYLER OTP! I seem to be in the minority on this, annoyingly.
Pushing Daisies: Chuck/Ned, naturally. Although I must admit to a major soft spot for Olive/Alfredo.
Sarah Jane Adventures: Clyde/Luke. Watch with an open mind, grasshopper.
Stargate: ...actually, Sam/Teal'c. Eponymous_rose wrote a fic that turned me on to it and I sort of love it now. Even though the show is pushing Jack/Sam.
Xena: Xena/Gabrielle. Although, again, soft spot for Callisto/Ares. THEIRLOVEISSODESTRUCTIVE
X-files: Mulder/Scully.
West Wing: CJ/Danny until the end of time! TEAM DANNY!
White Collar: Peter/El/Neal. One of the very, very few OT3s I can see working successfully. Mostly because El is just super amazing like that. And also because Neal is so their bitch.

And I will strive not to get behind again.

Day 14 - Favorite male character
GUYS. Stop making me play favorites. It never ends well.
BSG: Tie between Adama pere and Helo.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer: GILES. <3333333 Giles.
Castle: Actually it's probably Demming. *shifty eyes*
Doctor Who: Far and away the Doctor. All of them. With Six and One leading the pack.
Dresden Files: Morgan. I love him more than Harry and Bob both. Sorry, guys.
Firefly: WASH. <333333 Wash. Serenity didn't happen.
Leverage: Hardison.
Lie to Me: Eli Loker. I seem to find his jerkishness adorable.
MASH: Alan Alda Radar. Radar's adorable.
Middleman: MIDDLEMAN WOOT WOOT.
Pushing Daisies: Probably Emerson. He's funnier and less morose than Ned.
Sarah Jane Adventures: If you frequent my journal, you know by now that I'm a pervy Luke fancier.
Stargate: DANIEL. I go for the geeky guys, clearly.
Xena: Cupid. What can I say, I'm a sucker for itty-bitty baby Karl Urban.
X-files: FROHIKE. Well, actually, Byers, but I just love shouting "FROHIKE" at unexpected moments.
West Wing: Either Toby or President Bartlett. It's a close call.
White Collar: Peter. Neil may be hot, but Peter has my heart.


Day 15 - Favorite female character
BSG: Laura Roslin. No contest. Everyone please act surprised for a moment.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Joyce Summers, with Dru a close second.
Castle: Alexis Castle. She reminds me of me. I probably flatter myself, though.
Doctor Who: Sarah Jane Smith. I want to BE her.
Dresden Files: Murphy. Duh.
Firefly: Kaylee in terms of who I'd like to hang with, River in terms of most-interesting.
Leverage: Parker. She's awesome, and it's really nice to see someone with Asperger's properly portrayed.
Lie to Me: Emily Lightman. Sensing a "daughters" theme?
MASH: MARGARET HOULIHAN FUCK YEAH. I mean, I realize she's basically the only recurring female character, but she is also badass as all-get-out and everyone should just bow to her awesome. Once she realizes how badass she is and dumps Frank, I expect to be much happier with the show. Seriously, Margaret, DUMP FRANK.
Middleman: Wendy. Though this one's a tough call.
Pushing Daisies: Probably Olive, but it's a narrow squeak and mostly because she is Kristen Chenoweth.
Sarah Jane Adventures: Once again, Sarah Jane Smith.
Stargate: Dr. Janet Fraiser.
Xena: Gabrielle.
X-files: SCULLY FUCK YEAH. Ahem.
West Wing: CJ FUCK YEAH. Ahem.
White Collar: Elizabeth Burke is made of win. You know this to be true.

Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show
Glee. I hate the characters (except Sue) and I hate the plots, but god, those musical numbers keep sucking me back in.

Day 17 - Favorite mini series
JOHN ADAMS. Okay, this was a given because I'm a major John Adams fangirl, but it's also well-acted and well-directed and I just. I love it so much.

Day 07 - Least favorite episode of your favorite TV show:

More blathering about numerous shows! Not playing favorites is exhausting sometimes.

BSG: Woman King. Does not exist. Black Market is close behind.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Witch. Eugh.
Castle: I'm a bit unfond of The Mistress Always Spanks Twice, but it's like saying "Of these puppies which are licking my face and playing with each other and otherwise being adorable, I love this one least."
Doctor Who: The first serial after An Unearthly Child in old, the Episodes Of Which We Do Not Speak in New.
Dresden Files: Hair of the Dog.
Firefly: War Stories, but see the Castle disclaimer.
Leverage: The Two-Horse Job, but see the Castle disclaimer.
Lie to Me: Undercover, but see the Castle disclaimer.
MASH: Any episode which forgets how awesome Margaret Houlihan is and uses her as a shrill harpy instead, with special out-of-favor to the ones that featured rape jokes (only two, but still).
Middleman: The Cursed Tuba Contingency, but this is more because it's uncomfortable for me to watch. It happens to be an amazing episode.
Pushing Daisies: Eh, I'm not thrilled with The Norweigans.
Sarah Jane Adventures: The Madwoman of Bannerman Road. No real reason, just a strong personal dislike.
Stargate: Touchstone or Matter of Time. Crossroads got perilously close to this but was saved by Unexpected Peter Wingfield.
Xena: That fucking musical episode, man. It managed to have Callisto and still suck.
X-files: Do not even talk to me about Syzygy.
West Wing: Most of season five.
White Collar: Hard Sell, but only because Neil spent the whole thing being suspicious and cranky.

I haven't been updating the meme recently because I've been ridiculously ill. Therefore, catchup!

Day 03 - Your favorite new show (aired this TV season)
I only really got into one show that started airing this season, but it was a frakking good one so y'all can just sit and listen to me blather for a little bit about how awesome White Collar is. Which is to say, very. It is the story of FBI agent Peter Burke and con man Neal Caffery as they team up to fight crime. It is also the story of FBI agent Peter Burke and his lovely wife Elizabeth Burke, event planner extraordinaire, and how beautifully perfect they are together (seriously, guys, the fandom doesn't want to break them up. The fandom). It is ALSO the story of Peter, Elizabeth and Neal possibly being an OT3 forever and ever.

The thing about White Collar, though, is that it's SMART, and it doesn't resort to stupid little misunderstandings to cause drama. Every character behaves very intelligently for the amount of information they have at the time. Oh, and Elizabeth and Peter? Yeah, they do this mystical thing called communication. It's why they hardly ever have stupid fights. Because they, y'know, talk to each other. And don't lie to each other. A lesson that Neal could probably stand to benefit from. Anyway, it's an awesome show.

Day 04 - Your favorite show ever
Oh, Lord, don't make me choose.

Seriously, I don't play favorites with things. I love all my shows with the love of one who truly loves them. I love Battlestar Galactica and Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Castle and Doctor Who and Firefly and Leverage and Lie to Me and MASH and Middleman and Sarah Jane Adventures and Stargate and Xena and X-files and West Wing and White Collar and anything else I might have forgotten and even that really terrible version of the Dresden Files. I love them for different reasons, but I love them all about the same.

Caprica's not listed because I haven't seen it yet. I've been busy.

Day 05 - A show you hate
Wife Swap. It makes me cringe and grit my teeth in rage and hatred.

I trust I don't need to say why.

Day 06 - Favorite episode of your favorite TV show:
I do not have a favorite TV show, as I said, so I will simply list favorite episodes from all of them. Hey, if you didn't come here to listen to me blather, you may be in the wrong place.

BSG: Tie between Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down, the Cain arc (all three parts) and The Hub.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Keeping in mind that I've only seen the first three seasons... Innocence/Surprise.
Castle: Tie, between Vampire Weekend and Famous Last Words. I'm a sucker for Castle being a father, and of course the Firefly references you guys.
Doctor Who: The Aztecs in Old, Empty Child/Doctor Dances in New.
Dresden Files: Bourne Identity.
Firefly: Safe.
Leverage: The Juror #6 Job.
Lie to Me: Depraved Heart.
MASH: Again, I've only seen the first four seasons, but either The Kids or Carry On, Hawkeye. I love the episodes that remember how awesome Margaret Houlihan is (the answer is very).
Middleman: Ecoplasmic Panhellenic Investigation.
Pushing Daisies: Bitches, Bad Habits, or Dim Sum Lose Sum. The latter does have the annoying ability to make me extremely hungry.
Sarah Jane Adventures: The Lost Boy.
Stargate: Window of Opportunity.
Xena: Anyting with Callisto. Woman is like, insta-awesome. Although I have a soft spot for Day in the Life.
X-files: Paper Hearts.
West Wing: Dead Irish Writers.
White Collar: Front Man.

I finished reading a biography today, about the same time as Miss Cam sparked a new meme here after this fandom secret and this long discussion bordering on wank (randomly, I love how everyone pulled out their favorite female character icons in that thread). It was fortuitous timing, so now I'm going to tell y'all about women I admire, who may or may not be fictional. I'd stick with fictional women, but again, the biography. I do hope you'll talk about women you admire, too. I think we can't talk enough about women we admire.

( I've restrained myself, with great difficulty, to one per fandom. )

Looking back at these women, and at the ones who didn't make the list (Zoe Washburn, Inara Serra, Dana Scully, Virginia Wolff, my Doctor Who gals), I can see a couple of trends. I tend to admire smart women, who can maintain strong and loving relationships, but neither quality is a deal-breaker if it's lacking (Kaylee, Karrin Murphy). I admire women who are women, not men with breasts. I admire women who aren't afraid or ashamed of their sexuality. I admire women who are more than competant, women who hold their own and demand respect. I admire exceptional women who aren't afraid to be exceptional.

I feel like today, most women and girls are afraid to be exceptional. I don't know why this is so, or why women get boxed into subordinate roles that they aren't comfortable with or happy in. I feel like every girl should know that she can be exceptional, and I feel like these woman are a good start.

In short, I admire exceptional women, and I have every intention of being one.

What women do you respect? Why do you respect them?

ETA: Honorh talks about the same thing here, and so does selenay936.

Okay, this show is the best show ever, officially.

It is the best show ever because it is unapologetically smart. Bartlet is the world's biggest geek. The people working for the White House are the smartest people in the world (sez Charlie, right before Josh sits down without any chair). They are for schools, for trying and being wrong, for being smart and not having to apologize for it. That kind of intellectualism is so rare on TV. Too often we are told that smart people are and should be outcasts, and that to be smart is to make yourself an outcast. The West Wing is one of the very, very few shows I have ever seen that contradicts that.

It is the best show ever because the dialogue is awesome and funny as well as being educational. Sorkin discusses some pretty heavy issues, but he does it with grace and sensitivity and endlessly quotable lines. The actors rattle off some pretty long lines with ease. The aforementioned heavy issues get discussed in terms that pretty much everyone can understand without ever making it feel like the language or ideas are being dumbed down so the audience can follow along. Also, everyone says "Okay" the same way. They sort of lean on the first syllable and give it a twist towards the 'a' sound, so it goes more like, "Ahkay." Anyone else noticed that?

It is the best show ever because the characters are amazing. President Bartlet was apparently supposed to only be on a few shows every season, but Martin Sheen was made of too much awesome: I think we can agree on that. Leo is awesome and cranky and local god. Toby is awesome and cranky and deadpan snarker. Sam's such a cute little idealist; people tolerate his pranks because he's going places. Josh... I can't even articulate Josh. Charlie is the cutest thing ever. Danny rocks. Donna rocks. Margaret rocks. All the Bartlets rock.

But where is CJ, you say?

Saved the best for last. CJ CREGG, HOW DO I LOVE THEE, LET ME COUNT THE WAYS. *flails and swoons*

I'm convinced that CJ Cregg was the origin of my girlcrush on Allison Janney. I saw a single episode of The West Wing at a tender age (I think I was eleven or so, maybe twelve; it was the episode before Two Cathedrals) and it has evidently marked me for life.

It is the best show ever because it is one of the few things that makes me feel genuinely patriotic.

Okay, guys, I am not generally all that political. I tend to side with the Democrats, I hate George Bush, I think Tom Delay is the scum of the earth and Obama's awesome, yadda yadda yadda. But I don't get that into politics, or into being American and praising America, because most of the time I think it sucks. And yet, and yet. The West Wing makes me feel genuinely proud of my country.

It's stuff like Toby saying "What do you say about a government that protects even those citizens trying to destroy it?" and CJ saying "God bless America." It's things like that that make me realize, hey. I live in a country where I can say some truly rotten stuff about my leader, and have absolutely no fear of reprisal. I can say that George Bush is a right-wing nutjob moronic monkey with the brains of a retarded snail. I can say stuff like that. I can go to the polls and vote. I can call Republicans nasty things if I want to, because that is my right as a citizen. I was born in America, and therefore I have a right to call some of the shots. And if I don't like what's going on in this country, I have a right to stand up and say something about it.

That's cool, y'all. And the West Wing makes me feel just how cool it is.

Basically, this is a really good show, and you should all watch it.

God bless America.