Here, Have Some Kool-Aid: Sherlock

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Welcome to the final "Here, Have Some Kool-Aid" post. Today we talk about converting your friends to the BBC Fandom life.

Sherlock can be one of the hardest shows to get your friends to watch. Because of its long episodes, short seasons, and the stigma that surrounds it, Sherlock can be intimidating for a new fanperson to take on. I've heard of people thinking that Moffat was a villain in the show. He might as well be, but still.


BBC Sherlock staring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman is an entirely new beast. The RDJ movies, Elementary, and even House MD, are very different. There are similarities among these obviously, but it's the same story told a thousand different ways. And because of the vast and never-ending supply of variations, some people think, "You've seen one, you've seen 'em all."

The adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson are well know and beloved. And just like each Whovian has their Doctor, each Sherlock fan has their own Holmes & Watson combo. Mine is the BBC version, obviously. So when your showing your potential fanperson the show, think about that. Are you saying "Look at this new thing that you haven't seen before!" or "Let me show you a new version of something that you already love!"?

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As you may remember from my last two posts, (*cough cough Doctor Who and Supernatural cough cough*), I have repeatedly threatened to come through the computer and smack you with a rolled up newspaper and say, "Bad Fanling! No post for you!" if you skip seasons.

As Sherlock lacks the number of seasons and episodes that DW and SPN have, I shouldn't have to threaten. Just know the offer still stands if you skip.

As you know, on Sunday nights I post new installments of the various blog series I write. Well, right now I don't have any good ideas. Like none. So, I'm taking a little breather from the series-ing. But don't fret: I'll start back after I have a good idea. If you have something you wanna see, let me know.

I might need to make some room in my head for new ideas. Maybe I'll get rid of the solar system. That seems like a good idea. I mean, what does that matter? So we go around the sun! If we went around the moon or round and round the garden like a teddy bear, it wouldn't make any difference! I hope someone got that reference and you all don't think I'm crazy. Oy.

Here, Have Some Kool-Aid: Supernatural

If you didn't cover half the picture to see the different faces
at least once, we can't be friends.
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A number of people have asked me to do a post on introducing your friends to Supernatural. 

That number is zero.

But here it is anyway, in case that number is really one.

Supernatural is a great show. But some people are still apprehensive about watching it, because they don't understand it.

What's key here is explaining that this isn't "Billy-Joe-Bob's Guide to Satan Worship." The show is a Good Vs. Evil fight. There are truly evil things in this show. But the boys are always raging angst them.

And it's not all black and white. It's not just slaying monsters and rescuing (cough*banging*cough) damsels in distress. There's quite a bit of gray area. And that's where people get lost. They see the pentagrams, demons, and blood covered Winchesters, and they assume that it's evil.

The cure for this is *gasp* telling them it's not. And even if they don't believe you at first, they will. It's a process.

The best place to start is *double gasp* Season 1 Episode 1. Some people skip the first 3 seasons. If you do I will come through the computer and smack you with a rolled up newspaper, and say "Bad Fanling! No post for you!"

You can pretend all you want, but sooner or later you're going to have to face up to who you really are.

One of us.

Here, Have Some Kool-Aid: Doctor Who

A picture is worth a thousand words.
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Welcome to "Here, Have Some Kool-Aid: A handy-dandy guide to convert your friends to the Fandom life." This week we do Who.

There are two ways to start. You can start with the classic series,  S1 E1 Doctor1. Or you can start with the new series, S1 E1 Doctor9. The classic series is, well... classic. The new series is the only one I've watched, and can offer knowledge about. So we'll go with that.

Doctor Who is a very deep and wide Fandom. That can make it intimidating to start watching. So the best eps to start with are self-contained and have characters who are new to the world of The Doctor.

A perf example is "Blink, S3 E10." It's a one off, and the protagonist Sally Sparrow is new to the world of Who. "Blink" also has one of the scariest baddies in Who history: the weeping angels.

This is the ep I used to introduce my BFF to Who. It took 39 minutes before she became a die hard fangirl. In other words, success.

Another good episode is "The Runaway Bride, S3 E1." Donna is funny, sympathetic, and loveable. If your potential Whovain cares about the characters, they're more likely to want to watch more.

A lot of people skip the Ninth Doctor, and start with Ten. I do not recommend this. And by "do not recommend this," I mean I will come through the computer and smack you with a rolled up newspaper, and say "Bad Fanling! No post for you!" Even if you choose to start with "Blink" or "The Runaway Bride," go back and start with the new series featuring Nine; it's definitely worth it.

When choosing other eps, think about your potential Whovain. "Blink" was a good choice for my BBF because she likes horror. Horror = scary, scary = weeping angels. If your potential Whovain is a romantic comedy fan, something like "Love & Monsters, S2 E10" or "The Unicorn and the Wasp, S4 E7" might be a better choice.

Other than that, S1 E1 is always a good starting point. Just make sure you give a little back story before you do anything.

Gotta dash. Things happening. Well, four things. Well, four things and a lizard.