The little things, part 2

Before we left to come back to the States, I made a list of little things about life in Thailand/Laos that I'd miss while I was here. So it only seems fitting that I make a list of some of the little things I'll miss about life here in Washington. Again, this isn't counting the hugely important people I'll miss: my family, my local friends, my church. These are just the small things that make this home - or I should say, one of my homes.

Some sounds that I missed while I was in Thailand, that I'll miss when we get back:

-Airplanes flying overhead multiple times a day, from Boeing or from Seatac Airport
-Robins, sparrows, chickadees, red-winged blackbirds, bald eagles, and other native Pacific Northwestern birds
-Soft, steady drizzle of rain that can go on for hours (not a tropical deluge)
-The distant sound of a train whistle
-The furnace coming on at intervals throughout the day
-English-language songs on the radio, and playing in the background in stores
-The specific sound our front door makes when it opens or closes
-The sound of driving over that one stretch of I-5 in Seattle that has all the expansion joints in it - preferably at the rhythm you get when you're going about 65 mph in the HOV lane
-The tide coming in or out, at the various Puget Sound beaches I love

Some scents that I'll miss:
-Evergreen conifers
-Cherry blossom trees

-The ocean (mostly the Puget Sound)
-Burning dust when the heater comes on after having been off for a while
-Laundry fresh out of the dryer
-Freshly-mowed grass - it smells different in Thailand
-Fallen leaves

Some sights I'll miss:
-Mount Rainier, on clear and partly cloudy days
-The Cascades and the Olympics
-The Seattle skyline (there's none I love better)
-Autumn leaves, and bare trees after the leaves have fallen
-Tree-lined streets and hiking paths
-Frost-covered branches, and falling snow (not that we got all that much of that this winter ... and yes, I know that much of the US got too much!)
-Spring flowers

Other sensations:
-Long sleeves, jackets, sweatshirts, sweaters, coats, socks, closed-in shoes, jeans almost every day, high-heeled boots, scarves, fleece pajamas, flannel sheets ... all those clothes, etc. that go with colder weather
-Coming into the warm house from a cold day
-The comfort of holding a hot beverage in cold hands
-Less time spent sweating
-Sitting in front of a fireplace or warm stove
-Dishes fresh out of the dishwasher

That's just a small sampling; I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting at the moment. But at the same time, I'm getting more and more excited to go back to my other home!

It's the little things (okay, and the big things)

Faster than seems possible, it's approaching the day when Mackenzie and I will be saying goodbye to one home temporarily so that we can go back to our other home. For the first time in two and a half years, we'll be going back to the US!

While I am very excited to go back home, see family & friends, visit all my favorite places in Washington, and eat American food, I'm also realizing that I have less than two months now to say goodbye (for six months) to the things I love so much about Thailand and Southeast Asia. Of course it helps to know that I'll be back here pretty soon; I'm sure the months in the US will fly by just as fast or faster as it seems like my first term over here has.

So what will I miss about life here? The obvious and most important answer is my friends. Our neighborhood, our office, our church, our weekly pizza night - I'll miss all the people I see at these places. (And I'll continue to miss my friends who live in Vientiane, too!) I can't count all the ways that my Mukdahan family has welcomed, loved, and helped me throughout the year I have lived here and beforehand, too.

Other than this big thing, there are other, smaller good or just everyday things that come to mind when I think of this place. I'm sure I won't think of them all, but I've been thinking about some of them.

- I think of sounds:

Tropical birdsong, in the mornings and evenings especially.* Doves cooing and murmuring. The sound of a motorbike starting up. The rumble of the gate to a house being pulled open or pushed shut on its wheeled track. Thai, Isaan, and Lao being spoken. A tuktuk going past on the main road. The little red ice cream truck. The distinctive beat of traditional-style Isaan or Lao music (though I really prefer it not accompanied by loud, drunken karaoke parties). The radio advertisements playing inside Big C and Tesco Lotus. The trucks that go by blaring their political or product advertisements. Cicadas and bullfrogs during certain seasons. House geckos chirping a warning. Tukkaes, or Tokay geckos, calling from outside. The cycling of air conditioning units. The quiet dripping of the water filter. The hiss of a gas stove. Dramatic peals of thunder and tropical downpours.

*There's one very distinctive birdcall that I will especially miss: that of the Greater Coucal. It's not a flashy, bright-colored bird, but it sounds pretty cool. If you'd like to hear a sample, this is what it sounds like (and also what the bird looks like).

- I think of scents:

Flowers that release their perfume at night. The street after a heavy rainfall.

The type of laundry soap we always use. Grilled chicken or river fish sold by the roadside. Freshly steamed sticky rice. The various kinds of Thai food being cooked for lunch at the office. The pungent, sometimes almost pleasant odor of durian for sale. Seafood and other strong-smelling foods being prepared for sale at Big C - though sometimes it's a bit too strong to be at all enjoyable. Fish sauce being used in cooking. Fresh, hot khao piak or pho (noodle soup). The way the smell of lime juice lingers on your hands after you squeeze a wedge of lime over your meal. Freshly sliced mangoes. Incense from a spirit house or a wat (Buddhist temple). The bug-killing spray we use to kill cockroaches, ants, and spiders (okay, I won't actually miss that, even though it's usually either floral or citrus scented here).

- I think of sights:

The beautiful array of plant life, including so many flowers. Colorful butterflies and dragonflies. Impressively huge moths and beetles (as long as they stay outside!). Brightly-colored Thai flags - or Lao, depending on which side of the border I'm on.

All the wares for sale at markets. Rows of brilliant, traditional wraparound skirts (sinhs) in a myriad of patterns and hues. Golden spires and rooftops of temples. Water buffaloes and cows grazing by the side of the road - or crossing it. Chickens and dogs, and the occasional cat, trotting down narrow lanes. Geckos darting up the wall. Schoolchildren in their uniforms, coming home from school in songthaews or on the back of motorbikes, sometimes three or more on a bike. Huge, brightly-painted tour buses crawling through the town. Rows of tuktuks waiting for passengers at tourist locations and bus stations. Ornate signs and designs all over, in honor of the Royal Family. The Mekong River. Seemingly endless ricefields just outside the city. Green, rolling hills and mountains once you get even further outside of the city. Busy, bustling Centralplaza shopping centers. A 7-11 at every corner. People smiling, putting their palms together, and bowing their heads in the traditional greeting - a wai or a nop, depending on the language.

- I think of tangible and non-tangible sensations:

The smoothness of a silk sinh (traditional wraparound skirt). The electric start button for a motorbike - or kickstarting it. The slight stickiness of a fallen dok champa (plumeria/frangipani) blossom. The near-burn that comes from grabbing a handful of fresh sticky rice right out of the basket (totally worth it). The bliss of an air-conditioned room after coming indoors. The breeze coming off the Mekong. The relative cool of a cloudy, rainy-season day. The soothing softness of my cats' fur - the two of them distinct from one another.* The cloth steering wheel cover that keeps the steering wheel from burning my hands when the car has sat in the sun for a while. The squishy hollowness of an unopened pomelo fruit. The smoothness of a mango skin. The bristliness of the outside of a rambutan.

*Yes, cats in general are not unique to SE Asia. But our cats are, and we aren't taking them back to the US with them, so we will be missing them like crazy.

- I think of flavors:

Each and every one of my favorite Thai and Lao main dishes (I won't list them all, because it would be a very long list and I'd get too hungry in the process. You can ask me sometime). Specific meals from my favorite restaurants in Vientiane. Coconut milk used in cooking. Fresh-made "Lao bread" - also known as baguettes. The wide array of tropical fruits, most of which I've already posted about: passionfruit, mangoes, mangosteens, rambutans, lychees, limes, pineapple, rose apples, dragonfruit, guava, coconut, tamarind, etc.

Frozen fruit bars in these flavors (made with real fruit juice). Homemade Lao ice cream. Mango yogurt. Passionfruit jam. Jelly desserts made of coconut milk and rice flour. The kinds of fresh green vegetables that you can't really get back home - most of which I don't even know an English name for. Potato chips with specially SE Asian flavors. Salty-sour-sweet limeade.

Thankfully, as I said, I doubt I'll have too much time to miss these things, since I fully expect to be enjoying all the people and things I have been missing in the US while we're home there. But it's good to remind myself what we'll be coming back to, at the end of these upcoming six months.

Some more of my favorites (characters, that is)

It's time for another list of TV favorites. Well, part one of a list, I should say, since I'm going to divide it into Favorite Female Characters and Favorite Male Characters (otherwise the whole list would be far too long and ungainly). I'll start with the women. Though they're numbered, I don't think I can put them in any kind of actual rating order. Most of them are just too awesome for me to choose between. So with that in mind, let me begin. *NOTE: there are minor spoilers for the plots of various TV shows contained in this post.

1. Dana Scully, The X-Files

She's smart, she's strong (physically and in all other ways), she's loyal, she thinks deeply, she has a great sense of humor, she's gorgeous... Scully has a lot going for her. Though it took me maybe two episodes of The X-Files to decide that I loved Mulder (but that's for the next post), I'm pretty sure it took me just a few minutes to decide I loved Scully. (This was even despite her terrible, terrible wardrobe in the first couple of seasons. Ah, early '90s. Not a look I'm very fond of.) As will be true for all of these characters, much of that comes down to Gillian Anderson's pretty much flawless portrayal. We all know that Mulder wouldn't have made it through many more years of his life and his dangerous quest without Scully. But Scully was far from just a sidekick or a love interest for the male lead. Even though she dealt with incredible amounts of pain and heartache throughout the course of the show, she never ceased being awesome - even when the show itself stopped being really great.

I was going to post a single picture of her, but then I decided, why not post this fantastic fan-made video celebration of her awesomeness instead? If you hadn't seen it before, you're welcome.

2. Sydney Bristow, Alias

Okay, I will be the first to admit that this show went crazy off the rails sometime around season 3, and I never saw most of season 5. But as far as I know, they never assassinated the character of Sydney Bristow: sweet, loyal, super-smart, kickass, stunningly lovely, speaks dozens of languages - and oh yeah, a super-spy who can track down and take out the bad guys, fool the other bad guys, change costumes, and then jet across the globe faster than most people can pour themselves a cup of coffee in the morning. (I will also be the first to admit that this show was not what you'd call scientifically accurate in terms of things like time zones.) I actually fell in love with Jennifer Garner's Sydney before many of the other characters on this list, since I saw this show before many of them. She will always have a special place in my TV-loving heart. I think I still have her season 1 opening monologue memorized: "My name is Sydney Bristow. Seven years ago, I was recruited by a secret branch of the CIA called SD-6..."

3. Buffy Summers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The superheroine above all superheroines. Don't let her blonde hair and cutesy name fool you (although that's part of the point behind the name & look): Buffy has a life role, and that is to save the world from vampires, evil, and the forces of darkness. And she is very able to do so. In fact, in the words of her friends, "She saved the world. A lot." When I watched this show - and whenever I rewatch it - some of my favorite moments were when she displayed her physical Slayer strength. Sure, she's also a teenage girl who thinks about the things that a lot of teenage girls do: whether she can be popular at school, grades, boys, etc. She's also quick with a quip and excellent at bantering. But most of all, she will protect those she loves, and will fight for good, above anything else including her life. She's a hero, you see.

4. Olivia Dunham, Fringe

Oh, how I love Agent Olivia Dunham of the FBI's Fringe Division. She definitely had the worst childhood of anyone else on this list (so far), and despite/because of that, she uses her unique strengths as the driving force behind the efforts to save multiple universes. I loved her before the reveal that she had special abilities, and loved her even more after that. She's another character who not only cares about justice in the larger sense, for the world(s), but is fiercely protective of those she loves. One other small part of the reason I love Olivia is how she develops as a character over the course of five seasons, becoming someone who isn't afraid to take ownership of her abilities, and someone who isn't afraid to express her emotions. I'll be honest: at first I thought Anna Torv was a bit wooden as an actress, but it didn't take long before I saw that this was a deliberate acting choice. She expertly and subtly portrayed a character who doesn't trust easily, and therefore is guarded in front of others.

5. C.J. Cregg, The West Wing

Perhaps the most 'mundane' character on this list, in that the show she's from is a drama rather than sci-fi/fantasy - but that doesn't make her one bit less awesome. C.J. is basically the coolest. She's a woman in the intensely male-dominated world of American politics and the White House, but she holds her own with poise and ease. She's "one of the guys" but doesn't lose an inch of her femininity. As press secretary and then later chief of staff, she's comfortable with her position of power, and confident in that fact as well as the fact that's she's gorgeous. (Although again, season 1 wardrobe was not as kind to her.) Plus her comedic timing is perfect. Allison Janney - whom her co-star John Spencer apparently liked to refer to as "the nearly-perfect Allison Janney" - rules, is what I'm saying in a nutshell.

6. Sarah Jane Smith, Doctor Who

I actually had only seen Sarah Jane in a few episodes of the classic series before she showed up in season 2 of the new DW, in "School Reunion". But I knew enough to be thrilled to see her again! While a reunion between the Doctor and any one of several of his previous Companions could have been excellent, I think Elisabeth Sladen's Sarah Jane was the best choice. "School Reunion" immediately became one of my favorite episodes upon first viewing, and it inspired me to seek out more classic series eps with her and the Third Doctor, as well as the Fourth Doctor of course. You could see the richness of her history with the Doctor, and it didn't require a lot of words from her. Both in the classic and new series, Sarah Jane never stood for any nonsense with the Doctor, but loved him and was loved by him. He couldn't have asked for a better friend, that's for sure. I didn't watch all that many episodes of her spinoff show, but it was certainly well-deserved. I look forward to watching more of her classic series eps in the future.

7. Veronica Mars, Veronica Mars

Another non- sci-fi or fantasy character, but she doesn't rock any less. She's a teen detective, often helping her dad in his PI work as well as taking on cases of her own from classmates. She's intelligent *and* witty - often bitingly sarcastic to anyone she deems worthy of a tongue-lashing. She's also tenacious and persistent to a fault; more than once she pursues an answer to the point that it puts her in danger. Though Veronica has weathered several betrayals in her life, she remains utterly loyal to her loved ones. You can also almost always find her sticking up for the underdog. I appreciate how, over the course of three seasons, Kristen Bell shows us a young woman who continually struggles with trust and how to move past her traumas (or not move past them, as the case may be). And I gotta say, I'm pretty thrilled and excited to see how Veronica has evolved as a character in the years since the show - when the movie comes out next month!! We already know from the previews that she has recognized that private detective work can lead her down an obsessive path, which is why she hasn't indulged in it for years...

8. Seven of Nine, Star Trek: Voyager

This is not a perfect TV show, by any stretch. However, there is no question that it becomes vastly better when Jeri Ryan joins the cast as the ex-Borg drone, Seven of Nine. Like Data in TNG, Seven's journey of discovery/rediscovery of what it means to be human provides many excellent episodes, as well as insights for the audience. She has to decide whether to make a life for herself as a crew member on Voyager, even though the humans and other races on the ship act illogically and according to their emotions so often. I think my favorite ep of those I have rewatched recently is the one where various personalities of the people Seven helped assimilate while she was Borg start to resurge in her mind ("Infinite Regress", the internet tells me it's called). Jeri Ryan plays a little child, a Klingon warrior, a Ferengi, a Vulcan, and other personalities flawlessly. It's a pleasure to watch her as Seven of Nine, and like nearly everyone else in this list, the lack of awards attention paid to her is a crying shame. But I do feel a bit sorry for her, having heard from behind-the-scenes interviews that her wardrobe as the former Borg drone was just as uncomfortable and inconvenient as it looks!

9. Mary Shannon, In Plain Sight

Full disclosure: I have not watched and probably will not ever watch the last half of the final season of this show, because of rumors I've heard about how it ends. But those rumors don't erase my love for Mary Shannon. She's brash and at least as sarcastic as Veronica, she's strong, she's stubborn, she's funny, and she cares deeply about her family (messed up as they are), her friend (yeah, it's just the one), and the witnesses that are under her protection. Sidenote: starting to see a trend here - all of these women really, really care about/for their families and loved ones. I like that in a person/character. She's also wiser and more caring in general than she thinks she is. Though a major part of the appeal of IPS was the chemistry between Mary McCormack and Fred Weller (as the aforementioned friend), Marshall Mary Shannon was the main character. And as such, she was perfectly imperfect.

10. Dani Reese, Life

On this, one of many shows that ended well before its time, there was still enough time to fall in love with Detective Dani Reese. Reese was initially ... let's say unsure about being partnered with the eccentric former death row inmate Charlie Crews. But her partnership with Crews quickly became very strong - due in large part to their mutual recognition of each others' strengths borne out of the hardships they have endured. She's laconic, a recovering addict, and has daddy issues. She also has a strong moral code, that loyalty that I love so much, and the ability to stand up for herself and for others. And seeing Reese go from a serial one-night-stand-er to someone who seeks out real relationships is also pretty cool - and that's just one of the ways her character grows - of course there are many others. Plus, like many other women on this list, she can give as good as she gets. Whenever anyone does anything she thinks is foolish or annoying (mostly Crews), her look of scorn is a sight to behold.

11. Delenn, Babylon 5

My list would not be complete without this wise, caring, thoughtful, passionate, courageous, spiritual, and of course beautiful character. Yes, she can be headstrong and hot-tempered - sometimes with very far-reaching consequences. But she's also eloquent and driven in pursuit of peace & the best diplomatic solution. She is easily the most far-seeing and boldest of the Minbari, and she stands between the warrior and religious castes perfectly. I don't know anyone who loves B5 who doesn't love the scene where she makes the invading humans retreat from the space station with her, "If you value your lives, be somewhere else!" speech. Awwww yeah. Plus, the various things she has to deal with as she gets used to being part-human range from heartwarming to profound to hilarious. Just one of the fantastic, beautifully-realized characters on B5 - and an excellent showcase for Mira Furlan's talent.

Honorable mentions: Donna Noble from Doctor Who, and Mrs. Hughes from Downton Abbey. Both are strong and loyal and brave and awesome, for sure.

Well, I think I remembered all of my top favorites. I expect I'll continue to add to this list as I keep watching excellent TV - or at least I very much hope so! Did I miss any of your favorites?

Rain, I don't mind

Well, the rainy season has begun in earnest these past few weeks. That means a tropical downpour, complete with wind, extremely loud thunder, and very impressive lightning, at about 10pm almost every night - and on those days where there isn't a 10pm storm, there's usually a deluge earlier in the day.

Mackenzie and I have been deeply enjoying the change in weather for a number of reasons. For one thing, it's just been waaayyy too hot before now, with the added bonus (blech!) of humidity. But for another thing, it's just so refreshing to hear the sound of the rain falling. This holds true both for the heavy tropical deluge, and especially for the hours-long drizzle that is much less common here. Few things can remind me of home quite like sitting serenely inside the house while listening to the quiet, steady sound of rainfall. So gloriously peaceful and soothing.

Our cats respond to the cooler weather as might be expected of the solar-powered creatures that they are: they're much less active during the day, not running around crazily nearly as often as they do on sunny days. Perhaps they find it soothing, too. Of course, when big storms hit, they're not at all pleased by the loud noises and rushing wind.

I don't even mind the fact that getting anywhere by motorbike while it's pouring means you pretty much have to get wet. Sure, wearing a poncho like that one helps - quite a bit - but there's really no way to stay totally dry. Maybe it just calls back to my Seattle-area upbringing: you don't use an umbrella when it's raining, you just wear a raincoat and get a little wet. No big deal (ບໍ່ ເປັນຫຍັງ, if you want the local equivalent of that saying). And I think it's going to take me a long time to get bored of seeing so many dramatic forks of lightning in the sky whenever there's a storm. That's one thing we miss out on in western Washington.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to look at the seven-day forecast - which is completely full of rainstorms and/or cloudy days in the low 90s (F) or below - and smile in contentment. This is the view outside our language school window, immediately pre-storm

"One Person Can't Feel So Many Things At Once - They'd Explode!"

So says Ron Weasley in one of the Harry Potter books, and I sort of agree with him in some ways.

I knew it was going to stir up some emotions when I did my inaugural December listen-through of my favorite Christmas album of all time, AVB's fantastic A Savior Is Born - but I didn't know it would do quite this much to me.

I really miss my family. I knew I would, and I knew it would be especially hard once the holiday season rolled around, but I don't think I'd really let it hit me fully until today... Until I started playing that album that I love so much. See, we always listen to this one (and a few others) as a family, during tree-decorating and during family meals, and during present opening on Christmas Day.

It didn't take more than a few seconds of listening to the first song on the album for me to start bawling. Like, seriously, I'm having trouble seeing the screen here. I didn't really know it was quite this possible to revel in the joy and the feelings I only get when listening to Christmas music and celebrating the meaning of this holiday - while at the same time missing home and family with a sharpness that I haven't really felt since I came here. (Though I did have a little preview of that on Thanksgiving, when I found a beautiful version of the hymn our family always sings together before the Thanksgiving meal, listened to it on Youtube, and cried.)

Man. It's a good thing Skype and Google Hangouts exist. It's a good thing my sister and I aren't going to be all alone for Christmas. And it's a good thing I do love what I'm doing, and I believe it's meaningful and valuable, and that it's exactly what I'm supposed to be doing.

Oh, it's time for "Joy To The World", the best version ever. Excuse me while I smile and go get another tissue.

(Decorating our house here helps a little bit.)

"Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise..."

I absolutely cannot let the 25th anniversary of the TV premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation pass without comment. Watching this show with my family is one of my earliest TV-related memories. I grew up watching Captain Picard and his crew travel throughout the universe, bringing their Starfleet idealism with them everywhere they went. I saw Star Trek: First Contact in theaters even though it was rated PG-13 and I wasn't thirteen yet. I was terrified by the Borg. I had nightmares after watching the episode where Data has bad dreams, and the one where Troi has bad dreams about "Eyes... in the dark..." (Apparently, I was easily disturbed by episodes about bad dreams. They didn't give me nightmares but just made it very, very hard to fall asleep.) I idolized Picard, and Riker, and Geordi - especially since I also loved LeVar Burton on Reading Rainbow. I thought Data was awesome - and I loved that he had a pet cat named Spot. I loved Worf's gruffness and loyalty. I even liked Wesley. I was too young to find him irritating. Heh. Troi and Dr. Crusher were great as well, and essential parts of the cast (which I've already mentioned is one of my favorite ensembles). Even now, when I hear the opening monologue and the theme, I feel a rush of nostalgia that's quite powerful.

What are some of the ways this show influenced me? Well, for one thing, my preschool-aged sister and I learned how to say, "What the hell is going on here?" from one Commander William Riker - much to the shock of our parents and the horror of our grandmother. Heh. But more importantly, it continued to foster the love of space, science, and exploration that my parents had already begun in me. I know I wouldn't have been as excited as I was to do a report on Pluto in first grade if I hadn't already started to learn about planets, star systems, and galaxies from TNG and other sources at home.

This past year, after all of the Trek series were added to Netflix's instant watch option, it became tradition that my sister, my dad, and I would all eat lunch at home while watching an episode of either TNG, Voyager, or DS9 (not as much of a fan of the original series, though it's a classic for sure). We didn't get through all of the episodes. I think all of the series are available at the DVD store in town, so I might pick them up at some point while I'm here, but I'll miss watching them with Dad at home.

Cats, kittens, and ailurophiles

I have loved cats my whole life, as far back as I can remember. We had a family pet, an orange tabby named Oscar, when my sister and I were toddlers. Some of my earliest memories revolve around him. We loved him, although he wasn't overly fond of us I'm pretty sure.

When we moved to the house where we spent most of our growing-up years, my parents (who are also fond of cats) decided my sister and I could pick out a kitten each from our preschool teacher's cat's litter. I chose a tuxedo cat, polydactyl (six-toed) male whom I named Sweetfeet. He had little while paws, just like his mother whose name was Sugarfoot. My sister chose a longhaired black female whom she named Blackberry. Blackberry's fur later turned out to be sort of dark gray in places, but the name stuck anyway.

Sweetfeet and Blackberry were our cherished companions from the time we were about 5 years old until we were past 21. They had good, long lives - although when the family moved in their later life, they had a little trouble adjusting. Blackberry's health failed first. Her brother held on for a while longer. I still miss him.

Then our household went quite some time without any pets at all. My sister and I were getting ready to move to Southeast Asia, my brothers were moved out, and my parents' new job duties mean they travel frequently so they didn't think it would be kind to a cat to leave it to the care of housesitters so often. My brother got a kitten at his new apartment. It was fun to play with her when we visited. She's her own delightful brand of kitty crazy.

Once my sister and I were settled in to our own house here in Southeast Asia, getting a cat or two was pretty high up on our to-do list. Thankfully, our housemate and friend was also okay with the idea, especially since cats fulfill the important function of keeping the house free of spiders, bugs, and geckos that are foolish enough to be in range of a pounce. But you don't buy cats here. You go through connections. If a friend or acquaintance has a cat that has kittens, you can get them for free. So my sister and I waited for a while, putting out feelers to friends in the area.

And then one day, during language class, the director of the language school (who is also a friend) came in with one of the custodians, who was holding a little calico kitten. Our language school's ceiling is apparently a popular place for mother cats to have their kittens, and this little one's mother was nowhere to be found. Our director knew we wanted kittens, so he asked if we wanted her, even though she wasn't weaned yet. We couldn't resist. After our director friend went and bought us a kitten-feeding bottle, we took the little sweetie home and named her CJ.

Yes, she is named after Claudia Jean "CJ" Cregg, our favorite character from The West Wing. That was it for a day. CJ started to adjust to being bottle-fed. She was lonely when we weren't around, though, the poor little thing. Then the next day, our director interrupted our class again - this time with a whole dustpan full of tiny kittens! He asked if we wanted another one. We really, really did. This time we chose the little black and white male. At home, we quickly decided he would be Toby, after Toby Ziegler (also from The West Wing). CJ seemed much happier to have a sibling around, and Toby stopped howling when we put him next to her in the box, too.

Round-the-clock feeding of two tiny kittens while still trying to do language school and also find time for sleeping and eating was not easy. I can say I have a newfound respect for new parents, especially since they have to do that for much longer than one has to for fast-growing kittens! But thankfully our little ones were more than halfway through the weaning process. So we only had to give up vast quantities of sleep for about a week and a half.

Now they're already on solid (wet) cat food, mostly litterbox-trained, and growing more and more every day. They're sweet, cuddly, inquisitive, and playful. They're also developing personalities beyond, "I'm hungry! Feed me now!" My sister's CJ is more fearless and independent than my Toby, who complains a lot and sometimes needs more time to figure out new things. But they both bring me joy every day. I've missed having a cat (or two) in the house. Few things are more relaxing and heart-melting than time spend snuggling with a little kitten in your lap, in my opinion.

I look forward to many years of companionship from these two!

We Are Family: Best TV Ensembles

Many of my favorite TV shows happen to have a strong ensemble cast of characters. (Not all of them; The X-Files for example is really all about Mulder and Scully, no matter how much I love Skinner, the Lone Gunmen, and others.) This aspect of these shows often makes me love them more, since I love stories about family, and about diverse groups of people who come together to become a family. With that in mind, here's my list of favorite ensemble shows. It's hard for me to even number it, because I would want to place so many of these at number one. So once again, please consider that the order doesn't necessarily mean I like one better than the others.

1. Firefly

This is usually the one that occurs to me first, I will admit. Making family out of a highly diverse group of people whom you wouldn't think would ever get along and love each other is kind of a specialty of Joss Whedon's (one of the many things I love about his writing!) - and Firefly is a prime example of this. We have Mal and Zoe, two veterans of the losing side of a war, Wash, who's an expert pilot and describes himself as “the funny one”, Kaylee, the sunny, optimistic ship's mechanic, Book, the shepherd with a mysterious past, Simon and River, siblings on the run from the Alliance, Jayne the mercenary who would say he only cares about his own wellbeing, and Inara, the elegant Companion. Somehow, all these people end up knit together as a family, although Mal would prefer to call it his crew. It makes me love them all even more when behind the scenes footage, photos, Twitter accounts, and interviews from the cast make it clear that they're friends in real life, too. Sigh. I love this show.

2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Another quintessential Whedon ensemble. At the beginning of the show, it's just the Core Four members of the Scooby Gang: Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles. By the end of the show, the family has grown and shrunk and grown again, with the Core Four still at the heart of it all. Through all the changes, it's made clear in so many ways that Buffy wouldn't be able to succeed at her calling – and wouldn't want to try – without the love and support of her friends and family. They keep her sane, grounded, and allow her to have fun. They save her life many times. They'll see her through. It's what they're always meant to do. What can't they face if they're together? What's in this place that they can't weather? There's nothing they can't face … except for bunnies. (Okay, done with the OMWF lyrics now. I guess.)

3. The West Wing

I LOVE this cast so much that I cannot even put it into words. I mean, seriously. With the exception of a character who disappears after the first season (to no one's sadness), every single cast member is amazing, even the recurring guest stars like Stockard Channing, Timothy Busfield, NiCole Robinson, Kathryn Joosten, and many others. Note: I count Josh Malina in this because, when his character isn't being written as making a hugely foolish decision, I like Will Bailey a lot. But I will admit I prefer the Sam seasons. (Because of Rob Lowe, and because of Sorkin's writing, and also because of Rob Lowe. Ahem.) This is another ensemble where it's clear that the actors enjoy each other off-screen as well, which makes me happy. For such a large group, their chemistry is nothing short of amazing. Plus, the writers generally do a good job of balancing everyone's screentime from episode to episode. Also, the family element is even made pretty explicit a few times during the show's run. The group is centered around and grounded by Martin Sheen's Bartlet. In the words of John Spencer's Leo, “He [President Bartlet] likes teams. I love him so much.” So much, indeed.

4. Sports Night

Okay, so Dan and Casey may be the central relationship of this show (and I've written about my love for it already), but it's still an ensemble. And everyone gels amazingly, once again. From Isaac, the wise, sarcastic father figure whom everyone else clearly respects and loves, to Dana, the woman who puts all of herself into her show but loves her people even more, to the idealistic young Jeremy, to the sweet Natalie, and all of the secondary characters (and great guest stars, like William H. Macy and Clark Gregg!), this is one fantastic bunch. And as with The West Wing, everyone has perfect comedic timing. That's an essential element in any Sorkin show, for sure.

5. NCIS

It may not be one of my can't-miss favorite shows (or at least not anymore), but I cannot and would not deny that NCIS has a wonderful ensemble cast. In fact, that (and the father/daughter relationships I have already mentioned) is what keeps me coming back. Mark Harmon is a highlight, of course, but it's not just him. Each member of the cast – except a certain former director whom I do not miss at all – adds a great deal to it. All of the characters care about each other and would do just about anything for each other. And once again it's clear that the cast members enjoy spending time together both on and off-screen … which is a good thing, since it's been on TV for approximately a billion years at this point.

6. Bones

Another one that's no longer as much of a favorite as it used to be for me, but I still enjoy it, largely because of the excellence of its ensemble. I remember being initially skeptical of Cam when she came on the scene, but she quickly made herself as crucial a part of the team as Booth, Brennan, Hodgins, Angela, or Zach (oh, Zach. Sigh.). Caroline is great, as well – I like seeing her whenever she shows up. Despite some really stupid plotlines in recent seasons, I still find pleasure in watching this show, mostly because of the interplay between all the characters. I hope those actors that weren't particularly well-known before their roles here will go on to other awesome things after Bones is over.

7. Babylon 5

Okay, I must add a proviso to this show's inclusion on my list, too: I'm really not a fan of Michael O'Hare's Sinclair. Sorry. I'm glad he's not around all that much after season 1. But even with some rough spots like that, this cast was fantastic. I've already posted about G'Kar and Londo, whose friendship is certainly one of the best ever to grace TV screens. But complex, interwoven relationships between the rest of the cast are also developed and explored in throughout the course of the show. All of the main characters and their stories are compelling, and I wish we'd gotten a chance to see more of them. Plus, the fact that a majority of the cast formed an honest-to-goodness band after the show was over speaks to a real friendship between them all!

8. Star Trek: The Next Generation

This show is probably the show to which I subconsciously compare all other ensemble shows. I mean, I grew up with it. I grew up with Captain Picard, Data, Geordi, Riker, Dr. Crusher, Troi, Worf, and yes, I'll even include Wesley. I loved this show before I was old enough to be able to tell what was bad acting and what was good acting, what was terrible special effects and what was awesome. When I went back and watched much of the first couple of seasons recently, I noticed things like less than stellar (heh, no pun intended) acting, and some awesomely cheesy “special” effects. But I also noticed that after a few eps, the cast really seemed to get into their roles, and their relationships quickly became at least as compelling as the show's plots. And if you're a TNG fan and you haven't seen any clips from the recent 25 year reunion of the entire main cast, you should check it out on Youtube. The real friendships between the actors are just plain awesome to watch. (It was also wonderful to get to see the friendship between Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes in person, at Emerald City Comicon last year. Those two guys are crazy, but in a delightful kind of way.)

9. Fringe

Honestly, I was a little bit unsure this show counted as an ensemble, since the core characters are only three in number. But there's also Astrid, and Broyles, and Nina, and the Red 'Verse team (and heck, even Gene the cow) – and together, they make a respectable sized ensemble and an extremely compelling bunch (Gene less so). I adore the interactions between them, and the depth each character has. And although I've already said it before in this list, the Fringe team really are a family. Considering the challenges and traumas various members of the group have endured and inflicted on each other in the past, it's even more amazing how close they are now. On a related note, these themes of forgiveness and redemption are another reason for me to love this show.

Honorable mentions:

-Angel: I wasn't sure whether this should be on my list, since in some ways I preferred the show when it was just Angel, Cordelia, and Doyle (much as I love Wesley, Lorne, Fred, and Gunn). But it certainly deserves an honorable mention. Like other Whedon shows, the team is made up of people who would under normal circumstances have nothing to do with one another, but through their shared goal of helping the helpless (“Our rats are low” *sniff*), they become a united front who care about each other even when that love is tested.

-Dollhouse: Part of the reason I didn't put this on my favorite list is because the central member of the ensemble is not the strongest actor of the group. But Enver Gjokaj, Dichen Lachmann, Reed Diamond, Olivia Williams, Fran Kranz, Amy Acker, Harry Lennix, Miracle Laurie, Tahmoh Penikett, and yes, Eliza Dushku do make a great ensemble. My favorite thing about this show, in fact, is the opportunity it gave many of these actors to shine – sometimes for the first time in a starring role.

-Veronica Mars: This show really is about Veronica and her dad. That said, the rest of the characters make it even more awesome. It wouldn't be the same without Wallace, Logan, Flashback Lilly and the Kane Family (which, btw, if it's not a band name already, it totally should be), and the other recurring guest stars. I should say, in fact, that the friendship between Wallace and Veronica is one of my favorite non-romantic male/female friendships on television.

So, did I leave anything off the list? What do you think?

The joys of Thai food, tropical fruit edition

Another joy of living in Thailand is ready access to wonderful fresh tropical fruit all throughout the year. You have access to the most delicious, flavorful pineapples, bananas, and melons you could possibly desire - and also many other fruits that aren't as familiar but are just as delicious or even more so.

Right as my sister and I arrived this time, we were thrilled to discover that even though it's just getting into hot season, the relentless heat is balanced out by the fact that it's also mango season. If you've never had Asian mangoes - Thai or Philippine, or Indian - you've never had read mangoes. They are really, really, REALLY good. I've been eating them pretty much whenever I get the chance. I've already mentioned my favorite Thai dessert of mangoes with sticky rice and coconut milk: also known as pure delight. They also sell mango yogurt in supermarkets here, and you can tell it's real fresh mango chunks in there, which therefore means it's a favorite.

Another fruit that's been a revelation for me on this trip is passionfruit. I think it's just coming into season right now, too, which explains why I hadn't had the chance to eat it on previous trips. I've had passionfruit-flavored fruit drinks before, but always with other flavors mixed in, so I never knew what it tasted like on its own. It. Is. Heaven. Seriously. Tangy, sweet, a little bit sour - really, I almost want to start using the ridiculously overblown language wine tasters use to describe its flavor. I don't know if you can get it in the States at all. If you can, I bet it's really expensive and not very fresh. But it would still probably be worth a try. I found some passionfruit jam in a supermarket the other day, and let me tell you: passionfruit jam + peanut butter in a sandwich? Joy.



There are many other delicious, unusual fruits here, too: starfruit, rambutan, lychee, dragonfruit, etc. But mango and passionfruit are definitely my favorite at this point.

Fathers and daughters

One way you can get me to love a show – even one that might not otherwise have a long list of other things that make it stand out – is to have a really good father-daughter relationship at its core. (I'm not saying I'd still watch a show that was actually terrible just for this relationship, but … well, I'm getting ahead of myself now.) Since I love making lists, and since a friend suggested it, here goes with another one! Hope you're not too entirely bored of my lists by now; if you are, feel free to skip it.



1. Giles & Buffy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
This one usually occurs to me very quickly when I think of my favorites, so I'll put it first. It didn't take me long at all when I was first watching Buffy to decide that A) Buffy was awesome, B) Giles was my second favorite character, and C) Giles loved Buffy like she was his daughter, and Buffy loved Giles like he was her father. In fact, Giles is a much better father to Buffy than her mostly-absent biological dad. As the show went on, it became more and more clear: if you messed with Buffy, you brought on the wrath of Giles. If you messed with Giles, you brought on the wrath of Buffy. My love for this relationship is why it was extra-painful in that episode in season 3 (“Helpless”) when Giles goes behind Buffy's back for the sake of fulfilling one of the Watcher Council's stupid pointless rituals for the Slayer. Her betrayal and his guilt – oh, man. It was also very hard for me when Giles left the show for a while in season 6, especially after his heartfelt and emotional (and lovely!) song during “Once More With Feeling.” I remember being much relieved when my friend assured me that he wasn't gone for good! There are about a million more moments I could describe, but suffice it to say Rupert Giles is the man, and I love how much he loves his unofficially adopted daughter.

2. Jack & Sydney Bristow, Alias
This is the other one that usually occurs to me right away in this category. If I really think back to when I first started watching Alias, I can faintly recall that I didn't like Jack Bristow much at all when the audience was first introduced to him – and no wonder: he seemed to have almost no use for his bright, intelligent, and impulsive daughter Sydney. I developed a little more sympathy for him when we learned more about how he'd lost his wife and Sydney's mother in tragic circumstances, but then it also became clear that that was about the time that he started shutting young Sydney out of his life. Not surprisingly, this hurt her a great deal. As the show progressed, however, the audience started to see a great deal of evidence that, in Spy Daddy's own words (from “Salvation”, in season 2), “Despite my limited abilities as a father, I love [Sydney] more than I could ever say.” ::sniff:: Yeah, that sound you just heard? That was the sound of my heart shattering into tiny pieces. One of the ways this love was demonstrated was in his efforts, both behind the scenes and with Sydney's knowledge, of protecting his daughter as best he could even in the midst of her extremely dangerous job. Sydney didn't always appreciate these acts, but she did grow to love her dad more and more over the course of the show. Although the show itself went downhill in quality after season three, I think it did the Bristows justice in how it ended. For that, I am glad.

3. Keith & Veronica Mars, Veronica Mars
No list of awesome TV father-daughter relationships would be complete without the Mars duo. After the murder of Veronica's best friend Lily, the town of Neptune turned on its former sheriff, Keith, and his daughter, due to events surrounding the initial investigation. Keith became a private investigator, and his now ostracized high-school-age daughter followed suit. They made a formidable pair when they worked a case together, and each had their own strengths to bring to bear. When they were at odds, it was painful to watch because of how well the two stars portray it. Thankfully, they were never on the outs with each other for too long. I've already mentioned the scene from “Leave It To Beaver” when they find out for sure that Keith is Veronica's biological dad – guh. Just one of many, many sweet and awesome moments between the two of them. Whenever anything terrible happened to Veronica, she knew she could go to her dad for comfort and wisdom, even when it was at least partially her fault. I said in that aforementioned list of favorite TV eps that Keith Mars is probably my favorite TV dad, and I think I was right to say that. (Only the fact that it's been so many years since I watched VM motivates me having listed him at number three here.)

4. Gibbs & Abby, NCIS
I haven't really been invested in this show for several seasons – I think it's been running out of ideas for a while, but it's on CBS and gets huge ratings, so it will probably never die – but I still make a point to watch when I don't have other plans at airtime. The reason? The quality cast. (Ooh, there's another list idea: favorite TV ensemble casts! ::adds item to list of lists to make::) It really is an excellent ensemble, and a big part of that is Mark Harmon and Pauley Perrette as Gibbs and Abby. Gibbs' wife and daughter were murdered many years in his past. Abby lost her parents, too, I believe, although she had a happy upbringing. Anyway, as far back as I can remember on the show, the love between them is obvious, and (IMO) obviously of a father-daughter type. In fact, the whole team is like a family – another thing that I love – but Gibbs and Abby stand out. They protect each other and care for each other, and it's fun to see the normally stoic and guarded Gibbs let down his guard a little sometimes, because of his Abby. Almost nothing during an episode of NCIS is guaranteed to get an “Awww” out of me more than a sweet moment between Gibbs and Abby.

*An honorable mention should go here to Gibbs & Ziva. Ziva has her own major issues with her biological dad, but it didn't take long at all after her introduction to the show for her to develop a surrogate father-daughter relationship with Gibbs. They have had their own share of sweet moments, to be sure.

5. Richard & Alexis Castle, Castle
I'm going to be honest here: other than the initial draw of Nathan Fillion, the first half season of Castle was … far from the best thing I've seen on TV. It took a while for the characters and writers to find their footing, I think. By now it's developed into quite a decent show, with another excellent cast, all of whom I enjoy watching every week. Even before they all gelled, though, the relationship between Castle and his daughter was enough to convince me to keep watching. (And it was worth it!) Molly Quinn does a wonderful job as Castle's smart, headstrong, and well-grounded teenage daughter, who loves her dad even when he's being a huge geek, or being way overprotective. Nathan Fillion, in turn, does quite well (of course!) as a single father who, yes, is sometimes less mature than his daughter, but also usually knows when she just needs a listening ear or a few words of counsel – or a corny joke to lighten the mood. It's clear that Castle treasures his daughter and is extremely proud of her.

6. Cal & Emily Lightman, Lie to Me
The relationship between these two was a highlight to be sure, for this sadly short-lived show. It was similar to Castle and Alexis's in many ways (although Cal could be a lot more annoying than Castle usually is!). Both Emily and Alexis sometimes are smarter than their fathers, at least in interpersonal skills. Both of them have to deal with dads who can be quite overprotective, especially when interacting with their boyfriends – although let me tell you, despite not being as tall as Nathan Fillion, Tim Roth as Cal Lightman came across as a great deal more menacing when he wanted to than Castle has so far! Anyway, it was clear that whatever reckless thing Cal might do to put himself at risk for his job at the Lightman Group, he would do whatever it took to keep Emily safe and out of trouble. Emily, in turn, helped keep her father grounded and was not afraid to call him on his nonsense when necessary, too. I hope to see Hayley McFarland in other excellent roles, if she wants. Also, it makes me happy that she and Tim Roth are good friends IRL.

Other honorable mentions:

-Jed & Zoey Bartlet, The West Wing: One of the main reasons I didn't give these two their own number on the list is that I'm not done watching the series yet, so I don't know how it's going to turn out for them. I do love their relationship as shown so far, though. President Bartlet is a great dad.

-Captain & Dana Scully, The X-Files: We don't get a lot of time with Scully and her dad on the show, but from what we do see, we know she loves her dad dearly. And since he appears from beyond the grave to tell her how much he wishes he had more time with her, it's a pretty safe bet that he loved her just as much. I choose to believe that while he might have been strict as a military father, their relationship was warm and caring – which would make it the best father-child relationship on the show, probably. Heh.

-Pete & Rose Tyler, Doctor Who: I couldn't very well leave these two off the list entirely, since “Father's Day” made me cry when I first saw it and continues to make me tear up whenever I rewatch. “Who am I, love?” “My daddy.” My heart breaks all over again, every time.

~

I should also mention that it always makes the joys of watching these fathers & daughters are always highlighted when I get to watch them with my actual dad. He isn't into all of these shows, but I can state with confidence, for instance, that he was not unmoved when we watched "Father's Day" for the first time.

Also, yes, I will be posting a list of favorite father-son relationships at some point soon. That's another pretty much surefire way to get me interested in a show!

A new (to me) favorite TV show

So, this past month or so, my family has been watching Sports Night on Netflix. Tonight, we watched the series finale. As usual when I reach the end of an excellent show - especially one that was canceled far too soon - I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, it was excellent, and it brought me much joy, laughter, and too many quotable lines to count. It also introduced me to many fine actors and actresses that I'd either never watched in much of anything before, or only seen in brief guest-starring roles. On the other hand, it's over! And far too quickly. It really deserved more.

It's a stellar cast: Peter Krause, Josh Charles, Felicity Huffman, Robert Guillaume, Sabrina Lloyd, and Josh Malina (who has recently shot up to being rather high on my list of favorite actors), as well as some excellent guest stars. It's not just for people who like sports a lot, either. I'm not a huge sports person, though I'll watch a game with my dad if it's a team in which I'm at least faintly interested. But my mom pretty much hates sports, and she looked forward to each new episode of this show.

It has its minor issues of course: some plotlines & character moments that were frustrating or that I didn't really like, and some dialogue that bordered on frankly ridiculous in its snappy Sorkin-ness. (That's especially noticeable when you watch a lot of it in a row, interspersed with episodes of The West Wing.) But overall, I would highly recommend it to anyone who might be looking for a show with a fantastic cast, great heart, hilarious dialogue, and wonderful characters.

Here's a video that someone made to celebrate the show. It's goofy and cute, but don't let that fool you: the show itself is a comedy, yes, but with many moving dramatic moments as well.

Very likely my favorite fan video of all time

If you're a Firefly fan (or Browncoat, as we're proudly known), you've probably already seen this video:

It's set to a song that I probably wouldn't count among one of my favorites, if it weren't for this vid: "All These Things That I've Done", by the Killers. But it so perfectly encapsulates the incredible show that is Firefly that since I first saw the vid (I believe linked to in Television Without Pity's Firefly forum), I've loved it. The creator of the vid beautifully shows us each beloved member of the cast, and moments to remind fans of what makes them awesome. It still has the power to give me chills - and sometimes even bring tears to my eyes - whenever I watch it now. That ending... "We've done the impossible, and that makes us mighty." ::sniff::

This show hasn't been on the air since 2002 (and all too briefly then, of course!), and it's been more than five years since the movie Serenity was in theaters. Still, it lives on. You can't stop the signal.

My top favorite TV episodes of all time... so far

There aren't that many episodes of television that have left me feeling awed, amazed, and generally stuck around in my memory for a long time afterward – but there are a few. I've been thinking about the best TV episodes I've ever seen in my life, the ones that are as close to perfect as I think is possible. These thoughts led to my decision to write down a list of them, what I love about them, and what struck me about them.

Here's that list, in no particular order. I'm also including one photo for each that I feel helps encapsulate what makes each episode stand out. WARNING: there will be spoilers for House, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Alias, Firefly, Fringe, The X-Files, Life, Angel, Doctor Who, Veronica Mars, The West Wing, Twin Peaks, and Quantum Leap contained within.

1. House, season 1: “Three Stories”
This is one of the first that comes to mind when I think about episodes that left me stunned with how great they are. Back when this show was good – which it used to be, and if you don't believe me, you should go back and watch the first couple of seasons – this was the best of all of the best episodes. It still gets to me when I watch it now. Not only do we finally get to see the whole story behind what happened to House's leg (and based on what we see, that would have been a phenomenal episode by itself), but the way House goes about telling the story to his roomful of medical students is just plain awesome. It's a perfect blend of hilarity, action, drama, and phenomenal acting from Hugh Laurie and the rest of the cast. The style of storytelling has been imitated, even by House in later episodes, but in my opinion its level of brilliance has not been duplicated.



2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season 4: “Hush”
There are a lot of really excellent episodes of this show, and not a few of those stand out above the rest. “Hush” was one of several that I'd heard about before I started watching the show on DVD, and honestly I was worried it wouldn't live up to the hype. Unlike at least one other episode I can think of, which unfortunately did suffer from the hype,* this one surpassed all my expectations. It's both one of the scariest and one of most well-crafted episodes of the show. Written by Joss Whedon in response to critics stating that he relied on his witty dialogue to gain acclaim, “Hush” is 99% dialogue-free, for a reason that fits in awesomely to the storyline, and the Gentlemen, the monsters of the week, are SO CREEPY. Gah! Also, there is Giles with the slide projector – priceless. Plus, that final scene between Buffy and Riley? Words fail (which is actually kind of the point) to describe how spot-on it is.



3. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season 6: “Once More, With Feeling”
This may be one of my favorite episodes of anything ever. It's another one that I had heard about beforehand and was worried wouldn't live up to my expectations – and it's another one that blew all of my expectations out of the water. Once again, Joss Whedon wrote it. He wrote all the music and lyrics for all the songs in the episode … and though it was his first attempt at writing music, he absolutely nailed it. Also, what I was not expecting when I watched this episode was how perfectly it fits in with the overarching plot of the season, and how much it furthers it. That's something that other shows' musical episodes can't usually claim to do. (For instance, while I'm very fond of Fringe's “Brown Betty”, it doesn't move the characters forward very much.) On top of all of that, all the regular cast members who sing (and/or dance) are so wonderfully entertaining. I don't know if you'd like this episode as much if you weren't a fan of musicals, but that's definitely not an issue for me. It defines the TV musical episode for me. Now I want to go listen to the soundtrack, which is what always happens when I even think about “Once More, With Feeling.”



4. Doctor Who, season 1 (of the new series): “The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances”
So, yeah, these are two episodes, but it's a two-parter, and both halves are so very excellent. Sorry if that seems like cheating to include them both. This season marked my reintroduction to Doctor Who after having seen a few episodes on PBS when I was younger, and it didn't take me long at all to fall in love with Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor. And while I was already in love with Nine and with the show by the time this two-parter rolled around, this was the first one that really terrified me! I think I had to go to bed after “The Empty Child”, and let me tell you, I did not fall asleep quickly after that. The image of the child in the gas mask, the cliffhanger ending setting up the second half, and then the wonderful resolution of the story, with the Doctor getting to experience a moment of pure joy after all he's been through in this incarnation – oh, so fantastic. And yes, I used that word on purpose. Plus, it does an excellent job of introducing Captain Jack Harkness, whom I feel is a much more compelling character on this show than on his spin-off, Torchwood.



5. Doctor Who, season 1: “The Parting of the Ways”
Technically, since this the second half of another two-parter, I could include “Bad Wolf” in here as well – but as excellent as its first part was, it's “The Parting of the Ways” that really amazed me. As much as my grieving heart didn't want to say goodbye to the Ninth Doctor (I knew ahead of time that this would be his last outing), if ever there was a perfect sendoff episode, this might just be it. This was back when the Daleks still hadn't been overused – and knowing Nine's all too recent history with them, his confrontation with this latest fleet is amazing to behold. The Doctor's speech to Rose during Emergency Program One still has the power to make me tear up, as well. Also, not only does the episode wrap up the threads of the season expertly, but to me, there are few things more awesome than the TARDIS and Rose working together to save their Doctor and destroy the Daleks. “You are tiny. I can see the whole of time and space, all the atoms of your existence, and I divide them.” Aww yeah. And then the Doctor's farewell scene before he regenerates! Gah. It still hurts for him to go, but at least you know, as he knows finally, that he was fantastic.



6. Doctor Who, season 2: “School Reunion”
This is the kind of episode I had been wanting ever since the new series of Doctor Who started up: the story of what happens when the Doctor and one of his former companions from the classic series run into each other. I remembered Sarah Jane fondly from the classic series, and I loved David Tennant's Doctor as well (and they brought back K9, too!). I got chills when Sarah Jane first sees the TARDIS again and recognizes the Doctor for who he is, after all those years. Tennant and Elisabeth Sladen do a wonderful, wonderful job throughout the whole episode. You really believe how much Sarah Jane's time with the Doctor has changed her, and how much she's missed him even as she's continued to be brilliant on her own, of course. And then the interactions between Rose and Sarah Jane! So awesome. I think Rose gets a chance to grow a lot in this episode. Whether or not that character growth stays around for the rest of her time on the show is another question, but anyway. Basically, I can't gush about “School Reunion” enough.



7. Doctor Who, season 3: “Blink”
Another game-changer of an episode. Despite the fact that there isn't a lot of the Doctor in it, it is utterly gripping and terrifying – another one you don't want to watch right before bed, unless you'd rather not sleep. Ever again. As we follow the story of Sally Sparrow and the mysterious, nightmare-inducing Weeping Angels, it hardly matters that we don't see the Doctor and Martha much at all. The scenes with them are used very well. Sally Sparrow herself is a very compelling character, so much so that although her story is wrapped up well by the end, I wouldn't mind seeing her again. I have my issues with Steven Moffat now, but “Blink” remains an incredible feat of storytelling. The fact that it's still so often quoted and referenced in the fandom, and even in the show itself, is testament to just how good it was. Other evidence of how it lingers in my mind: whenever I see a statue of an angel, I cannot fail to be a bit creeped out, and to do my best not to blink.



8. Doctor Who, season 6: “The Doctor's Wife”
When I heard that Neil Gaiman was going to be writing an episode of Doctor Who for this most recent season, I got very excited. I've read several of his books (and, since this episode aired, seen him in person during his tour to promote the tenth anniversary edition of American Gods), and I loved them. I heard he was a big fan of the show, which only makes sense, and I hoped his episode would live up to my expectations. Once again, they were blown away. The character of the TARDIS – or Sexy, as we could call her as the Doctor does – in her new form was just wonderful. Of course she's the one who has loved the Doctor the longest, and the one the Doctor loves and relies on above all others. Of course she would think of him as her Thief, and would view herself as having stolen him just as much as he stole her. It could have easily come across as gimmicky to have the TARDIS be in a human body, but I never once got that feeling during the episode. Seeing her and watching the Doctor interact with her was a delight, from beginning to end. On top of that, the villain House was marvelously sadistic in his tormenting of Amy and Rory. I know some people object to having it clearly stated instead of implied that the TARDIS always takes the Doctor where he needs to go instead of where he was trying to go, and I can see where they're coming from, but to me it works, coming from Sexy herself. The episode as a whole comes across as Neil Gaiman's loving tribute to the show, and to the Doctor's frankly magnificent ship – who may not literally be his wife, but certainly is his closest Companion.



9. Firefly, “Out of Gas”
I love every single episode of this unfairly too-short-lived show. Even the one or two that are not as good as the rest are still awesome. However, out of all of these well-loved episodes, my favorite has to be “Out of Gas.” Through episode writer Tim Minear's expert crafting of the story, we learn in flashbacks how each member of the crew of Serenity got their start with the ship, even as the crew faces extreme peril in the 'present.' It also demonstrates even more than other episodes how much Mal loves his ship and his crew, and further establishes him as one of my all-time favorite characters in anything ever. As is usual with Joss Whedon shows, there is both drama and humor, with fantastically witty dialogue and one-liners that any Browncoat can rattle off at a moment's notice. Though it shouldn't have had to be the series finale, “Out of Gas” fulfills that role in a way that really couldn't be more perfect, ending as it does with the beginning of Mal's journey with his beloved Serenity, as a young man staring at her in wonder as she sits, abandoned and forgotten.



10. The X-Files, season 2: “Duane Barry”
I knew going into this show that Scully was going to get abducted at some point in season 2, but thankfully I had not been spoiled as to when exactly that happened. So as I was watching along, fully invested in this excellently written episode about Scully (and especially Mulder) interacting with a crazy hostage-taker who believed he had been abducted and experimented on by aliens multiple times, I had no idea that it was going to end with Scully being dragged out of her house by the guy, screaming for Mulder to help her. Gah! Of course, you can't possibly watch this episode without going on to watch “Ascension”, and although that episode is also excellent, “Duane Barry” wins out on this list because of that shocker of an ending.



11. The X-Files, season 3: “Pusher”
Though I had heard some about this episode before seeing it – basically that it was almost universally beloved of Philes everywhere – I still didn't really know what to expect going into it. That was fine, though, since I had been enjoying nearly every episode of the show I'd seen. After sitting spellbound and on the edge of my seat through the opening sequence (“Cerulean blue is like a gentle breeze”, anyone?), and the cat-and-mouse game leading up to the climactic Russian roulette scene, it became very obvious to me why “Pusher” has gone down in X-Files history. It combines fantastic performances from Gillian Anderson, David Dochovny, and the main guest star who played Robert Patrick Modell, gripping and chilling moments as Pusher literally talks people into committing various horrible acts, including inducing a heart attack in poor Frank Burst – and last but definitely not least, it continued to showcase the strength of the bond between Mulder and Scully. I do not get in the least bit bored of watching this episode.



12. The X-Files, season 5: “Bad Blood”
This is yet another episode of which I had heard much, and only good things, before I saw it. Once again, I worried that I wouldn't find it as awesome as everyone was making it out to be – and once again, it was more awesome than I could have dreamed. No other TV episode that I have ever seen has done the showing-events-from-different-characters'-POVs thing as well as in “Bad Blood”. No other TV episode has made me laugh – and continues to make me laugh, every time I watch it again – as much as “Bad Blood”, either. Scully's version of Mulder, and Mulder's version of Scully, are both so hilariously exaggerated. Luke Wilson as the Sheriff is really the cherry on top of the awesomeness that is this episode, both the Mulder-exaggerated version of him and his 'real' self. And then the scene in Skinner's office at the end! I'm snickering just thinking about it. “That is essentially exactly the way it happened.” “Except for the part about the buck teeth.”



13. The West Wing, season 1: “Pilot”
This is one of those shows that is so well-loved on the internets that I really did want to see it. Unfortunately, I've still only seen about half of the first season, but unlike with some of the other shows I've started watching but not finished, I've already been blown away by the sheer brilliance of a few episodes that I can't wait until I'm done with the show to add them to my list of favorites. The pilot of this show, in fact, is such a perfect introduction (as far as I can tell from my perspective) to the plot, the characters, and the general mood of The West Wing that I couldn't help exclaiming, “This show is really, really good!” several times to the friends with whom I was watching it. And they could only agree, wholeheartedly. It also provides an excellent introduction to Aaron Sorkin's incredible dialogue. I really, really want to keep watching this show as much as possible. Also, I really wish Jed Bartlet could be my president.



14. The West Wing, season 1: “In Excelsis Deo”
This is one that our friend who owns the DVDs told us ahead of time was one of her favorites, and it only took one viewing for me to be convinced as to why. There are plenty of light, comedic moments between the characters as they prepare for the holidays. There are also more serious issues surrounding family and ongoing plot elements, including significant developments regarding Leo and his past drug use. But the star of the episode has got to be Richard Schiff as Toby Ziegler, going far above and beyond the call of duty for the homeless Korean war hero who is found dead of exposure at the beginning of the episode. It's a moving, excellently done storyline, and not overly dramatic or manipulative. I am very pleased to read online that Richard Schiff won an Emmy for his performance here. Another highlight: the President's interactions with the kids are pretty adorable.



15. Life, season 2: “One”
This show was far too short, and it still pains me to think that we won't get to see any more of Charlie and Reese, but at least I can take some comfort from the awesomeness that is the season 2 and series finale. Not only does it wrap up a significant portion of the show's mystery, granting Charlie some answers as to who was behind his being framed for murder and sent to prison, but it illustrates the strength of the partnership between Charlie and Reese. The final few scenes, as Charlie trades himself for her and then kills Roman (in a fashion that I should probably not find as hot as I do – ahem), also reveal what we already knew: that Charlie loves his partner, and she loves him. How that love might have developed, unfortunately, we shall never find out in canon. “One” also illustrates the best of the rest of the cast, which is always nice to see. I miss Ted, Bobby, and even Charlie's new partner, as well as the ever-sinister and smirking Rayborn. But mostly I miss getting to see Damian Lewis as Charlie Crews every week.



16. Angel, season 5: “Not Fade Away”
The first time I saw this episode, I was still dealing with the large amounts of bitterness I'd accrued from season 4 and certain storylines that I loathed (and still loathe) with a passion. I also knew some of what the cliffhanger ending was going to be like ahead of time … and frequently, I just can't enjoy that kind of a cliffhanger. So, while I liked certain parts of it, and was appropriately gutted by other parts of it, I was left with a difficult feeling to describe. It was dissatisfaction, I think – not because I thought the episode or writing was inferior, but because I guess I wanted it to end more happily. But of course, this is Angel, and this is a Joss Whedon show. After a second viewing, it really seemed to fit perfectly with this dark but rather epic show. Much as my romantic, happy-ending-loving heart would still prefer for certain things to be changed about the show in general (Wesley! ::sob::), that ending shot of the remaining band of fighters, standing undaunted in the rain as they prepare to meet the hordes of evil, is just plain awesome.



17. Fringe, season 2: “Grey Matters”
It's not easy for me to choose just a few episodes of Fringe to put on this list, because I love the show so very much, but “Grey Matters” has to be one of the best. Not only does it feature the first real appearance of the wonderfully sinister Sebastian Roche as Newton, but the opening sequence is one of the best opening scenes I've ever seen for this kind of show. I mean, their brain surgery on a mental patient gets interrupted, so Newton and his crew depart with a sincere apology to the poor guy – leaving his head open and his brain exposed! Dude! And then there are the amazing, amazing moments between Peter and Walter as the episode continues. Joshua Jackson and John Noble absolutely knock it out of the park with their beautiful portrayal of this very complex father-son dynamic. This reaches its peak with the scene where Olivia has to choose to save Walter and let Newton go free. You can see Peter's desperation to save his father's life, and his utter relief when Walter ends up safe in his arms. Additionally, this was one of the first complete episodes of Fringe that I saw, and even though I didn't want to let myself fall in love with another show, I could not help but be seriously impressed by John Noble as Walter.



18. Fringe season 3, “Entrada”
This was the episode I'd been waiting for all season: for Olivia to finally succeed in her quest to return to our universe, and for Peter to finally realize the terrible truth that the Olivia he was with was an imposter. And as has been a frequent refrain on this list, it was even more awesome than I expected. As much as I love it when the female member of the partnership is in peril and is rescued by the male partner, I love it even more when she rescues herself – and Olivia Dunham is very, very good at that particular skill. Of course, she has the aid of Alt!Broyles, the man who just plain rules whatever universe he might be in, but that's only because she is able to convince him to help her, despite the risks to him and to his universe. With his help, she breaks free of a top-secret government facility (again!), makes her way back to the alternate-universe Harvard, and then jumps back into our universe before finally passing out. I think anyone deserves a moment of unconsciousness after all of that. Also, although the episode is mostly focused on Olivia's awesomeness, Peter gets an honorable mention for his “Francie doesn't like coffee ice cream” moment with Fauxlivia, and then the way he helped track her down afterward. If only he'd noticed the signs a little earlier...



19. Alias, season 1: “Almost Thirty Years”
The first season finale of Alias was my introduction to the wonder that is J.J. Abrams season finales – and this show, in fact, was probably the first show about which I got more than a little obsessed and rather heavily invested. It went off the rails and disappointed me in later seasons, but its first two seasons are just plain excellent. Every main character is involved in the crucial storylines of the season one finale, and both Sydney and her father get a chance to show their complete awesomeness. But the cliffhanger! Oh, the cliffhanger. First, Vaughn doesn't make it through the blast door in time, and despite Sydney's heroic, persistent efforts to break the glass, we see him swept away. Then Sydney is captured. She finally meets The Man – but instead of any of the bad guys we've seen so far, it's ... her mother! Dun dun DUNNN! “I have waited almost thirty years for this.” And then we fade to black. And then my sister and I spend the entire summer wondering if Vaughn is dead, and if Sydney's mom is evil, and who will save Sydney. Oh, man. I loved this show.



20. Veronica Mars, season 1: “Leave it to Beaver”
It's hard to narrow down a favorite from this show, too. So many of them are really, really excellent – and once again, I grieve the fact that this show was canceled far too soon, though at least it got three seasons. I'll go with the fairly obvious choice and pick the season 1 finale to include here, in which we finally get the answer to the season-long question, “Who killed Lilly Kane?” We don't get that answer right away, though, and part of the appeal/wonderfully frustrating thing about the episode is how long it takes before we as the audience at last know who the murderer is. Meanwhile, there are significant developments between Veronica and Logan, whom I can't help loving even though he's seriously messed-up and probably not a good choice for Veronica (just as Veronica is probably not a good choice for Logan), and between Veronica and each of her parents. I'm going to say right now that Keith Mars is my top favorite TV dad, beating out such strong competition as Jack Bristow and Richard Castle. There's no way I can watch this show without cheering for Veronica and her dad, and their relationship is one of the driving forces of this season finale. I couldn't choose any other photo to include but the one that follows, for that reason.



21. Twin Peaks, season 2: “Lonely Souls”
If I had written this entire list right after finishing my marathon of this show, there wouldn't be a Twin Peaks episode on here. That's how upset the series finale made me! But after some time to cool down, I think it does deserve a spot on here. This isn't the episode where the inhabitants of Twin Peaks find out who killed Laura Palmer, but it's the one where that answer is revealed to the audience – in an incredibly shocking, terrifyingly perfect-for-this-show way. In the pivotal scene, poor Maddy Ferguson, who I thought was probably doomed as soon as she showed up since she looked just like her cousin Laura, meets her death at the hands of Laura's murderer. I am very glad that I managed to remain unspoiled as to who it was, because that reveal was truly astonishing. Also, Killer BOB will never not be really terrifying. There are other good moments in the episode, including further developments in the unfailingly bizarre story of Ed and Nadine, and Audrey being awesome. There's also another crazy vision sequence, and we as the audience wait in great frustration as our hero, Dale Cooper, hears that “It is happening again,” without realizing that what the Giant means is that another murder is happening right now.



22. Quantum Leap, season 3: “The Leap Home Part II: Vietnam”
I almost forgot to add this episode on here, but thankfully my sister helped me remember it. “The Leap Home Part I” is also excellent, but of the two, the second one struck me even more deeply than the first. In Part II, Sam leaps into a soldier who is in his brother Tom's squad in Vietnam. His immediate decision is that he's here to save his brother's life. The other main option might be to save Tom's commanding officer from being killed and make sure his squad's mission is successful. The ever-faithful Al tries to suggest another possible reason why he might be here, but Sam doesn't do a very good job of listening. In the end, Sam is able to save his brother's life and also prevent an ambush – but he isn't able to make it so the squad can rescue the American prisoners of war, which was their mission. The photojournalist who came along on the mission is killed, but not before she takes the photo that will win her a posthumous Pulitzer. Though the rest of the story is gripping enough, it's the end that is the real shocker: Tom's commanding officer comes in to show them the photos of the American POWs that the journalist took – one of which was Al himself. Sam is shocked and horrified that Al sacrificed the chance of being rescued years earlier to help him save his brother. But Al just points to his head and says, “I was free up here. I was always free.” And that's when I choke up, big time.



I think that's the lot! It's quite possible that I've forgotten some favorites that really should be on here, but these twenty-two make a pretty good start, I think. Now, for some ending notes.

As you may have gathered, I watch a fair amount of TV: shows that are currently airing, and shows that have been off the air for a while. In fact, right now I'm in the process of watching two shows that fall into the latter category. Neither Farscape nor Babylon 5 appear in my list of top episodes, because I haven't finished them yet. Unlike with The West Wing, there hasn't been an episode (or more than one) that I've seen that grabs my attention so much that it requires me to add it to the list before I finish the series – though with Babylon 5, I can say with pleasure that I have been impressed with how well-written the arcs for the show have been. It's just so nice to be watching a show where the showrunners obviously have the whole thing planned out at least most of the way before they run out of ideas (ahem, looking at you, Chris Carter). With Farscape, I've only seen about five episodes, but I'm confident that there will be some standout eps that I will be adding to my mental list of favorites after I see more.

Also, a note about Star Trek. While I enjoy watching every incarnation of Trek (except Enterprise, which was really pretty dismal despite Scott Bakula), and while I look forward to rewatching Deep Space Nine sometime since I'm pretty sure I missed significant portions of it the first time around, my all-time favorite Trek has to be The Next Generation. It was one of the first non-kids' shows that I ever watched, and I'm almost certain that Geordi La Forge was my first TV crush. That said, I don't know that I can pick out one or two favorite episodes to put on this list. Maybe Star Trek should just be understood to be in an entirely separate category of TV favorites for me.

*There is one Buffy episode that is almost universally loved and highly praised that, I think, suffered because of me having heard the hype beforehand: “The Body.” Let me quickly say that I still found this episode to be powerful and very well-done. But I really wish I hadn't heard about Anya's speech before watching it, and especially that I hadn't read part of it online before deciding that I should probably stop in case I ever decided to watch the show. Because of that, it just didn't hit me as hard as I know it did many Buffy fans. I have high hopes that when I get to this episode again in my rewatch, it will be more powerful rather than less so. Probably the fact that I will be watching it with my mom, who has never seen it before and is loving it so far, will help.