Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Doctors, Detectives, and (Adorable) Dorks, Oh My!

Carly at "Books and Etc." tagged me in the Favorite Screen Characters Tag, and because I'm a huge fan of TV shows/Netflix/binge-watching (second only to being a bookworm), I couldn't resist!

Technically I think the list is supposed to be primarily movie characters, but like Carly, I'll bend the rules a little. ;) Writers are nothing if not rebels. (By doing things like using the Oxford comma even when people say it's wrong. Totally dangerous, amiright? We're practically Batman.)

Actual photo of me as a superhero.

Anyways. Time for a list where I'll try to limit myself to one character per fandom! (In no particular order.)

1. The Doctor from "Doctor Who"


Where to begin with this one? He's a character who spans decades of television history, always changing yet remaining the same familiar alien who brings hope to the world. No matter which regeneration of the Doctor is your favorite, they all share a few things in common. They love with a passion, feel loss deeply, and would do anything to protect the innocent. My personal favorite is the Tenth Doctor--as shown above--who can not only be serious and strike fear in the hearts of creatures such as the Daleks, but can be a total goofball. He's a Time Lord mixed with the best parts of humanity, and the chemistry he has with his companions makes the Doctor Who universe that much more enjoyable.

2. Charlie Bradbury from "Supernatural


Charlie Bradbury is a geek, and the world loves her for it. She's a total quirky fangirl, making Felicia Day the perfect person to play her. Charlie is a bright spot in a dark series, making me laugh in every episode she's in. Within the first two minutes of meeting her, I wanted to be her friend. She's compassionate, sarcastic, and knows just what to do to help the Winchesters out when everything else fails. Oh, and she's a computer hacker with a tragic past. So many layers!

3. Sherlock Holmes from "Sherlock"


There are so many things I could say about Sherlock, but I'll keep it brief. Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal of this classic character is by far the best I've seen. It's hard to imagine anyone else now when I read the stories or even see the name. Everything we know about him is still part of the character, but with a modern twist. He's aggravating and a know-it-all and sometimes all you want to do is slap him so he'll behave, but you also get to see him soften throughout the series. He's a complex mystery himself, which makes the show so perfect.

4. Sookie St. James from "Gilmore Girls"


A klutzy chef with a sense of humor and is always up for a fun time? Yes please! Bubbly and always giggling, Sookie is the best friend we all want in our lives. She'll drop anything to show up at your door with a plate of homemade cookies when she knows you're having a bad day. Anytime you need cheering up, Sookie's there. She's one of my favorite parts of this show.

5. Severus Snape from the "Harry Potter movies



There are actors you will always see as a certain character, and Alan Rickman will always (see what I did there?) be Snape to me. He brings the character to life on the screen in a way no one else would have been able to. Can you imagine a different actor pulling off his cool "obviously" in the way Alan Rickman did? He was fantastic in all the movies, but the eighth was where he especially got to show off the depths of his character. Sometimes I don't like it when I've seen a movie adaptation and now every time I read the book I see that actor, but I don't mind with Snape. He's exactly how I pictured him.

6. Dr. Horrible/Billy Buddy from "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog"


In just forty-five minutes, Joss Whedon managed to cram buckets of awesomeness in this web-miniseries. Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, and Felicia Day make up a dream cast. But the root of this geekdom heaven? Dr. Horrible himself. If you've ever seen "Megamind," he reminds me so much of the protagonist in that, too. Dr. Horrible (or Billy Buddy, when he doesn't want to give away his secret identity) is sarcastic (see above), socially-awkward (in the best way possible), and straddles the line between good and evil. His quest is to get into the Evil League of Evil--and yes, that is the actual name--but he's also falling in love with Penny, who couldn't be more good than she already is. She volunteers at a homeless shelter and sees the positive attributes in every single person she meets. If you want to see a little glimpse into Dr. Horrible's personality, just listen to "My Freeze Ray," one of the first songs in the show.


7. Peggy Carter from the Marvel universe


There's no other way to put this really: Peggy Carter is badass. She runs circles around the men who condescend to her and knows how to play to her strengths. Every movie or TV show she appears in is a hundred times better because of it. She's not a side character who gets shoved to the side while the heroes take the spotlight. She is a hero, and an equal, to Captain America and any of the Avengers.

8. Rey from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"


(Some spoilers ahead.) I am beyond excited to have a female lead in the new Star Wars movies who is as cool as Rey. She's strong, quick on her feet, and anything but a damsel in distress. Watching her wield a lightsaber or use the force (UNTRAINED, might I add) on the big screen was epic. I'm just disappointed we have to wait so long for another movie.

9. Richard Castle from "Castle"


Oh, Castle. There are so many words I could use to describe him: impulsive, witty, protective, caring, childlike, clever, oblivious, optimistic, creative, and many, many more. He's a best-selling mystery author who got permission from the mayor to shadow NYPD homicide detective Kate Beckett. They drive each other crazy, and the playful banter is never lacking, but they actually make a fantastic team. He's always there for the people who need him, even if it's at his own expense, and overall has a great relationship with his mother and daughter.

10. Regina Mills from "Once Upon a Time"


I went from absolutely despising Regina the first couple seasons, to feeling conflicted about her, to loving her. Only a character as complex as this one could do that. She's the evil queen from Snow White, but this show has managed to make her so much more than that. You learn all about her childhood and the events that led up to her becoming a villain, but you also get to see her care for a son in Storybrooke. It's been a roller coaster of a ride getting to watch her turn into something other than your typical Disney villain, but it's been a fun one.

11. Rogelio De La Vega from "Jane the Virgin"


"Jane the Virgin" is a pretty recent discovery (thanks to my mom getting me into it). Rogelio is one of the many reasons why I love it as much as I do. Even though he drove me crazy the first couple of episodes I got to see him, he made me laugh hysterically. To put it in the best light possible, he never lacks confidence in himself. He's a huge telenovela star with a heart as big as his ego. He's very naive about most things, which only adds to the humor of his one-liners as he's unaware he's saying something he shouldn't. And he constantly tweets updates about his life or "New Pants Wednesdays" on the show, which somebody took upon themselves to create in real life. I had a blast going through his account: @RogelioDeLaVega

12. Stiles Stilinski from "Teen Wolf"


Stiles is HILARIOUS. Even during the episodes that are just okay, he's always there to pick up the slack. Dylan O'Brien is great in this role, surprising me with pain and tears when I least expected it. Stiles is a great friend. You can't help but want to give him a hug all the time. And if you need to sneak into a strictly off-limits location in order to save the world, he's the one you want on your side to provide a distraction.

13. Jessica Day from "New Girl"


Simply put, Jess is an adorable dork. Nearly every single thing she does or says is so totally awkward, but she's one of the most lovable characters on TV. She's the kind of person who randomly breaks into song or dance in order to ease the tension in the room. She'd also be the one to adopt the kitten that just keeps coming back to her door or bake cookies for the hungry. She's the character who came up with her own theme song for herself. All around, she makes the perfect sitcom protagonist.

I tag any and all who want to use this tag! Who are your favorite screen characters?

3 comments:

Boquinha said...

I love so many of these!! I love Rogelio!! And his SUPER AWESOME Twitter account (like regular people have). :P

Hmmm, let's see. Who else. I love Phoebe from Friends. And Bernadette and Amy in Big Bang Theory. And I love, love, love Jason Segel's character and James Franco's character in Freaks and Geeks (as well as all the Geeks!). That's all off the top of my head for now . . . :)

The Magic Violinist said...

@Boquinha It's hysterical! Each Monday I try to watch out for his tweets about the episode (usually where he adds that it was so much better with him in it, or something of the sort).

Ooh, those are all great! If I hadn't restrained myself from adding so many, Phoebe would definitely be on the list.

Boquinha said...

Oh! And Niles!! And Mr. K from "Go On!" Rachel from "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." And her neighbor (What's her name?)! And and and. Ooh. Kirk from Gilmore Girls! Mrs. Kim. Paris! Michel!!