Fandom Meme
I owe an Obsessive Meme courtesy of amantium_irae, who thankfully got the ball rolling, but I've been sitting on this one for a couple of weeks and wanted to spend some time on it.
I saw this meme on _onebreath's LJ:
Choosing four fandoms:
1) Harry Potter
1a. The first character I first fell in love with: Ron, who is by far my favorite character (Harry of course aside). His humor just slays me, but I don't think I realized just how much I love him until the 4th book when he and Harry are on the outs. I was gleeful at their reconciliation, and the thing I love most about Ron is that he is constantly in Harry's shadow, and what a place to be, but he is a most loyal friend, and it is so inspiring.
2a. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: I really like Neville. Like, a lot. Which is something that kind of took me by surprise just because I didn't expect it, but when I found out the bit behind the prophecy and how it easily could've been Neville in Harry's place, I think he's one of those who's greater and more capable than he believes, and I so respect that.
3a. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Hmm... I don't really know. Though this doesn't really apply, I feel like Umbridge needs a mention here because I HATE her with a passion. I don't think there's a soul, though, that likes her because she's so vicious and evil. The only other person I can really think of is Mrs. Weasley. I don't not like her, really, it's just that in the 5th book she really, really annoyed me. I feel like, often, when people try to keep something from someone under the guise of trying to spare or protect them, that actually does more harm than if the someone was aware. And she can be overly bossy and hovering.
4a. The character I love that everyone else hates: At this point I'm not completely sure why I'm doing this because this question stumps me too because I'm not sure who everyone hates other than Umbridge, Snape, Voldemort, etc., and those are givens. Characters I do really like, however, that have grown on me quite a lot throughout the series are Dobby and Luna. You know what else, actually? I think Voldemort's mother, Merope, is really interesting too. I love how Rowling always seems to do the exact perfect thing for the story, in this case making Voldemort's mother the awkward, creepy, but abused anti-social who was never loved and so tragic.
5a. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Okay, well, the only thing is that as one of Harry's fellow house members and roommate, I had a general liking for Seamus, until the 5th book when he stops believing Harry and treats him pretty poorly. The other one, sort of, that I did like through the first few movies (really more so than the books, where my feelings were more ambivalent) was Percy, but I really can't stand him now. He's such a pissy, self-righteous type who, even worse than deserting his own family during times of trial, stays away even after he's proven wrong just because he's too high and mighty to admit it.
6a. The character I would shag anytime: Hahaha Most of these characters are teenagers. But some of those good guys fighting evil in the Order might be appealing. :p
7a. The character I'd want to be like: It's cliche, probably, but I would like to be like Harry. He has such a natural ability at magic, especially against the Dark Arts. And his bravery and innate goodness are so admirable.
8a. The character I'd slap: I'd slap Snape and probably Draco; I'd pull Umbridge's hair out. And I'd lovingly slap some sense into Ron, who can be awfully wishy-washy or at least not very adamant about what he wants *coughHermionecough*, and even sometimes Harry, who can be so moody (even though it's hard to blame him).
9a. A pairing that I love: Oh, I love Ron and Hermione. I'm getting frustrated right now reading the 6th book because I just want them to quit skirting around the obvious. I don't even care that they're teenagers; I just want them to get together.
10a. A pairing that I hate: I don't think there's one. I think all of the pairings are fascinating. Harry and Ginny are great; I love Harry's parents, even though we don't know much about them. I'm not really thrilled with Lavender and Ron or Hermione and Viktor and less important ones like Bill and Fleur don't do much for me.
ONLY THREE MORE WEEKS!!!!!
2) Pirates of the Caribbean (Sorry! I can't resist, given my recent new obsession)
1b. The first character I first fell in love with: Hands down, Will. I know that Jack is usually the given favorite. It's just that I love Will's devotion, loyalty, and goodness. He's just one of those guys who will go to the ends of the earth (and does) for those he loves or for what he's committed to. And, it's Orlando Bloom. Okay, enough said. *flails*
2b. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Again, it's Will. Because even though I would say overall that he is my favorite character, it wasn't until the second and third movies that I realized HOW MUCH I love him. Though a large part of my despair over the ending was probably the hopeless romantic in me, ultimately it just hurt because of how much I truly grew to love him.
3b. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Maybe... Barbossa. I think he grew to be a fan favorite. Also, Jack. Don't get me wrong. I think Jack is a fabulous character and one that really reinvented Johnny Depp's career. Jack is great. BUT I don't think I was as affected by him as most.
4b. The character I love that everyone else hates: I love Will way more than is normal. I think that's it.
5b. The character I used to love but don't any longer: This isn't quite fair, but I really did like Bootstrap Bill. But Will's undying devotion to him (which really makes him who he is, but...) causes a lot of the forced circumstances there at the end. It frustrated me because I felt like after struggling with divided loyalties, he chose his future and life with Elizabeth and was then still held back inadvertantly because of his dad. It was just too tragic for my taste.
6b. The character I would shag anytime: Er... Will. Did anyone really have to guess?
7b. The character I'd want to be like: I think, Will. It's just that those really good men (you know who they are) are so inspiring. I'm so attracted to them, but I respect them too and wish that I could be as inherently good.
8b. The character I'd slap: Tia Dalma annoyed the hell out of me sometimes. Her voice was irritating and the mystery they tried to shroud her in fell short to me, but more than that, I don't like unsupportive women, and she broke promises to and left Davey, which I didn't appreciate.
9b. A pairing that I love: Anyone who's been around the last couple of weeks knows it's Will and Elizabeth. I still can't quite explain why (although I feel like a lot of it is just how inspired I am by Will in particular and his undying love for her), but I just loved how they'd loved each other since childhood, how they didn't let anything like class or social status keep them apart, and how they put each other first. Though I didn't care much for the ending, I heartily agree that if nothing else, it gave them a very epic quality that only enhanced their love story.
10b. A pairing that I hate: My only other gripe about these films is the awkward, forced love triangle they tried to insinuate in the second film. The strange flirtation between Jack and Elizabeth was so uneven and really didn't add to the story, but if anything took away from the characters.
3) LOST
1c. The first character I first fell in love with: Kate. I loved her from the Pilot when they showed how amazingly good, helpful, and unselfish she is. Then she becomes so complex when we learn she is a fugitive and the beauty of her character unfolds from there.
2c. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: This is so random, but I really, really like Cassidy. In fact, I wish she was on the island. I liked her with Sawyer, and I liked her even more when I saw her with Kate. She is a woman who was confident and strong enough to be in a relationship with someone like Sawyer. He hurt her and didn't treat her well, but she could see beyond his tough shell. She was able to touch him and she was a supportive woman, and I really respect that.
3c. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Not everyone, but a lot of people really like Juliet, and I almost hate her. I think that as a manipulative, shrewish character she is great, but I think probably TPTB have once more wimped out and made her good and just "misunderstood" when instead I wanted her to be almost evil, someone who would walk over and betray anyone who stood in her way, no matter what. If they make her good, she's reduced to a passive-aggressive bore, and I'm really not interested in that.
4c. The character I love that everyone else hates: These days I guess it's Kate.
5c. The character I used to love but don't any longer: The closest is Sawyer. I really did used to be a fan, but they have so reduced his character that now I cringe during every scene he has with Kate and I just don't care too much about him anymore.
6c. The character I would shag anytime: It's Jack. Definitely.
7c. The character I'd want to be like: This might be odd too, but I really, really like Penny. And that is because she is dedicated and fiercely committed to Desmond. Even when her father is an obstacle or Desmond himself tries to push her away, she stands by his side. Supportive women, I'm telling you.
8c. The character I'd slap: I've always said I'm hardest on those I love most, so especially after this season, Kate.
9c. A pairing that I love: Jack and Kate. Always and forever.
10c. A pairing that I hate: Predictably, Kate and Sawyer. Never before have I seen a more dysfunctional, unhealthy relationship that goes against everything I believe in.
4) Friday Night Lights (Have to plug this more as we near the DVD release and then the 2nd season around the corner. I swear by the fact that this is THE BEST SHOW ON TELEVISION.)
1d. The first character I first fell in love with: I think it's Mrs. Coach (aka Tami Taylor). She is so strong, so together, the heart of her family. As a coach, her husband has had to move around a lot for work, and she is always there and always so supportive. She's hilarious, but also so incredibly loving. She's a career woman, but also devoted to her family. I feel like she's an inspiration to women everywhere.
2d. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Matt Saracen. He is the best, most honorable guy. He's wide-eyed and innocent, but so sweet. There's nothing more precious than when he sings to his grandma or more adorable than when he talks Julie down when she feels like it's time for them to have sex. His awkwardness is the most endearing thing I think I have ever seen.
3d. The character everyone else loves that I don't: I think probably Tim. I don't dislike him really; it's just the immediate comparisons to Sawyer that naturally emerge that really hamper my liking of the character.
4d. The character I love that everyone else hates: This probably isn't really accurate because I don't think she's really hated, but I love Tyra. So much. Everything in the world is against her, but she's so strong and fights to survive. I love that she so easily could've been a one-note, secondary, side-lined character but they gave her heart and depth and have made her someone to really root for.
5d. The character I used to love but don't any longer: I liked Jason at the beginning and felt for him with all the pain and suffering he had to endure, but his wallowing started to drag. Then all the back and forth with him and Lila have just made my interest wane a bit.
6d. The character I would shag anytime: It is horrible for me to stay Coach? Wow, I really love him and his sexy grumbling.
7d. The character I'd want to be like: Mrs. Coach.
8d. The character I'd slap: Lila. I don't dislike her as much as some people I know, but her affair with Tim was just so trite and she can be whiny.
9d. A pairing that I love: LOVE Coach and Mrs. Coach and Matt and Julie. Both couples are amazing in their own way. What I love about the former is how REAL they are. Matt and Julie are the purest example of young love, but it's just so lovely.
10d. A pairing that I hate: Tim and Lila. Hated that whole thing.
I saw this meme on _onebreath's LJ:
Choosing four fandoms:
1) Harry Potter
1a. The first character I first fell in love with: Ron, who is by far my favorite character (Harry of course aside). His humor just slays me, but I don't think I realized just how much I love him until the 4th book when he and Harry are on the outs. I was gleeful at their reconciliation, and the thing I love most about Ron is that he is constantly in Harry's shadow, and what a place to be, but he is a most loyal friend, and it is so inspiring.
2a. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: I really like Neville. Like, a lot. Which is something that kind of took me by surprise just because I didn't expect it, but when I found out the bit behind the prophecy and how it easily could've been Neville in Harry's place, I think he's one of those who's greater and more capable than he believes, and I so respect that.
3a. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Hmm... I don't really know. Though this doesn't really apply, I feel like Umbridge needs a mention here because I HATE her with a passion. I don't think there's a soul, though, that likes her because she's so vicious and evil. The only other person I can really think of is Mrs. Weasley. I don't not like her, really, it's just that in the 5th book she really, really annoyed me. I feel like, often, when people try to keep something from someone under the guise of trying to spare or protect them, that actually does more harm than if the someone was aware. And she can be overly bossy and hovering.
4a. The character I love that everyone else hates: At this point I'm not completely sure why I'm doing this because this question stumps me too because I'm not sure who everyone hates other than Umbridge, Snape, Voldemort, etc., and those are givens. Characters I do really like, however, that have grown on me quite a lot throughout the series are Dobby and Luna. You know what else, actually? I think Voldemort's mother, Merope, is really interesting too. I love how Rowling always seems to do the exact perfect thing for the story, in this case making Voldemort's mother the awkward, creepy, but abused anti-social who was never loved and so tragic.
5a. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Okay, well, the only thing is that as one of Harry's fellow house members and roommate, I had a general liking for Seamus, until the 5th book when he stops believing Harry and treats him pretty poorly. The other one, sort of, that I did like through the first few movies (really more so than the books, where my feelings were more ambivalent) was Percy, but I really can't stand him now. He's such a pissy, self-righteous type who, even worse than deserting his own family during times of trial, stays away even after he's proven wrong just because he's too high and mighty to admit it.
6a. The character I would shag anytime: Hahaha Most of these characters are teenagers. But some of those good guys fighting evil in the Order might be appealing. :p
7a. The character I'd want to be like: It's cliche, probably, but I would like to be like Harry. He has such a natural ability at magic, especially against the Dark Arts. And his bravery and innate goodness are so admirable.
8a. The character I'd slap: I'd slap Snape and probably Draco; I'd pull Umbridge's hair out. And I'd lovingly slap some sense into Ron, who can be awfully wishy-washy or at least not very adamant about what he wants *coughHermionecough*, and even sometimes Harry, who can be so moody (even though it's hard to blame him).
9a. A pairing that I love: Oh, I love Ron and Hermione. I'm getting frustrated right now reading the 6th book because I just want them to quit skirting around the obvious. I don't even care that they're teenagers; I just want them to get together.
10a. A pairing that I hate: I don't think there's one. I think all of the pairings are fascinating. Harry and Ginny are great; I love Harry's parents, even though we don't know much about them. I'm not really thrilled with Lavender and Ron or Hermione and Viktor and less important ones like Bill and Fleur don't do much for me.
ONLY THREE MORE WEEKS!!!!!
2) Pirates of the Caribbean (Sorry! I can't resist, given my recent new obsession)
1b. The first character I first fell in love with: Hands down, Will. I know that Jack is usually the given favorite. It's just that I love Will's devotion, loyalty, and goodness. He's just one of those guys who will go to the ends of the earth (and does) for those he loves or for what he's committed to. And, it's Orlando Bloom. Okay, enough said. *flails*
2b. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Again, it's Will. Because even though I would say overall that he is my favorite character, it wasn't until the second and third movies that I realized HOW MUCH I love him. Though a large part of my despair over the ending was probably the hopeless romantic in me, ultimately it just hurt because of how much I truly grew to love him.
3b. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Maybe... Barbossa. I think he grew to be a fan favorite. Also, Jack. Don't get me wrong. I think Jack is a fabulous character and one that really reinvented Johnny Depp's career. Jack is great. BUT I don't think I was as affected by him as most.
4b. The character I love that everyone else hates: I love Will way more than is normal. I think that's it.
5b. The character I used to love but don't any longer: This isn't quite fair, but I really did like Bootstrap Bill. But Will's undying devotion to him (which really makes him who he is, but...) causes a lot of the forced circumstances there at the end. It frustrated me because I felt like after struggling with divided loyalties, he chose his future and life with Elizabeth and was then still held back inadvertantly because of his dad. It was just too tragic for my taste.
6b. The character I would shag anytime: Er... Will. Did anyone really have to guess?
7b. The character I'd want to be like: I think, Will. It's just that those really good men (you know who they are) are so inspiring. I'm so attracted to them, but I respect them too and wish that I could be as inherently good.
8b. The character I'd slap: Tia Dalma annoyed the hell out of me sometimes. Her voice was irritating and the mystery they tried to shroud her in fell short to me, but more than that, I don't like unsupportive women, and she broke promises to and left Davey, which I didn't appreciate.
9b. A pairing that I love: Anyone who's been around the last couple of weeks knows it's Will and Elizabeth. I still can't quite explain why (although I feel like a lot of it is just how inspired I am by Will in particular and his undying love for her), but I just loved how they'd loved each other since childhood, how they didn't let anything like class or social status keep them apart, and how they put each other first. Though I didn't care much for the ending, I heartily agree that if nothing else, it gave them a very epic quality that only enhanced their love story.
10b. A pairing that I hate: My only other gripe about these films is the awkward, forced love triangle they tried to insinuate in the second film. The strange flirtation between Jack and Elizabeth was so uneven and really didn't add to the story, but if anything took away from the characters.
3) LOST
1c. The first character I first fell in love with: Kate. I loved her from the Pilot when they showed how amazingly good, helpful, and unselfish she is. Then she becomes so complex when we learn she is a fugitive and the beauty of her character unfolds from there.
2c. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: This is so random, but I really, really like Cassidy. In fact, I wish she was on the island. I liked her with Sawyer, and I liked her even more when I saw her with Kate. She is a woman who was confident and strong enough to be in a relationship with someone like Sawyer. He hurt her and didn't treat her well, but she could see beyond his tough shell. She was able to touch him and she was a supportive woman, and I really respect that.
3c. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Not everyone, but a lot of people really like Juliet, and I almost hate her. I think that as a manipulative, shrewish character she is great, but I think probably TPTB have once more wimped out and made her good and just "misunderstood" when instead I wanted her to be almost evil, someone who would walk over and betray anyone who stood in her way, no matter what. If they make her good, she's reduced to a passive-aggressive bore, and I'm really not interested in that.
4c. The character I love that everyone else hates: These days I guess it's Kate.
5c. The character I used to love but don't any longer: The closest is Sawyer. I really did used to be a fan, but they have so reduced his character that now I cringe during every scene he has with Kate and I just don't care too much about him anymore.
6c. The character I would shag anytime: It's Jack. Definitely.
7c. The character I'd want to be like: This might be odd too, but I really, really like Penny. And that is because she is dedicated and fiercely committed to Desmond. Even when her father is an obstacle or Desmond himself tries to push her away, she stands by his side. Supportive women, I'm telling you.
8c. The character I'd slap: I've always said I'm hardest on those I love most, so especially after this season, Kate.
9c. A pairing that I love: Jack and Kate. Always and forever.
10c. A pairing that I hate: Predictably, Kate and Sawyer. Never before have I seen a more dysfunctional, unhealthy relationship that goes against everything I believe in.
4) Friday Night Lights (Have to plug this more as we near the DVD release and then the 2nd season around the corner. I swear by the fact that this is THE BEST SHOW ON TELEVISION.)
1d. The first character I first fell in love with: I think it's Mrs. Coach (aka Tami Taylor). She is so strong, so together, the heart of her family. As a coach, her husband has had to move around a lot for work, and she is always there and always so supportive. She's hilarious, but also so incredibly loving. She's a career woman, but also devoted to her family. I feel like she's an inspiration to women everywhere.
2d. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Matt Saracen. He is the best, most honorable guy. He's wide-eyed and innocent, but so sweet. There's nothing more precious than when he sings to his grandma or more adorable than when he talks Julie down when she feels like it's time for them to have sex. His awkwardness is the most endearing thing I think I have ever seen.
3d. The character everyone else loves that I don't: I think probably Tim. I don't dislike him really; it's just the immediate comparisons to Sawyer that naturally emerge that really hamper my liking of the character.
4d. The character I love that everyone else hates: This probably isn't really accurate because I don't think she's really hated, but I love Tyra. So much. Everything in the world is against her, but she's so strong and fights to survive. I love that she so easily could've been a one-note, secondary, side-lined character but they gave her heart and depth and have made her someone to really root for.
5d. The character I used to love but don't any longer: I liked Jason at the beginning and felt for him with all the pain and suffering he had to endure, but his wallowing started to drag. Then all the back and forth with him and Lila have just made my interest wane a bit.
6d. The character I would shag anytime: It is horrible for me to stay Coach? Wow, I really love him and his sexy grumbling.
7d. The character I'd want to be like: Mrs. Coach.
8d. The character I'd slap: Lila. I don't dislike her as much as some people I know, but her affair with Tim was just so trite and she can be whiny.
9d. A pairing that I love: LOVE Coach and Mrs. Coach and Matt and Julie. Both couples are amazing in their own way. What I love about the former is how REAL they are. Matt and Julie are the purest example of young love, but it's just so lovely.
10d. A pairing that I hate: Tim and Lila. Hated that whole thing.