Top 10 Live Action TV Shows

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

First on this list is Joss Whedon's amazing show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. One of the few shows that was able to end on it's own terms, it is an epic seven-seasons long show about a powerful, Chosen One- a girl named Buffy Summers who, though she looks like a typical popular girl, is the Slayer and must protect the world from vampires, demons, and the apocalypse.

I already wrote a long, in-depth review of this show, but suffice to say, I love it. It's excellently written, really develops the characters and makes you care about them, explores difficult moral issues, and has some of the coolest female characters ever! :D(not as cool as the female Jedi, of course, but still up there on the list). It has one of the best representations of death(and the reactions to it) that I've ever seen, manages to pull off a musical episode, and balances humor and dark/tragedy very well. If you are an older viewer, I'd definitely recommend this!



Firefly

Next is Firefly, the amazing science fiction series by Joss Whedon. The best science fiction story after Star Wars, Firefly takes the sci-fi genre in a new, unique direction, which is quite nice for a sci-fi fan like me. With lovable, well-developed characters, an awesome/intriguing plot, Simon Tam(yes, he's my favorite; he's so underrated), and some great messages, this is definitely a hit. And the follow up movie, Serenity, is not to miss(It's SO GOOD!). I also appreciated the good representation of Christians on the show- a lot of the times, they are portrayed as over the top and dumb, but here, Shepherd Book really was a voice of reason and wisdom.

ONLY watch this if you've seen the entire show and movie





Angel

Next on my list is Angel...wow, I just realized that my first three live-action films are by Whedon. Not very surprising, though, since he does have amazing shows! :D Angel is no different and is yet another incredible show! It's probably one of the darkest shows he has created and it really tackles some deep stuff. The characters are also so great and some of the development is the best of all his shows(one character, whom we meet on Buffy, is nearly unrecognizable at the end of Angel). Definitely a must watch, especially if you like Buffy(start Angel's first season when you start season 4 of BTVS).



Once Upon A Time

Once Upon A Time- a show about fairy tales and unique takes on them. While the writing can be a bit rocky at times, the show is extremely well done. It has fantastic female(and male) characters who all have great back-stories and almost all are sympathetic, especially the villains(especially Zelena..NO sympathy for her. Don't have much sympathy for Cora either). The twists on the fairy tales are also a lot of fun and it's really enjoyable to watch. Also, the romances are done well for the most part, which is always appreciated(since corny romance can ruin a show).



Doctor Who

Doctor Who! Of course this show will be on the list! :) The show is the best time travel show out there and with such a rich history, there is something for almost everyone. While I prefer the RTD era, all the seasons I've seen so far offer something of value. Plus the Doctor is awesome and so are the companions. And the fanbase is huge.
My favorite Doctors are Nine and Ten. Twelve is also really growing on me- I'm loving Peter Capaldi! :)
My favorite companions are - Rose Tyler, Donna Noble, Martha Jones, Captain Jack Harkness, and Wilfred Mott.



Sherlock

Sherlock is probably one of the most intelligent shows I've watched and I love the whole idea of a modern day retelling of Sherlock. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are perfect in their roles and the mysteries are thrilling, as if the character development. However you view the relationship between Sherlock and John, they are certainly a joy to watch.



Downton Abbey

While I prefer science fiction and fantasy, I do enjoy a good historical fiction series. And Downton Abbey is definitely that! With impeccable acting and writing, this show demonstrates how to write drama well. It's handled several difficult issues well and the female(and male characters) are incredible. Definitely a recommended show!


Supernatural

While not as good at Joss Whedon's urban fantasy, Supernatural is still an amazing, emotional show that manages to be scary and deep without getting cheesy. It has a perfect demonstration of how siblings are(I really relate to the older brother, Dean) and the characters are all excellent. The acting is amazing as well and I really like seeing how the characters have grown. Also, it has Castiel. Who is amazing.
I'm currently on season 5


Torchwood

Torchwood, while campy and cheesy at times, is one of the darkest shows I've ever seen. It really delves into what it means to be human and it sells on almost all counts. The characters are all ones you care about(well, I don't like Gwen, but everyone else is great!) and it is one of the few shows to actually make me cry(and not just eyes burning) at a death scene.


Robin Hood BBC

Of course Robin Hood had to be on the list somewhere! While I find the actor playing Robin to be the weakest of the cast(and I don't really care for how he was written), the show itself is amazing and balances humor and darker things effortlessly. While a little formulaic, this show is a must-see for Robin Hood fans!


BONUS: Agents of SHIELD and Kyle XY

Cosplay ideas take 2

A while back, I did a post on cosplays I'd like to do someday. My ideas have since grown and I now have a more complete list, which I'd like to share with you now :)

Obi-Wan Kenobi(TPM) for the Rebel Legion. I already have a good cloak, but I do need to remake my tunic, since for the Rebel Legion it has to be movie accurate. I also need to get boots, a belt, and the various things he carries on it. For hair, I plan on just putting it into a pony tail, using gel on my bangs to get them to lie right, and for the Padawan braid I'll either just make a braid or use hair extensions for it(probably both, so I can have it be long enough). 

Siri Tachi for the Rebel Legion. For this, I will probably use the same tunic from my Obi-Wan costume(since on the Secrets of the Jedi cover, they are wearing the same thing). I also plan on getting a blond wig for this one. 

Darth Zannah for the 501st. For this, I'll need some black robes(might have to make something up since there isn't an exact look for her) as well as a blond wig. 

Darth Revan for the 501st. This one will definitely take some work. I have a list of what I need and there is a lot(helmet will definitely be a challenge). 

                                   Luke Skywaker for the Rebel Legion. I always really liked Luke's outfit in Return of the Jedi. I basically just need a black jump suit(long sleeve shirt and pants), so this one shouldn't be too difficult.

                               Jaina Solo(Jedi outfit) for the Rebel Legion. Like Darth Zannah's, for Jaina I am going to make some things up as I go along with her costume(I will look at other cosplays of her to get some ideas). I'll also need a brown wig.

                                                  Satele Shan for the Rebel Legion. This one will take some work as well. I'll need to find the right kind of lightsaber as well some parts of the clothing(like the arm gauntlets).

                                       Padme Amidala(Rebel Legion) - I really like the outfit she has here. Her Tatooine Garb would be another I'd do for this character.

                                                        Buffy Summers(or my own slayer). This one is just clothing and a weapon or too, so it shouldn't be too difficult. If I do actually do Buffy Summers, I'll use one of the blond wigs I'm planning on getting.

                                                                    Thor. This costume is going to be really hard, but it will be really satisfying to get it finished. I'll also need a wig for this one.

                                                                    Loki. I am thinking of cosplaying as him from the first Thor movie. Like the Thor outfit, this one will be a challenge, but I look forward to making it as well(I'll also need a wig for this one).

                                                Eowyn (battle garb). I'll be doing the outfit she is wearing in battle(armor and all), which I think will be fun :).

Tauriel. This one should be really fun, especially considering how much I love her character after seeing The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. 

                                                    Armin Arlert - I'll be getting the uniform(jacket included), as well as the green, survey corps, cloak. I also will need a wig(I have several potential ones), the maneuver gear, and two swords.

Levi. Same as above. I'll also need a boys wig (which I have found)

                                                                     Sasha Brauss. Even though the uniforms are pretty much the same for all the characters I'll be cosplaying from AoT, I will have to change the shirts for each since they look a little different for each person.

                                                                   Eren Jaegar(my sister found a wig for him, so I thought, why not!).

                                                                Mikasa Ackerman. I'm not half-Asian like she is, but I think I can pull it off okay.

                                                            Zuko. I will be definitely doing his look from season 3!

                                                                      Toph. This one will also be fun. The costume will be a bit difficult, but I can do it.

                                                      Lin Bei Fong

                                                                     Rose Tyler. I'm not sure which version of her I'll be doing, but I do really want to do her!

                                                     Belle (Once Upon A Time). This will probably be the first of her outfits I'll be doing(though I will be raising the neckline, since it's too low for my tastes) since it's the coolest, but I also want to do the blue dress she wears in The Crocodile as well as the classic light blue one.

                                                              Dean Winchester. I already have the leather jacket XD

                                               Eponine Thenardier - I actually have my own version of her costume now! :) I put it together for my Senior Pictures :)

                                                 Juliet from Romeo X Juliet - I'll be doing her fighter outfit and boy outfit, since they are my favorite.

                                                         Bastila Shan for the Rebel Legion. This one will be a bit difficult, but I should be able to come up with it.

                                                      Hermione Granger. I plan on doing her in Hogwarts cosplay(wizard robes, basically). I have the hair for it(especially if I fluff it out).

What do you all think? And do you have any ideas?

Happy Valentine's Day Megapost :)

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! :D As most of you probably know, I'm not that much into romance(though I do like shipping when it's good), but I do enjoy Valentine's Day(I mean, who doesn't love getting chocolate?) and this year I thought I'd do a fun post :)

Like I did last year, I thought I'd make a short list of my favorite ships and then I'd also make a list of some of my so-called 'fictional/celebrity crushes'(I don't count them as actual crushes, since I don't have an actual crush on anyone, real or fictional, at the moment).

For ships, I almost always ship canon ships(since they tend to actually happen instead of me just WAITING :P). However, I will ship a pairing if it appears that it has a good chance of becoming canon.

Obi-Wan Kenobi and Siri Tachi from Star Wars(Secrets of the Jedi, Jedi Apprentice, Jedi Quest, etc).

While not very well known, this one IS canon(it appears in Jude Watson's Star Wars books, and it was before the terrible, and uncanon, Satine and Taria, so it is the first and only one). Basically, this is my favorite pairing ever and I will defend it completely(I know it has a smaller fanbase, but it is very much real. Plus, this was one of the first romances that didn't gross me out, and in fact, I was able to enjoy reading about(which was a first at the time). Overall, it's a great story and I wish we could have gotten more of it, since Jude Watson was so amazing at writing it :D.


Belle/Rumplestiltskin from Once Upon A Time

Once Upon A Time is one of the shows to actually write romance correctly(most of the time). Usually most romance in fiction seems to get in the way, but on this show, most of them actually add to the plot and the character development, which is always nice. And of course, this one is the best on the show- the actors are both very talented and the writing is, usually, amazing.



The Doctor(9 and 10)/ Rose Tyler from Doctor Who

I was surprised by it, but I absolutely loved Rose and the Doctor's relationship in Doctor Who- it had a nice build up, it didn't overtake the plot of the show, and it helped make both characters even more endearing. Russel T. Davies sure has talent...love his shows :) Also, I liked her interactions with Nine and Ten equally :)


Qui-Gon/Tahl from Star Wars(Jedi Apprentice).

My second favorite Star Wars pairing- good story and very sad(I tend to like sad ones...weird...). Wish we could have seen more of it.



Dean/Castiel from Supernatural

This one isn't canon currently, but the way the show is going(from what I've heard on tumblr, I've only seen the first three seasons), it seems very likely that it will eventually. And really, I think it would work so well and would be really interesting to watch unfold.


John/Sherlock from BBC Sherlock

I know it won't be coming canon any time soon(unless we find out Sherlock likes him or something), but I'm okay with that, because I like the relationship as it is and, really, I don't like Sherlock needs to be in a relationship with anyone anyway- he's not a sociopath(he cares for people, so that gets rid of his diagnosis), but he obviously has a lot of trouble with empathy and relating to others and even though he has improved, I don't think he's ready for that kind of commitment(though, of course, I wouldn't object if it were to eventually become canon ;) ).



one in my book series

Some of you might know what I am referring to, but I can promise you it will be good! :)


Jack/Ianto from Torchwood

Russel T. Davies and whoever he has with him always write good romances that, while developed, don't take away from the plot(The Doctor/Rose, Toshiko/Owen in Torchwood, etc), and Jack's relationship with Ianto Jones is one them. It isn't in it that much, but I really do like that. One thing that I appreciated was that both were fully developed and that them being interested in guys wasn't their main character point, it was just naturally a part of who they were, which often isn't the case in other shows/books/movies where a LGBT character's only character trait is their orientation. Anyway, they had a great connection and a sad, but fitting, ending.



Anna/John Bates from Downton Abbey

I love Downton Abbey and the two characters of Anna and Mr. Bates are probably the nicest, so of course seeing them end up together, with some very good writing I might add, was a satisfying experience and one of the most tightly written romances I've come across. But, if you have seen season 4, poor Anna! :( I really hope that evil Green guy gets PUNISHED! :(



Percy/Annabeth from Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus

I guessed it was going to happen from the get go, but with what I've come to expect with Rick Riordan's great writing, it was humorous, fun ride. I've liked them from the beginning and I can't wait to see what happens with their characters in "The Blood of Olympus".
Even though I don't ship them together, I am also very interested in Nico's crush on Percy and I can't wait to see where the plot lines leads!



Anakin Solo/Tahiri from Star Wars (Junior Jedi Knights series and New Jedi Order series)


Another one of the first romances I shipped as a younger kid- I loved them since Junior Jedi Knight's first book and I was saddened to see how it ended.

Ferus Olin/Darra Thel-Tanis (Jedi Quest)

Not technically canon, but I could see it happening.

Alek/Deryn from the Leviathan Trilogy

One thing I really liked about this series was that, unlike most shows, Alek didn't find out Deryn was a girl til the last book of the trilogy. Because of this, I felt the eventual 'getting together' was much more satisfying.


Hermione/Ron from Harry Potter

Probably the first thing I ever shipped. It was pretty obvious, but I remember having arguments with kids in Sunday School about who Hermione would end up with(shipping wars before I knew what that meant- LOL XD). But anyway, it was fun to watch and I'm glad it turned out that way(especially considering that J.K. Rowling is now saying she wished she'd put Hermione and Harry together, which I'm glad she didn't since it would have been cliche, though she could have pulled it off- she is a good enough writer).

Katara/Zuko and Katara/Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender

When it comes to ATLA, I'm kind of a multi-shipper. When I watched ATLA, I shipped Katara with Aang since it was what happened in the story and it was really enjoyable to watch and well done. Then, my Mom(we got her to watch it later! XD) mentioned something about Katara and Zuko working better, and I heard other people started talking about Zutara. Soon, strangely, I started shipping them too and now I like both, though I think I might prefer Zutara just slightly.



Toph/Sokka, Suki/Sokka from Avatar: The Last Airbender

As I said above, I multiship in ATLA, and here is another example of me doing just that. I loved Sokka/Suki and it was done really well in canon. But then I started seeing Tokka all over the internet and, again, I started shipping it too. Luckily, when it comes to ATLA, I don't really get protective over one ship or the other, since I can enjoy most the ones I hear about :)



Willow/Oz from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

On Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Willow probably had the most stable and healthy relationships and her relationship with Oz was one of the best on the show(I wasn't really invested in most of the romance on BTVS since I preferred the platonic relationships). Oz is definitely a good guy and is one of the best male characters created by Joss Whedon and I loved how he liked Willow back before she got her complete confidence, which is how she got the other two significant others to notice her. Another pretty impressive thing about it was that, when it ended I actually CARED, which is quite impressive.


Willow/Tara from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

While I was at first wary since I liked Oz so much, I ended up LOVING Willow and Tara together. I think they were both really good for each other and their relationship was healthy(well, as healthy as you can get on a BTVS), which is always nice to see. Tara was also a great character and her strength of character was a nice light, especially in the dark season 6, where she was the only one to remain any moral highground.
(I'm sorry I don't have many Lesbian relationships on this list, I just haven't come across all that many, which is something I definitely hope to remedy).


Buffy/Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Even though it got annoying at times, I think Buffy's healthiest relationship was with Angel(ha-ha). In between the some-what frustrating drama, it definitely had its good moments.


Revan/Bastila Shan from Star Wars

A Jedi and a Sith falling for each other? Yes, give me that story! I haven't seen much of it, but from what I have managed to see, I really enjoy it and I hope to see more of it(I just need to get the KOTOR games...)

Luke/Mara from Star Wars

I haven't seen much of them either, but hearing about them makes me love it already.


Romeo/Juliet from Romeo X Juliet

No, I am not talking about the Shakespeare play- I do love Shakespeare(he was a writing genius), but I do prefer the anime version of Romeo and Juliet(since the original version is kind of weird, gives the wrong message, isn't a romance, and Romeo, in all actuality, was a two-faced jerk). While a bit sappy in the middle, the romance ends up being amazing and the finale to the show is definitely perfect! :D


Other ships I like include- Lin/Tenzin, Tenel Ka/Jacen, Jaina/Zekk, Cordelia/Doyle, Tohru/Yuki, Tohru/Kyo, Buffy/Spike(in seasons 7 and 5 only), Angel/Spike, Wesley/Fred, Malcolm/Inara, Simon/Kaylee, Toshiko/Owen, Emma/August, and I kind of like Armin/Jean and Jean/Marco.


Fictional/Celebrity crushes list
Obi-Wan Kenobi

Thor

Tom Hiddleston(Loki)

Kili

Dean Winchester

Simon Tam

Thorin

Captain Jack Harkness

Anakin Solo

Ferus Olin

Armin Arlert