I couldn’t let February go without joining in on one more fandom tag in celebration of February is Fantasy Month. Because, really, can there ever be enough fandom fangirling?

So much alliteration.

SO YES. You may notice it is indeed not Monday, and yet I am posting. What is this insanity??? WELL. I ran out of Mondays in February to do all the posts I wanted to. (Silly February, being so short.) Thus, you’re getting my usual Monday post two days early! (But really, who gave February permission to be nearly over???)

If you missed it, the amazing Jenelle is hosting her annual February is Fantasy Month all month long, and this year the theme is FANDOMS. A couple of weeks ago I joined in on some prompts she made talking about fandoms, but this week I have another tag I wanted to do. (And yes, this is the third tag in a row I’m posting. But there’s just SO MUCH going on in the blogosphere this month!)

This tag (of which you can find the original post for HERE) was created by the oh-so fabulous and delightful Madeline. I’ve, uh, been meaning to do this tag since she created it back in February of…2019. Yeah. YEAH. (We’re not gonna talk about the mile long bookmark folder I have of blog tags I mean to do…) But Jenelle had the brilliant idea to do the tag this month as part of her Fantasy Month celebrations, and I couldn’t help but follow suit!

SO LET’S GET TO IT.

THE FANDOM TAG

Rules

• Include the graphic somewhere in your post!
• Answer the questions!
• Tag two fangirls/boys

What’s the first fandom you remember becoming a part of?

WELL. I actually answered that in length in the other fandom tag post I did a couple of weeks ago. So we won’t go over those (overly detailed) answers again.

The short answer is: The Disney animated classics. But if you’re looking for one specific thing, it’s The Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh. My actual childhood right there.

What’s the newest fandom you’ve come to enjoy?

Annnnd I sort of already answered this in the other post too (I promise the rest of this post won’t be a repeat of the last).

Lately I’ve been binge-watching the Studio Ghibli films and absolutely adoring them.

AND

I’m becoming utterly obsessed with The Series of Unfortunate Events books. I had no idea how deep and twisty these books got later on! I thought they were more or less all similar in plot from the first few without getting too much into backstory but WHEW BOY was I wrong! And I’m glad. I am loving all the secrets and mysteries and continuities and akjlkajdlkjfs. THEY’RE SO GOOD. Why did it take me this long to read these???

What’s a fandom guaranteed to give you feels?

BBC’S MERLIN. No question.

I’ve never cried over a TV show more in. my. life. (And I’m an easy crier, so that’s saying something.)

It also happens to be my favorite TV series of all time, so there’s that. BUT THE FEELS. THE FEEEELS. I will never be over this show. Ever.

Doctor Who, more specifically the Tenth and Eleventh Doctor eras, also manage to make me both shriek in excitement and melt into a puddle of sobs with even the slightest mention.

Okay, BBC’s Sherlock does that too.

Let’s just agree BBC is the Master of Feels and Pain and leave it at that.

What’s a guilty pleasure fandom of yours?

Well, I mean, there’s some shows I watch that aren’t exactly clean, if that’s what we mean? I would say Stranger Things, Psych, Leverage, and Sherlock are the main ones. Which is sad, because those right there are some of my top favorite shows of all time. (Throw in Merlin and Doctor Who and you’ve got my top 6 favorite shows, I do believe.)

But, alas, some of them I wouldn’t recommend to everyone due to content. Stranger Things and Sherlock, especially. I’d say Leverage is the more tamer of them all, but it does have its moments. Psych is a hit or miss content-wise too. But MAN. They’re so good! Why must things have content??? *sobs*

There are a few choice books I ADORED too, but was sooooo disappointed in the content. Namely Strange the Dreamer and Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor and The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert. Did I love those books? Yes. Would I recommend them to people? Not often. Seriously, the amount of stuff in those books was shocking. I mean, these were written for teenagers? REALLY??? *siiigh*

ANYWAY.

On a more lighthearted note! If we mean guilty pleasure as in something that may surprise everyone: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic! Yes, I am in my upper 20s. Yes, I absolutely adore that show. IT’S A GOOD SHOW PEOPLE.

What’s the weirdest fandom you’ve heard of/are a part of?

As in, the actual story is weird OR the fandom (a.k.a. the people who love it) are weird? If the latter, then the BBC Sherlock fandom for sure. We are all insane, and just spiral down the insanity chute more and more the longer we have to wait for seasons (which is like 283948 years per season). Do we all belong in insane asylums? Yes, yes we do.

But as far as a story I love that’s just plain weird, I’m totally copying Madeline and Jenelle and going with: GRAVITY FALLS.

This cartoon about twins Dipper and Mabel spending the summer with their uncle at his home in the little town of Gravity falls has such a distinct…feel. I’ve really never watched anything quite like it.

AND IT IS FANTASTIC.

Another one of my top favorite shows (yes, I have many…). There’s mystery, myths, mayhem, and that doesn’t even cover the characters. Pragmatic Dipper, glitters-and-sunshine Mabel, grumpy and stingy “Grunkle” Stan, lovable and oblivious Zeus—EVERYBODY. They’re great. At first it seems like just some weird and random cartoon, but it actually has some deep themes, an ongoing mystery, and fantastic character arcs. Don’t judge it by its weirdness, that’s what makes it GOOD.

Favorite popular/widely-known fandom?

I mean, Lord of the Rings. OF COURSE. Is anyone surprised? No? No.

And I’m a total Disney girl too, if that counts. I’m prettyyy sure Disney is fairly widely known. 😉

Favorite bookish fandom?

There are so many good ones, but I gotta go with…

THE LUNAR CHRONICLES.

Marissa Meyer’s scifi fairy tale retellings are just… *chef’s kiss* Perfection. The CHARACTERS. The character DYNAMICS. The fun plots. Fairy tales IN SPACE. CRESS AND THORNE. So much to love. So much! And it’s got such an enthusiastic fanbase, that makes some utterly jaw dropping fanart. Seriously, look of TLC fanart, you will not be disappointed! Plus Marissa Meyer herself is such a fun person and and and yeah! It’s a fantastic fandom to be in.

I am a proud Lunartic.

(Also, the Tolkienite fanbase goes without saying.)

What do you consider your ‘homebase’, a fandom you can always come back to?

I mean, Lord of the Rings. OF COURSE. Is anyone surprised? No? No.

OKAY, OKAY. I can’t help but kid. Even if that’s…not really a joke. It’s so hard to not answer with LOTR for every single question!

But really, Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit is most definitely a homebase fandom for me. In fact, I’ve reread The Hobbit more times than any book I own. (I lost count somewhere after the tenth reread…) Following a humble little hobbit through a great, fantastical world with a band of dwarves and enigmatic wizard to battle a dragon; ah, it is truly my home story. Every time I crack open that little book I feel like I’m right where I supposed to be. It’s the book that started me on writing fantasy in the first place. I’d be a completely different person if not for reading it for the first time as a ten-year-old. Like Bilbo stepping out into the great wide world on an unforgettable journey, it set me on a path of a fantastical journey as well. For that, it will always be my “homebase”.

But AHEM. Before I go off on my Hobbit fangirling rabbit trail here…(Whoops, too late.)

Really, I have so very many fandoms that feel like home. Pretty much every one I’ve listed so far has such a special place in my heart. And sometimes I’m in the mood for one more than another—but they all hold a part of me and shaped me. Stories really do have power, and I’m so grateful for all the stories I’ve gotten to experience and love.

What’s a fandom you know all about…but aren’t actually into it?

Well, Star Wars…maybe? *ducks from thrown tomatoes* But I am trying to immerse myself in the Star Wars fandom now, as I mentioned in the previous fandom tag. I’M TRYING.

Which fandom has the best characters?

How am I supposed to answer such a question???

LORD OF THE RINGS/THE HOBBIT, THE LUNAR CHRONICLES, PSYCH, MERLIN, SHERLOCK, MARVEL, GRAVITY FALLS, KINGDOM HEARTS, HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE. ALL OF THEMMM.

As fun as the plots and worlds are, I’m in these fandoms FOR the characters. These people have stolen a place in my heart, and I crack open their books or turn on the TV for them.

I literally cannot answer this question. JUST EVERYBODY. <3

Name your all-time favorite ship.

I’m pretty sure you mother’s aunt’s pet ferret could answer this question at this point.

*takes deep breath*

HOWL AND SOPHIE!!!

From the book. (Movie Howl and Sophie are great, but they can’t even hold a candle to the OGs.) The amount of squealing I do over these two disaster people is probably unhealthy but I REFUSE TO STOP.

My secondary pair is Cress and Thorne from The Lunar Chronicles because OF COURSE. Suave Thorne and awkward Cress are just too much. TOO MUCH.

Also Rapunzel and Flynn/Eugene from Tangled. Like…there aren’t even words. Actually, I could probably write a 30 page essay on why they’re so perfect but, ya know, I’m probably already going over the proper use of capslock in one post already, so…

What’s a fandom you’re curious about joining?

Goodness gracious, I’m not even sure! Does the probably near 1k books on my TBR count? Because there are a LOT of books I want to read, and bookish fandoms I’ve always wanted to be a part of. But we’d literally be here all day if I started listing books I need to read.

Shockingly, I can’t think of any TV shows or movie fandoms I’m particularly curious about. There are probably a TON, but I’m already a part of the big ones like Doctor Who and Marvel. I probably need to calm down on joining fandoms, not join more.

But bwahahaha! We all know that’s not happening.

And there we have yet more Christine Fandom Thoughts no one asked for! Thank you all for putting up with my incessant fangirling. It’s gotta come out now and again. 😉

---

I Tag…

Skye @ Ink Castles | Emily @ The Ones That Really Matter | Katie Hanna @ I’m Charles Baker Harris (and I Can Read) | + ANYONE else who wants to join!

Absolutely no pressure to anyone to join. And if you’ve already done this tag and I forgot, I apologize for my Dori brain. XD

Here’s the questions (for copying and pasting purposes):

• What’s the first fandom you remember becoming a part of?
• What’s the newest fandom you’ve come to enjoy?
• What’s a fandom guaranteed to give you feels?
• What’s a guilty pleasure fandom of yours?
• What’s the weirdest fandom you’ve heard of/are a part of?
• Favorite popular/widely-known fandom?
• Favorite bookish fandom?
• What do you consider your ‘homebase’, a fandom you can always come back to?
• What’s a fandom you know all about…but aren’t actually into it?
• Which fandom has the best characters?
• Name your all-time favorite ship.
• What’s a fandom you’re curious about joining?

Are you part of any of these fandoms? What is your fandom homebase? I’d love to know!