Have You Accepted [Insert Fandom Name Here] Into Your Life?

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“So V, Have you ever watched Supernatural?"

“I think you’d like Doctor Who.”

   Once upon a time these were statements said to me by both, friends and family. Often when we are surrounded by people who share our love for something, it tends to lead to other fandoms. Harry Potter might lead into Percy Jackson. Supernatural might lead you into Being Human and Doctor Who might lead you into Torchwood. We become involved in our fandoms and try to indoctrinate our peers into them, hoping that we can convert them.

   Not so long ago, Doctor Q and I were trying to make a Whovian out of Otaku K. We argued, debated and proclaimed the virtues of THE Doctor and she would gracefully decline our advances, offers, dares, threats and straight out insults. Other than going to her doorstep and asking her is she was willing to accept the mighty Doctor, savior of time and space into her life, we tried everything to make her join the cult of Doctor Who.  

   Then she quietly watched it, loved it and now worships it. Doctor Q and I are so proud. It’s never too late to love the Doctor.

   We converted Doctor Q in a similar way into the Supernatural Family. Otaku K and I repeatedly proclaimed our love for this show. I tried to sell him on the virtues of Sam Winchester while Otaku K tried to sell him the gospel of Dean Winchester. Neither seemed to work. We begged and pleaded and Doctor Q eventually relented.

   Turns out all he needed was a couple of hellhounds and the King of Hell. Also, a legitimate plot which season 3 gratefully provided. Now Doctor Q is a proud member of the Supernatural Family.

   Which brings us to another question, why do we as television obsessed people try to spread the fandoms we hold so dear to our hearts? What makes us get in a Facebook chat to debate the virtues of Christopher Eccleston’s leather clad Doctor over Matt Smith’s tweed sporting one? Why try to convince someone that Sam Winchester isn’t the reason someone is always in trouble in Supernatural?

   Simple. Because fandoms are best enjoyed in groups. We look for people similar to us to help us carry out our love for whatever you worship without them judging you. Sure, the internet is a wonderful thing that helps you find whatever you fancy, whether it’s rated G fanart of Sherlock or rated disturbing My Little Pony hentai,  but at the end of the day, you want people you actually know to share, debate and proclaim absurdity to, without (or with minimal) judgment. You want people who when you say “I want to make a gender bent Supernatural cosplay!” they’ll smile and say “I’ll be the Castiel to your Sam and we can get my sister to be Dean.”

   Fandoms are just that. Good fun. A chance for everyone to gather under the same banner and proclaim their love for something. Does it really matter which Doctor is the best or which Winchester brother is smarter (because let’s face it each one has a big case against them in one way or another)? It does not. What matters is the love we have for these pop culture definers and the legacy they leave behind.

   So next time a friend asks you to give a show a chance, do so. Even if it’s only one episode. You might find something you didn’t know was missing in your life and you might find a companion or a fellow brother-in-arms to join you in your new obsession.

   Now if we could all get properly addicted to Sherlock, we’d have an awesome trio of Superwholockians running this shindig...

   I love fandom names.


Currently Listening To: Twister (Remix)- Mai Matsuda ; The World Ends With You Soundtrack 

Book on My Nightstand: Young Avengers - Issue #4

On my TV: Tron Uprising

Currently Retro gaming: Grandia (I've had things to do)

Random Pop Culture Thought of the Day: "I'm starting to think that Sam Winchester really is the reason everyone in Supernatural either dies or gets in trouble."