I love a good romance in just about any medium (novels, TV shows, musicals, movies, etc.), but I tend to be very picky about the ones I enjoy at a surface level and the ones I love. My OTPs, the ones I read copious amounts of fan-fiction about and shriek about on Twitter and Goodreads, are those truly special romances. Let's take a look at some of my favorites this Valentine's Day season.
(***Minor spoilers ahead if you haven't read some of these books/watched these shows***)
1. The Doctor/Rose
Anyone who's been following my blog for a while knowshow deep my love goes for this ship. The second season of the "New Who" series may have corny special effects and some level of cheesy plotlines, but the Doctor and Rose were the heart of the story. There's a reason why Whovians are willing to look past said corny special effects and cheesy plotlines; because those two characters were perfect (both on their own and for each other).
2. Cress/Thorne
Cress is adorable, awkward, and shy and Thorne is the king of pickup lines and arrogance that somehow comes off as endearing. I don't know why I love these kinds of pairings as much as I do, but they work. I shipped this coupling more than any other in the Lunar Chronicles.
3. Monty/Percy
Here's another case of endearing arrogance, against all odds. Monty and Percy were great as a friendship, too, which is a key factor for well-written romances. They had undeniable chemistry throughout the entire story. And there aren't many people who would put up with Monty's questionable antics, so for that reason alone, Percy was perfect for him.
4. Cath/Levi
As far as fluffy college romances go, I'm not sure anything can top Fangirl. An introverted fan-fiction author and an extroverted barista is a match made in heaven. Levi could supply Cath with coffee and Cath read Levi stories. It's a win-win.
5. Lilac/Tarver
Gotta love the enemies-to-lovers trope. This book (and pairing) isn't talked about nearly enough and I don't understand why, because it was so good. Poor, underrated treasures. This was one of the first sci-fi books that kept my attention the whole way through. Two sworn enemies trapped on a deserted planet? You can imagine how great the tension was.
6. Simon/Blue
Your heart has to be made of stone to not find this pairing pretty dang adorable. I have ridiculous text exchanges with my friends all the time, so I can totally relate to their e-mails where they bond over things such as Oreos and Harry Potter. Their story is one of my favorite rom-coms.
7. Jesper/Wylan
Here'sanother instance of the shy cinnamon roll and the blustering charmer falling for each other and it being absolutely perfect. Really, all of the ships in this series were great in different ways, but these two stole my heart.
8. Beck/August
Logic pretty much dictates that this withdrawn, somewhat prickly, horribly abused boy would never go for a girl made of sunshine and cake and pure energy, because she is just so much to take, but this friendship/relationship defies logic. And they're adorable. I love Beck's sass and August's passion for just about everything.
9. Castle/Beckett
This whole television series was built upon murder, meta humor, and a will-they-won't-they romance. It hit just about every trope in the book and I'm trash for it all. I had such an obsession with this show, mostly because of Castle and Beckett's relationship. Castle does his best to annoy her, Beckett rolls her eyes a lot, they solve a lot of murders, and everyone in the show ships them. It's fantastic.
10. Jane/Michael
I know people have a lot of strong feelings about the love triangle in this show, but I always came back to this coupling. It has way less drama and way more fun. Michael's more of a boy-next-door type of guy. He's funny, dorky, and makes Jane take herself less seriously. It's so sweet.
11. Jake/Amy
Yet another pairing that really shouldn't work, but somehow does. Jake is an absolute dork, kind of a slob, and takes nothing seriously. Amy's uptight, orderly, and takes everything seriously. But if you put the two of them together, you get the perfect blend of each. One of my favorite parts of their evolving relationship was watching Amy get Jake hooked on Harry Potter. So funny.
12. Jess/Nick
These two are kind of a mess, but it's an adorable mess. Above all else, they're really good friends who have a ton of goofy fun together. They find all of the other's quirks absolutely endearing when not everyone would, which shows how well they're made for each other.
What are your favorite fictional pairings? Leave a comment!
And so are the holidays! I get extra excited for Christmas when there are less than ten days to go, but there are a few things that never fail to get me in the holiday spirit. Whether they be books, TV shows, or special food, they're all festive to me.
1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Hogwarts at Christmas is magical. You can't help but feel the wonder as Harry does during his first year at Hogwarts, with the Great Hall decked out in holiday attire and presents appearing at the foot of his bed when he wasn't expecting anything at all. There's something really innocent about the first book that feels extra cozy in December.
2. "Sherlock"
I started an accidental tradition with myself a few years ago when I was wrapping presents for friends and family. I wanted some background noise, so I put on an old "Sherlock" episode I'd seen a dozen times already. Now I watch an episode as I wrap every year.(This year I watched "A Scandal in Belgravia," since there's an actual Christmas party in the episode.)
3. "Doctor Who" Christmas specials
I consistently love the "Doctor Who" Christmas specials, and not just because they're longer. They're always a little bit heartbreaking, but also very heartwarming, and extremely well-written. This year I watched "A Christmas Carol" with my brother, since we were in a stage production of "A Christmas Carol." My favorites are probably "The Christmas Invasion" (because Tennant) and "Voyage of the Damned" (because Tennant). "The Snowmen" is also pretty good and really funny.
4. Hot chocolate with peppermint ice cream
Besides being delicious, this drink also prompts really great memories of me writing Beneath the Moon and Stars, which is set around Christmas and often features the main characters drinking hot chocolate with peppermint ice cream. If you haven't tried it before, you should do it now.
AKA addictive toffee that you have to crack apart into little pieces when you make it (see? The pun works both ways.). It's oh-so-good and the perfect blend of sweet and salty. We tops ours with all kinds of goodies: coconut, M&M's, Reese's minis, crushed candy canes, mini Twix, etc.
My family made these one year and we've had to restrain ourselves from making it several times throughout the year because they're amazing. Hands down my favorite holiday treat.We haven't made them yet this Christmas and my mouth is watering just thinking about them.
7. Snow and fuzzy socks
Nothing beats snow falling outside while you're warm and cozy inside, curled up with a book or bingewatching a new show.
What festive traditions do you have? Leave a comment!
Again . . . I'm in the minority here, but I'm not a Destiel shipper. I don't have anything against the ship itself or anyone who does ship it (and there are times I can totally see valid points to the ship. And who didn't ship them in Twist and Shout?), but I have another ship on my mind.
Yes, Dean. Megstiel.
An angel and a demon? In a ship? In love? Bear with me here.
This is not your typical angel. Cas is as much the duty-bound angel as Dean is an exercise freak. That is to say, Cas isn't another soldier from Heaven. He's broken free from their constructs and twisted principles.
And Meg still has heavy traces of demon in her, yes, but she evolved just like Cas did. She believes in free will and gray area and doing what's best for the people on your team. She happens to be against most of Hell.
The crazy thing is I never would've expected to ship an angel and a demon in this show. And towards the beginning, I despised Meg. But because of the amazing writing and storytelling and character development, I ended up squealing and writing Megstiel fan-fiction.
Cas and Meg have the possibility to be opposite in every way, but their differences compliment each other. The things they have in common are the most important ones, giving this ship everything it needs to be sea-worthy.
Are you a SuperWhoLockian? Feel free to steal these prompts for yourself! Which "Supernatural" ship is your favorite?
I'm definitely in the minority here (I make up part of 3% of the fandom*), but here it is:
Sheeeerrrrrrlllllooooolllllyyyyyyyyy!!!
Sure, it's not canon, but that doesn't stop it from being awesome. The unrequited frustration Molly has to be feeling is about the level of agonizing torture us Sherlolly shippers go through every time we watch the show. What makes it even worse is that it's been three seasons and SIX YEARS of waiting. And still nothing, save for the numerous sparks and chemistry that neither of them act upon. GAH.
I'd just like to say, for someone who can correctly identify every other single aspect of someone just by giving them a glance, Sherlock Holmes sure is oblivious to Molly's feelings. EVEN JOHN SEES IT. Everyone knows Molly would do anything, anything, for Sherlock. Hell, she even pretended he was dead for two years in order to keep him safe.
I always like to describe Sherlock and Molly's relationship as Sheldon and Amy's from "The Big Bang Theory." They're two extremely different people when it comes to more social aspects, but they share a lot of the same interests and help each other out in their weaker areas. Sherlock helps Molly become a stronger and more assertive person throughout the seasons while Molly tries her best to educate Sherlock in empathy. It's a perfect match.
Now if only we could get Season 4 . . .
*a random percentage I pulled out of thin air totally professional and accurate statistic
Are you a SuperWhoLockian? Feel free to steal these prompts for yourself! Which "Sherlock" ship is your favorite?
So I found this challenge forever ago and hadn't gotten around to it until now. I won't be doing 30 days in a row necessarily, but I'll be going through each prompt until I finish it up. Any time I'm given a chance to fangirl about my fandoms is a good time for me!
Day 1 = "What fandom did you first join?"
That fandom would be the classic gateway fandom of the three:
The best fandoms are the ones that you have entirely low expectations going into and end up adoring more than baby elephants and a pound of Reese's cups. That was "Doctor Who," for me. A sci-fi alien show featuring creatures that looked like a second grader's robot science fair experiment? I was expecting to hate it. If three people hadn't independently of each other recommended it to me, I wouldn't have even tried. And considering my first experience with the show was "Rose" (the first episode of the 2005 reboot where the main bad guys were animated mannequins), it's a wonder I even continued watching. Thank goodness I have a "don't judge any show by the first episode" rule for myself.
"Father's Day" is eventually what sold me on the show. I wasn't expecting tears. I wasn't expecting anything more than fluffy, silly, goofball, time travel adventures when I started watching. I didn't think I'd end up with an obsession or with crumpled tissues surrounding my bed as I sniffled and hit "next episode." But that's what I got, and thanks to "Doctor Who," nearly every other fandom followed.
Are you a SuperWhoLockian? Feel free to steal these prompts for yourself! What fandom did you first join?
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?
Happy Valentine's Day! It shouldn't come as a surprise that I love my OTPs. Watching my adorable ships sail makes me happier than a baby elephant in a mud puddle.
JUST LOOK HOW HAPPY IT IS
But what exactly is it that makes a ship so . . . shippy? I have a few ideas.
(And yes, I will be using actual ships as examples to each of my points, but I won't give any spoilers as to whether they've sailed or not! So don't worry if you see a couple listed that you think is spoilery, chances are I've covered my ears and gone "lalala, you can say it won't happen all you want, I BELIEVE IN THEM.")
1. They make each other laugh
THIS IS A BIG ONE. The fictional world can be sodark and dreary sometimes (okay, a lot of the time), and these characters are little balls of broken cloudy days. (Is this true of all stories? Probably not, but I primarily read/watch things that make me cry. Fangirls are gluttons for pain!) So when the couple of one of my many OTPs can get each other to crack a smile or burst into laughter despite all the crap they're going through, it makes my little shipping heart squee.
Ships that make each other laugh (and me, too):
-The 10th Doctor and Rose from "Doctor Who" -Chandler and Monica from "Friends"
2. They can be total dorks together
This goes along with #1. If you can find someone who gets your weirdness and wants to be weird right along with you, you've found a special someone, whether that be romantic or platonic. Adorable dorks make the world go 'round! What's more fun than pulling faces and making stupid jokes together?
Ships that are adorable dorks:
-Nick and Jess from "New Girl"
-Barry and Lainey from "The Goldbergs" (well . . . Barry more than Lainey, but still)
3. The slooowww burn
Don't get me wrong, the slow burns are sooo frustrating. All of those almost-kisses and longing looks when the other's back is turned and secretly confiding in friends and family about their true feelings for person A or B is enough to make any shipper insane. BUT. If/when those ships finally start thinking straight and get together, you know it'll be that much more satisfying. Plus, all those years they've known each other as friends means they already know most of each other's quirks/flaws/likes and dislikes!
Ships that just need to freaking kiss already:
-Sherlock and Molly from "Sherlock" (and this is ten-thousand times worse because we only get an episode like every two years!!)
-Niles and Daphne from "Frasier"
4. You know they'd do anything for each other
This can be anything from cooking a favorite dinner just because to diving into a burning building to save the other to person A watching a show person B loves despite A knowing he/she's going to hate it. No matter how small, each gesture is another shove of the ship out to sea.
Ships who would probably fight a dragon with a toothpick for love:
-Four and Tris from Divergent
-Hook and Emma from "Once Upon a Time"
5. They excel at driving each other crazy one second and making them giggle the next I don't know what it is about this that I find super cute, but endless teasing from one or both of the people that makes the other roll his/her eyes (even though they're totally amused on the inside) is something I love in a ship. It's the playful banter I'm always a huge fan of in dialogue. They may pretend to be annoyed, but you know they miss it whenever they're apart for too long..
Ships who love to drive each other up a wall:
-Castle and Beckett from "Castle"
-Lilac and Tarver from These Broken Stars
6. They challenge each other
My least favorite fictional couples are the ones where the characters are basically the exact same person or completely and totally different. If they're the same, they're bland and boring and overall just "meh." If you have to go into a ship with the "opposites attract" belief, you usually end up with a lot of angst and friction and a couple that isn't right for each other at all. Instead, there should be a good balance where the differences work to help each person change in a good way. (And I'm not talking about a ship where one of the characters becomes a "project" for the other person. Those are awful and never end up well. The ship should have mutual respect for who each person is right then and there, above all.)
Ships who challenge each other:
-Simon and Isabelle from The Mortal Instruments -Steve and Peggy from "Captain America"
7. There's actual chemistry
There's nothing worse than forced romance. I've heard the good rule of thumb is to never go into a story with the mission to eventually set two people up with each other (unless you're specifically writing a romance!). The best fictional couples emerge on their own along the way because they just can't stand not being together any longer. There are definitely some ships with chemistry so strong, it's like a buzzing in the room that makes you flail with the hopes that they'll eventually realize their true love for each other.
Ships with palpable chemistry:
-The 11th Doctor and River from "Doctor Who"
-Hazel and Augustus from The Fault in Our Stars
8. They're friends, first and foremost
Some of my absolute favorite ships are the best-friends-turned-romantic-couple.That doesn't mean all of my favorite ships have to fit the criteria, it just means underneath every date and kiss they care most about looking out for each other, like any good friend would. They're honest with each other, caring, thoughtful, always there when you need them, etc. etc. etc.
Ships who are best friends:
-Luke and Lorelai from "Gilmore Girls"
-Eleanor and Park from Eleanor & Park
9. They make a great team with everything they do
Whether they're making breakfast or catching criminals or saving the earth from destruction, they do it best together. You know two people are made for each other when their best (and worst) traits mesh together to form an awesome team.
Ships who should wear matching outfits and become a superhero dream team:
-Dean and Jo from "Supernatural"
-Jack and Ianto from "Torchwood"
10. They love each other for who they are, no matter what
The most important thing you need! There's not much more I can say about it other than I thinkonce a ship has this, everything else I've listed above will follow.
Ships who love each other unconditionally:
-How can I even pick between them all?!?! Basically everyone I wrote down earlier. Plus more. Every single one. What do you look for in a fictional romance? What are your favorite OTPs? Leave a comment!
