As the year comes to a close, geeks reflect on the greatest moments from the year. There were very many this year, but one of the best, hands down, was when Tom Hiddleston crashed Comic-Con as Loki. Not only was it a surreal experience for all the attendees who were lucky enough to witness it, it also showed just how much Hiddleston embraced his character. If you watch the Thor and Avengers movies, he stands out as one of, if not the, best characters. But, unlike many actors out there, Hiddleston is having a ball playing that character!
As an actress myself, I know how important it is to immerse yourself in a character. But sometimes, it's not enough to simply be someone else. You have to have fun with it! When you're having fun, no matter if you're the hero, villain, or comic relief, you stand apart from the rest of the cast. I have compiled a list of actors who are worth watching the movies they do because they're having fun. Apart from one, there is no particular order.
And as much as I love Loki, I have to give the number one spot to one man and one man alone:
Cary Elwes in Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Cary Elwes reigns true in this genre. While this particular Mel Brooks film isn't considered to be as much of a classic, Elwes carries this entire movie. The other actors are great as well, but you can see it in every frame: Elwes is having the time of his life!
Just watch his face as he battles Little John. He'd probably do this role for free. And don't forget that he also brought the character to life with a single line:
"Because, unlike some other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent."
The rest will be done in no particular order.
Margaret Hamilton in The Wizard of Oz
This is one of the earliest recorded roles of an actor having a ball with their role. Margaret Hamilton, while purely evil, is totally loving this.
Tell me now that she's not having fun! The downside though is now her performance is being underminded by the Broadway version in Wicked. Oh well.
"I'll get you my pretty, and your little dog, too!"
Sam Rockwell in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Rockwell sells every part he plays. This movie didn't follow the book as well as it could have, but Rockwell is the best part of this movie. He actually takes the character of Zaphod past the extraterrestrial limits that Douglas Adams penned out and made it work. No one else could have done that!
Very best part? When he falls through the portal to Magrathea and just lands with a splat. No stunt double, Rockwell did the whole thing himself. Now that's commitment!
"Honey, I'm the president of the galaxy. I don't get a whole lotta time for reading." Christopher Plummer in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Trek is known for its bad guys. They're just awesome. But none of them can add up to Plummer as Chang in the sixth installment with the original cast for enjoying his role the most. Even in his interviews you can tell that Plummer is particularly proud of this role.
Best of all is his quoting of Shakespeare. Nice touch, adding a little bit of nerdiness to this role!
"You have not heard Shakespeare until you've heard it in the original Klingon." Raul Julia in The Adams Family and The Adams Family Values
Even in bad roles, Julia was great. *coughStreetFightercough* This, one of his (tragically) last roles, is the very epitome of charm and psycho. This guy has no place in the real world, and nothing Julia does puts him there. He and his family are in their own screwed up world, and he leads it with a dynamic machismo that you'll never forget.
No wonder Morticia Adams is so besotted with him!
"I would die for her. I would kill for her. Either way, what bliss!" Chris Evans in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
In my opinion, Evans is one of the most underrated actors out there. Exhibit A: his performance as Lucas Lee, one of the 7 evil exes that Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) has to defeat to win over Ramona Flowers. Evans, who is most notable now for his role as Captain America, sells the crap out of his brief role in this wacky flick.
His presence on the screen gives off the vibe that he was born for this role, and he'll be danged if you think otherwise.
"'Sup. How's life? He seems nice." Eva Green in Dark Shadows
Green doesn't really strike as the type who would have a place on this list, but by golly, is she enjoying her role as the villainess Angelique in this Tim Burton reboot. Every time she steps into the scene, that sexy smirk shines with a bit of genuine delight in everything she says and does in this film.
I wouldn't normally draw attention to this, but the love scene with Johnny Depp? Just about any woman would want to be in her position but there's a little bit of "yeah, well I get to do this!" attitude to it.
"Sleeping flame, I summon thee, to your form return. Make the night as bright as day...and burn, baby, burn!" Yul Brynner in The King and I
Brynner was so good at this role he did it both in film and on Broadway. He makes King Mongkut out to be a guy who can command the attention of world leaders...and be a child at the same time. His battle of the sexes banter with Deborah Kerr is some of the best out there. He even got an Oscar for this role!
Oh yeah, he also pokes fun at another one of his other projects in this: The Ten Commandments. He played Pharaoh Ramses, the arch-nemesis to Moses in that film. In this one, he's poking fun at Moses after reading his story in the Bible. LOL
"I make mistake. The British not scientific enough to know how to use chopsticks." James Nesbitt in The Hobbit Trilogy
When I first heard the cast of this film, I went nuts because I'm a sucker for that dreamboat Richard Armitage. But after I saw the first movie, it wasn't him I remembered best, it was the floppy hat wearing dwarf Bofur that I remembered best. Yes, the whole cast appears to be having a blast, but Nesbitt tends to outshine the others because his delight is more genuine. Even in the promos for the film, he's almost always smiling, and that's not just a character smile you're looking at.
And, quite frankly, it's interesting having an Irish dwarf in the bunch.
"Oh, that's a lovely game. If you have the balls for it." Susan Sarandon in Enchanted
Half of this role was voice acting, but even in that, Sarandon is having fun. She goes from being animated, to being three dimensional, to becoming an old hag with a severe dental problem, to her final form as a dragon. For one of the best examples of how to ham it up at just the right flavor for a villain, watch her in this. She really should have been in it more.
Seriously. Those teeth as the hag? It almost like she's enjoying that. That's commitment!
"Hello, worthless. Miss me?" James Marsden in Enchanted
This is the only time I will give a dual award for the same movie. Even in the previews for this one, when he gets run over by cyclists, you can tell that he is going to sell this movie. Everything from his voice, stride and wardrobe just screams, "aw, yeah!" Not to mention he finally gets the girl, albeit a different one than is expected.
This is probably a film his grandchildren will love for him and him alone.
"It appears this tiny box controls the magic mirror!" There are plenty more actors out there who are enjoying their roles, but I don't have enough time to put them all into one blog. So keep an eye out, there'll be another list soon!
I recently came back from a road trip from which I had a little too much time to think. So I have compiled a list of what I believe are some of the best geek moments in history. Each one is rated a different way, and has a brief explanation as to why it is so awesome.
This is yet another reason why I should not be left with too much time to think.
Awsome Moment: "To Serve Man"
Source: The Twilight Zone
Awesomeness classification: The first great sci-fi twist
The Twilight Zone opened Americans up to the coolness of geekiness. While there are many great episodes of this series, this particular episode was one of the best and arguably one of the best twists ever to come out (excluding Empire Strikes Back, of course).
Friendly aliens visit earth with a book titled "To Serve Man," which shows how Earthlings can grow better food in inhospitable climes. It turns out the book is really a cookbook on how to turn humans into tasty morsels!
This particular scene set the standard for plot twists in geek culture, and we've been mastering them ever since!
Awesome Moment: "Sandworm!"
Source: Chuck season 1 episode 6: "Chuck vs. The Sandworm"
Awesomeness classification: Near-ultimate geek level you probably have yet to achieve
How many of you even considered doing a Dune character for Halloween? They're not quite the easiest cosplay outfits, but Shai-Hulud?????????
Yep, best buddies Chuck and Morgan have their two-man sandworm costume. And it's pretty darn good considering how big those suckers are supposed to be in the books. If you have ever made a sandworm costume like our pal Chuck here, then you are an ultimate geek.
Thanks, Chuck, for showing us how high-ranking of a geek you are and still be considered cool.
Awesome Moment: Wall-E and Eve's Dance
Source: Disney Pixar's Wall-E
Awesomeness classification: Best interspace romance
This may have been considered a kid's movie, but Wall-E is one of the best pieces of sci-fi to come out in the last 10 years. The particular standout scene is when Wall-E and Eve connect in outer space.
Wall-E, the Chaplin-esque protagonist, shares a romantic moment with Eve, the out-of-your-league sophisticated robot. In this scene, they share a "kiss" and dance throughout space using a fire extinguisher. The scene is a mastery of CGI effects, simple music, and imagination of how two unlikely characters can fall in love.
Awesome Moment: Mulder in the Mirror
Source: X-Files season 6 episode 4: "Dreamland, part I"
Awesomeness classification: Best homage to classic film
David Duchovney switching bodies with Michael McKean? I'm sure McKean wasn't complaining. Mulder has been aware he's not in his body for a while, but now gets to see what he looks like.
This is what happens:
And here's the inspiration for this scene:
It is so hard to pull of comic styling like this one without being a Marx brother, but doggonit, Duchoney and McKean did it. Waytago, boys!
Awesome Moment: Spiderman reveals his mask has the power
Source: The Amazing Spider Man (2012)
Awesomeness classification: True heroism is finally shown correctly
Personally, I hate reboots, but if there was one genre that needed an almost immediate reboot, it was the Spiderman franchise. Not only is Andrew Garfield a better actor than Tobey Maguire, he was able to show how Spiderman is a real human being who is imperfect.
What makes this scene more awesome than the high school fight behind a music blaring Stan Lee (it was a tough call) is that Spiderman is able to show a particular strength of connectivity. By telling Jack that when he puts on the mask it'll "make [him] strong," it gives the boy enough of a boost to face his fear of the fiery car to reach out to the one person who can save him. Nothing else Peter Parker could have done would've convinced Jack to climb up to him. This awesome geek moment shows how sometimes you have to go beyond heroics and have to tap the inner strength of those who need rescuing to really save someone.
Awesome Moment: Picard's response to surrendering
Source: Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3 episode 15: "Yesterday's Enterprise"
Awesomeness classification: Most badass moment
"Yesterday's Enterprise" is considered by Trekkies to be one of Star Trek's masterpiece episodes. To sum it up, the crew of the Enterprise D encounters the previous Enterprise C, who was supposed to have been destroyed in battle defending the Klingons, which is turn causes them to not help the Klingons and changes history to have the Federation losing a war with the Klingon empire. Wow, that's a lot of info. And it probably didn't make sense. Oh well.
Anyways, Picard considered by many geek to be "lawful neutral" when it comes to his decision making. He has a lot of great moments, but one particular moment overshadows them all. As the Enterprise D engages the Klingons in a no-win battle, with the ship falling apart and his crew dropping left and right, he gets that message from the Klingons: "Surrender, and prepare to be boarded."
Picard's response: "That'll be the day!"
Then, he leaps from his chair over the console behind him and gives the Klingons every last ounce of firepower his ship has.
WOW.
This clip has various moments from this episode, so you can scroll to the end to catch this amazing moment. Even in the face of certain death, Picard won't give his enemies that satisfaction. This is also why, in the ever popular "Kirk vs. Picard" debates, Picard takes the cake for me.
Awesomeness Moment: Al becomes the leaper!
Source: Quantum Leap season 3/4 cliffhanger "Shock Theater" and "The Leap Back"
Awesomeness classification: Finally giving a character a taste of his own medicine!
Most sci-fi and geek shows give us great cliffhangers that all left us at the edge of our seats, but Quantum Leap gave us one we could laugh over. Sam leaps into a new person at the beginning of every episode, and when he realizes where specifically he is (varying from performing at rock concerts, getting launched into space, stripping and other wacky situations), he lets out the iconic "oh boy!" before trying to adjust. His sassy buddy, Al, gives him info on his new host and anything else he needs to know in holographic form, so only Sam can see him (most of the time).
We all love Al's goofy antics and the way Dean Stockwell is able to mesh with Scott Bakula's personality. At the end of the season 3 episode "Shock Theater," Sam is subject to extreme electroshock due to his previous hosts' personalities splitting his own. Al is nearby as he gets shocked, and while a thunderstorm is going on. The result?
Sam leaps to a new time, but is in Al's body, and Al is in Sam's body who is inhibiting a new host! Kinda complicated, but Al has been both helping and needling Sam with his leaping for years now. It's about time he found himself having to deal with Sam's craziness!
Awesomeness Moment: Shoot 'em up to the Beatles
Source: The Prisoner
Awesomeness classification: The most bizarre but effective show ending ever
The Prisoner is hands down one of the weirdest shows you will ever see. It's mind-boggling, it's surreal, and they threw out some of the strangest plot twists out there (there was even an episode of Pinky and the Brain that tried to reference it). Though short lived, these methods were maintained throughout the entire show. And by golly, they certainly ended the show just as enigmatic as the rest of the show!
Patrick McGoohan's character, who is simply referred to as "Number 6," throughout the show, has been subject to being imprisoned without cause, attempts at being brainwashed, and even being nearly murdered in several different ways. The series finale, as shown above, has him and several buddies shooting their way to freedom. While playing the Beatles' tune "All You Need is Love."
Pardon my French, but WTFrak?????
Of all the songs in the 1960s, that one was selected to close a series and show a bunch of bad guys getting gunned down. If that ain't just the most messed up geek finale you've ever seen, then I don't know what is.
Awesomeness Moment: Zoe shuts down
Source: Serenity
Awesomeness moment: The stuff that strong women are made of
There are always debates on which women dominate the geek world, and there will probably never be one that everyone can agree on. I will bring to attention the one I believe dominates them all: Zoe Washburn. She is a fiercely loyal soldier who can shoot you with little to no remorse, and also speak as your conscience. And she's married to a dweeby pilot who goes by the name of Wash and is definitely out of her league. It's clear that in their family, she wears the pants.
Sadly though, as the clip above shows, he dies very quickly. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a clip showing the point I am trying to make, but this is her reaction to when her lovable husband dies (oh, it still hurts! *sniffle*).
The awesomeness comes as the rest of the crew of Serenity are setting up a blockade to defend themselves against the Reavers, cannibalistic psychopaths that you do not want to meet. We got to see how Zoe reacted when Wash was killed by the Reavers. As Zoe prepares for battle, you see her walls go up. She has just lost the love of her life, and if she doesn't focus, she'll die too. She shuts down.
Anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one knows it's one of the hardest things to experience in life. Zoe is no different than anyone else, but she needs to focus on the now. Before Mal runs off to expose the 'verse to the truth behind the Reavers, he asks Zoe, "are you here?" to which she replies, "Do the job, sir." Her time for grieving will have to wait until she and the rest of the crew are safe. In the end, she is badly wounded, as are the others in her party, but no one else dies. Her ability to focus in the midst of tragedy makes her stand out as the strongest woman in geek history.
Awesomeness Moment: Hellboy and Abe Sapien sing Barry Manilow
Source: Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Awesomeness classification: Doesn't need it. It's just awesome!
Oh, Ron Perlman. The guy can sell just about any geek role you put him into. Hellboy is no different.
Two friends, neither one of them human, decide to get hammered and sing Barry Manilow. The scene just works. It's so unlikely, and probably even looks ludicrous on paper, but Guillermo del Toro sold this scene from start to finish. Well done, sir!
Awesomeness Moment: Alien's first encounter with Eve Ensler
Source: Stargate SG-1 season 10 episode 18: "Family Ties"
Awesomeness classification: The best depiction of interspecies awkwardness
Teal'c, a Jaffa soldier and fighter who protects Earth, has just been given theater tickets from Jacek, an established con artist, who told him it was called the "Virginia Dialogues."
He finds out very quickly that the title of the play was wrong. Teal'c is smack dab in the middle of the play "The Vagina Monologues." Not only is he the only alien at this play, he is also the only man! This scene was excellently done by Christopher Judge, especially with his sinking into his chair in utter embarrassment.
Awesomeness Moment: Meet Bones
Source: Star Trek (2009)
Awesomeness classification: Casting done right!
The new Star Trek movies have been the subject of debate amongst Trekkers since the first one was released in 2009. Personally, I enjoy the movies, but I regard them as fan pieces and not part of the series' canon. I find that the most redeeming quality of these films is the casting. Each actor does their predecessors' character justice, and my personal pick is for Karl Urban as Leonard "Bones" McCoy.
When I saw this movie in the theaters in 2009, I just about had a nerdgasm right there as Urban started speaking without even being on screen. In the space of 2 seconds, the guy who was best known for playing Eomer in The Two Towers and Return of the King nails the infamous character immortalized by Deforest Kelly. I was pretty skeptical about the casting when I first heard, but this former Rohirrim does Kelly justice and definitely outshines the rest of the cast in staying true to the original character.
Awesomeness Moment: Don't Screw with the Doctor and the Centurion!
Source: Dr. Who season 6 episode 7: "A Good Man Goes to War"
Awesomeness classification: Rory raises standards for men that are nearly impossible to reach
Dr. Who is just chalked full of so many awesome moments, it's hard to pick just one. I decided on this particular gem:
Rory is somewhat of a dope, but his devotion to Amy Pond transcends both time and space. Right here, both he and The Doctor show what she means to the both of them. What sells this particular scene, however, is the delivery of the message. Without looking or blinking, and with a simple twitch of his head, Rory shows what he is willing to do to get his wife back. Geek women's standards have never skyrocketed faster than after watching this scene.
Awesomeness Moment: Daffy Duck goes Intergalactic
Source: Babylon 5 (episode unknown, saw it when I was like 8)
Awesomeness classification: Boldly going where no duck has gone before!
Try as I might, I was unable to find a clip of this particular scene. Michael Garibaldi is the geek in this series, and has an affinity for Daffy Duck. He even has a poster of the cartoon character in his quarters! In the first season, he introduces Delenn, who is at that time a Minbari (for full explanation, please watch the series), and has never seen an Earth based cartoon before. Her expression is incredulous.
So why not Bugs Bunny? Well, to quote Daffy's best known episode, Duck Dodgers in the 24th 1/2 Century, "This planet ain't big enough for the two of us so, off you go!"
Awesomeness Moment: The Second Moon Ride
Source: E.T: The Extraterrestrial
Awesomeness classification: Showing every possible reaction to the coolest ride ever
Every 80's and 90's kid has seen E.T. It's just not right if you haven't seen it and you're from that era (same goes for Breakfast Club, but I digress). The scene where Elliot and E.T. are crossing past the moon as they fly through the sky is one of cinema's most recognized and classic moments. However, as magical of a scene that is, I prefer the second, where it's not only Elliot, but his brother Michael and Michael's buddies Steve, Greg and Tyler cycling past the moon.
The reason why this one is better is because thus far we've only seen Elliot's reaction to sky-biking. Each one of the boys who ride with him gives a different reaction: wonder, disbelief, awe, and general wussiness. Elliot conveyed all of those emotions earlier in the first moon ride scene, only with a sense of innocent exuberance. It's a good way to capture different perspectives all in the same situation. Well done, Spielberg!
Awesomeness Moment: Loki Crashes Comic-Con
Source: 2013 San Diego Comic-Con
Awesomeness classification: The true embodiment of a geek icon brought to life
This is the only reality clip I will post here. The internet geek forums went nuts earlier this year when Tom Hiddleston, best known as Loki in Thor and The Avengers, showed up at the Thor 2 panel without being announced and did a bit as Loki onstage. Just watch:
Most fans of the Thor movies will admit that it's Loki that steals the films. Here, Tom shows his commitment to his character and how much he loves it. There are several instances where he is ready to break character because he's having too much fun. Right here is the reason why we would rather watch Loki rather than Thor (no offense, Chris Hemsworth, you're great too!), Tom is the living embodiment of this character. He IS Loki. Now kneel, you mortals!!!!!
Awesomeness Moment: Star Warners
Source: Pinky and the Brain season 4 episode 9: "Star Warners"
Awesomeness classification: the perfect cartoon spoof
Most people think that Family Guy did the best spoof of Star Wars. However, long before Family Guy, Pinky and the Brain did their own spoof as their series finale, utilizing characters from the parent show, Animaniacs, and guest stars like Ben Stein.
The show Pinky and the Brain itself wasn't as great when it became a spin off, but their use of using Star Wars as their main plot device and throwing in references from other sources such as Casablanca and Seinfeld made for a great swan song. From start to finish, this episode is poking fun at something, whether Star Wars related or not, and giving you a fun ride with it!
Awesomeness Moment: Riker Flirts with Guinan
Source: Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2 episode 10: "The Dauphin"
Awesomeness classification: making Wil Wheaton uncomfortable
There has already been a TNG moment on this list, but it is regarded as the best of the Star Trek canon and I think this particular scene is one of them. Trek usually tackles hard subjects like slavery, racism, human testing and other controvercial topics, but TNG has Wesley Crusher, who is regarded as one of the most hated sci-fi characters ever. In fact, one of the most re-used lines in the first 3 seasons of this series was, "Shut up, Wesley!"
As is a part in every TV show adolescent boy's journey, Wesley finds himself falling in love for the first time and is asking for advice all over the ship. When he comes to Commander Riker, Riker decides to work his charms on Whoopi Goldberg's Guinan. Their banter is flawless and fun, and seeing Wesley this uncomfortable is a real treat. And Guinan's "Shut up, kid!" is the one of the best variations of that line.
Awesomeness Moment: Lister is Pregnant!
Source: Red Dwarf season 2 episode 6: "Parallel Universe"
Awesomeness classification: the "now that's just wrong!" moment
British sci-fi is awesome. Red Dwarf is no exception, and is quite adept at going to places that not even Star Trek considered. In this particular episode of Red Dwarf, the boys on this ship travel to a parallel universe and find that in this universe, their counterparts are women (with the exception of Cat, who instead finds Dog). After getting drunk, Lister wakes up to this:
Yep, he's just spent the night with the female version of himself. And when he gets back to his universe, he finds that he is, indeed, pregnant. And the mother of his children is in fact himself. How screwed up is that?
Awesomeness Moment: Mal brings "Friends" into Battle
Source: Serenity
Awesomeness classification: best sci-fi battle entrance
The crew of Serenity is on its own against a huge fleet of Alliance battleships. So Cap'n Mal aims to misbehave and does this instead:
Pulling one of the greatest stunts in sci-fi ever, Mal leads a fleet of Reavers into battle. The reavers are one of the best baddies to ever grace sci-fi villainy, and Operative's reaction to Mal's response to his threats is classic. Malcolm Reynolds ain't going down without a bloodbath.
Awesomeness Moment: Anakin vs. Obi-Wan
Source: Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Awesomeness classification: a redeeming moment to a horrible series
There are many geeks who refuse to even acknowledge the prequel trilogy of Star Wars. While there were some good aspects to the films, such as Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor and Christopher Lee, the series as a whole was poorly done and a huge disappointment. And then there's this moment:
While this battle doesn't redeem the trilogy, or even this particular movie, it is one of the scenes that showed that good could come out of these movies. Anakin Skywalker, now turned to the dark side, faces off against his friend and former mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi. The mood of this scene is clear all the way through: one will kill the other and nothing will stop them. What also makes it better is that there's very little dialogue for Hayden Christensen to screw up, and the hatred he portrays as he battles Ewan McGregor is finally real.
Awesomeness Moment: Shatner can Score Anything
Source: Fanboys
Awesomeness classification: crossing the Trek and Wars barrier
The film Fanboys has a running gag that Trekkies are evil and the Wars fanboys are good. While it's all in good fun, the Trekkies are sadly portrayed as mostly jerks. Two of the film's protagonists, Eric and Linus, are off to meet an unknown contact for security clearance to the Skywalker Ranch. After being shoved by an alien into a deserted room full of slot machines, they are met by this:
William Shatner, aka James T. Kirk of Star Trek, provides these hardcore Star Wars fanboys with everything they need to break in George Lucas's, aka the creator of Star Wars, high security home and business office. Oh, the irony!
Awesomeness Moment: The Miracle Baby
Source: Children of Men
Awesomeness classification: how a powerful symbol of hope can stop even a war
The post-apocalyptic docudrama focuses on Theo, a man charged by his late wife to get Kee, the first woman in 18 years to get pregnant, to safety. Kee gives birth on the way and is abducted by terrorists, but Theo gets to her in time and tries to escort her safely out of a war zone.
The film is a masterpiece from start to finish, and this scene grips you and doesn't let go. When the baby's cry cuts through all the mayhem and violence, everything stops. All anyone, refugee and soldier alike, knows is that for the first time in years, there is hope for the future. And no one will do anything to destroy that hope until it is out of immediate harm's way.
Awesomeness Moment: The tables are turned
Source: Warehouse 13 season 4, episode 7: "Endless Wonder"
Awesomeness classification: the tormented becomes the tormentor!
Years before this episode aired, lead actor Saul Rubinek appeared as Kivas Fajo in an episode of TNG called "The Most Toys," in which he kidnaps Data, played by Brent Spiner, to make him part of his collection. Kivas threatens, manipulates, and even kills to keep Data in line. Now, almost 20 years later, the tables are turned! Rubinek's character, Artie, finds himself being mentally and psychologically tormented by an evil in the form of Brother Adrian, who is played by none other than Brent Spiner.
Now plenty of Star Trek alums appeared on this show, but the history between Rubinek and Spiner makes this episode, as well as the season, extra nerdy for Trekkies like myself who get excited about these crossovers. It is very clear that Adrian is going to relentlessly drive Artie nuts, which almost seems like revenge for what Kivas did to Data. Only in sci-fi can revenge like this be fun!
And for the final awesomeness moment:
Awesomeness Moment: Classic Rock is Sent into Space
Source: Star Trek: First Contact
Awesomeness classification: the best use of classic rock
Classic rock is my favorite genre of music, and I also love it when movies use the absolutely perfect song for specific moments (that list will be made later). Since sci-fi usually doesn't incorporate popular music, it's rare for moments like these to come along, unless time travel is involved. In this case, it is.
If you're going to change earth's future by breaking the warp barrier, what better song to use than Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride"? The film version isn't Steppenwolf performing it, but their version does appear on the soundtrack. Regardless of who performs it in the film, it is the perfect choice for the scene and the event it depicts.
So this is my current list of awesome moments. They may favor Star Trek more than the others, but I plan on making notes of non-Trek sci-fi that has awesome moments. With sci-fi, the sky isn't the limit, and there's much to be done in addition to what's already been achieved. Yay geek moments!
Yeah, I'm blogging about Star Trek again. What can I say?
Anyway, of all the Treks, I like Voyager the best. I don't think it was the best, but the reason I liked it is that it was semi-serialized and the characters were constantly thrown into situations that they had to be clever about to get out of. However, as I've been watching it, I've noticed several things that Voyager had offered earlier on, but didn't follow through with. If they had kept up with these plot lines, the show would probably have been better appreciated by both Trekkies and geeks (Seven of Nine notwithstanding).
Starfleet vs. Maquis
When the show first aired, we all got to see the potential of a very tenuous trip hope. Not only was this ship 70,000 light years from the Alpha Quadrant, but you have a primarily Starfleet crew working with a good amount of Maquis, former Starfleet resistance fighters, together on the same ship. There were some conflicts between the two groups in the first season, but after the second, they grew less and less.
What gives?
Just like that, the two crews are working together just fine? Sure, we have Michael Jonas, the former Maquis working with double agent Seska after she defected to the Kazon, and Lon Suder, who actually killed a Starfleet member, but all three of them got the axe (although Suder redeemed himself by sacrificing himself for the marooned crew), that was pretty much the end of the Starfleet/Maquis conflict storyline.
Sure, some minor conflicts popped up over the seasons, but it seems to me that it would've taken longer than a few months for the two crew to work together harmoniously. The sad part too is that the first two seasons of Voyager really weren't that great, but the ones involved the previously mentioned characters above were some of the best. If the writers had kept those conflicts going, it may have made the series itself stronger before they had to resort to Seven of Nine (not that she's a bad character, I do like her).
Minor Characters
How many of you guys know who Ayala is? According to IMDb, he appeared in 113 episodes! That's more than Kes! He mostly gets mentioned and ordered around, but he's in just about every episode. So why don't we get to know him better? This is a small ship! Shouldn't we get to know some other characters besides that main crew?
If you take a look at the other series, which all took place in the Alpha Quadrant, they all utilized minor characters pretty well. For TNG, you have characters like Guinan, Barclay, Alexander, Mot and Ro Laren to name a few, who showed up every now and then and added a little flavor. DS9 had a lot of recurring characters who were not part of the main cast either. Now Voyager did have several recurring characters besides Ayala, but most didn't pop up more than once (death was sometimes a factor).
What the writers should have done is kept the same actors for the minor characters. I don't know how many actors they used during the show for crew member roles, but they had lots of new ones every week. Several nameless ones were on multiple episodes, but for a crew of about 160ish, they should have shown more minor characters because they weren't going to have any other Starfleet officers transferring to this ship. The casting should have been consistent with the nameless crew members, and we should've gotten to know some of them better. Particularly Ayala.
The Equinox Crew
This one kind of piggy backs on the previous point. The USS Equinox, a Starfleet vessel that goes rogue and is eventually destroyed by Voyager, takes on a handful of survivors at the beginning of season 6. The final act of this episode includes Janeway debriefing these crewmen and telling them they will have limited freedom aboard the ship based on their crimes. And that's that.
We never see or hear from them again.
"Equinox" was easily one of the best episodes that came out of the series. Janeway had a rare opportunity of being able to get new crewmen on board, and despite their horrible actions in part one, it was exciting to see more Starfleet officers. So why did we get the excitement of getting new crew members without knowing what happened to them?
Sure, these guys were pretty rotten and even used the oft-used phrase of "we were only following orders" to get past their crimes. But with them being so far from home, and being part of a crew that has stuck to the Prime Directive, they have just about as much adjusting to do to this crew as the Maquis did. And they had less freedom. It would have been interesting to see how they adjusted to their new life with more limits than the former Maquis did.
There could have been several episodes that showed this struggle and kept the season interesting. Now season 6 was a particularly good season, but remember that Voyager is not considered the best Star Trek. With a storyline like this added into the mix, the season could have been better. We could've done without the Borg kids.
Speaking of which, what the heck happened to that Borg baby???????
The Borg Resistance
Yet another one of Voyager's best episodes: "Unimatrix Zero." How cool is it that Janeway is successful is liberating thousands, maybe even millions, of drones from the Borg Collective? They even team up with a Borg sphere under the command of former Klingon drone Korok to rescue Janeway, Tuvok and Torres from the cube they're trapped in. At the end of the episode, Janeway notes in her log that Korok will stay in contact. All of the liberated drones know that Voyager helped them and are now engaged in a Civil War against the Borg Queen and the Collective.
We don't hear a bloody thing about it.
Just like that, Korok is gone and that's that. No communications from other liberated Borg, no aiding in the battles, no "hey, how's it going?" drop ins from former drones. Good grief, Janeway! You get yourself assimilated by the Borg to deploy this sucker virus that liberates good drones from your worst enemy, and that's it??????
For the love of Quark, they even run into the Borg again in the season finale of "Endgame!" Why don't we get any reports or updates before then? And why does the Collective not try to destroy Voyager right when they're first detected? It's almost like the resistance never happened. It would have been a great storyline to have running in the final season. Janeway should've been numero uno on the Borg Queen's hit list after that, but nope. Just got ignored. Like poor Ayala. Which brings me to my next point....
Axum, Janeway and Chakotay
Seven of Nine has, at this point, been pursued by Harry Kim and the Doctor, and even herself pursued William Chapman at one point for a dating exercise (it would've been fun to see more of him). She's just not the dating type. But back to episode "Unimatrix Zero," we find out she'd been involved with a Borg named Axum for 6 years before being liberated from the Collective!
Their romance only starts to rekindle when Janeway orders that Unimatrix Zero, the safe haven where drones can act as individuals during their regeneration, be destroyed to destroyed in order to save all those newly liberated drones. As the unimatrix is decompiling around them, Axum tells Seven, "I'll find you." And then he disappears. He's out somewhere patrolling fluidic space on the other side of the galaxy, but he was able to find her through her regeneration cycle even after she became an individual. It's clear that his love for her is true.
It's unclear whether or not Seven's feeling for him return fully, but she definitely is upset when she realizes she won't be able to see him again without Unimatrix Zero. But instead of his assuming she was dead when she stopped coming to the Unimatrix in the first place, he kept looking for her. If he keeps that up, then I have no doubt he would find his way back to her, even if they are on opposite ends of the galaxy.
But does she wait for him? Noooooooooooooooooo....
She shacks up with Chakotay instead! This caused an uproar with many fans who were particularly excited when they heard that Janeway's fiance, Mark, had gotten married after Voyager got zapped to the Delta Quadrant. Janeway and Chakotay had good chemistry, and she never got much in the way of romance because she was the captain and it wasn't appropriate (although keeping Kashyk around would've been interesting). This was a romance that could've been, but didn't.
With Seven and Chakotay getting involved, it pretty much obliterated any memory she had of poor Axum. What would've happened if he'd jacked a cube, found a transwarp hub that brought him right to Voyager, only to find her wining and dining with the Commander? Pretty heartbreaking, I'll tell you that. Axum and Seven had the potential of being a great moment when they reunite. With Chakotay in the picture, it dooms that idea. And Janeway's still single. It should've been her with Chakotay, they have more stuff in common. And Chakotay doesn't play any instruments or have a big interest in music, which Seven has said before is a must in her relationship ("Someone to Watch Over Me").
And finally.....
The Borg Queen
Am I the only one who was rooting for the Queen in "Dark Frontier" when she brings Seven's dad out to drop the bomb of, "I am your mother!"?
Maybe it would've been a ripoff of Star Wars, but that would have been the best twist in Star Trek. It definitely would've beaten out Sela's reveal in TNG. Again, it would've added several conflicts, not just for Seven, but also for Janeway and the rest of the crew. The Borg Queen being Seven's mother would've knocked the socks off of every viewer that night. I think I'll just leave it at that.
So those are my points of what would have made Voyager better. Maybe one day I'll be able to be a creative consultant and help out, who knows. I would so rock that series!
Let's face it: sci-fi generally isn't known for romance. How many of the greatest romances on film and TV happen in space or the future? Not many, and that's sad, because futuristic and interspecies romance is a goldmine of clever love stories.
Star Trek will always be my favorite genre, and they tend to have some great sci-fi romances as well. Where would we be without Troi and Riker, or Kira and Odo? Definitely a little less entertained. In 2011, Star Trek magazine put out a special issue on the best romances in the Star Trek canon. I agreed with just about all of them, but one stands out to me: Paris and Torres from Star Trek: Voyager.
While many would stand behind Picard and Crusher or someone else, I stand with these two because their romance was one that that because a good addition to the show, and didn't disappoint. When the show first came on in 1995, I wasn't too impressed with it and wound up not watching it very often. Then, I saw the season 3 episode "Blood Fever" where they hooked up for the first time. My exact thoughts were, "Tom and B'Elanna? No way!" I was riveted to the couch with the episode, and the series after that. The series kept this relationship going and definitely appealed to the softer and more romantic side of Star Trek.
And here are my reasons why they are the best.
They Complement Each Other
When we first meet the crew of Voyager, it's definitely a motley one. 2/3rds of the crew is polished Starfleet, and the other third is comprised of the Federation resistance group Maquis and other aliens they bring along with them. You have Tom Paris, an admiral's son, who is the ship's pilot and was in a penal colony due to his brief association with the Maquis, given a chance to redeem himself by Captain Janeway. Then you have B'Elanna Torres, the half-Klingon ex-Maquis chief engineer who was kicked out of Starfleet due to authority problems.
Paris and Torres both have images to get past when they first start working together. Paris is sociable, has some immaturity issues and is somewhat of a bad boy and smarmy skirt-chaser. Torres takes longer to become a part of the group and tends to isolate herself, and still has problems with authority at the beginning. Though different, they are both, in a sense, unruly teenagers who still have a lot of growing up to do.
Now there was always some flirtation between the two, but it began to elevate in season 3. In such episodes as "The Swarm," Paris' flirting with Torres has the undertone of him wanting to get into her pants, and in "Alter Ego," he spends a good amount of time checking her out in that gorgeous tropical dress she wears, and then is clearly stunned when she walks off with Vorik instead of him. Then comes "Blood Fever." Torres, through an accidental telepathic bond, contracts the dreaded (at least on the Vulcan side) pon farr, when Vulcans have to have sex or die. She's half-Klingon, so she's obviously going nuts. And guess who she happens to find herself trapped with as her hormones are going nuts? You guessed it: Tom Paris.
In previous episodes, we've seen Tom fall for holograms, aliens, crew members, Kes, Sarah Silverman (*gag*) and even evolved into a weird kind of sausage-lizard with Janeway as his mate, which just so happens to create offspring ("Threshold"). He's ready for any woman to toss her panties at him. So you'd automatically think he'd jump at the chance to take advantage of a hot half-Klingon woman, especially when Klingons are reputed to be pretty darn good lovers. Right? Wrong!
Check out this clip here:
That's right, he's holding back on her. Earlier in the episode, he even tells her that he would be taking advantage of her and she would hate him for doing so, and friends don't do that.
B'Elanna is able to arouse the good guy in Tom. Most men would have taken advantage of her, but he doesn't. Instead, he's looking out for her well being over his. In the end, she winds up fighting Vorik, and that purges the blood fever (the lesser known and/or used method of curing pon farr). He doesn't get lucky with her that episode. The remainder of the season, however, had plenty of flirty scenes and even some awkward ones to hint at a burgeoning romance.
So now we know how she complements him. But how does he complement her? Well, she never quite gets over her temper in the series. But despite her immaturity, she does have a very grounded sense of morality. When faced with a moral crisis, she will always do the right thing ("Prototype" and "Remember" to name a few). Tom isn't quite there with his moral compass. He often has to consult his friends and/or superiors when he is faced with a difficult decision.
As stated before, these two start out with the behavior of teenagers rebelling against their parents. Paris grows up a little bit quicker than Torres, but it's a journey they ultimately complete together. Torres still struggles with insecurity and mistrust based on her strict Klingon mother's upbringing ("Day of Honor," "Barge of the Dead"), and being let down by friends (including Seska from seasons 1 and 2, and Max Burke from "Equinox"). Even before Tom puts the make on her, he tries to bring her out of her shell.
Tom takes time to study Klingon lifestyle and traditions to make her happy. Though she resists, he is still dogged, trying to show her that her Klingon lifestyle is nothing to be ashamed of ("Displaced," "Day of Honor"). He is also there to cheer her on when she feels like giving up ("Displaced" again). He believes in her, and he won't let her give up, no matter how physically worn out she is, how frustrated she is, or how much she wants to deny herself. He is her number one supporter.
Their Relationship is Realistic
What relationship is perfect? None. These two have a realistic relationship in a fantasy future, where everything should be hunky-dory. But Tom and B'Elanna, while they complement each other personality wise, are also two very hot-headed characters. They fight. A LOT.
Sometimes it's over little things. Other times, it's problems that do threaten the relationship. Tom fights with B'Elanna in "Vis a Vis" when she asks him why he's avoiding her, which he turns around completely on her and claims she is "interrogating" him. In this episode, he is being an extreme slacker in every aspect except for that delicious 1969 Camero in the holodeck (doggonit, I want that car!), and she isn't even looking for a fight, but genuinely worried about him. In the episode "Extreme Risk," she is also battling her own demons and withdrawing from him and the rest of the crew. Once again, he is genuinely worried about her, and while she doesn't have much of a drive to fight as much as normal, she still avoids him. Arguments are also mentioned in episodes that we don't get to see ("Someone to Watch Over Me").
However, their relationship isn't all fighting. These two are passionate about each other. She confessed her love to him when it appeared they were going to die out in space together ("Day of Honor"). After they were rescued, she tried to explain that she doesn't expect him to feel the same.
Well, let this clip do the explaining:
Though he doesn't outright declare his love for her, it's certain that he is not going to let a good thing go.
They also have somewhat of a geeky side that helps as well. Tom is big on 20th century pop culture. Though he never gets B'Elanna in on his "Captain Proton" holodeck programs (now that was quite a shame), he does get her into watching old cartoons ("Memorial") and B movies in 3-D ("Repression"). They also have quite the physical relationship too, as seen here:
I can only imagine what goes on in deck nine when this sort of stuff happens. These two have a give and take relationship that not only makes everything exciting, but also brings them closer and helps them to grow up. Which brings me to my final conclusion on why they are the best couple.
They Don't Give Up On Each Other
The episode "Scientific Method" shows that the crew of Voyager has been used as a giant lab for invisible aliens to perform experiments on, and Paris and Torres have had their hormones tampered with. Though it is unknown how long exactly the aliens have been tampering with them, they come to this conclusion:
They're still going for it. Tom has demonstrated in the past that he thinks that B'Elanna is worth the trouble, and when they both make the decision to keep going even though they may have been manipulated into their relationship, they show that they both believe in each other.
Tom and B'Elanna survive a number of fights that would sink a normal couple. And then there are beautiful moments that they share that shows just how strong the relationship really is. Unfortunately, a clip of this moment is unavailable, but in the episode "Hunters," Voyager is able to get letters from the Alpha Quadrant. She gets her own share of bad news, and Tom finds that a letter from his estranged father is coming to him. The array that transmits the letters is destroyed before she can retrieve his letter, and in the touching scene when she brings him the news she tells him that he can believe that his dad told him that he loves him. She is also able to pull him back from the brink of insanity when he is partially possessed by the AI of a new ship he has revamped called Alice (episode of the same name). She ain't giving up her man without a fight.
B'Elanna was also a character who had a tendency to get into trouble. In "Random Thoughts," she gets arrested and threatened with a lobotomy that Tom is only too willing to rescue her from. When she attempts to seek her mother in Klingon hell and though he tries to talk her out of it, stays by her side the whole time when she refuses to back down ("Barge of the Dead"). And when she finds herself the prisoner of rogue holograms, who is it that first sets out to find them ("Flesh and Blood")? That's right, Tom. He also did his best to locate her in "Muse," but that one was mostly spearheaded by Tuvok. But he wouldn't have been as successful without Tom egging him on to find her.
Another instance where B'Elanna was voluntarily in trouble but still needed rescuing was "Unimatrix Zero, part 2." With the help of Janeway and Tuvok, this saucy wench infects the Borg collective with a virus! But then there are problems (as always), and she finds herself stranded on the Borg ship. She instead sabotages the ship while she waits for rescue, and the look on her face when she sees that Tom is coming for her is priceless. Not to mention the episode "Drive," where they finally do get married after she suckers Tom into taking her with him on an deep space drag race.
Their relationship also transcends their reality. Kes experiences an alternate timeline in "Before and After" where she winds up marrying Tom and having a kid with him. As she keeps going backward in time, she finds out he had been in love with B'Elanna before she was killed along with Janeway. When he reveals this to her, though it's been years ago and he's married to Kes, you can see that he still feels remorse at her loss. In the episode "Course: Oblivion," Tom and B'Elanna had copies made of themselves and those copies married before the real couple did. Although they aren't the original couple, the love these two shared was just as real. Since they are unaware they are copies and their bodies begin to deteriorate, B'Elanna's copy dies and Tom's copy is never the same. For the rest of his existence on the the dying copy of Voyager, his heartbreak over her death never goes away. He merely exists until he dies too. His reaction to her death is utterly heartbreaking. And though they are just copies, there's no doubt that the real Tom would have the same reaction in that case.
Then there's the episode of "Lineage," where B'Elanna finds out she's pregnant (in one of the funniest ways to find out that only sci-fi can pull off), we also learn that her Klingon insecurities have not gone away. She tries to have her baby's genes altered so that she doesn't come out with too much Klingon in her. When Tom interferes with the procedure, she reveals to him that she is afraid that he will leave her. Instead of thinking her crazy, he instead listens to her fears and promises her that he will never leave her. Now that's devotion right there. And when they run afoul of Klingons believing that their child is their savior ("Prophesy"), Tom picks up a bat'leth and dukes it out for his family's honor.
In my opinion, the best moment of their relationship happened in the episode "Workplace, part 2." The entire crew with the exceptions of Chakotay, Neelix and Kim, has been brainwashed and put to work on a planet without knowing their true identities. These aliens are cruel enough to separate Tom and B'Elanna even though she is pregnant with his child. The boys decided to rescue her first and work on restoring her memory when they are successful is retrieving her. As she start to regain her memory, she accesses Tom's personal logs to see what he says about her. As she reads them with Neelix nearby, the look on her face as she tells him how much Tom really loves her shows that what he feels for her is strong enough to motivate her to fight for something that she can't remember. Now that's something strong right there.
So those are my reasons on why I believe that Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres have the best love story in Star Trek history. Though she is constantly getting into trouble, and he fathered at least 5 kids during the show (human, alternate realities and otherwise), their devotion to each other shows just how strong they became, and how they will be in the future.
**Disclaimer: These are the musings and observations of a girl who has never been married. I am not a psychologist of any kind, and all the data I have gathered has been from other singles or friends who I have spoken with. If you disagree at all, write your own opinions in your own blog. These are all what I've gathered from my experiences.
Let me introduce myself: I will be 30 in 2014, work two jobs, one of which is full time and the other which is a daily hire, my career choice is to be an actress and/or stunt performer so I pursue such projects when I am not working, live by myself, have no pets, go to church, and spend what little time I have free with friends, or at home watching DVDs or playing LOTRO. This is my life right now. Notice that I make to mention of a significant other. I do not have the time or the inclination to pursue a commitment of that caliber at this time.
Over the last few months I have been taking time talking with the few friends I have who are not in relationships to get their opinions. I have also talked with other friends who are recently married or are engaged. What I have noticed from these kinds of conversations is how quickly the engaged and newly married friends forget what single life is like. Finding your soul mate or settling for what's left seems to instantly erase all memories of what it's like to be alone.
The first wedding I went to when a friend around my age got married was back in 2001. I remembered how happy and excited I was for those friends at their wedding. Now, I'm not a big fan of going to weddings. Of all the friends I grew up with, I am the only one who is still not married (at least, as far as I know, as I am not in contact with every person from my past). I have only ever caught the bouquet at a wedding once, and that was because the only girls there were mostly under the age of 17 and I was a head taller than everyone (and my brother caught the garter, so I think my catch cancels itself out). Being single when 30 is around the corner is not easy, and I want to finally have a talk about it.
Theory 5: Unrealistic expectations at a young age
Let's face it: Hollywood is obsessed with love and relationships. How many chick flicks are out there where the one single guy or girl doesn't get the love interest at the end of the movie? Almost none. Why? Because it's not interesting.
Prime example: Disney Princess movies. Don't get me wrong, I love me them movies. What girl doesn't want to be a Disney Princess?
Well, let's take a look at them for a moment, shall we? First princess movie ever: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Snow White and Prince Charming have known each other how long? Less than a day. It's true love! Next up: Cinderella. Cinderella meets the Prince. They dance for a few hours. She flees, and he uses her tiny shoe to find her. A few hours is all it takes for them to have a lifelong love story. Those movies were made over 50 years ago, but they didn't stop there. After Sleeping Beauty (my personal favorite) having the same "hey, I just met you and you're my soul mate," story, those Princess movies went dormant. They returned with The Little Mermaid, and the cycle began again. We now have more than 10 "Disney Princesses," and only 2 have realistic love stories: Belle from Beauty and the Beast, and Mulan. They have more realistic stories because they spend more than one day with the guys they fall for. In fact, it takes several weeks, if not months, before they officially hook up.
While I would never dock these movies, the Disney Princess movies are so popular with little girls these days that it makes finding your soul mate as easy as passing them on the street. Go to any store with with products for kinds: school supplies, clothes, toys, dishware, even exercise equipment. You'll see the Disney Princesses. Some girls will be lucky enough to have such an encounter, but in reality, it doesn't happen that way.
Not every little girl is going to buy into the Prince Charming theory, but it's almost a part of our culture now that it's ingrained before girls reach puberty. What are the odds that a girl between the ages of 16 and 18 will come across her Prince Charming? Most likely minimal.
Theory 4: Singles don't fit in anymore
How many of you single people have gone to a party where everyone in attendance was married, engaged or in a series relationship? How many of those people are talking about their significant others and/or families?
I have discussed this with several of my friends and we all agreed: single people don't fit in with others who are in relationships. If you are the only single person there, and you want to talk about how you've gotten that promotion at work that you've worked your butt off to get, and one of the girls announces she's pregnant, who do you think is going to be congratulated first? That's right, preggers.
It's almost like marriage and commitment becomes a club that singles just can't fit into, no matter how hard they try. One of the best examples of showing how two worlds is created is from the TV show How I Met Your Mother. Lily has just gotten married and wants to hang out with Robin, who is hanging out with her single girlfriends, or "Woo Girls."
Lily doesn't fit into Robin's single girl world anymore because she's got that commitment that just about every girl hopes to have. The same happens when single girls are with married women or mothers. The two worlds don't collide very well. If there are multiple single girls at a social event, and there are more married women and/or mothers there, there tends to be division between the two groups.
While both worlds experience that, single women tend to have more things to talk about other than their families and significant others, and therefore married women can still be integrated into the loop. But without that "other half," single women are often unconsciously overlooked at events that married women and mothers are at.
Married/committed ladies/mothers: I challenge you to test this theory yourself. Next time you go to a social event or occasion with a majority of married women in attendance, look for the singles and see if they are easily integrated.
Theory 3: Singles are strapped for cash and need emotional support
This particular theory that isn't just for "never marrieds," as single parents are included as well. Single people are often struggling financially because they are supporting themselves (or children). Therefore, there is only one line of reliable income to pay rent and utilities, keep the car running, and provide food.
For the singles who live by themselves, they pay for everything on their own. If we are lucky enough to make enough to pay the bills, there is normally little left to pay for anything else. Single parents have it tougher, as their income also has to pay for pediatrics, clothes and school fees.
Married and committed couples are lucky enough to have two lines of income to help support each other. Bills are easier to pay because there's more money coming in to pay them. Now, not all married couples make enough to take care of all their expenses or both partners having jobs, but they have the emotional support (or at least they should, if the relationship is healthy) of their spouse or significant other. Never married singles do not have that luxury and are forced to be self-reliant when forced into a financially-strapped situation. Single parents too, although they have those children who love and appreciate them. The never married singles are on their own.
So, what's left for the single who has no emotional support? Emotional support is a great motivator, and also instills hope if the support is healthy. Family is a great source of emotional support, but not every single person has a family near, or on good terms with their family, or even has any living family members. Singles need healthy emotional support, which is usually found in a spouse. If they don't have someone by their side instilling that support, that leaves them wanting and vulnerable. That vulnerability can lead to an unhealthy relationship with a person who is just looking to take advantage of someone, therefore leading to more inevitable vulnerability in the single person, if not instilling bitterness as well.
Single parents are not immune to this either, although I cannot speak from experience on this issue. They work harder than anyone else for their kids and in this day and age, so many outside influences can corrupt a kid and turn them into a little Tasmanian Devil. Emotional support is key in survival. Singles, whether or not they have kids, need it just as much as anyone in a committed relationship.
Theory 2: Singles are taken advantage of
I have had many jobs over the years, and this has been a rampant problem for me, as I have not been in many romantic relationships. There have been times when I have requested time off work for appointments like a car repair, a show to see, or just need a night off. But, there's only one slot open and me and another lady, a lady who is married and with a kid or two, has requested that night off too. Guess who's going to get that slot?
Let's face it, how many of you married or committed people have pulled that excuse to get a single friend to do something for you? "Oh, come on. You have time to babysit for my kid, it's not like you're doing anything better." "Can you pick up my check for me? My husband/wife has only allowed me so much cash this week." "I know you're going to be busy on Sunday and you work full time, I need help on Saturday with [insert chore here] and I know you don't have any other plans."
Personally, I don't mind helping my friends out if they ask me for help. But asking a single friend to do something for you because you think they don't have a life simply because they're single is really narrow-minded. Plenty of my single friends are involved in other things when they're not working: churches, charity or volunteer work, local entertainment, or even side jobs to earn money for something special, like a concert or vacation. Asking a friend to do something based on the fact that they are single is just rude. Never, ever pull that excuse on a single person.
In addition to people with families the priority when it comes to requests off work, there is also the tax issue. What's one of the first questions your tax form asks you? Check out the 1040 EZPay tax form. If you get to claim a spouse or dependents, you get deductions. If you don't get to claim anybody, you have to pay the whole enchilada. Singles get more taken out of their payments than married couples and/or parents, which ties back to theory 3.
And finally...
Theory 1: Single people are NOT necessarily unhappy!
I grew up going to church in a rural area. I avoid that church as much as possible. It's not because I disagree with the doctrine or anything, it's because, as far as I know, I am the only kid who grew up there that is still single. People who have been going to that church since I was a kid almost always greet me with the same question: "How come you're still not married yet?" It takes all the effort I have to not punch them in the throat.
I challenge everyone to do this: go to ANY search engine and type in the phrase "things never to say to singles." On almost every page you will find, the number one phrase listed is: "how come you're still not married?"
This phrase, or any variation such as "you need to find a husband/wife" is one of the cruelest things you can say to a single person. While you may have the best of intentions, what a single tends to hear is "what is your problem that you can't find someone who wants to commit to you?"
Are you freaking kidding me?
For this one, I'm going to draw directly from my own experience. In 2011, I experienced, hands down, the worst year of my life. In a nutshell, I spent most of the year unemployed and homeless, and experienced a number of horrible events that still have left scars. Christmas of that year was exceptionally hard, mostly because I didn't have enough money to buy presents for my family. Thankfully, I managed to get a temp job that got me a paycheck just in time for me to get at least something for my family for Christmas, not to mention enough gas to get me there and back again.
It's a family tradition that on Christmas Eve, we attend the service at church. I was in a melancholy mood, mostly because, while I was happy to have gotten presents and time to spend with my family, I was still feeling the brunt of the year's experiences. Sure enough, when the service was over, several people came over to say hello to me, and after the greetings were done, I got pummeled with the questions of why I was still single or told I needed a husband. It took all my strength to hold my tongue and fists back, and also to keep from crying. I had experienced so many failures that year, and to have this "failure" added to that list nearly pushed me over the edge. I didn't need that little detail shoved back in my face. But, some people are completely oblivious.
People who ask the dreaded question may think they have the best of intentions at heart, but in reality, they are being nosy, rude, and downright cruel. A single person's lack of a love life is none of your business. GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEAD.
I am happy to report that at this time, my full time job is enough for me to pay rent and bills all on my own. When I first moved into my own apartment, I was afraid that I would suffer from excessive loneliness. Instead, I found myself too busy to be lonely, and the times I was lucky enough to be home, I was reveling in my own independence. I know who I'm cleaning up after, no one else eats my food, and if I decide to leave my clean underwear on my couch, then doggonit, I'm gonna do it!
For the first time in my life, I am okay with being single. And I'm not the only one. There are plenty of single people who have accepted their incomplete relationship status and have made it complete by realizing they don't need anyone else right now. The fact of the matter is that I, personally, don't have the time or inclination to put effort into a relationship, whether in dating or a lifelong commitment. And that doesn't mean I'm going to cut prospects out completely. If a man asks me out, I will probably say no, but if he seems interesting enough, maybe I'll say yes. Or maybe I'll ask a guy out myself just for the heck of it. Anything goes. I CAN DO WHAT I WANT.
Conclusion
Just leave single people alone, especially if you are married and/or a parent. It doesn't matter if a single person has never been married or is divorced or widowed or has kids. We may not half that "other half" that committed relationships have, but we have our own troubles, and to some, getting someone else in on that will only add to those troubles. The fact of the matter is that unless a single person asks for help in a prospective relationship, it is none of your business.
