Top Ten Tuesdays: Fangirling with Fandoms

Top Ten Tuesdays is a bookish meme hosted by The Broke & the Bookish! There's a prompt every week, and you respond with 10 things, or 2 or 5 or 15. Me being me, I will never not do exactly ten. *straightens laptop on table*

This week, the prompt is fandoms. And boy, do I have a list for you. 

In no particular order: the fandoms of which I claim membership:

I literally squeal when I talk about Buffy. Hands down my favorite tv series ever. I love it so much that I've continued the series in comic book form, which is not really my style, but I'll do it for Buffy! The kick-ass main heroine, the hilarious sidekicks, the fast-paced plot, the episode where everyone sings! I can't say enough good things about the Buffyverse.


If you are alive today and don't like Harry Potter, I immediately don't trust you. I understand that there are poor ignorant souls who have not yet learned the glory of being a Potterhead, but I don't understand how you can not like it. Friendship, magic, laughter, British people: it's got all my favorite things, and this series literally grew up with me. It'll always be my favorite series. After all this time? Always. *bursts into tears*

Lord of the Rings was my first foray into epic fantasy, and I've never looked back. This fandom is definitely one of the most rich and layered. I mean, you can learn new languages in this fandom. I'm not that deep in, but I have aspirations.

Before I even knew that John Green had the ability to rip out my heart with a single penstroke, I was a nerdfighter. For those of you who don't know (what have you been doing off of Youtube???), John and his brother Hank started a vlog channel many moons ago called vlogbrothers. They've now expanded into teaching history, science, art, and most other things you can think of through their youtube platform, but I love the old days when I could watch Hank try to give Peeps out on the street or watch John rant about literally anything until his hair stands up. DFTBA.

I feel like Gilmore Girls is less of a fandom and more of a lifestyle. I wanted to become Rory Gilmore, in every way. I cut my hair when I went to college like she did and tried to do the whole collegiate sweater skirt thing (didn't really work out tbh) that she was rocking in season four. I cried when Lorelai sang "I Will Always Love You" to Luke, and I had a conniption fit at the ending, and basically throughout all of the new episodes because nothing will ever compare to the original magic this show was. This show made me feel like it was okay, even cool, to like books more than people (sometimes... okay most of the time) and showed me that even strong, beautiful women like the Gilmore girls make mistakes. Also, Jess is so hawt.


This is the newest fandom I've joined, but I'm already in pretty deep. I've been sending fully armed battalions to show my love, so there's that. I have yet to actually see this musical, only listen to it, but it's one of the best I've ever heard. I love history, singing, and now I love historical rapping. Awesome, wow.

Disney is sort of the fandom that holds most of my fandoms - I love all the princess movies with a passion, plus the newer offerings like Finding Nemo, The Emporer's New Groove, Moana, Up, and hey, even Star Wars now! *dodges rotten fruit from true Star Wars fans* Disney never fails to make me feel magical. And those musicals are just groovin!

I'm pretty late to the game with this one, but I'm on season 5 of Friends, and I can't believe I've waited so long to watch it! It makes me laugh, cry, and roll my eyes, and makes me feel like being and ordinary 20-something person isn't bad. In fact, it might be the best thing ever. SO NO ONE TOLD YOU LIFE WAS GONNA BE THIS WAY BUH BUH BUH BUH

My first foray into dystopia! The Hunger Games is still the only series after Harry Potter to succeed in sucking me in so deeply and quickly. I love this series with a passion, and the movies are pretty cool too, when you don't compare directly with the awesomeness of the books. 

This is the tv series that just won't die, but I love it! The combination of mystery, thrills, and cute outfits is so up my alley it's insane. I love the books too, and they're a different plot, so it's like being able to watch your favorite movie again with alternate ending! Like 16 times cause that series is hella long but still!

If by fandom you mean constantly quoting something and being reminded of how this movie relates to your life so much on the daily (even though it doesn't remotely), then this is the ultimate fandom. Also, I love the Harry Potter crossover memes lolol:

If puppies are a fandom, then them too.

Movie Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Rating: PG-13
Minutes: 133
Categories: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Family
Released: November 18th, 2016
Director: David Yates
Writer: J.K. Rowling
Main Actors: Eddie Redmayne, Colin Farrell, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, and Dan Fogler

Me when I first heard about Fantastic Beasts:

Me after the movie, knowing that there will be five more of these magical things:

Guys, I was a little nervous about this movie. The wizarding world is very very precious to me and I was really unsure about how a new movie would ever compare to the original Harry Potter saga. I think the solution is simple, and something many people who are disappointed in this movie might consider: don't get into it expecting Harry Potter. The week before I saw Fantastic Beasts, some coworkers of mine were saying how disappointed in it they were, which you definitely would be if you were expecting a pseudo-sequel. But on its own merits, Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them is a wonderful foray back into the world we love, with new and interesting characters to boot.

Okay, can we talk about Eddie Redmayne? 

He was the perfect casting choice, and so darn cute, honestly. I love that's he's a Hufflepuff, it's about time that house got some recognition for the heroes it produces (I'm a Ravenclaw myself, but most of my best friends are Hufflepuffs). Also, if you haven't seen Eddie's PSA for the Hufflepuff house, you need to. 

I really liked the other characters, although they weren't quite as engaging as Newt. I also appreciate that the film doesn't try to rush romance. There are two budding romances in Fantastic Beasts, but they both grow naturally and at their own pace. The plotting was a tad bit slow in the beginning for my tastes, but I did enjoy getting to know the 1920's New York wizarding world, including some of it's less than ideal parts, such as no-majs (Muggles) and wizards being unable to be married or even friends.

Newt is basically a magical biologist, which, as an ecology major, is so up my alley it's insane. The CGI was amazing, and really brought the creatures to life in a way that wouldn't have been possible just a few years ago. If you've read J.K. Rowling's mini-book, also called Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, you may find some of the magical critters familiar. If not, they'll all be brand new to you. 

Finally, that ending.

It set up the next movies perfectly and I am PUMPED. There's also an intriguing romance in Newt's past that I can't wait to hear more about! Also, here's hoping that we get to see Dumbledore in the sequels!

4/5