Fandom Overview: High School Musical

If you ask your friends about High School Musical, chances are you won't hear many rave reviews. But the thing is, millions and millions of people have watched these movies. And a lot of them, even self-respecting fangirls (and fanboys, we don't discriminate here) like them. Like them enough to stop channel surfing when they chance across High School Musical 1 or 2 rerunning on Disney Channel. Like them enough to sing along if they're certain no one can hear them. Like them enough to sneak off to the theater and see High School Musical 3. And they certainly like these movies enough to create some good fandom around them.

I'm here today to tell you it's okay to like these fluffy, plot-holey Disney movies, and it's more than okay to enjoy the fandom. So sit back and relax, and let me share with you the joy that is High School Musical.

( High School Musical Overview )

Hello, I'msecondalto and I'll be your driver for Chuck. This is the first time Chuck has been featured, so below you will find a fandom overview. Spoilers through Chuck vs. the Gravitron. With thanks to fiareynne  for giving this a look over.

( Chuck vs. The Overview )

Premise: A vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost share a flat in Bristol.



( Image heavy, so fair warning )

( Cut for Time and Space Issues )

GOKUSEN

Gokusen is a manga, anime, and live drama series. There are significant differences between the manga and drama versions, but the basic story remains the same: Yamaguchi Kumiko, the heiress of a yakuza family, has long dreamt of becoming a teacher. Her very first class is full of unruly thugs who want little to do with school, and even less to do with a painfully dorky math teacher.

Fortunately for her students, Kumiko (named "Yankumi" by her class) doesn't give up. She's been raised as a member of a yakuza family, and no high school toughs are about to scare her off! The story follows Yankumi as she gains the respect of her students, deals with her family business, and kicks the ass of anyone who dares to threaten student or family.

There are many reasons to love Gokusen, but I’ll keep it simple: everyone is a giant DORK. How could a series of dorky thugs not be awesome?

( The fandom in brief )
( An image heavy look at the characters )
( Fandom resources )

I apologize if this overview is a bit muddled. I forgot how difficult it is to write these things!

Hi, I'm Callisto and I'll be driving for Pros this month. A fandom overview by phantomas is here if any are interested in catching up, and I thought I'd begin with a batch of fabulous writers who have emerged since Pros was last a featured fandom here.

Fandom: PROS (THE PROFESSIONALS)
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Length: 18k
Author on LJ:jojosimco
Author Website: Jojo at The Circuit Archive
Why this must be read: How about something small and perfectly formed by one of my favourite authors to kick off with? This is the cricket fic we always wanted – the twist being it’s Doyle in the whites, and it’s Bodie painting Ermintrude lashes in an art class somewhere. All because of some spur-of-the-moment wager Doyle starts.

JoJo excells at the lads. She nails their speech patterns, their characters, and the 80s London setting with a talent for lyrical prose that never once feels pretentious or out of place. And did I mention that she’s funny? Laugh aloud and bloody-marvel-at funny...

Bodie had found some kit and a bat for him yesterday, but evidently neglected to inform the First XI captain that he wasn't turning up, or that a bloke who didn't know his stumps from his bails was. More than that, though. The First XI captain really was a Captain, with a honking voice to match, and a seething will to win that exploded all Doyle's hopes for a gentle stroll-about and chit-chat in the pleasant sunshine.

The fact of the matter was, he grumbled to himself, that Bodie just wanted to crow in that provoking way of his when Doyle crawled back and admitted he couldn't go through with it, which was reason enough to remain here, squinting into the distance at the hazy figure in white who was just about to thump that sodding ballistic missile...Oh fuck. A thousand times fuck.

Proof

Hello, I'm amaresu and I'll be rec'ing Being Human for you this month. Please feel free to check out the fandom overview if you haven't already. On to the first rec!

Fandom: BEING HUMAN
Pairing: Mainly just Annie with a side of George/Mitchell. Possibly George/Mitchell/Annie if you squint.
Length: ~3000
Author on LJ: sparky77
Author Website: http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=sparky77
Why this must be read: Annie is sometimes overlooked by the fandom. Most people love her, but with George/Mitchell sitting there she can get pushed to the side. This is nice a fun look at Annie learning to live with George and Mitchell. And more importantly it's about Annie learning to live as herself, even if she's already dead.

( excerpt )

Self-Empowerment for the Modern Ghost

Hello! I am goddessdster and I'll be driving the Hot Fuzz van this month. I'm very excited about my recs and hope you all find something to appreciate as well.

( First, though, an overview (with many thanks to annlarimer for suggestions and such): )

Driver Note: I did not write the following overview. All contents (and opinions) herein are the property of the lovely nentari.

( M*A*S*H: An Introduction )

Hello, all! I am hobsonphile, and I will be driving the van for M*A*S*H this month. I am a ginormous Radar fan and a gen addict, but I'm also fair, so with the help of some friends, I will attempt to rec fics from every nook and cranny of this small - but still active - fandom.

First, though, a Radar fic:

Fandom: M*A*S*H
Pairing: None
Length: roughly 1,700 words
Rating: G
Author on LJ: takenhawkeye
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read:

Because - even sans a title - it deserves to be canon. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that Radar would've visited Lorraine eventually, and how that visit is presented here just makes so much sense.

( Read more... )

Untitled

Primeval is a British family tea time show, airing on a Saturday at 7pm on ITV. If you're British, you'll know exactly what I mean. If not, let me introduce you to the wonders of family entertainment, Brit TV style.

There is a certain genre of British TV that tends to air between 6pm and 7pm, generally on a Saturday before small people are put to bed, and Primeval fits very nicely into that category. It's vaguely SciFi, kiddie friendly but not necessarily for kids, and fits in nicely with the standard six to seven week run that consists of episodes that can be appreciated as standalone but still manage to fit into an overall series theme. We have a long tradition of doing shows like this, ones that really are for all the family, and this particular show also has the added advantage that it features lots of scenes of people running from dinosaurs. ♥

In short, it is to love. Particularly as the creatures are created by the guys who were behind the hit BBC documentary show Walking with Dinosaurs, meaning that the CGI is really good for Saturday afternoon TV fare ::g::

( Plot Overview )

( Series One )

There were a number of changes in series 2, as a result of the events of series 1. I don't want to go into too much detail, but unfortunately some are inevitable because they involve cast changes.

Please be aware that spoilers are under the cut.

( Series Two - Cast Changes and spoilers )

( Series Three - Cast Changes and spoilers )

( Fandom )

Have fun!

[Last Updated: November 2009]