Lords of Kobol, hear my prayer...

Taken from this fandom meme:

What's a favorite, or at least memorable fandom meeting/interaction that you've had?

I have to say attending fan conventions has been probably the most memorable thing, because while befriending and interacting with fandom people is always a wonderful feeling, actually getting to meet and just be around fannish people in a public space is such a surreal experience. Attending my first convention and meeting up with someone who I only knew online, and fangirling out together in real life? There is nothing quite like it, to be honest. And not even just meeting up with online friends, but just seeing other like-minded people such as yourself who share similar fandom interests as you in a convention setting. Going to the vending area and seeing people selling their fanart and merchandise, things that you cannot buy anywhere else unless you go to these conventions or to these people's personal online stores. Seeing people either in cosplay or just wearing fandom-based shirts, it's so great. Even if you don't talk with anyone just being in a space where fandom and being enthusiastically fannish is openly celebrated and encouraged is a fantastic feeling, in my opinion.

Like, one of the biggest draws for me to attend conventions is to experience that more than who the guests are, to be honest.

(Also, I've been missing conventions terribly since the pandemic started. I'm hoping that we will eventually get back into the swing of things, though considering how conventions are they would need to find a better solution of having possibly outdoor events more than indoors. But in general, I miss attending them.)

++ Doctor Who official S11 trailer premiered at SDCC and it looks absolutely fantastic. I'm in love with Thirteen already. Just from the moment she starts speaking I was all in. And really, Jodi Whittaker looks absolutely amazing in this, plus her accent! It's so endearing and adorable and just, ah! I also love seeing the three new Companions she'll be having, and the production looks so good. Nine will always be my Doctor (Eleven almost took that place but then, well, Moffat happened), but if this goes well as anticipated Thirteen will most likely be a very close second, not gonna lie. I don't think I've ever been this excited for a new season of Doctor Who, and considering my love/hate and on/off relationship with this show that says something.

++ The cast of Brooklyn Nine-Nine made their first appearance at SDCC this year, and they didn't disappoint. Everyone looked so radiant and happy, basically basking in the joy about being renewed by NBC and having so much support and the love of the fans, which must've been the most gratifying and rewarding thing to witness after the whole cancellation/renewal that happened, especially with seeing all the fans that have loved and supported them throughout the seasons and advocated for the show to be renewed. I love them all so much and I love this show. Also, sidenote, the cast of the new season of Doctor Who ended up in a photoshoot with the B99 cast!

++ I haven't watched Voltron: Legendary Defender (yet), but it was revealed at SDCC that one of its main characters, Takashi Shirogane, aka Shiro, is a canonically gay man. (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

++ Wynonna Earp just got renewed for a fourth season. That's awesome, though I still find it strange that the show can get renewed even before the current season barely gets started, showcasing its popularity, and yet there are still no DVDs available for the show at all. :/

++ We have Deadpool 2 panel which is cool, but from that panel comes Ryan Reynolds talking about inclusivity, which anyone who has watched the films, especially the sequel, knows that they were very inclusive and bringing in more representation than most films do nowadays, especially superhero movies. I also would love there to be exploration of Deadpool's pansexuality in the future, as well. I know that they touched on that slightly in Deadpool 2, with Wade flirting with both Colossus and Cable alongside his love for Vanessa, but it would be utterly fantastic for them to go further with that, and I know that Ryan Reynolds has talked about that before, as well. He seems very genuine with wanting more of that kind of representation as a whole to reflect the real world.

These are just some of the things that have caught my eye with SDCC at the moment. I know that there's loads more as it's still happening, but I'm still catching up. And yes, there are other specific things I want to discuss, but that'll be for in a completely separate post altogether.

Out of all the panels and things I experienced at Dragon*Con, the entire weekend can only be summed up to one thing: TOM FELTON. I was the most excited to see him out of anyone else, and I got to see him all the three days he appeared at the event. Which is pure luck since he was the first panel on all those days, and the only one I woke up early to get in line for. Believe me, waiting three hours for his panels was absolutely worth it.

( Memorable moments from all three days + pictures )

( PRE-SUNDAY PANEL HELL: The official convention people being ridiculously stupid as a particular incident happened before the Sunday panel.... )

( But it was all forgotten when I had a little thing with Tom.... )

Overall, this has got to be my favorite aspect of the whole convention experience. There is just something about Tom Felton that is utterly attractive, from his personality to the way he interacts with the fans, his appreciation of fandom and how he is the sweetest individual you'll ever meet -- I have loved him as Draco Malfoy, but Tom Felton as a person has made this whole trip the most memorable for me. In spite of all the waiting, the insufferable crowds and ridiculous convention organizers, he made it all worthwhile.

And this is my final Dragon*Con 2011 report. Saving the best for last. :)

My final verdict is that this whole experience, even with the suffocation of the crowds and chaos that ensues, I definitely would like to go again.

Before anything else, as being my first time with such a huge event as this, I would like to give first impressions of the convention itself and how my experiences were this past weekend.

( My mild case of claustrophobia with the crowds, the pros and cons of the panels and my overall initial impression of the event in general )

But overall, I certainly enjoyed myself. It was fun and despite the massive crowds and certain issues, I definitely would like to attend again. If not next year then the year after that. Dressing up is definitely on my list of things to do if/when I do go again, because after seeing the many amazingly phenomenal and elaborate costumes at this event, I got so inspired that I'm already planning for that next trip.

Coming up will be the panels, including pictures. :)

Just arrive in Atlanta. I am exhausted as fuck, like omg.

Aside from the long flight and me panicking this morning whether I had everything I needed, we had an interesting little adventure about how to get to the place we're staying. Apparently the airport in Atlanta is like a freaking maze, and the more you go into it the more of a museum it becomes. Lots of walking, sitting, and now still on California time everywhere is closed (it's like midnight here in Atlanta) so we have to try to find a place to get some food at this late hour.

Yeah. I'm beat.

BUT DRAGON*CON! TOMORROW REGISTRATION, AND THEN FRIDAY IS WHEN THE ~MAGIC~ STARTS.

Oh yeah, and did I mention that ELIZA DUSHKU was just added at the last minute? ELIZA FREAKING DUSHKU. ;alsdkfjlaskjdf;lajsd;lfkjas;dlfj;alsdjf!!!!!!