TV Meme Day 30: And thus we come to our end

Day 30 - Saddest character death

BTVS Season 5: “Seeing Red” – Tara is shot

I don’t think there is another option. There has been no death on any show that hurt as much as this loss, including Anya in the finale and Doyle in Season 1 of Angel.

Joss cocked the Fuck With The Fans gun by including Amber Benson in the opening credits for this episode. Those of us who were stupid enough to be spoiled by this were pretty much horrified that he would do that to us, but the truth is, it’s such a Joss thing to do it’s not even funny.

After struggling through the majority of the season with Tara being a background character, there mostly to torture Crack!Magic Willow, they finally got back together! YAY! Bliss! Peace! Happiness! Relationship normality for our characters!

All episode they were lovey dovey and sweet. Fuck the censors, fuck the parent council. They kissed. They macked. There was nakedness under red sheets, normally reserved on Whedon shows for the hetero couples, finally claimed by the only normal couple we’ve had.

And then they’re clothed, and there’s belt loop tugging and yay, Buffy and Xander will make up.

“Your shirt.”

Joss has said no one cries like Alyson Hannigan, and he’s so right. Sarah Michelle Gellar is an incredible crier, as is Amy Acker. But neither one of them holds a candle to Aly. And when she sobbed over Tara’s dead body, I don’t think there was a fan who didn’t feel it in their soul.

Hands down, dollars to donuts. Best worst death ever.

If it was eligible, I would love to have said Shepherd Book from Serenity. It’s a television character, but he died in the movie, so he doesn’t get to be included. But for the dialogue between Mal and Book alone, it deserves an honorable mention.

Mal: I look to be bored by many more sermons before you slip. Just don't move.
Book: Can't order me around, boy. I'm not one of your crew.
Mal: Yes, you are.

Wash’s death was shocking and horrifying and sad, but it was fast and in the moment. This was painful, and we felt it.

This is the final TV Meme entry. In the past month, I doubled my entries. And it was SO much fun. I’m kind of sad it’s over.

Someone find me another meme!

TV Meme Day 29: Slacking again!

Coming to the end of the TV meme, and I've let it slip once more. Not totally my fault. I had a flake-out on one answer, then I got a brand spankin' new computer that rocks my world and distracted me from blogging. But I'm back now! I think.
Day 27 - Best pilot episode

Angel - City Of

This is kind of cheating, because it's a pilot for a spin-off show. But with this spin-off, Joss Whedon let his Buffy fans know what they were in for. This wasn't going to be a family friendly Buffy show. This was much more adult, and a lot darker.

David Boreanaz was never better on this show than he was in Season 1, especially right at the beginning. He was still broody, and still young enough to be a hot vampire. We got to meet Doyle, World's Best Sidekick (if there were a meme entry for Best Sidekick, it would be Doyle, btdub) and incredible comic relief on the show. Sadly Glenn Quinn's real life problems caused us to lose him halfway through the season in one of the greatest character deaths we had on any of the shows.

And we had the real Cordy. The bitch who didn't really care about anything and was really only helping Angel because she wasn't making any money and she could get something from it. She and Angel weren't in love, and life was shiny.

Great start to a fantastic season. And a great show that kind of sunk deeper and deeper into not so great, but was still amazing to watch.

"So are you still...grrr?"
"There's not actually a cure for that."

Day 28 - First TV show obsession

Clarissa Explains it All

There was no bad with this show, and I watched it religiously. Clarissa was the quintessential cool teen (was she even a teen when the show started?). I related to absolutely NOTHING about her life, and I wanted to live it. I wanted an annoying little brother and a hippie mom and a dorky dad. I wanted to dress like she did (which, in reality, was tragic), I wanted a computer like hers. I wanted to live in a two-story house so that my platonic guy friend could climb a ladder to visit me.

The show also referenced pop culture. Even today, a lot of teen shows will not reference current pop culture unless there's something in it for them, such as a guest appearance by an artist who needs publicity. In the very first episode, They Might Be Giants was name dropped. When Ferguson conned his father out of money to buy an INXS tape, Clarissa busted him by putting the tape into their stereo, and "Suicide Blonde" boomed out of the speakers. It should be noted that in the Season 1 DVD, they inserted generic fake music. Someone didn't want to pay royalties.

My favorite was that they did, in fact, reference Nirvana. It's the pop culture reference I immediately go to when discussing the show.

I wrote fanfiction for this show. I will say nothing more.

Day 29 - Current TV show obsession

I don't...have...one.

I'm obssessed with the fact that Dollhouse Season 2 is coming out on DVD soon, and I can't wait. Does that count? :(

Leverage. Castle. Top Chef.

Honestly, I haven't been obsessed about a television show since Dollhouse was canceled. It makes me sad not to get bouncy pouncy excited about a show anymore. In fact, three episodes of Leverage have aired, and I haven't watched them yet. This makes me so sad. I miss being excited about television shows.

TV Meme Day 26: OMG WTF BBQ

Day 26 | OMG WTF? Season finale

Mad Men, Season 1, "The Wheel"

I may be biased on this answer, because I'm currently watching the commentary for Season 3 of Mad Men.

I started watching the show because Vincent Kartheiser and Christina Hendricks were both on the show. I didn't know any of the other actors, and was prepared to fast foward past all parts that didn't involve the two.

Oh, how surprising THAT one was.

What an insanely fantastic show, from episode one on. Beautiful cast, incredible wardrobe and set design, sharp writing. I really can't say enough about the show.

I wondered if I should pick this finale, because all three of the finales so far have been jaw-dropping with edge-of-your-seat cliffhangers. But this was the original, and this was the one that really knocked me on my ass and made me long for the next season.

I don't know what's wrong with me that I didn't see Peggy was pregnant. I legitimitally did not see that she'd gained that much weight, and didn't see the warning signs. Why? I'm a dumbass. That's the only excuse I can offer.

But the two big plot lines exploded in the finale. Don's cheating was revealed, causing him to be alone at the end of the episode, with the audience not knowing the fate of the marriage. He'd discovered his brother was dead, and we got that incredibly moving scene with the Kodak Carousel.

And Peggy, who'd finally gotten recognition and a modicum of respect from Don at the office, popped out a kid. She didn't know she was pregnant, I didn't know she was pregnant, I hope OTHER people might've missed it, as well, and that I'm not just an idiot.

When the credits rolled, I squealed with indignation. And looked forward immensely to the next season. And at the end of that season, I squealed with indignation and couldn't wait for the next. And at the end of the last season?

Yeah. July 25th cannot come fast enough.

TV Meme Day 25: Coming Soon

Day 25 | A show you plan on watching

Doctor Who

Unlike all of the other shows my friends are constantly foisting on me, this actually seems like a show I would legitimately enjoy. The really funny part? I know absolutely NOTHING about Doctor Who. Nothing. Nada. Zip.

I know that the very pretty man featured in the graphic is said Doctor. I know there's someone named Rose. I know that there are these weird R2-D2 looking things, which I think are called...Daleks? Or something to that affect? Possibly the R2-D2 looking things are not called Daleks (sp), but something else is.

As I said, my knowledge is extremely shaky.

But you can tell a lot about a fandom not only by the fans, but the quality of the fandom actions. And I really enjoy seeing the Dr Who fandom. Including my best friend Laura, who was absolutely horrified to learn I'd never seen it.

To be fair, I have seen one episode. The only thing I can tell you is Anthony Stewart Head played a head master of a school. Absolutely no clue about the rest of the show. Couldn't throw anything out there.

I would like to be a Dr Who fan when I grow up.

See Ry's entry for another show I'll see someday.

TV Meme Day 24: Best Quote

Day 24 - Best quote

So here's the part where you make a choice. What if you could have that power, now? In every generation, one Slayer is born, because a bunch of men who died thousands of years ago made up that rule. They were powerful men. This woman is more powerful than all of them combined. So I say we change the rule. I say my power, should be *our* power. Tomorrow, Willow will use the essence of this scythe to change our destiny. From now on, every girl in the world who might be a Slayer, will be a Slayer. Every girl who could have the power, will have the power. Can stand up, will stand up. Slayers, every one of us. Make your choice. Are you ready to be strong?

See RyAn's choice for what finally kicked my brain into gear on choosing the perfect quote.

Only Joss could've given us this finale. As unhappy as I was with so much of the season, and the finale itself, this was beautiful, and perfect, and I am weeping, thanks for asking.

TV Meme Day 23: Most Annoying Character

Day 23 | Most annoying character

TV Meme Day 22: Let's Go to Work

Day 22 - Favorite series finale

Angel - Not Fade Away (2004, episode 110)

This is not an easy question. Series finales are painful. It's the end of an era. If done properly, they drag out tears and horror and death.

Buffy does not qualify. As amazing as the "Every woman is a slayer" message was, I wasn't pleased with the way the show ended. I wish my favorite show could take the spot here, but it can't. The spin-off, however, well qualifies.

When the hour was up, and the credits rolled, I was in shock. I'd cried my way through most of it, and wasn't looking at the clock. I went outside and cried some more.

The show ended, and it managed to do what neither show had done in years. I loved every single character. That includes characters I hadn't appreciated in a very very long time.

This meme will be told through a picspam. Enjoy.